In Love and War

This is a true account of one phase of American author Ernest Hemingway's life. It is set during World War 1 and Hemingway is a soldier on the Western Front. He falls in love with a nurse and a woman who is older than him. This would be a normal love story but when you know that it was a real life episode it is better. However, things don't work out well in the end. Life does not have happy endings always. Good movie if you want to feel sentimental

I found this movie tolerable for what it is - and it is a movie VERY LOOSELY referencing a true story. I think 'based on' is just too defining. This is a portrayal based on a few letters - and even the words in those real letters written by the gal herself were just one small side of the story.

I read a few reviews where people felt this portrayal of E. H was in no way accurate.

I guess for everyone who felt that way, they must be still be the exact same person they were at 20 as they are at 60?

Still, for some reason, I do feel O'Donnell was miscast as E. H. But the lack of intense chemistry between the actors &/or the characters was useful - because this relationship was never meant to be. Honestly, and I don't mean to negate the need or importance of it - but the number of short-lived romances that occur in war out of need & fear & many other emotions - is endless. They're meaningful in the moment - realistically most participants understand that. I think E. H. didn't want that fact to be true. To me, that whole concept what the movie portrays.

I can certainly imagine him as a competitive, brash 20 year old with idealistic expecations of war - and I did like that the movie portrayed he 'grew up' at least a little bit during his time in Italy. But nothing but decades matures us physically, mentally, & emotionally, and then, many are terribly stunted in one or both of the latter two.

As for his later writing about war - it's largely from observation rather than participation. That's the gifted writer. They don't necessarily have to and many never personally experience the stuff they write. So why expect or demand that of them?

As far as a war-romance-drama goes this was entertaining on that level only.

Don't go in expecting a completely true story. Don't leave it thinking you saw history.

Just accept the genre for what it is.

The film "In Love and War" is full of emotions of its main characters. I really like such kind of films because of feelings during watching. As everyone knows all the events of that times are so hard and tense because of the World War I, but love has a great power. Despite on War this ate gave people the opportunity to make a very happy couple. The romance between Agness and Ernest erupts unexpectedly. And even such an independent person as Agnes that doesn't believe in love at first sight fall in love with the 18- year old boy. Actually, in the move they felt such a pure feelings to each other that makes us thinking about our habitual life. The plot of the story is deep and characterized by touching and sentimental features. Sandra Bullok in the role of Agness is so reserved, representative and unruly nurse that at first we may say that she doesn't interested in anything except her job, but when everything happens we can see that her heart is not so cold as it seems. Another main character Chris O'Donnel plays in the role of Enrest. In the movie, we can see that this 18- year old boy is an independent reporter that is also handsome, nice and confident in life. I should say that it's very impressive that such opposite people fall in love with each other. I think it help us to trust in something incredible. But even here everything can't be good. Dr. Caracciolo fell in love with a young Agness. To my mind, the only one disadvantage of this move is the absence of happy end. Such a beautiful love story does not have any good result and it made me disappointed. This film is worthy of viewing and I think it won't leave anyone indifferent.

In Love and War is one of the greatest romance films ever. O'Donnell and Bullock shine in this sentimental melodrama about war and what it can do to love. O'Donnell is great as Hemingway and Bullock rocks as the nurse that falls for him. This movie is perfect for women and if you can get your hubbie to watch with you, well, that's good, too.

For those of you who have read Hemingway, you will be surprised and captivated by the boyishness of the pre-war Hemingway that O'Donnell gives us so beautifully. The episodes in the life of the author that are covered by In Love and War are for the most part, not pretty. However, they give an insight into the writing of America's greatest author that no other movie of his work has ever done. Those who expected a movie version of A Farewell to Arms did not receive it, because the autobiographical In Love and War does not tell the same story that the semi-autobiographical book, A Farewell to Arms did. In Love and War is far closer to the truth, as other Hemingway scholars will attest. In that way, this movie is a valuable historical and biographical resource for people interested in Hemingway and his experiences in WWII Italy.

If you are watching this movie just for fun, however, and not to gain insight into a book or an author's life, there is much here for you as well. Bullock and O'Donnell have a wonderful chemistry, and the lighthearted moments are weighed against a tale of great agony and suffering without being preachy or too painful. There are serious moments, when the reality of life and war come home to Ernest, and there are beautiful moments, when Catherine explores Italy. It's a wonderful mix of the dramatic and the light, without being overdone or showy. The realism is striking. I hope that everyone who watches this movie enjoys it as much as I did.