THE NOEL DIARY
US, 2022, 99 minutes, Colour.
Justin Hartley, Barrett Doss, Bonnie Bedelia, James Remar, Essence Atkins.
Directed by Charles Shyer.
The Noel Diary is what might be called a nice film. It has a G rating. Though some of the issues of very serious, especially family tragedies, family alienation’s, it is geared towards the popular audience. It was co-injury by Charles Shyer career like baby Boom father of the Bride. This was his last film as directors.
- A Christmas story, romance, family issues?
- The world of the successful novelist, signings? Recluse, his home? His mother’s home and the mess, cleaning? His father’s home in the woods? Hotels? The musical score, Christmas songs and lyrics?
- Jake Turner and his story, success as a novelist, adulation from the readers, the signings sequence? Yet alone, past relationships, hiding away, the photo on the back of his books, looking down? Age, news of the death of his mother, alienation from her, building up the story of his dead brother (and his father remembering and the visuals), his father leaving and the reasons, for him to be a comfort to his mother, the failure, his distance from his parents?
- The lawyer, his mother’s will, the mess in the house? Ellie as the friendly neighbour, memories, her support? The discussion about the tender entry, the date, successful, the relationship, inviting him to Christmas dinner?
- Rachel, the mystery of her standing watching outside the house? Coming in, her quest? Explanations, her mother as the nanny? Wanted to find her mother, Jake and his idea of asking Ellie, the address of his father, Rachel wanting to drive there, persuading Jake? On the road? Rachel and the discovery of her mother’s diary – and the opening with the visuals of novel writing the diary, the further excerpts of the journey went on, the effect on Rachel, wondering whether she was abandoned, finishing the diet, reassured?
- Scott Turner, in the woods, friendly, his story, grief, the death of his son? Leaving Jake with his mother? The explanations, Jake and his hesitancy? Rachel coming in, the meal, the discussions, the memories, not keeping the family together after the death? Knowles kind words about Jake, his brother, his parents?
- Scott and his letter from Noel, the address? The decision to visit?
- Rachel, her relationship with Helen, her hopes for the UN translation job, Allen and his meticulous accounting, the proposal about the engagement party, Rachel not going to find her mother, with her adopted parents, Jake and his arrival, her saying she did not love him? Wanting security with Alan?
- Jake, the visit to Noel, the conversation, giving her the diary, reassured her about Rachel? Nolan her happiness?
- Jake, coming to the house, being rejected, going home, the discussion with Ellie, finding the many letters from his father and his mother concealing them? And Rachel arriving? And the future?
