Message in a Bottle (1999)

"Message in a Bottle" tells the tale of a middle-aged boat builder named Garret Blake who has never recovered from the loss of his wife. As a way to escape from his inner doldrums he starts writing letters and placing them bottles and throws them in the ocean. A Chicago Tribune researcher named Theresa (Robin Wright Penn) finds the bottled messages and embarks on a mission to see who's the gentleman who's writing these provocative and yet sincere letters. Once they unite they start to exchange one's personal trials and tribulations and to seek comfort to one another.This is a rather simple adult story of grief and finding comfort to heal the wounds that manifest in each other's veins. The pacing of the movie is horribly slow, the romantic scenes are quite soothing, the acting is very well done, but the ending is a major turn-off. For those who were looking for an entertaining, thrill of a lifetime, light romantic tale will better check with me to seek elsewhere because in this movie it not happening here. Granted this movie has very gripping romantic scenes, but the film follows on a plot that involves a man who just can't seem to overcome grief. This film could have reflection of those who have experienced this tragedy and have never fully overcomes this permanent obstacle. Sure there's an engaging romantic story involving Garret and Theresa, but it was just outweighed by the grieving plot and the struggle to get over it.The performances were excellent as Kevin Costner turns in a remarkable performance with his trademark, tough, rugged, but vulnerable character. Robin Wright Penn was also very good in her role, but doesn't offer anything authentic here. Paul Newman who seems to have been getting on in age here seems badly clichéd, but much-needed to prevent this story from being overly melancholy as the cantankerous old father of Costner's. The feeling of the movie is quite serene, especially the scenes where the sweet romance materializes. For those who like the seas then this will double the appreciation to those who like the movie already. The water scenes symbolize the lives the characters face as each time passes.All I can say is that it truly visual eye-candy, the performances were all very good, but sadly the snail's pace and the uneventful scenes make this film more cathartic rather than a romantic drama. It wasn't a terrible movie, but it surely wasn't the greatest.

I'm wondering why this movie got only 5.7/10 from IMDb reviewers??OK there is not a car exploding every single minute and there are not gunfires with plasma weapons to destroy huge buildings, but still....I'm afraid people's criteria of what a good movie is, well are wrong. :)Yes i know democracy et al, but how can people give to such good movies such low ratings? All actors act very decently, you couldn't anyway expect differently from Costner or Newman, and the story is original. A great love and drama story! And it's not one of the usual ones where the plot is a straight road, boy meets girl, boy loves girl, some fight in the middle and in the end we have a good ending where everyone is happy. This was a plot that can happen in real life.The music was great also! Very touching. So yeah it's a disgrace of people's criteria IMO.

The first time I saw this movie was about four years ago in the midnight at home. From then maybe I have watched ten times but never got bored or press forward button.It is a modern but at same time old love story between two lovely people. They live in their own worlds till the girl 'Teresa' (Robin Wright) finds a bottle by the seaside. From the first scene till the end I could not leave my eyes on her. Then I recognized I had seen her before from 'Forest Gump' and 'Last Castle' even she had just a little role in it. Anyway in this movie especially with the dress she wore at Garret's house (Kevin Costner) she was awesome, gorgeous. The house of Garret was so wonderful, a dream house. It is a home near the seaside. You may even listen the sound of waves from the kitchen. I won't tell so much about script of the movie. I am simply someone who is so affected of this movie. The sea, the waves, the yacht, the house, the girl...

I had watched this movie 9 years ago when it was released. Then it was mostly one among the many movies to watch during the college days. I watched it again yesterday night with my wife and some family friends. I won't give you the story line and the characters since that's mostly available in all the reviews. What I want to talk about is what it left me with.Message in a bottle (MIAB)is a movie to experience the honesty of real life's twists and turns as we go along. Each characters is honest and sincere (to the extent of being unsure at times) in expressing their challenges. Garret (Kevin Costner) who is still holding on to the yesterday because that gives him comforts and completes his life, in a way. His father, Dodge (Paul Newman), displays his persistence in nudging his son to move along in life and find the courage to face the life (and its unpredictability) yet again. And we have Theresa (Robin Wright Penn), who has lost her love only to find it again. I couldn't help feeling a sense of peace in me after watching the movie. Not because it has some breath taking coastal frames (i would have love to click those shots on my camera; the framing is near perfect), but it allowed me to let go of the notion of holding on to someone to feel the love. Both the lead characters show how to love without boundaries--of time, distances, contrasting lifestyles,and possessing each other. Theresa falls in love with Garret for his love for his wife. For me, it was so pure and honest. She wants him in her life but at the same time respects his love for his wife (who is no more). Garret struggles between his present and past. He doesn't want to let go of either. Isn't it how you or I would have done. The vulnerability, frailty of human nature is very well depicted. Garret can continue to feel the love of his dead wife every moment of his life. Theresa can experience love every moment in her life by setting Garret free to choose between yesterday and tomorrow. As they say, 'If you love something, set it free. If it is yours, it will come back. If it doesn't, it never was!Not to mention the great performances by Kevin Costner, Paul Newman and Robin Wright Penn.Watch it for its honesty and purity. Cheers