Richard & Diane: A matter of trust

Two complete strangers meet during a difficult crossroads in their respective lives and ignite a passionate love affair one stormy North Carolina weekend and discover that there is indeed a possibility of a second chance at love, call this writer mawkish or whatever but that makes for one great story.

Best-selling author Nicholas Sparks’ exquisite novel Nights in Rodanthe comes to life on the big-screen in Warner Bros.’ faithful adaptation of the sweeping love story starring powerhouse stars Richard Gere and Diane Lane.

Richard and Diane, who last graced the screen together in the hit 2002 drama Unfaithful — for which the latter received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress — return in one of the most anticipated romantic films of the year.

“We have a peculiar relationship, thank God, we both have wonderful marriages,” says Richard when asked how he feels about working with Diane again. Nights in Rodanthe marks the two stars’ third screen coupling. They first appeared together as reckless lovers in the classic Francis Ford Coppola film The Cotton Club 24 years ago.

The two superstars met with The Philippine Star more than two weeks ago in Beverly Hills to talk about the movie and their much-talked about screen chemistry, which the actors couldn’t offer any satisfactory explanations either.

“We don’t talk to each other actually at all. We don’t have any sort of relationship outside of making movies. But once or twice a year we would call each other,” says Richard. “Our friendship has evolved over the years into a great sense of trust. I love working with her.”

In the movie, Richard portrays Paul, a surgeon whose previous marriage ended in a broken relationship with his only son. He finds himself in an inn along the Outer Banks of North Carolina during one stormy weekend to face a personal crisis only to meet and fall in love with Adrienne (Diane Lane), who is herself struggling to rebuild her life in the aftermath of her husband’s infidelity and her teenage daughter’s impassive treatment of her.

“It’s always exciting and challenging to bring the challenges of parenthood to the frame. I think that is the most humbling and rewarding element and the fact that Richard’s character is reconciling with his grown-up son is, I think, bittersweet,” reveals Diane on what she loves most about her character.

“I can’t say I have a great affinity with my character because acting is about analogy — a metaphor — about having made a decision early on to be the best that you can be,” adds Richard. “My character happens to be not the best father and the best husband but he was motivated to help people and he wanted to be the best in what he does and to leave that nurturing and care from his family was the bargain that he made and he is paying for it now.”

It is when their characters were in their “most vulnerable state”, as the director calls it, that love blossomed and their lives suddenly took on a different meaning, a new sense of purpose, if you will.

Should a middle-aged couple decide to let go and embrace that all-consuming love they haven’t felt in a long time? That’s the biggest question the movie satisfactorily answers.

Movie romances featuring couples over 30 are rare in Hollywood these days and the movie is a welcome departure from a recent spate of films focusing on teenagers’ quest for love and reasons in life.

“For some reason I am thinking of Two for the Road,” Richard says referring to the classic Albert Finney-Audrey Hepburn film. “That’s the kind of movie that probably we’ll never see again. Most of the movies are made these days are under 22 (in reference to the main characters’ ages) but I think if a brilliant script is out there, then those kinds of movies will probably get made.”

“There are X unknown mysterious qualities that happen in adult romances. There has to be that chemistry between people and I don’t know if it works with Diane and me but other people say it works,” Richard further adds.

Would they consider themselves romantic?

“Yes and a lot!” Diane replies after a heavy considerable sigh in response to the question. “I think it’s all in the power of the mind to interpret anything as a romantic thing. It can be a place, an object. It’s all about the weight that it puts on inside your own mind and how people think about something that makes it romantic.”

Diane admits that even seeing Nights in Rodanthe made her feel romantic, too.

“Filming the movie was one thing and to see it on-screen is another,” she says. “It stirred up romantic feelings — the seaside, the outer banks, the smell of the ocean, all these things that I wasn’t really connected up to when I was filming and then I saw the movie and I felt I was actually there”

“I’ve never seen anyone who gave up (love) in my life — even my suicidal friends,” Richard jokingly adds. “The world leans toward love and as long as the heart is beating there is always that yearning for love.”

Richard who is still a heartthrob to many women has been married a considerable amount of time to model Carrie Otis and considers anyplace in the world romantic as long as his wife is with him to share it with. Ladies, you may, too, sigh now.

Diane is currently in a relationship with Josh Brolin herself.

Nights in Rodanthe opens Oct. 22 in theaters.