DIRECTOR: George Tillman Jr. LEAD
CAST: Britt
Robertson, Scott Eastwood, Alan Alda, Jack Huston, Oona Chaplin, Melissa
Benoist, Lolita Davidovich SCREENWRITER: Nicholas Sparks (novel), Craig Bolotin (screenplay) PRODUCER: Marty
Bowen, H.H. Cooper, Wyck Godfrey, Michele Imperato, Theresa Park, James Paul,
Mitchell Smith, Nicholas Sparks, Robert Teitel EDITOR: Jason Ballantine MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Mark Isham GENRE: Drama,
Romance CINEMATOGRAPHER: David
Tattersall DISTRIBUTOR: 20th Century Fox LOCATION: North Carolina, United
States RUNNING TIME: 139 minutes
TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT:
3.5
MORAL ASSESSMENT: 2.5
MTRCB RATING: R-13
CINEMA RATING: V 18
Luke Collins (Scott Eastwood) is set to reclaim his title as
champion bull rider after last year’s nasty fall. At a rodeo, he meets Sophia
Danco (Britt Robertson), an art student ready for an internship in New York
City. They spend time getting to know each other but realized they are worlds
apart to make the relationship work. He needs to ride a bull to save their
ranch while she needs to fulfil her dreams in the big city. In one of their
dates, they rescue Ira Levinson (Alan Alda), a 90-year-old man and his box,
from a car crash. While in hospital, Ira (portrayed by Jack Huston as a young
man) shares memories of his beloved wife Ruth (Oona Chaplin) and their enduring
love. Will Luke choose the 8-second bull ride championship or the ‘longest ride
called life’ with Sophia?
If you’ve read a Nicholas Sparks’ novel or seen any of the film
adaptations, you’d know the formula. Girl meets boy from a different
background, they fall in love but there’s a hindrance. You don’t get only one
story but two. There’s another, older couple who faced the same dilemma, and
through letters this older couples’ story inspire the younger ones. Tragedy
strikes, but it doesn’t end there.
The
Longest Ride doesn’t veer of course. Be that as it may, the
film showcases the talents of its actors. Eastwood shows promise and Robertson
essays her role well. It is the young Levinson couple, Oona Chaplin and Jack
Huston, who bring their endearing 1940s characters to life. Although the film
weaves the two stories together, one can’t help asking why the young Ira had to
write Ruth about something she herself just experienced. There are beautiful
scenic shots of North Carolina and the bull riding scenes are gripping. The
dialogue can be improved and some scenes are just too long – it would have been
better if it were less than 120 minutes.
The
Longest Ride, like all Nicholas Sparks’ story, is not your
typical Hollywood romance. It shows good, old-fashioned chivalry and dedication
to duty before self interest. Love is not a one-night-stand that crumbles when faced
with difficult situations. “Love requires
sacrifice...always.” It is noble and true. It allows the beloved his/her
freedom and it endures, no matter what. This is not confined to romantic love
alone. The film shows care and concern for one’s parent, neighbor, and friend,
even at the cost of one’s life.
The film may garner negative comments from critics for being
unrealistic and sappy but it stands firm on its Christian view of love and its
four forms: agape, phileo,
storge, and eros.
CINEMA gives this film an V18 rating for extended sex
scenes/nudity, war and violence.
