User reviews

Based on David Nichols' bestseller, "One Day" is a more mature Nicholas Sparks version, but equally tearful and melodramatic. Based on a peculiar and intriguing narrative structure, which revisits the 15th of July in the lives of Dexter and Emma since 1988 over more than 20 years, the story focuses on the maturation of the relationship between its characters, fleeing the punctuality and immediacy that surrounds most novels. Ironically, this same artifice reveals the main weakness of the script - others will be seen in the following paragraphs - because the annual reunion with the characters does not hide the considerable loss of information that motivated sudden changes in the life and behavior of each one.

Sensitively directed by the Danish Lone Scherfig ("Education"), who delicately builds the fluid dynamic between Dexter and Emma (Hathaway), One Day is skillful in establishing the passage of time also with the aid of an impeccable make-up job - and notice how Sturgess, in particular, goes from a smooth-faced, jovial boy to a weary middle-aged man with wrinkles and bags under his eyes, while Hathaway emerges chubby (but not exaggeratedly so) after working two years as a waitress in a Mexican restaurant, which is an interesting detail. Benefiting from a competent cast that creates equally complex secondary characters that help compose the journey of the main couple (worth mentioning Rafe Spall, son of Timothy, who transforms the aspiring comedian Ian into a man that is simultaneously pathetic and moving), the film fails here and there by investing in stereotyped characterizations, but still avoiding that they dominate the narrative - and if Dexter's father appears as the typical "cold and critical father", Ken Stott manages to make him softer through occasional hesitations that point out his internal effort to try to get closer to the child.

Likewise, if Nicholls' dialogues are occasionally forced to appeal to exposition in order to clarify what happened to the characters in the previous year, this is balanced by the good construction of so many other lines (especially those spoken by Hathaway), which they display the cold irony typical of British humor (Emma at one point describes the restaurant where she works as a "graveyard of ambitions"). As if that were not enough, the script also creates really sensitive interactions between those people, highlighting the brief and beautiful scene between Dexter and his mother, who, played by Patricia Clarkson, shows melancholy and love when telling her son that, even certain that he will be a good man, realizes that he "isn't there yet".

The dialogues are a strong point of the script, also written by David Nicholls. They are fast, with intelligent insights and manage to perfectly translate the personality of each character and their relationships with each other. Even with silly jokes, like Dexter's mother in Paris saying to her son, "look over there, Alain Delon" ... or not, it's your father", demonstrating how much she is in love with her husband. There are funny scenes too, like when Dexter plays the most famous scene of Spartacus with the dolls for his daughter. But no character is better translated by the dialogues than Emma, the shy girl, but extremely intelligent and sagacious. Each of her lines is a bit of her temperament, feeling, spontaneity.

However, it is even in the construction of Dexter and Emma that "One Day" proves to be particularly efficient: while the boy quickly achieves professional success, the girl struggles for years trying to make her artistic aspirations viable - a situation that gradually reverses as that we perceive that the former lacks the intellectual, emotional and psychological content that sustains his career, while Emma, growing from suffering, reflection and the simple experience of life, gradually transforms herself into a mature woman and ready to overcome the obstacles that previously prevented it from moving forward (and Sturgess and Hathaway, talented and charismatic, confidently illustrate these changes).

The problem is that Hathaway's character quickly becomes the link with the audience. The dreamy sweetness, the sweetness and the detachment transform Emma into a very pleasant company, something that Dexter cannot see. Unsympathetic, self-centered and narcissistic, he uses Emma more as someone to quench the loneliness caused by her personality and assuage her pain and addictions than as a true friendship. Played by the expressionless Sturgess and his characteristic face of suffering, it is practically impossible to believe the beautiful and sensitive Emma fell in love with the guy after a disastrous dinner in which he exposes her (dis)interest. In this way, she emerges as the tragic anchor of the narrative, surrendering herself to the loves of a person she does not love, just to fill the sentimental need. What is revealed in the most cliché of sentences, enunciated according to the Nicholas Sparks booklet: "she made him decent; you made her happy".

As Emma and Dexter mature, the adolescent, dreamy and inconsequential traits give way to realistic, cynical and disillusioned versions, propelled by tragedies, some of them approached with excessive disregard and disengagement due to the narrative structure - yet another negative effect of this. Elevated to the status of protagonist, an incorrect and questionable decision, Dexter undergoes a wide dramatic arc from his mother's illness (Clarkson), the cancellation of the television program, his marriage to Sylvie (Romola Garai, the young woman from "Desire and Reparation" and increasingly better actress), to an event that would definitely humanize him. At times, Emma's life is described in terms of her dream of becoming a writer or her relationship with Ian (Rafe Spall), which is disappointing.

By scrutinizing and dissecting fractions of those characters' lives, certain moments should be more appropriately explored in David Nicholls' script. Dexter's firing after a botched interview and being hired on a video game show lacks a glimpse into the character's journey, though we understand what led to this precipitous fall. Similarly, Emma's relationship with Ian, presented at a dinner party without sparks or the guy's inability to make jokes, culminates in the explanation that she can't "take him watching Wrath of Khan every day anymore". This excessive exposition becomes constant in the film, requiring that a character needs to contextualize the events that are taking place to the public, which exposes the artificiality of the undertaking; well, if Emma and Dexter are such good friends, it was expected that he would reveal the bad news in the expected time and not months later.

On the other hand, the annual narrative is well explored by Danish director Lone Scherfig, and the use of raccords and ellipses in Barney Pilling's montage stands out. And not just temporality, but the duo of characters allows Benoît Delhomme's photography to individualize Emma's trajectory in a nostalgic sepia, while Dexter is bathed in a depressing bluish color palette. Finally, Rachel Portman's score avoids being too intrusive, competently punctuating the narrative. Yes, the idea is curious and the narrative exercise valid (albeit flawed). The trajectory of two people is drawn before our eyes and, let's face it, it's not something usual in novel production. It is a pity, therefore, that the chosen 15th of July sounds hopelessly clichéd and expositional, making the unknown 364 remaining days of each year seem more interesting by comparison.

We cannot, however, say that the film is not romantic. It has its moments, even if it prepares us to tears in such an obvious and brief way. Soon we will be in the next year, and the year after that, forgetting the pain and moving on. But that doesn't stop us from living in the moment. They are brief, it is true, but true and well-constructed. Especially in the final act, where we desperately want to go back to the beginning, as an attempt to remake the story, or at least fool our minds with that simple encounter in the middle of the street and a kiss seals the love story that should have been. Director Lone Scherfig managed to bring delicacy to the story of Emma and Dexter, making "One Day" a sensitive film. A love story built without resources common to films of this nature. Everything is almost realistic and fearful as life. She regrets that, when the situation picks up, she pulls the rug out from under us, with a cliché situation, announced, made just to make us cry. And she didn't even make it. Still, a good movie of its kind.

Disclaimer first up- biased review, as I am a sucker for love stories.

I used to think that Hollywood had stopped making emotionally involving love stories. Thank god they made One Day, then. Based on the best selling book by British author Dave Nicholls, the movie explores the intertwined lives of two protagonists of contrasting nature, yet fated to be together. The premise is novel, with the relationship explored though a peek into 15th July of each year, spread over 22 years.

Good stories are brought to life by good acting, and here we have two superb exponents in lead roles- Jim Sturgess as Dexter and Anna Hathaway as Emma. Dexter leads the high profile life, a television anchor with success in all forms chasing him, always. But then his life is also hollow, his friends shallow, and in the end, a faces disillusionment and compromise. Emma dwells in obscurity mostly, but through sheer tenacity and belief achieves a modicum of success as a writer. They meet when they are 18, decide to remain lifelong friends, and they do remain so. In the meanwhile meandering through the vagaries of life, they are inexorably drawn towards each other, dependent on each other.

Childhood sweethearts, even if long lost, when they do come together, they do get together without any questions asked- i say this having witnessed the same on a close friend of mine. And you cant help but fall in love with Emma and Dexter- their love story is so compelling and adorable, that you become a part of their story, you care for them, you laugh with them, and also cry, you want them to do what you would do, and yes, you desperately want a happy ending for them.

And of course there is Anna Hathaway-suitably rumpled and grunge in the first half, and elegance and grace personified in the second, when she flashes her pearly whites, the world seems to be a better place to live.

Why do people in love get to be in love in the best of locations? One Day happens in picturesque Edinburgh, colourful London, and stylish Paris. And the best thing that makes it stand out among all love stories is that it is not predictable, till the very end.

People and things change with time, but memories remain the same.- here's a movie that raises a toast to happy memories, a Must watch for mushy folks!

One Day Two eighties graduates in Edinburgh have an encounter on graduation day, July 15th ; the film follows their relationship by annual updates. Dexter (Jim Sturgess) brilliant, charismatic and a total narcissist and Emma (Ann Hathaway), a demure, warm sort are not a great match and both hitch up with others, but their friendship endures.

The film is romantic, but only to a point, and can hardly be described as a comedy; there is too much pain for that, despite some funny dialogue. It is a kind of growing older movie – early promise turning sour, bright young ambitious things tasting failure and settling for something less. The story is cleverly told and nicely shot, with good support from Ken Stott and Patricia Clarkson as Dexter's disapproving parents and Rhys Spall as Emma's husband. Jim Sturgess looks and acts uncannily like a younger Rupert Graves, who has portrayed a long line of charming handsome wastrels. Ann Hathaway might be from New York but she plays Emma perfectly – the dialect coaches really earned their money. Both of the principals manage to evoke our sympathy, though Sturgess has the harder job.

July 15 is St Swithin's day. On that day in 1415 the English Army led by Henry V (alias Laurence Olivier or Kenneth Branagh) defeated a larger French force at Agincourt. This has absolutely nothing to do with the movie though Dexter and Emma do at one stage venture to Brittany, where they manage to lose their clothes in one of the film's more comedic moments.

I couldn't help feeling the story arc was rather predictable but I was absorbed nonetheless. At the end I'm not sure what the attraction was for Emma – she was smart enough to realise Dexter was a jerk but somehow she couldn't resist. He does get better – perhaps deep down she wanted to reform him. Or perhaps deep down she wanted to be a bit wild too. A film for generation Xers who are wondering what the hell happened to their youthful dreams and plans.

"One Day", based on the novel of the same name, is the relationship of two people, Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess), as we see it on July 15th of each year. As can be expected from the nature of the story, it's a little dry, lacking in comedy. But then again, it's a romantic drama, not a romantic comedy.

As is the nature of the two media, movies can never be exactly the same as the novel. But the problem with this one is that they tried to; no story lines were removed. Almost everything was there, just shortened into mostly meaningless segments. I personally could have done with one less event in their lives, and perhaps a different ending, but they tried to be as faithful as possible.

What we have here is a movie about a relationship, but the novel was about the people. They traded in character depth and development so we can see them in their more attractive years falling in and out of love.

I wasn't very familiar with Jim Sturgess, having seen him play skinny, slightly nerdy, not as confident kids. Dexter is a different breed of guy. Just has high on self-confidence as he is on drugs and alcohol, he gets by on his looks – literally – he's a TV host. Although the different characteristics of Dexter weren't explicitly shown in the movie, Sturgess brought them out in him perfectly. Emma is a more complex character, with significant evolution to who she is throughout the years, except none of that is in the movie, so it just wasn't really possible for Hathaway to portray her as a more interesting person.

I would assume that watching "One Day" without the benefit of having read the novel would be a fairly confusing, empty experience. With the background that the novel gave me, I could fill in all the missing years and the unexplored layers to the characters, so there was still something to their relationship for me.

This film gets three stars for being reasonably engaging, pretty, and well-made. BUT! I didn't care much for the characters and found their relationship rather annoying.

This is basically a movie where the lead characters spend the whole time stringing each-other along while living their romantic lives with people other than each-other for most of the time- while simultaneously always going on and on about how great each-other is! I found myself yelling at the TV!! Why do people do that to each-other?!

If you're two people of the opposite sex who love one-another and want to share all your thoughts and feelings with each-other before anyone else, unless one or both of you are gay, then guess what dumb-dumb, that's the person for you! So, stop beating around the freakin' bush and just get together already, geez!!!! But no, these two people would rather waste their time first, and then get together after breaking a few hearts in the process. So not cool to me!

The only time the kind of behavior exhibited by the lead characters makes sense is when one or both is gay, then a close connection between two people of the opposite sex denying a romance with each-other is justifiable, otherwise it's just downright dishonest and unfair! If anything, the moral of this story is that heterosexual men and women CANNOT and SHOULD NOT be "best friends", because it's a ruse and emotionally confusing, not to mention hurtful.

I like my love-stories where the people are up front about it from the start and none of this silly rule-making and game-playing. Don't get me wrong, I love a slow-burn romance- IF it's a romance! But, when the two people involved deny that they are in a romance in the first place, that really kills the buzz for me. And then there's the end of this dreary mess, which was a killer too, to say the least!

This movie was recommended to me as a great example of a twin-flame/soulmate love story. But, that is not what I saw! No, this is not much of a "love story"- more like a "lose story".

Director Lone Scherfig is an acclaimed contemporary film maker from Denmark with many meaningful and fine movies to her credit like Italian for Beginners, The Riot Club, Just Like Home, Red Road, Their Finest, Wilbur wants to kill himself - and the Oscar nominated An Education, amongst many others. Amongst these, An Education was nominated for 56 Awards in total across various famed awards and in all she managed to NET 25 out of them! That's an impressive HIT ratio when you look at it!

So when we decided to watch One Day which is from Lone Scherfig's stable, starring seasoned Anne Hathaway & Jim Sturgess to drive the lockdown blues away, we knew the rest of the evening will be engrossing. And it was and how! The movie is crafty and a nice theme of July 15 as a red-letter day for 2 decades! And it is a very fine adaptation of famed author David Nicholls without many deviations so the movie is true to the novel. That's kind of nice! The story is weaved around Dexter and Emma who are central to the plot and the goings on keep you engrossed and hooked and pinned to the plot!

The movie opens in the period of late 80s, from the college days of Emma & Dexter (Hathaway & Sturgess) and follows them for 2 decades and keeps you engrossed to one day which is 15th of July every year, year on year between these two characters. It goes through many metamorphoses right from the late 80s youthful, exuberant and rebellious life days to mellowed, matured and heading towards middle age days, It meanders through racy, charming days of youth and moves on to observant and relaxed days of maturity with consummate ease, deftly holding you to thrall without your knowledge! Anne manages to steal the show and be ahead of race the when compared to Sturgess in emoting and breathing life to her character with composure while Sturgess pulls off his Hugh Grantish role with ease too! Will they both finally unite together after nearly 2 decades and after their other relationships that keep going on - on the side is what the climax heads to. Saying anything more will be spoiler so lets avoid it. But do see it, the movie keeps you on the hook while Anne takes the line and sinker!!!

Very seldom in Hollywood are movies produced that are as emotionally involving as 'One Day.' It's a beautiful, beautiful love story of two people, Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dex (Jim Sturgess). After spending the night together after graduation, we are taken on a journey into their lives for one day each year after they met; to see where they are or where they're not. Based on the book by David Nicholls (who also wrote the screenplay), 'One Day' transitions from novel to film brilliantly.

First let me say film acting is what I believe makes or breaks a movie - if the actors are great, the movie is generally great. That's not to take away from any other element of film at all, but when everything else is done so well, if the acting were bad, the film would have been less memorable. But Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess are so very impressive here. They make their characters real and relatable, which are two key things every actor internally wishes they could do. In fact, as an on-screen pair, they work extremely well, together they exude chemistry.

What I found most interesting about the entire experience was that I cared so much. I became enamoured with their lives. I kept hoping for the best. I anticipated what would happen to each of them. I sat forward, sat backward. I laughed and I cried. I've said many times before, a great movie will effect you emotionally in more ways than one. You'll be angry, you'll be happy, you'll be sad - the key is that you emote. This movie presented all of those elements. It was fresh and witty and everything you hope a movie will be. It's as beautifully made as it is acted and the locations are exquisite. Far too often, characters in Hollywood seem contrived and are not genuine. 'One Day' is honestly one of the most genuine stories ever told - there is no instant gratification, there is however frustration and that is the beauty of it all. It explores love and love lost, it explores friendship and the constraints of time and distance. It explores each character's journey to happiness and the trials they face along the way. So many little pieces of the puzzle are filled in between the years by simple, single lines of dialogue or actions. It's not the typical script of "everything's all good-obstacle-everything ends well" - there's a lot more complexity which makes it realistically genuine.

So many little details, like eye-lines, smiles, sighs, cut-off conversations, etc. were paid attention to. The costuming, cinematography and score were spot on and all noteworthy. All of it combined was moving and awe-inspiring. I left the theater crying, but it didn't stop there, even thinking about the movie and those characters is deeply affecting. Maybe there are some underlying themes in the film that I'm identifying with, or maybe, just maybe the actors were really that great. Whatever it is, this film comes with my highest recommendation, is rated PG-13 and runs 107 minutes.

While I'm sure One Day is a solid movie on its own, it falls a little flat to the new series adaptation. Potentially biased because I watched the series first, but with the nature of the story taking place over the course of several years, it's very hard to form a connection to the characters in an hour and 48 minutes.

The movie lacked the depth that the series was able to create with the characters, and portrayed Emma's character in a way that I think is a bit more pathetic. Now I don't know which version rings true to the novel, but either way, the nature of the story reads better as a series.

Also, Leo Woodall > Jim Sturgess.

I went to see One Day last night, and though I had been looking forward to it for a while, I was surprised at how good it actually is.

The film has a very unique atmosphere, as it is much quirkier than your average romance. Also, without giving away the ending, I can say that it isn't as predictable as one might think. What I really liked about it was the complexity of the different human relationships that we are shown. The relationship between Emma and Dexter is by no means an easy one, nor is it one-sided. Given how different they are, there is a lot of conflict between them, although they do love each other. Similarly, what Dexter and his ex-wife feel for one another is never pure hatred, but there is a lot of understanding between them. As a consequence, the story seems like it could be taken from real life.

Plus, both Hathaway and Sturgess are as convincing as always, which makes this film absolutely worth seeing.

Well im at a disadvantage watching this film after the release of the tv show. Which i gave 10/10 by the way. If you havent seen that. DO NOT WATCH THIS. GO to Netflix and watch the series. It is better on so many accounts. I actually loved it so much that i read the book. THEN i watched this.

They got a lot of things wrong with this film. The tone is off. The casting was poor... Like seriously who even is that guy playing dexter? He is a wretched actor who has no chemistry with Anne Hathaway whatsoever. It looks bland and depressing. It just doesnt have a lot going for it honestly.

What it does have going for it is an incredible story.

The problem is with such an incredible story, it is impossible to capture it in a less then two hour long film. This story takes time. The relationship takes soaking. The characters need fleshing out. This film just kind of falls flat because it doesn't take enough time with anyone or anything in particular. It is a poor book to film adaptation, focusing on the wrong sections, spending little time on character devlopment.

I mean really i believe this has got to be one of the WORST paced movies ive ever seen EVER. The pacing is just terrible. This story format DOES NOT compute to the screen. Either change up the story for a film adaptation or dont do it at all!

Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess) are a couple who first meet on their university graduation. They would grow apart and travel different paths. Dexter would become a successful TV host. Emma would date Ian (Rafe Spall). They're like migrating birds where their lives keep returning to each other.

The movie starts on July 15th, 1988 and it returns to that date every subsequent year. It's a gimmick that I've never seen before. I think there's a good reason for that. The story flow is disrupted and disjointed. It's a device that makes the movie feel silly and false. How many interesting things happens on the same date? It feels manufactured. Also important moments are missed. It just becomes an exercise in trying to keep up with the story.

I like Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess as a couple. They have a sweet chemistry. And they have a sense of depth in their relationship. The only adjustment is Anne's accent. It's always weird to see Americans taking out their British accent. I think this could be a great love story but it's too disjointed to built momentum.

First the casting. Anne Hathaway as Emma, the teenage girl who wears glasses ( and we know how Hitchcock disliked those!!! ) and a teenage young bore who thinks he is God's gift to women as Dexter ( awful name !!! ) played by Jim Sturgess meet up after graduation, and in a nutshell meet up for the next couple of decades, and we concentrate on one day of each year. It is a snakes and ladders story for both as they enact the game of life, gliding up and then sliding down as the years inexorably pass by. Other lovers ( but then aren't Emma and Dexter friends in love ? ) come and go, with a marriage for one of them and an unlikely professional success for the other. Life is glamorous in Paris, then seems dull in the UK and that is about it until the inevitable hand of fate steps in and resolves ( ? ) the situation called life for both of them. I both liked and disliked this film. I did believe that people can live like this but somehow the reality of that jarred with real cinematic pleasure. I found it dully directed one minute, then well directed the next. I also found Anne Hathaway's wayward accent as fluctuating as the rest and Jim Sturgess seemed goodish as an actor, then tedious the next. I give it a 6 as I was engrossed in part and even moved, but then the pull of this kind of ' serious ' romantic film tugged at my sleeve and told me I was being commercially ( sordid word ) manipulated. Really I found it a wish fulfillment film that goes ' tragically ' wrong, and my emotions and mind went up and down just like the snake and ladders game. It is a cinematic failure, then a success, and not a film for the depressed. I am not even quite sure why I was tempted to watch it. Psychotherapy here I come!!!

I had watched "One Day" yesterday and was beyond excited because I had read the novel by David Nicholls, which was fantastic. The movie base's around 2 people and their twenty years together, shown only through one day, July 15th. I thought the plot was unique and was a very realistic romance. Sometimes it takes people a lot to lose to realize what life is about, and how certain people are truly important to you. The movie was cute, funny, and quite sad at times. I thought Anne Hathaway did an okay job on the accent, to me it was odd at first but after a couple minutes I had gotten used to it. Her acting was great and you can really see her changing as the years progress. Jim Sturgess was great and in my opinion really portrayed Dexter the best as possible, with the arrogance and attitude exactly as I imagined Dexter would have. In my own opinion the movie was a great watch, was a romance that I had been dying for ever sense The Notebook. Finally a tear jerking but smile at the end movie, that really anyone can enjoy, if your looking for a romance movie.

I was pleasantly surprised by this film. I thought this was going to be another chick flick with a guy flirting with a girl but I found it was an amazing love story that spans 2 decades and gives a glimpse of what true love could really be.

Anne H. was great for this because she is a timeless beauty that played her role through the years wonderfully, and Jim S. did a great job evolving with his character through immaturity to understanding. The European setting was beautiful and added to the scenes from the city to country side building the romance of it all.

I wish I would have seen it sooner :)

This movie brought a tear to my eye because it holds a dear message to me. Never take life for granted and sometimes the things that hold dearest to you are right in front of your nose. You may not know it and sometimes, you miss out what you never knew.

Anne Hathaway was great in this movie. A love story that ended in full circle. It's bitter sweet because of what happens towards the end of the movie. That's something I won't spoil.

I think the important thing to realize from this film is to never wait for the right moment because you never know what may happen. Take a chance. You just might get what you want.

Greetings from Lithuania.

I don't watch romantic movies often, but when i heard about story of "One day" i thought of giving it a chance. And it sure didn't disappoint me. This is a really good love story, told in a single day in a year in period of 23 years. Movie is beautifully filmed, with great acting by the two leads, especially from Anne Hathaway. She's just so ... beautiful in every meaning of this word. Can't wait to see her next summer in "TDKR". "One day" isn't your typical Hollywood love story and you can clearly FEEL that watching it.

Give this movie a chance and you can be really surprised that when this movie will end, you'll fell your self a little ... brighter.

I just watched this movie. It is a very touching movie. The acting is great and beautiful cinematography. This was done by the same director that did An Education, which is a great movie. There are times One Day was a bit tedious and not very convincing. However, this movie surely hit home in places. Anne is wonderful as usual. She has a natural appeal to her. Some may gripe about her English accent; I had no problem with it. Not sure if this is a remake, but it is very similar to a 2001 Japanese film called Reisei to jônetsu no aida; the score is even similar. Both are beautiful movies, though the Japanese movie is more powerful of a film. One Day is definitely worth checking out, especially if you're with that special someone. Enjoy!