Review of Waiting for Forever (2010) by Arj A — 06 May 2011

"How can one step away from you ever be anything for me but a step in the wrong direction?" (Love this quote!).

PERSONAL BLURB:

Had myself a nice little "crying while smiling" moment that I haven't had in a long while...

THE GOOD:

Realism vs. Optimism.

This is pretty much the theme throughout the movie, and anyone can pick up a thing of two with this. Emma is worn out and battered by life, reminiscing fondly back to childhood, when things seemed so easy. She is almost always dressed in dark colors and blues. Will, on the other hand, is childlike and innocent, truly believing that the world is a happy place full of fun; his is. He is often dressed in lighter colors and gold. His joyful attitude angers his older brother, who sees him as a joke and a loser, a child who needs to grow up. This dynamic is also played out masterfully between Emma's parents. Emma's mother can't go on living with a permanent smile on her face as her husband gets closer and closer to death. Pain and hurt are a part of life, and although they can't be denied, we can learn to accept what comes gracefully.

Great Cast.

The cast was great and the innocence of the story was a breath of fresh air. Tom Sturridge's performance was especially good. He played his role very well and his expressions were outstanding. It was a difficult role and I felt like he pulled it off. Rachel Bilson is just damn pretty and cute. She carried her pretty smile and nice acting in this movie too. She played her part brilliantly and 95 minutes passed away. Blythe Danner and Richard Jenkins were spot on, and they carry their roles with grace. Special mention also goes to (name) who played Jim, he pulled the big brother role beautifully. Even that bald douche did his job well to the point that I hated his every single appearance in the movie.

Keeping It Simple.

This is a movie that doesn't have cheap entertainment of constant swearing, blood and guts, gratuitous nudity, etc. It solely focuses on telling the story and making us like the characters for themselves. I think that is a rare statement made by films today and this one should be applauded for it.

The Playground Scene.

By the time we reach the scene in which Will is going to talk to Emma for the first time since they were ten, admitting his lifetime love for her, we want to see him get the reaction that he wants. However, the true darkness of the world is never far away, and Will finds himself blamed for murder, among other things, as he realizes the world is not always a playground. The irony is perfectly executed.

THE SO-SO:

Lack of Screen Time.

It didn't show too much of the couple. They had their share of scenes separately but they should have been together in more scenes as their chemistry was blossoming.

OVERALL:

The movie itself kept me hanging on to the tail end of every scene, waiting to see what would happen next. All in one sitting, I smiled with heartfelt happiness, I became filled with anger (I gave the finger to that jackass Aaron), and I cried uncontrollably with feeling of deep sorrow. This is what true love does to us as people, and I must say that this movie captured the very essence of it.