Blu-ray Review: Celebrate Valentine’s Day With ‘Love Story’

Submitted by BrianTT on February 14, 2012 - 3:58pm

CHICAGO – It’s hard to believe that a movie that has come to personify cheesy melodrama like “Love Story” was nominated for SEVEN OSCARS, including Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director, and Screenplay (losing the biggies to a film exactly on the other end of the dramatic spectrum, “Patton”). “Love Story” is a sweet, competent drama, but, wow, it’s easy to forget how much it took over when it was released, making over $100 million on a budget under $3 million. This movie was MASSIVE and it would make a great last-minute Valentine’s Day treat.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

How has “Love Story” held up over time? So-so. It’s hard to exactly recreate the impact the film had in 1970. Lines like “Love means never having to say you’re sorry” sound more like cheese the 1,000th time you hear them than they do the first. “Love Story” has been so mocked and mimicked that it’s difficult to appreciate how much it hit pop culture like a hurricane. It was everywhere, to the point that the Academy couldn’t ignore it. Would it get nominated for seven awards in 2012? No way. But there’s something amazing about timing. About finding actors like Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw at the peak of their charisma and using them to play audience heartstrings like a harp. Catch a bit of movie history with this Blu-ray release.

Love Story was released on Blu-ray and DVD on February 7, 2012
Photo credit: Paramount

Synopsis:
Harvard law student Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O’Neal) and music student Jennifer Cavilleri (Ali McGraw) share a chemistry they cannot deny - and a love they cannot ignore. Despite their opposite backgrounds, the young couple put their hearts on the line for each other.

When they marry, Oliver’s wealthy father threatens to disown him. Jenny tries to reconcile the Barrett men, but to no avail. Oliver and Jenny continue to build their life together. Relying only on other, they believe love can fix anything. But fate has other plans. Soon, what began as a brutally honest friendship becomes the love story of their lives.

For the first time on Blu-ray, this beloved film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including an Oscar-winning musical score that became the poignant theme of the timeless romance.

Special Features:
Commentary by Director Arthur Hiller
Love Story: A Classic Remembered
Original Theatrical Trailer

“Love Story” stars Ryan O’Neal, Ali MacGraw, and Ray Milland. It was written by Erich Segal and directed by Arthur Hiller. It was released on Blu-ray on February 7th, 2012.