Oct 06, 2006 11:09 PM
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To love and to be loved are the two most important things in one’s life that makes one feel worth living in this world. We have seen so many love stories before but here is a story called “If only” which gives a simple definition for Love. Love is nothing but just loving and being with and for your soul mate. What if you know that today is your lover’s last day on earth? If only you could change things so that you can cheat the fate to keep her alive? If only you could keep her happy all the day by being with her and giving all that she wanted in her life (which she asked in a casual conversation “a day when nothing else matters but us”)?
Ian is a British business man. Samantha, an American comes to London to complete her graduation in music and they both fall in love. Ian gives first priority to his business and that bothers both Ian and Samantha. Ian couldn’t believe that he is doing this to her but he couldn’t find a way to maintain a balance between his business and his relationship with Sam. One day he gets this nightmare wherein he comes across a series of events which finally leads to the death of Samantha. The immediate next day, Ian sees things that he saw in the dream happening in reality and fears that as it was in the dream Samantha would die at the end of the day. “If Only” is the story about a day in their life where Ian tries everything possible to save her from the fate and also succeeds in it and how? Watch it for yourself in the shocking climax of the movie.
It is difficult to manipulate the audience by saying that all that has happened so far is a dream without cheating or disappointing them. But it has been done well in this movie by giving clues to the audience like making the screen to go black and white at an important moment in the dream of Ian. But when the truth is revealed that it was a dream, it is ironical that it is hard for us to believe it and we tend to believe that what is happening now i.e., Samantha coming alive again is the dream. So high was the impact of the events in the dream.
The events are beautifully piled up one after other both in the dream and in the real sequences. The contrast in the behavior of Ian is sometimes touching and sometimes funny. It is funny when things don’t happen as anticipated by Ian especially the business meeting. The interesting part of the screenplay is that when something that happened in the dream doesn’t happen in the reality, we audience have a sigh of relief like Ian but soon when the same incident happens in a different way and in a different order, things get more serious and we sit erect again from being relaxed. Though things happen in different order, the way some of the important dialogues from the dream are made to appear again from a different character and in a different situation is excellent. It gives a sense of belief that however one may try to cheat the fate, it has its own sequence of events to achieve what it has aimed for.
But there are quite a few moments saying that if one makes his choices differently, he can cheat the fate; he can prevent the most obvious from happening. This philosophy is the pivotal point on which the climax is hanged and justified. But even before the climax, we are shown some of the minor things which Ian does differently in reality to prevent something from happening like catching the ball and preventing the glass from breaking which broke in the dream as Ian didn’t catch the ball then. There are lot of beautifully penned philosophical dialogues and romantic conversations sprinkled all through the movie. Every single word uttered by Ian in the later half of the movie can find its place in greeting cards that one would like to buy on a Valentine’s day. It seems the character of the Taxi driver is the voice of the director. It is a very interesting character and well thought of to link the dream and reality.
Leave aside the logical part of linking the dream and reality, but what makes this movie memorable are the actions of Ian to save Sam and give her a perfect day in her life. Every action of Ian is so poetic and romantic, their journey to Ian’s native town, their stay in a lonely hut on the top of a mountain, their roller coaster ride, Ian getting nostalgic about his father (was he really feeling for his father or he just narrates the story to give a justification for his overwhelming tears that appears when he thinks of Sam’s destiny and live without her) and icing on the cake is final graduation concert where Ian surprises Sam by making the orchestra play the song that Sam wrote and also makes herself lend the lead vocals. It was truly a great moment. As always this short and sweet love story end in tragedy and reaches an epic status. The climax is very disturbing and gives a whole new meaning to all that happened so far.
Paul Nicholls as Ian and Jennifer Love Hewitt as Samantha may lack ideal chemistry as a couple on screen but have done justice to the characters. Paul looks embarrassing in those initial crying scenes but soon settles down. Jennifer looks pretty and innocent and she has got a great voice and her performance in the final graduation concert song and the climax song is laudable.
“If Only” may not be a masterpiece but is a must watch for those who are in love. I am sure you would put everything else aside and spend a day with your lover where nothing else matters except you and your soul mate.