“Message in a Bottle” is a run-of-the-mill romantic drama about a reporter who finds a love letter in a bottle while walking on the beach, and subsequently publishes the letter. She tracks down the author and falls in love with him without disclosing all of the details of her situation. Predictable problems develop from there with adequate direction by Luis Mandoki (“Born Yesterday” 1993) and a so-so screenplay by Gerald Di Pego, adapted from the 1998 novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks.
The cast performs as if in a sleepwalking state, with Kevin Costner and Robin Wright Penn in the lead roles. Co-stars include Paul Newman, John Savage, Illeana Douglas, Robbie Coltrane, Bethel Leslie, Tom Aldredge, Viveka Davis, Raphael Sbarge, Richard Hamilton, Rosemary Murphy, and Jesse James as Jason. One positive aspect of the film is the outstanding cinematography by Caleb Deschanel, making a handsome film with a boringly excessive running time of 131 minutes.
The barely watchable “Message in a Bottle” was popular at the box office for producer Kevin Costner, Bel Air Entertainment, Di Novi Pictures, Tig Productions, and Warner Bros. Pictures. Kevin Costner received nominations for the Worst Actor awards from both the Golden Raspberry Awards and the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards.
Message in a Bottle (1999)
cinema
My Review
“Message in a Bottle” is a run-of-the-mill romantic drama about a reporter who finds a love letter in a bottle while walking on the beach, and subsequently publishes the letter. She tracks down the author and falls in love with him without disclosing all of the details of her situation. Predictable problems develop from there with adequate direction by Luis Mandoki (“Born Yesterday” 1993) and a so-so screenplay by Gerald Di Pego, adapted from the 1998 novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks.
The cast performs as if in a sleepwalking state, with Kevin Costner and Robin Wright Penn in the lead roles. Co-stars include Paul Newman, John Savage, Illeana Douglas, Robbie Coltrane, Bethel Leslie, Tom Aldredge, Viveka Davis, Raphael Sbarge, Richard Hamilton, Rosemary Murphy, and Jesse James as Jason. One positive aspect of the film is the outstanding cinematography by Caleb Deschanel, making a handsome film with a boringly excessive running time of 131 minutes.
The barely watchable “Message in a Bottle” was popular at the box office for producer Kevin Costner, Bel Air Entertainment, Di Novi Pictures, Tig Productions, and Warner Bros. Pictures. Kevin Costner received nominations for the Worst Actor awards from both the Golden Raspberry Awards and the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards.