Celebrating 25 Years of ‘Notting Hill’: A Look Back at Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant’s Beloved Romantic Comedy.
In 1999, the romantic comedy “Notting Hill,” featuring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, captured hearts worldwide. Penned by Richard Curtis and helmed by Roger Michell, the film narrates the love story between Anna Scott, a renowned movie star, and William Thacker, a bookstore owner in a quaint English town. Released 25 years ago in May 1999, “Notting Hill” achieved significant success, earning $364 million globally against a $42 million budget. Let’s delve into the highlights of the “Notting Hill” 25th anniversary.
Critics nationwide showered “Notting Hill” with praise, a rarity for mainstream romantic comedies. Derek Elley of Variety remarked, “[The film] exudes an abundance of genuine charm—a quality often elusive on screen—backed by a talented cast and high production values.” Wesley Morris from the San Francisco Examiner noted, “Director Michell avoids resting on the laurels of slapstick, instead delving into the sophisticated yet subversive romantic and social nuances of Curtis’ script.” Roger Ebert, writing for the Chicago Sun-Times, lauded the film’s brightness, witty dialogue, and the affable nature of Roberts and Grant.
With “Notting Hill” receiving acclaim and box office success, speculation arose about its potential for awards recognition in early 2000. While many award bodies tend to overlook comedies, particularly romantic ones, “Notting Hill” garnered enough admiration and respect throughout 1999 to merit consideration for a couple of Academy Award nominations. The prior Oscar triumph of the romantic comedy “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” starring Grant and written by Curtis, which secured nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, hinted at “Notting Hill’s” prospects, possibly for Best Original Screenplay for Curtis at the 72nd Academy Awards. Additionally, Roberts, a two-time Oscar nominee by then, including a Best Actress nod for her 1990 hit “Pretty Woman,” delivered one of her finest performances in “Notting Hill,” generating Oscar buzz during awards season.
“Notting Hill” kicked off its awards journey at the Golden Globe Awards, bagging three nominations in the Comedy or Musical category—Best Actor for Grant, Best Actress for Roberts, and Best Picture. Grant, competing against talents like Jim Carrey for “Man on the Moon,” secured a strong position but fell short to Carrey’s remarkable performance. Roberts, vying with notable actresses, faced tough competition and lost to Janet McTeer for “Tumbleweeds.” The film itself, while acclaimed, couldn’t surpass the triumph of “Toy Story 2” in the Best Comedy/Musical Picture category.
Despite missing out on major wins at the Golden Globes, “Notting Hill” could have still contended at the Oscars with support from other precursor awards. While it garnered several nominations at various ceremonies, including BAFTA, where it won the Audience Award for Favorite Film and earned nominations for Best Supporting Actor for Rhys Ifans and Best British Film, it missed the mark at Critics Choice and SAG. Ifans, particularly memorable in his role as William’s flat-mate, stood out and could have been a strong contender for Supporting Actor at the Oscars.
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