It's amazing how things hit you differently the older you get. When I was younger, I loved CHAPTER TWO and thought of it as a charming romantic comedy about finding love the second time around. Tonight while watching it with Troy, I found myself incredibly moved and teary. That's something that has never hit me before with this story. CHAPTER TWO started life as a Broadway Play in the late 70's. Neil Simon wrote it and based it on his real life second marriage to Marsha Mason. Neil Simon's first wife passed away and not long after he met Marsha Mason while she was performing in his play THE GOOD DOCTOR. They fell in love and got married. But not long after the wedding, the pangs of guilt and memories of Mr Simon's first wife nearly ruined his newfound love with Ms Mason. Mr Simon wrote CHAPTER TWO with every intention of having Ms Mason do it on the stage, but she found it a little too close to home and thought it was too soon. The Play was a hit. A few years later, Columbia Pictures made the film of the play and Ms Mason felt enough time had passed, so she starred in the film alongside James Caan. The story closely resembles the real life situation with a few fictional elements thrown in, although Mr Simon's memoirs attest to several moments in the play and screenplay that are pulled directly from actual conversations and arguments that he and Ms Mason had. The film is incredibly romantic and also heartbreaking at times. James Caan is riveting as George Schneider, a man who falls in love too soon and is unable to let go of his wife's hold on his heart. It is astounding to watch his performance and realize that he was not nominated for an Oscar. It's a beautiful performance that should have been recognized. Marsha Mason plays Jennie Maclaine and absolutely deserved her third Oscar nomination for this role. She lost to Sally Field in NORMA RAE. Ms Mason completely inhabits this character and practically dares you not to fall in love with her. Because she is basically playing a version of herself and living her own moments, so to speak, it is that much more of a real honest thrilling performance. Second only to Ms Mason's 1981 fourth Oscar nominated performance in ONLY WHEN I LAUGH, this is among her finest work. Valerie Harper and Joseph Bologna provide terrific supporting work as Jennie's best friend and George's little brother. Filmed on location in New York City, the town looks absolutely beautiful. Tonight I find this movie very hard to shake. Watching it with my Soulmate, knowing our history and how it took so long to find each other made me appreciate the whole aspect of starting a second chapter in ones life. How you must let go of the "ghosts" in order to move forward in life and love. In the final scene, as Jennie runs through the streets of Manhattan to get home to her waiting husband, I found myself a puddle on the couch. Like I said, amazing how things hit you differently with age. I no longer consider this a comedy. It's a drama about love, life, and second chances. Absolutely one of Neil Simon's finest works.
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