ada the leading man is my tpye

Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Python Hyena Message in the Bottle (1999): Dir: Luis Mandoki / Cast: Kevin Costner, Robin Wright, Paul Newman, Illeana Douglas, John Savage: One of the worst excuses for a romance ever concocted. The title would be most fitting for a beer commercial and indeed viewers may need to resort to a drink after sitting through this sappy pathetic trash. Kevin Costner sends letters addressed to his late wife sailing in bottles. Robin Wright discovers one washed ashore and attempts contact. Useless subplot involves a rivalry with his in-laws because he refuses to give over his late wife's paintings. It is predictable and dull with a cheap tearjerker ending. Dreadful directing by Luis Mandoki who previously made When a Man Loves a Woman. If a man truly did love a woman then he would avoid subjecting her to this shipwreck piece of crap. Horrid performance by Costner as a guy who lives next door to his father and builds boats. Wright fares even worse but what is most puzzling is her inability to explain her business to him. Would he really be that upset to hear how his messages inspired her? Paul Newman plays Costner's bickering father in a role way too conventional. Illeana Douglas is also featured hopefully to her regret. The family of Costner's late wife are too over the top and only exist to bicker and yell over trivial tripe. Grief ridden crap that should be flushed down the toilet. Score: 0 / 10

eric262003 "Message in a Bottle" tells the tale of a middle-aged boat builder named Garret Blake who has never recovered from the loss of his wife. As a way to escape from his inner doldrums he starts writing letters and placing them bottles and throws them in the ocean. A Chicago Tribune researcher named Theresa (Robin Wright Penn) finds the bottled messages and embarks on a mission to see who's the gentleman who's writing these provocative and yet sincere letters. Once they unite they start to exchange one's personal trials and tribulations and to seek comfort to one another.This is a rather simple adult story of grief and finding comfort to heal the wounds that manifest in each other's veins. The pacing of the movie is horribly slow, the romantic scenes are quite soothing, the acting is very well done, but the ending is a major turn-off. For those who were looking for an entertaining, thrill of a lifetime, light romantic tale will better check with me to seek elsewhere because in this movie it not happening here. Granted this movie has very gripping romantic scenes, but the film follows on a plot that involves a man who just can't seem to overcome grief. This film could have reflection of those who have experienced this tragedy and have never fully overcomes this permanent obstacle. Sure there's an engaging romantic story involving Garret and Theresa, but it was just outweighed by the grieving plot and the struggle to get over it.The performances were excellent as Kevin Costner turns in a remarkable performance with his trademark, tough, rugged, but vulnerable character. Robin Wright Penn was also very good in her role, but doesn't offer anything authentic here. Paul Newman who seems to have been getting on in age here seems badly clichéd, but much-needed to prevent this story from being overly melancholy as the cantankerous old father of Costner's. The feeling of the movie is quite serene, especially the scenes where the sweet romance materializes. For those who like the seas then this will double the appreciation to those who like the movie already. The water scenes symbolize the lives the characters face as each time passes.All I can say is that it truly visual eye-candy, the performances were all very good, but sadly the snail's pace and the uneventful scenes make this film more cathartic rather than a romantic drama. It wasn't a terrible movie, but it surely wasn't the greatest.

annmason1 This movie is l o n g, too long, and insulting. Robin Wright is wonderful; Kevin Costner is Kevin Costner; Paul Newman is to be complimented for evolving into a character actor.Any resemblance to a worthwhile experience ends there. In its defense, this movie must have had to end the way it did; it's the adaptation of a book. Thank God it is not another, "The Scarlett Letter" adaptation that makes its own ending! The ending is laughable. I could not believe that the guy would not come wandering out of the waves. Plus...this flick had so many endings, it reminded me of Lord of the Rings, the Return of the King. It just kept going on and on with various endings. It was like a high Roman Catholic wedding mass to a Baptist; you think it's over, gather up your things, and it keeps going! The difference is that such a mass is beautiful; this movie is unbelievably boring.MIAB is actually a character study; best suited to no more than one hour. I think it is just poorly written; there are too many loose ends. Plus, it is HOKEY beyond belief! Anyone, including myself, who would sit through this turkey deserves better! I believe the production company went over its deadline and someone pulled the plug.Well, that's one more good thing...it could still be running.

TheLittleSongbird I love Nicholas Sparks's writing, so I was looking forward to Message in a Bottle, especially when the book was so good. And I was really touched by the film. While it is overlong, it looks beautiful with a beguiling soundtrack and a great cast, plus it resonated with me.The characters may be clichéd, but I could say the same for the characters in the book and in all the other film adaptations based on his work. But being clichéd isn't necessarily a bad thing, when a character or film is written well it doesn't matter for me. The characters for me were engaging and likable, and the story is an emotional one, with a I think genuinely poignant ending.The script does have a strong emotional core too, the pace was purposefully mannered but rarely boring and the whole movie is beautifully directed. Message in a Bottle looks beautiful, all the Sparks adaptations do but Message in a Bottle with its stunning coastal scenery gets my vote as the most visually beautiful. The soundtrack is soothing and very beguiling, and the acting is very good. Kevin Costner is good, Robin Wright Penn is perfectly enchanting with a gorgeous smile and eyes and Paul Newman the great actor he was is splendid with a more restrained method to his acting than his usual intense persona.All in all, a really touching movie. 9/10 Bethany Cox