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(2002) Each spring in the little port town of Beaufort, North Carolina, Landon Carter remembers his senior year at Beaufort High and Jamie Sullivan, the girl who changed his life. Serious and conservative, Jamie (Moore) was as far from cool as she could possibly be, and didn't care. Landon (West) hung with the in-crowd - an aimless, moody, reckless guy who breezed through school on looks and bravado and had no plans, no future and no faith in himself.

When a prank goes terribly wrong landing a kid in the hospital, Landon is assigned to tutor a young student on the weekends and participate in the Drama Club's spring play. Clearly in over his head with both assignments, Landon is forced to ask Jamie for help. Soon, against his own expectations and the scorn of his friends, Landon finds himself falling in love with this outwardly plain girl who possesses a passion for life he never imagined possible.
 

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Cast

  • Mandy Moore.........................Jamie Sullivan
  • Shane West...........................  Landon Carter
  • Peter Coyote.....................Reverend Sullivan
  • Daryl Hannah..........................Cynthia Carter

Credits

  • Directed by..........................Adam Shankman

  • Screenplay by..............Karen Janszen based
    on the book by Nicholas Sparks

  • Cinematography..........................Julio Macat

  • Original Music.....................Mervyn Warren
    Running time................................101 minutes

  • Premiered....................................April 23, 2002

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Reviews:

Entertainment Insiders:
"The film was a perfect stepping-stone for Moore, giving her a chance to spread her wings as an actress. West, although not in his first starring role, showed that he too has potential to be a great actor -- he was believable as a rebellious, troubled teen. Peter Coyote also does an excellent job as Jamie's justifiably over-protective father. His strict Christian values seem to be filtered into Jamie's sincere faith in God. It's also nice to see Daryl Hannah, albeit in a small role, as Landon's down-to-earth mother."

Mediasearch:
"Director Adam Shankman pulls out all stops in adding drama to an already emotional landscape. The film gets better once the romance ignites and it turns into a good, heartfelt story... Peter Coyote shows both a firm and sensitive side to his role as Reverend Sullivan, while Daryl Hannah plays Landon’s mother."

BBC:
"Though no great shakes as an actress, Moore still displays enough charisma and charm to suggest she might have a future in film should the singing career dry up. However, it's no surprise to find both leads outclassed by Peter Coyote and Daryl Hannah."

San Francisco Chronicle:
"The sexy Moore, certainly among the most winning of the latest crop of singers, is even more captivating as an actress. Shankman directs the pair with an eye for truth, and he gets lovely performances as well from a loopier-than-usual Daryl Hannah as Landon's mom and especially from Peter Coyote as Jamie's concerned father."

Film Critic Steve Rhodes:
"Shane West turns in a nice performance as Landon Carter, Jamie's boyfriend, as does Peter Coyote, playing Jamie's strict preacher pop."


Images

 

[ The Official Peter Coyote Web Site ]