Writer/Director: Nora Ephron
Starring: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan and Greg Kinnear
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many actors are as beloved as Tom Hanks. Ever since his rise to fame in the 1980’s, Hanks has become a beloved icon. Whether it’s political leaders, troubled soldiers or corrupt managers, Hanks has portrayed a wide variety of characters. Arguably, Hanks’ finest strength as an actor has always been his likability. He is one of those actors which has always had a talent for creating characters which are likeable. Through ability to portray characters which prove compelling, Hanks has established a legacy that’s lasting. Known as America’s Sweetheart, Hanks has created movies that audiences consider art. Despite reaching age of retirement, Hanks has never lost his passion for making engaging entertainment. Throughout his commemorated career, Hanks has started in many memorable movies which are definitely worth talking about without a doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Hanks and adore all the movies he has made in his career. However, “You’ve Got Mail” is his most underrated film. Released in 1998, Nora Ephron’s film offered a compelling portrait of mail lovers. Packed with captivating production, strong step telling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the finest romantic comedies ever made. At the centre of it all is a bold performance by Tom Hanks, who embodies a CEO falling in love with an email lover. Ultimately, what makes “You’ve Got Mail” a romantic classic is its universal appeal. Unlike most romantic films, it tackles strong themes that everyone will relate to. A captivating romantic classic, there are many strong reasons why “You’ve Got Mail” is worth watching.
“You’ve Got Mail” tells the story of a pair of lovers which fall in love through exchanging messages on mail. Tom Hanks portrays Joe Fox, a charming bookstore corporate owner. Joe has always been passionate about his job of taking care of his bookstore company that he adores dearly. However, Joe’s life is forever changed when he falls in love with a woman via mail causing disaster. Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) is a charismatic owner of a famous bookstore competing against Joe’s company. Unaware the woman he interacts with is a corporate rival, Joe forms a strong bond with his new mail lover that’s special. As all the odds become stacked against his favour, Joe questions whether it’s possible to have a mail lover.
Nora Ephron has always been fascinated by the lives of lovers facing tension. A fantastic female filmmaker, Ephron has often created engaging movies about lovers which pursue romantic relationships that ended disaster. Her iconic film “Sleepless in Seattle” offered a powerful portrait of depressed lovers that become sleepless in Seattle. With “You’ve Got Mail”, however, she took upon her first mail romantic drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture romance driven by technology but she succeeded immensely. Using captivating cinematography, Ephron captures a bookstore owner falling in love through technology. Evoking Jerry Zucker’s “Ghost”, Ephron captures a woman’s journey to fall in love via technology through point of view shots. For instance, POV shots elevate the emails introductions scene. During this unforgettable scene, Joe introduces himself to Kathleen through mail. POV shots aren’t easy to use in movies. As Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” suggested, point of view shots elevate World War II films. That being said, it works immensely. Using strong visuals, Ephron captures tensions faced by lovers on mail.
Another admirable aspect of “You’ve Got Mai” that is worthy of appreciation is the production. Inspired by Mike Nichols’ “The Graduate”, Ephron expertly uses costumes to capture the tensions faced by mail lovers. Throughout the movie, Joe’s costumes show his strong transformation into the CEO of a legendary corporate company. For instance, the costumes elevate the bookstore meeting scene. During this unforgettable scene, Joe meets up with Kathleen for the first time in a bookstore. Using strong costumes, Ephron captures tensions that CEOs of companies are facing. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. George Fenton’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the film a warm atmosphere capturing mail lovers in a romantic affair. Using strong production, Ephron captures lovers that develop online communication.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “You’ve Got Mail” is a romantic film which is engaging. The film is beautifully written, and successfully uses dramatic monologues to capture lovers communicating by the use of mail. Recalling Robert Benton’s “Kramer vs. Kramer”, Ephron expertly uses monologues to capture the breakups between lovers on mail. For instance, monologues elevate the confession scene. During this intense scene, Joe confesses love for Kathleen in his final park meeting. Using stunning monologues, Ephron creates a portrait of lovers which is compelling. Dramatic monologues are not an easy technique to use in films. As Robert Zemeckis’ “Forrest Gump” proved, dramatic monologues enhance classic movies about childhood. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a strong screenplay, Ephron captures the lives of mail lovers that face a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Tom Hanks delivers one of his best career performances as Joe Fox. Hanks earned appreciation for playing rebellious teens in coming of age dramas. With “You’ve Got Mail”, however, he took on his most funny role. It isn’t easy to portray a corporation owner that falls in love with a mail woman, but he succeeds tremendously. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and funny in his most iconic role. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures the ambition, humour and grief of a corporate businessman. It’s a powerful performance from one of the finest actors in Hollywood today.
While the film is mainly a showcase for Tom Hanks, the supporting cast is also amazing and deserving of appreciation. Meg Ryan is magnificent, capturing the compassion of a woman that falls in love with a business rival using online communication. Greg Kinnear is great, conveying the despair of a writer that struggles to craft a powerful career. Lastly, Dave Chapelle deserves appreciation. As a comedian, he brings hilarious comic relief to the movie.
Finally, “You’ve Got Mail” would achieve the appreciations of everyone capturing lovers interacting using mail. Unlike most romantic films, it tackles strong themes everyone will relate to. It discusses strong themes such as career, internet and mental health that will resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with online romance to admire it. Therefore, “You’ve Got Mail” is one of the rare romantic movies which everyone would adore.
Fans of Tom Hanks will absolutely admire “You’ve Got Mail” and so would audiences seeking enjoyable entertainment. A riveting romantic drama, it honours an actor which has charisma.
Nearly 30 years following the release of a classic romantic film about lovers seeking communicating though mail, it’s a riveting reminder of a legendary actor that hasn’t lost his abilities to make memorable movies attracting sale which are always destined to succeed rather than fail.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 