One More Kiss

I've seen several movies of this genre before but this one was just unsettling and disturbing for me (I suppose it was realistic and honest, though).

I liked this film because of the fantastic outside, location shooting, mainly of Berwick-upon-Tweed. It is similar to the way Eric Rohmer would film somewhere like Le Mans in his film le Beau Marriage (1982).

Indeed, the dour, granite buildings seem to sum up the awful plight of Sarah (played very ably by Valerie Edmond). She returns to her father's house, right behind the sea wall and the beach in Berwick, which, of course, is not even in Scotland. It's one of those border towns between Scotland and England, the scene of many violent fights to the death over the years. Perhaps there's some symbolism in there somewhere.

James Cosmo is very good as Frank, Sarah's father. Worth watching.

I bought this DVD because I just love Gerard Butler. It is a sad film because it deals with cancer and Sarah, the female protagonist, comes home to Scotland to prepare for her death and to do the things she's always wanted to do before she dies. She has a list which include flying a kite, skydiving, seeing the pyramids, etc. and she asks her former boyfriend, who in now married, to help her accomplish all these things in the short time she has left. His wife, Charlotte, resents it naturally but Sam, Gerard Butler's character, decides that he needs to help her as he has not really gotten over her and loves her still.

Sarah even prepares a speech, which she records, to be shown at the reception after her funeral. And she asks Sam (he's a chef)to prepare a reception for 30 of her dearest friends and relatives. The film gives an insight to the range of emotions that cancer patients go through as they face their mortality. It also teaches the viewers not to take their lives for granted and to live their lives to the fullest...as Sarah said in her farewell speech, "Seize the day, do not go gently but rage, rage at the dying of the day."

For a movie with a subject such as dying, this movie certainly lacks in some strong and effective emotions. There are lots of better movies out there that mixes romance and death but as a whole this movie certainly is not a bad one. On the contrary and this little unknown Scottish movie is very well worth your time.

You can also praise this movie for not trying to be emotional. Normally these type of movies will try to play you with it's emotions, in an often very forced and formulaic way. "One More Kiss" is not a typical sort of dramatic movie and it instead uses some interesting angles, by not mainly concentrating on the main character and her approaching death but also on those around her, who love her and how it affects their lives and makes them think about were they currently stand in life.

But what mainly makes the movie work out so fine is it's acting. Quite amazing how much different Gerard Butler still looked in 1999. Back then he still mostly used the name Gerry Butler, which should also tell you something about the way he looked. He had curly hair and certainly no muscles and seemed like a very young boy still back then, even though he already was 30 at the time of this movie. He of course just like the rest of the cast plays a fine role. Especially James Cosmo was also really great.

The movie doesn't necessarily concentrate on sickness or death but more on life and tells you to get out of life what you can, while you still can. But it doesn't does this in a forced way or anything like that. The movie features some simple but honest storytelling and is skillfully directed by Vadim Jean, who provides the movie with a nice overall style.

A nice little movie.

7/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

This film is incredibly moving its also very funny in parts and can have u both laughing and crying within the same minute. Gerard Butler's performance stands out a mile and truly shows his natural talent. Yes he's absolutely gorgeous but there is so much more than his beauty, he is one of those rare finds we seldom get to see these days, a real actor who can play any part, from Phantom of the opera,(singing beautifully) gangster, comedy parts, hero, everyday bloke, he changes his appearance, accent, weight, a real De Niro in essence, we need to see more of him and i do hope that he gets the recognition he deserves asap. I wish him the very best in his life and career.