Love Actually's Most Chilling Moments Unveiled
With the arrival of the holiday season, there's no shortage of cheesy romantic comedies and heartwarming stories to cozy up with. Movies like "The Holidays" and "The Knight Before Christmas" have become staples of the season, and Netflix titles such as "Love Actually" have earned a special place in our hearts.
Director Richard Curtis' debut "Love Indeed," released in 2003, has since joined the pantheon of Christmas-themed romantic films, despite receiving mixed reviews at its release. Thanks to its recent 4K restoration and an upcoming Comeback special, this film continues to captivate audiences, especially those who grew up with it. And with its 20th anniversary approaching, it's time to revisit the film's most chilling moments.
"Love Actually" tackles different forms of love in nine different subplots sprawling across two hours and fifteen minutes. You'll find a potentially unfaithful husband, a lonely writer, a grief-stricken widower, and a hopelessly in love but misguided protagonist, coupled with the season's festive backdrop.
However, the film has attracted criticism for its humor with its crude jokes and its treatment of women chracters.
Broadcaster and author, Lindy West, penned in a piece from 2013, "Sharp: Notes from a Loud Woman," later adapted into a Hulu series:
"The central moral lesson of Love Actually is: women speak less, the lower their class. Yes. "
"The entire film revolves around the behavior of heterosexual white men towards women they deem 'deserving,'" wrote West. "The entire film revolves around men doing things."
But for many, "Love Actually" remains a must-watch, particularly for those who grew up with it. And while there are some delightful scenes that seem to perfectly encapsulate the essence of love, there are moments that may leave you feeling uneasy.
Twenty years after its release, some portions of the film feel dated, as Curtis himself admitted in an interview last year.
"Certain things change," Curtis said. "But thankfully, society does as well. My films will undoubtedly grow old at some point." The lack of diversity, for instance, gives Curtis pause.
For the film's 20th anniversary, let's revisit its most haunting, cringeworthy, and exhilarating moments.
Colin's Adventures in Merciless Pursuit
Colin, played by Kris Marshall, is presented to viewers in the opening sequence. His first lines came as he served breakfast in a business building: "Would you like a taste of my beautiful nuts?" he quipped, grinning with an ironic smile.
He revealed he had gone to America as British women supposedly found his British accent charming, and he didn't even have to work.
We're left wondering about the rest of his story, but the film concludes with Colin in a bar in Milwaukee, eventually bringing back a blonde he fell for.
Juliet kisses her best friend's husband
The film starts with Juliet (Keira Knightley) marrying Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor), one of the few non-white actors in the picture. At the wedding, the band plays "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles, and they witness a blissful journey of love.
But then, Mark (Andrew Lincoln) enters the scene later. After watching a video Mark recorded of Juliet, filled with a series of close-ups of Juliet's face, Juliet realizes she is in love with Mark. And, to make matters more confusing, he treats her with anger from her judgmental in-laws.
The iconic moment comes when Mark leaves our heroine a note at her door, confiding his love to her. While theoretically romantic, this confession by one man to his friend's husband felt bizarre after Marcs weird obsession with Juliet and her infamous video.
As if that weren't enough, Juliet then chases after Mark and kisses him, her eyes twinkling in desire. She then returns to her husband, leaving viewers to question who discovered the betrayal and whether this twist served the story's holiday spirit.
The Premier Minster's Sweet Talk
Enter the powerful world leader, played by Hugh Grant. A charming figure, he's enchanted by Natalie, portrayed by Martine McCutcheon. Unaware of Natalie's job, the Prime Minister questions her rather stupidly, asking: "What must I do to get a chocolate cookie?"
Natalie enters the office, and it soon becomes clear that she's the person to whom he should direct his flirtations. The awkwardness of the encounter, along with Natalie's job, serves as a humorous HR nightmare.
Eventually, joyfully, they get together, but Natalie loses her job. Richard Curtis, in this 2022 interview, mentioned that the lack of diversity makes him uncomfortable.
¯_(ツ)_/¯
Jamie's Proposal to Aurelia
If Joe's frontal-lobotomy-like proposal to Allie was a disastrous choice, then Jamie's (Colin Firth) proposal to Aurelia (Lucia Moniz) could easily be considered a success. He even leaves the United Kingdom, learns Portuguese, and returns hundreds of times to win her love.
Only, that's where things get a little weird. Their first meeting saw them unable to communicate due to language barriers. So, just how the heck did they develop such a strong bond to fall in love and marry? It's not exactly clear.
Sarah's Regret
The complicated relationship between Sarah and her wonderfully naive brother, Michael, who lives in an assisted living facility, is one of "Love Actually"'s most nuanced and intriguing subplots. The tension between Sarah and Michael's erotic desires culminates in a scene when Michael calls Sarah on the phone while she's in bed with her lover, Carl.
Sarah chooses to kiss Carl instead of picking up the phone to speak with Michael. The choice to prioritize her sexual partner over her brother was disturbingly selfish, as Sarah never truly understands Michael's needs or feelings throughout the movie.
John Kisses Judy's Breasts (Professionally, of Course)
The line "This scene is for lightening [sic] the mood" has been dubbed by some film critics as the most memorable moment in "Love Actually." As John and Judy (Martin Freeman and Joanna Page) attempt to initiate a sex scene while being doubled by stunt performers, the production assistant simply tells them, "Cue boobs!"
This bizarre, improvised moment reveals an uncomfortable truth about the film – that the sex and nudity on display serve little purpose beyond providing gratuitous titillation for the audience.
By now, it's clear that "Love Actually" is a bit of an oddity in the romantic comedy genre. Its copious flaws throughout the film do little to distract from the charm and warmth that have endeared it to so many viewers for so long.
The "entertainment" package for home viewing includes a recently restored 4K version of the 2003 film "Love Actually."
At first glance, the character of Colin, portrayed by Kris Marshall, may seem like a positive note to the "entertainment" offering. The uncanny opening scene of Colin striking up a conversation with a woman in a business building is still unsettling and unforgettable for the audience.
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The article from Far Out Magazine provides a critique of "Love Actually" and highlights various moments that are considered creepy or problematic. Despite not explicitly listing the six most chilling moments, here are several notable and presumably distressing plot points from the film:
- Mark's Obsession: Mark, played by Andrew Lincoln, is deeply in love with Juliet, who is already married to Peter. Mark's actions, such as showing up at Juliet's house with giant cue cards proclaiming his love, can be seen as possessive and unsettling.
- Jamie's Secret: Jamie, portrayed by Colin Firth, develops feelings for Aurelia, his Portuguese housekeeper. The plot twist that he cannot communicate effectively due to his stutter adds a layer of sadness and isolation, but it also makes their eventual reunion more poignant and potentially unsettling.
- Colin's Crush: Colin, played by Kris Marshall, falls for the American women he encounters in America. His relentless pursuit and eventual rejection by the women he meets can be seen as both comedic and slightly unsettling.
- The Wedding Scene: The moment when Mark films Juliet and Peter's wedding, isolating Juliet's face in a series of close-ups, feels like a moment of fixation that can feel invasive and unsettling.
- The Infidelity: The subplot involving Sarah and her unrequited love for Karl, who is already in a relationship, adds tension and unrequited love that can be considered somewhat disturbing.
- The Holiday Cheer: While not necessarily chilling, the overall holiday cheer and romantic nature of the film can create a sense of unease and discomfort, especially during the holiday season when one might expect more joy and cheer.
These moments contribute to the complex and uncomfortable nature of "Love Actually," making it a film that, while popular, has its share of problematic and unsettling elements.
