Dawson Cole (James Marsden, older and Luke Bracey, younger) works on an offshore oil rig. His performance as a rough neck is well respected. Unhappily, the rig catches fire one day and blows, but Dawson manages to rescue two men before he plunges over 100 feet into the ocean. Miraculously, he is alive, perhaps saved by a vision of a girl he knew long ago. That would be Amanda (Michelle Monaghan, older, Liana Liberato, younger). Shortly after, Dawson goes back home, having received notice that a dear surrogate father, Tuck (Gerald McRaney) has died. Amanda is there, too. At once, the film goes back to their senior-in-high-school days. Amanda was the pretty little rich girl. Unluckily, Dawson was the son of an abusive backwoods drug dealer. They met by accident, where Dawson was too stymied even to talk to this gal. But, slowly, a relationship developed. After another beating, Dawson ran away from home and stayed with the crusty widower Tuck, which enabled him to see more of Amanda. Love was strong and true between them. Yet, her dad disapproved and a crisis tore them apart. Now, 20 years later, they meet. Alas, Amanda is married with a husband, teen son, and memories of a daughter who died. But, will these two be able to resist the immense feelings of love that come rushing back? This beautiful movie should have romance fans crying oceans and sighing deeply. Forget the critics, they absolutely DO NOT KNOW HOW to review a female oriented movie any more. The cast is wonderful, the Louisiana setting is gorgeous, the costumes lovely, the script touching and the direction slow but analytic. Yes, this viewer didn't care for the ending, in which an added element was not needed to enhance the strength of the tale. But, all in all, fans best carry along a couple boxes of tissues, as this heartfelt flick will have tears falling like rain for all.
