Sleepless In Seattle
Stacey Smith
ENG225: Introduction to Film
Instructor Cooper
January 26, 2015

I have chosen to write about the Romantic Comedy film “Sleepless in Seattle”. This film was released on June 25, 1993. The cast members in the film are Tom Hanks (Sam Baldwin), Meg Ryan (Annie Reed), Bill Pullman (Walter), Rosie O’Donnell (Becky), Rob Reiner (Jay). It is directed by Nora Ephron, written by Nora Ephron and Jeff Arch, and the producer is Gary Foster. The major theme of this movie is about answering the question, Can True Love happen again? This is a story is centered around a man named Sam played by Tom Hanks whose wife becomes sick and passes away. Due to her passing their lives are now broken and they are left wondering how they will cope. Sam’s friends begin telling him that he will soon meet someone else, and he replies, “I’ll grow a new heart…..it only happens once”. (Hanks) Sam and his son decide to leave home and start a new life in Seattle. On Christmas Eve Sam’s son was listening to the radio and a talk show psychologist asked her listening audience what they were wishing and dreaming of during this season of hope, and the little boy called in and said his wish was for his father who had been a widow for a year and a half and he wished for a new wife for his father. Meanwhile, across the country while punching buttons on her car radio, Annie played by Meg Ryan, hears Jonah and the wish he makes, and she is immediately captivated by him and his selfless Christmas wish. The little boy and his dad start receiving several letters from listeners wanting to help and even received several marriage proposals from women all over the country. This is when Annie feels convinced that it is her destiny to meet Sam. There are only two problems with this one being she is already engaged to a man that she loves, and Jonah’s dad doesn’t even know that he and Annie are made for each other. In the movie there are several techniques that help to contribute to the establishment of this theme. One would be where it shows Sam and his son standing beside each other at the grave site. The lighting is low-key, which helps to show depression, sadness, and gloom due to the loss of his wife and the boy’s mother. This allows the viewers to be able to understand that this is a sad moment, and that they are struggling with a loss of someone very special. Also, that they now are faced with the situation of living life with just each other and have to start fresh and to make a lot of adjustments and learn to cope with the situation. The style of acting during this scene displays sadness, at a loss by both of them. It shows the father with his arm around the young boy and comforting him as he copes with the loss of his mother. In the scene where Sam and his son are looking at a map and he ask him to point out here Annie is from and where they are and how far the distance is between them displays where Sam believes that you can only fall in love once, because it seems like he doesn’t believe it could work. The lighting is not to low, but yet not to high, it seems to show that while the boy has hope about it being able to work the father is not so sure about it working. His reply to his son also reaffirms that he is in disbelief about finding a new wife. The scene where it shows Annie in the car after she finds the radio station where the young boy is telling his wish displays low lighting, which focuses directly on her and allows her emotions to show and also brings out her sadness and her tears. The scene where they finally meet seems to cover it all. The lighting is low-key, and the setting is romantic. It shows where they are going back to get his son’s backpack he left, and as they came around the corner Sam and Annie looks into each other’s eyes and then you see them smile. The music that is played is perfect and sets off the romantic feeling that is going on. It displays a sort of connection between the three of them that Sam didn’t think was possible to have happen again. The camera then switches to the guard as he clears his throat giving Sam a hint that he has to go. Then the camera goes back to the three of them, and then Sam says it is time to go it shows them starring into each other’s eyes again, and then he says shall we then it shows Sam extending his hand out and her placing her hand into his. These elements all give off the vibe that falling in love for a second time is possible. My opinion about film and how all the elements displayed throughout the film are that sequence was used in the way things happened in the film. The lighting displayed throughout the whole film was perfect for each scene to help you follow what was happening, and allowed you to feel the same emotions that the actors were displaying. The setting where everything took place was perfect. I feel that there were really no other elements that could have been used in this film to make it better. Everything was ideal for the point that was being made. If the lighting had been changed at any point it could have possibly taken away from the movie. The emotions that were displayed by each of them helped the viewers to be able to connect and to feel what was going on in a way that would allow the film to be understood at its full potential. I do not feel that anything needed to be taken away or needed to be added to this film.

References: http://www.afi.com/10top10/moviedetail.aspx?id=34&thumb=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeY1mkXqKgk http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108160/plotsummary?ref_=tt_stry_pl http://www.arathewriter.com/2013/10/plot-structure-analysis-sleepless-in.html
Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. This text is a Constellation™ course digital materials (CDM) title.