LOVE ACTUALLY
Can you believe that Love Actually is celebrating its 20th anniversary? That can’t be the case, but I distinctly remember seeing it at the Brooklyn Center Regal Cinemas (RIP) Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is proud to release the film on 4K for the first time in a new 4K, Blu-Ray, Digital release. Writer, director Richard Curtis was the romantic genius behind films like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, and then made the ensemble Christmas film, Love Actually that told different narratives about love at Christmastime. He gathered a treasure trove of beloved stars like Hugh Grant, Colin Firth Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kiera Knightley, Martin Freeman, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Bill Nighy, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, just to name a few. Each had a different narrative with some overlapping in the climax.
The film has been universally praised and has remained a part of the zeitgeist since then. It’s been parodied many times, especially the scene between Andrew Lincoln and Kiera Knightly and the cards with him professing his secret love for her despite her being married. To be fair, there is a rightful criticism of the film and some of its storylines which certainly are NOT romantic but rather heartbreaking. The scene where Emma Thompson’s character believes she’s unwrapping a necklace only to discover its a Joni Mitchell CD and then realize her husband (Alan Rickman) gave that necklace to his younger colleague is devastating. Add in Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” playing behind it, and you’re grabbing for your tissues.
Speaking of Joni Mitchell, the film has a wonderful soundtrack with Kelly Clarkson, Dido, Norah Jones, Maroon 5, The Pointer Sister, and yes, Billy Mack.
Here’s what you can expect for Special Features on the new release
-Making LOVE ACTUALLY (NEW) – Join writer/director Richard Curtis along with the cast and crew as they reflect on the making of the film and its legacy 20 years later
-Deleted Scenes
-The Music of LOVE ACTUALLY with an introduction by Richard Curtis
-Kelly Clarkson “The Trouble with Love Is” Music Video
-the Storytellers: A featurette explorign the film’s main storylines, featuring interviews with the cast
-Billy Mack “Christmas is All Around” music video
-Feature Commentary with director Richard Curtis and Actors Hugh Grant, Billy Nighy, and Thomas Sangsters
Here’s an unboxing video I did for TikTok
