Truly Madly Deeply **** (1990, Juliet Stevenson, Alan Rickman, Michael Maloney, Bill Paterson, Jenny Howe) – Classic Movie Review 7094

Writer-director Anthony Minghella’s 1990 film Truly Madly Deeply is the adorable British answer to Ghost (1990), in which Juliet Stevenson stars as English language teacher Nina, still in love with her dead cellist boyfriend Jamie (Alan Rickman), who has come back to haunt her – at least until she meets nice social worker Mark (Michael Maloney). Minghella won the 1992 BAFTA Film Award for Best Screenplay – Original and the London Evening Standard British Film Award as Most Promising Newcomer. Well, they were right there!

Writer-director Minghella’s lovely fantasy film tells a sweet and simple ghost story that makes an irresistible appeal to the emotions. Stevenson won the London Evening Standard British Film Award as Best Actress for her honest and moving performance, expertly handling the difficult subject of grief. But it is the exuberance of best actor Rickman (that year’s Evening Standard Best Actor for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Close My Eyes) and Maloney that makes this so truly, madly, deeply satisfying.

It is a film of memorable moments adding up to a great whole: zombies picking out videos to watch, Maloney telling his life story while hopping, Rickman and Stevenson dueting on ‘The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Any More’.

Also in the cast are Bill Paterson, Jenny Howe, Carolyn Choa, Christopher Rozycki, Keith Bartlett, David Ryall, Deborah Findlay, Richard Syms, Ian Hawkes and Stella Maris.

Truly Madly Deeply (also known as Cello) is directed by Anthony Minghella, runs 105 minutes, is made by Winston, BBC and Lionheart, released by The Samuel Goldwyn Company, is written by Anthony Minghella, is shot by Remi Adefarasin, is produced by Robert Cooper, is scored by Barrington Pheloung and is designed by Barbara Gasnold.

The London Critics Circle Film Awards 1992 voted Rickman British Actor of the Year and Stevenson British Actress of the Year – but Rickman for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Quigley Down Under and Close My Eyes). In any case, it was a very good year for Rickman.

Rickman took cello lessons for the role, but on screen while he handles the right bowing arm, the left hand is that of a professional cellist standing behind him with his arm through the actor’s armpit.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7094

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