Customer Reviews

Falling in Love (Widescreen)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hollywood capitalized on the acting talents of DeNiro & Streep by uniting them for this wonderful, well made & clean film. DeNiro & Streep play Frank Raftis & Molly Gilmore, two people who first meet by chance & then by choice. There's only one problem between them - they are both married. It's a genuine dilemma that they face. With a fine supporting cast & an excellent Dave Grusin score, Falling in Love is a winner all the way !

"Falling In Love" deserve it's fair share of attention and fame. If you are into complete 100% realism, then you would have a bone to pick with this film. I mean true love... if you believe in love at first sight; you could probably believe that two strangers' chance meeting could be the beginning of something beautiful. Or if hardened by cynicism, you'd probably say, nay it'd never happen --it's just boredom in life's routine. But one thing that can't be ignored is the acting. Any two actors might've played Frank and Molly in this low-keyed way (and been as good), but it is the fact it's De Niro and Streep together (reunited from "The Deer Hunter") that keeps the picture watch able. The minimal mundane dialogue and what they did with the material was a moving portrayal in this film.

Ms. Streep portrays Molly Gillmore, a doctor's wife and commercial artist; and De Niro, Frank Raftis, a construction foreman, husband and father of two young boys. Fate brings the two together on a Metro North commuter train from Westchester County into Manhattan, in New York. Molly and Frank are good, moral suburbanites who just happen to be "Falling In Love," all the time struggling to remain loyal to their respective families.

Maryl Streep, to me mainly, has done her part on this film. She is not only natural and luminous, but you even don't think that she's acting! She's lived this whole life through! The way she's hesitating whether she should stop the affair with a married man (DeNiro) or just let it all be. The way she struggles herself and this new feeling that doesn't allow her to lead her normal life anymore is believable as well. You won't doubt a minute that she's feeling all this. As for De Niro even though he's an actor he always embodies such charisma and sex appeal, he's able to carry himself as such a regular simple man-all that there is to him is that he is in love with a married woman other than his wife.

I also liked how the film does not try to justify adultery at the same time. There are some nice nostalgia vis-a-vis sumptuous New York winter bustle scenes of Grand Central Station, Rizzoli's on Fifth Ave, hot dog vendors, high-eighties hair and clothing fashions. The score by Dave Grusin (Mountain Dance) completed this movie and is just amazing till this day. "Falling In Love" is a rather sweet but serious film that paints a very realistic portrait of marriage and infidelity. If you are a fan of either actor, this is a must-see.

Warning, a few spoilers here! I am a big fan of Robert DeNiro and Meryl Streep, especially Deniro. So, I know I liked this film more than people who aren't appreciative of them would. Still, its nice to finally see a film for adults that does not have profanity, violence, or nudity. That is a rarity these days. There is good chemistry between these 2 actors and the only other film they were in together was "The Deer Hunter", another great film!. I could not take my eyes off of them, especially DeNiro! I only wish they had done more films together. There must be other big ones in them, so I hope they do! The movie builds up the tension nicely before they really meet and get to know each other, and I found myself really wanting them to meet even though they are married to other people. I did not find it plausible that in a city of so many millions that they would bump into each other as much, but hey, if they did not, we wouldn't have the movie. Each character has a friend in which they confide (Streep ruluctantly so) about the possibililty of an affair, and their friends are'nt really concerned that they might lose their marriages as they have allready played around some. DeNiro's friend, played by Harvey Keitel, is getting divorced and likes the change, so its frustrating that no one tells them the obvious, that an affair changes things for good. It is a treat seeing DeNiro and Keitel together again. These 2 great actors were first seen together in 1973's "Mean Streets"! Check that one out if you want to see chemistry between those 2 although to warn you, it is a very violent film! After seeing them in the gritty, realisic "Mean Streets" its hard to imagine them in business suits chatting. The 2nd film they were in together is 1976's "Taxi Driver" a film I rate even higher than these 2 films! A powerful study of loneliness in isolation in a city, "Taxi Driver" is one of my all-time faves.

Ok, back to this review. This movie starts out pretty thoughtful, showing what falling in love can do to one's married life where you allready have commitments, but I felt that the end was not as realistic as the characters deserved, but I am not one for unhappy endings and I really wanted to see these 2 characters happy. I know, its a cliche, someone running to meet someone on a train that has allready left, but I love romance and I know I'd want Robert DeNiro running after me! Streep does a great job at showing her inner turmoil and resulting guilty feelings as she knows she has spent time w/Frank (DeNiro's character)and not with her ailing parent. The sadness and the stress that this romance causes her is human and real. Its sweet to see these approaching midlife characters become caught up in an all-new blush of love! They are in each other's thoughts, especially when away from each other. I thought DeNiro did a nice job in the hard-to-watch scene where his wife sees his moodiness and asks him what's wrong and he is caught up in this delemma of wanting to be really happy and not wanting to hurt his wife and family. One thing the screenwriter could have clarified better is what actually brings these 2 characters together? since they have great lives living in nice neighborhoods and shop in upscale places. Streep's character, Molly, had a serious dud of a husband, so there I can see why a bit, but Frank seems happy w/his 2 children and married life. So I only wish this fun-to-watch film had been longer so we could get a sense of the why.

I want to also add that with the not-strong plot, this movie really needed 2 strong performances and DeNiro and Streep give it all they got. Their facial expressions are just perfect and wonderful in their subtlety and complexity. You can tell, just from watching their faces and the way their eyes move, what the weak script could not portray, so to me, that is a true test of great acting and they deliver!

Frank and Molly try to make love, and I won't say what happens but I really wish their attempt at love-making had been longer. I know, its more of a feeling oflove film, but with their chemistry that would have been something. In these times where hollywood always portrays infidelities w/violence and carnality, a film like this is memorable and greatly needed.

And its so refreshing to see DeNiro in an unviolent role where he is not playing a threatening, mean character who mistreats women, so this film showcases a different side of his acting. If you want to see a very rare, gentler DeNiro, as I do, I also recommend "Stanley and Iris". You can tell this film was made in the 80's and they should have given Streep less frumpy clothes to wear, but the theme is timeless--2 people who have something between them that they know is there. That other person makes them feel good. They don't know what to do with these feelings of fondness for the other but they do want to feel something.

This is an undervalued film to which critics did not give great reviews and was not a box-office hit, but box office records mean little when you look at the load of pitiful movies that have action w/no character development and I feel the critics did not give this film a chance. That was partly due to the fact that there were huge expectations in these 2 actors and if it had been 2 other actors the critics would not have been as serious. They kept saying that one problem was that there was not much to it, but that is what I like about this film--I felt there was allready enough plot in the film and there isn't the overload of plot and subplots that most movies have. This movie does not assault you like so many w/choppy editing and loudness and action, thankfully! If you want your 100% us rda of DeNiro and want to complete your Streep collection, this is definitely for you. If you do not, you still get a fun movie about love.

Someone said in their review that he/she didn't know if Streep was still with her husband at the end, and called this film''TRIPE'' because of it, and because of it having been left to our own imagination [paraphrasing]....

Don't blame a FILM just because YOU aren't paying attention. Her girlfriend [Weist], while walking down the street with Streep at the end, very deliberately suggested to Streep about fixing her up with someone, or her possibly finding someone at a function, and the way the scene went, that friend's attempts and concerns of finding a new mate for her was played to appear to be going on for a long time.... because she is obviously alone/single again at the end of the film!

I watched this film years ago, taped it on a blank with all of Streeps other films consecutively on blanks, and had to own it in it's cover. There isn't a single thing anyone can pick at in this beauty .....it is FLAWLESS, and one of the greatest of a simple little love story... EVER MADE! ....We've all been there [those of us fortunate enough to have had such a love].

De Niro and Streep did an exceptional job in this romantic film. The love felt between the characters is very touching. I am a helpless romantic,therefore, this film is a plus and a must for romantics to see.

This movie makes you wonder if destiny truly exists! I recomend everyone that believes in love to watch this movie.

There is a romantic glow to this very undervalued film. It is a throwback to films of the 40's and 50's. Robert DeNiro and Meryl Streep give old style performances to match the story's atmosphere, which is sweet and sentimental. It does not make light of the subject matter of having an affair but instead is a film about finding love itself. In keeping with that theme there is no sex in this film. The love that gently blossoms is one of the heart.

Frank Raftis (DeNiro) and Molly Gilmore (Streep) are going about their mundane if uninspiring lives amidst the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season in New York when they literally run into each other at a bookshop. Both are married and when they meet again on the train both are taking to work, a friendship begins. Even the small prospect of riding to work together is handled gingerly as both are good people who would not want to hurt their spouses.

As they become more dependent on each other the moral dilema escalates. There are charming scenes as each almost misses the train, and the chance to talk. Her father is sick and her response is to call him. It is the little things that separate this film from others. Frank and Molly fall in love for the reason we all do; because of how we feel about ourselves when we are with that person.

When they finally can not stand it anymore they have a clumsy, and aborted, attempt at making love. Both DeNiro and Streep are wonderful at capturing the moral dilema of two people already married who have found the love of their life. Dianne Wiest has a nice turn as Molly's best friend Isabelle and Harvey Keitel as DeNiro's pal Ed is engaging. Jane Kaczmarek, of television's 'Malcolm in the Middle' fame, gives a nice performance as Franks's wife Ann.

This film begins at Christmas and ends at Christmas a year later. It is a sweet and charming film about falling in love and finding happiness. Dave Grusin helps the atmosphere with a nice score that perfectly captures the sweet exhilaration and anguish of Frank and Molly's love. If you enjoy films like 'An Affair to Remember' then chances are you'll love this one also. It's a nice film to own.

The acting that De Niro and Streep exercise within this film is truly exemplary, proving once again (The Deer Hunter) that the chemistry between the two is so powerful. They don't need to be talking in order to show it either. The amount of emotion that Streep and De Niro convey within a subtle face gesture is enormous. There remains no doubt within my mind that true lovers of the acting craft will appreciate their skill within this gem of a film. Everything about their acting makes this story so credible-- that extraordinary love can flourish and blossom among two everyday people who are currently living within two decent, good marriages.
No, this will not be the De Niro you may see in your hard core gangster filck, but that's just a sign of a great method actor! De Niro is man of many faces and emotions! He's not simply playing himself in all his roles, as opposed to many other actors. He pulls this role off brilliantly!
Bottom line: If you appreciate great acting, and are a romantic at heart, you will not be disappointed with this film. I hope that De Niro and Streep make another movie together!

Meryl and Robert are excellent in this film and do the best they can with what they're given.... which leads to the MAJOR complaint.... editing or obscure screenplay? We see how Roberts wife finds out/reacts, but never how Meryls husband does/reacts. We must read between the lines to find out Meryl is free also near the end when they meet again, but never sure if she's seperated or divorced! At one point, it almosts sounds like she's going to say "seperated" but doesn't. Even the end is a let-down! View from a rental store and save your money for "She-devil"or "The French Lieutenants Woman" for a Meryl fix. Even "Death Becomes Her" was better than this "decide for yourself what happens off camera" tripe.

Perfect movie, real state of art ! Flawless playings of R. De Niro and M. Streep. I never thought, that trivial love story might be shown so touching. Watching this story about love you realise, that nothing can stand between those loving each other. And this movie is one more proof of sining talent of R. De Niro as an actor capable of playing any role.