A man residing in a nursing home (played by James Garner) shares a love story set along the South Carolina coast during the time of World War II with a woman experiencing dementia (Gena Rowlands). The narrative centers on two young people (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams), and also features Sam Shepard as the younger man’s father, with James Marsden appearing as a rival. "The Notebook” (2004) follows in the footsteps of other romantic dramas such as “Message in a Bottle,” “A River Runs through It,” and "Legends of the Fall.” While it might not reach the heights of “River,” it avoids the feeling of being artificial that’s present in “Message,” and seems to be on a similar level with “Legends.” Certain elements also recall two films from 1991, “Paradise” and “The Man in the Moon.” Fans of those movies will likely find something enjoyable here. Rachel is certainly a standout, and the setting in the nineteen forties is hard to fault. The conclusion does feel drawn out, though. The film’s total length is 2 hours and 4 minutes; filming took place primarily around Charleston, South Carolina, with additional scenes shot just outside Montreal to depict a snowy battlefield and Los Angeles for a rocky shoreline. GRADE: B

Source on TMDB