Told over three different timelines, Netflix’s latest period-piece romantic drama “The Last Letter from Your Lover” is a bit hard to follow at times. Jumping back and forth between present day, 1960s France and 1960s London, the novel turned drama movie largely covers the life of Jennifer Stirling (Shailene Woodley) and her un-happy marriage to absent husband, Larry Stirling (Joe Alywn, aka Taylor Swift’s boyfriend). During the course of her marriage, she meets Anthony O'Hare who she begins a love affair with during the 1960s.
The movie is based on the book of the same name that was written by JoJo Moyes, the author of another book-turned-film “Me Before You” (2016) starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin. If you enjoyed that movie, you will most likely enjoy this re-creation as well.
We enter the movie from Jennifer’s perspective who is recovering from amnesia after a car accident. Unable to remember what her life with her husband was like or what led her to get into the car that night, she begins rifling through drawers and boxes to find some clue to what her life had been like before the accident. While she is researching, she discovers that she began a love affair with Anthony O’Hare (Callum Turner) six-months prior. As she begins piecing her life back together, we flit back and forth to their time together compared to her present-day life in 1960s France.
All while Jennifer is uncovering her life and past self, we visit Ellie (Felicity Jones) in present day. Ellie is a journalist, looking for her next story when she discovers the letters written between Jennifer and Anthony detailing their romantic relationship and scandalous affair. While she is uncovering the letters, we discover that Jennifer’s accident had occurred the night she decided to leave her husband Larry (cringe) behind and start a new life with Anthony. Believing that Jennifer is not coming by choice, Anthony boards the train alone.
The casting of Woodley as the 1960s Jennifer and Jones as the present-day journalist seems backwards and mis-cast. It would have made more sense to have the roles reversed, maybe it would have worked better. Meanwhile, Alwyn’s performance could most aptly be described as a lack-luster imitation of arrogant and pompous Tom Buchanan, attempting to assert his power and dominance over his submissive wife, Jennifer. The entire performance felt like an act and didn’t come across with the same inflection as intended.
Callum Turner as Jennifer’s lover, Anthony, is the most memorable in the film and is encouraging – we should see more of him on our screens. Previously known for his role in “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald”, I definitely wouldn’t mind investing in his future projects.
Drama, romance and an attempt at mystery, the movie should have it all, and maybe it does on paper. However, the film seems a bit…dry, or boring, for a better word. Entertaining, yes. A re-watch, probably not. Smart to be released on streaming versus attempting for a splash on the big screen, it most likely wouldn't have fared well.
Movie Score: 5.5/10
And that’s the sitch.
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