I Love You, I Love You Not (1996)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Billy Hopkins

Writer:

Wendy Kesselman (play)

Release Date:

31 October 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Prep school student Daisy and her European-born grandmother Nana share the sad stories of their lives:...

Plot Keywords:

Grandmother | Anti Semitism | Teenage Girl | Barefoot | High School

Cast

Jeanne Moreau	...	Nana
Claire Danes	...	Daisy / Young Nana
Jude Law	...	Ethan
James Van Der Beek	...	Tony
Christopher Elsewhere	...	Seth (as Kris Park)
Lauren Fox	...	Alison
Emily Burkes-Nossiter	...	Jessica
Carrie Szlasa	...	Jane (as Carrie Slaza)
Natasha Wolff	...	Hope
Josiah A. Mayo	...	Chris
Brandon Danziger	...	Josh
Alex Ballar	...	Alex
Elzbieta Czyzewska	...	Dora
Frederick Neumann	...	School Principal
Peter F. Hopkins	...	Mr. Douglas

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and teen drinking.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

France | Germany | UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:S | South Korea:15 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Spain:7 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

Canal+

Trivia:

Julia Stiles' movie debut.

Soundtrack:

Drove All Night

Good. Good. Bad. Bad.

I had to watch this movies twice. The first viewing left me a bit off kilter, a bit confused - as to how I felt about the film (the performances etc..) and the story. What I have decided after watching it over: This story is unique, nice. I felt the 3 main roles where well given. Claire Danes is the classic thoughtful and misunderstood child [My so called Life leading the way for teenage 'angst' series; Juliet - in Romeo and Juliet]. She pulls off the dreamy look. Jude Law, a fitting choice for Daisy's shy affections as her 'perfect' guy. The rest of the cast? Gone. Scratch all of them. I felt James Van Der Beek was totally unconvincing as a taunter/verbal bully (?). There were definitely angles in the film that needed work - particularly Ethan's character, and his interaction with his friends. If you try and come to some conclusion about them - you draw a blank. An intended one? I don't know. As well as Daisy's home life needed work. I can't decide whether it is left out on purpose or not.

The directing, for me, was what ultimately let the story down rather than enhancing it. No lingering shots, no closeups where there should have been, particularly during Ethan and Daisy's interaction. It's hard to explain, but the shot's didn't work. Didn't create the feeling the movie needed to work.

And this is a story that deserves to work.