Notting Hill is a British romantic comedy released in the UK on 21st May 1999. It is one of many rom-coms written by the famous Richard Curtis who also produced pieces such as 'Love Actually'.
Notting Hill begins with TV footage of Julia Roberts, it shows alot of media coverage and paparazzi footage. Also there is what we think is a live radio interview before any music starts. The opening titles are very simple and are in white and purple writing. There is a non-diagetic score in the scene when the opening titles begin, which sounds like a radio playing the song 'She' by Elvis Costello. This type of music allows the audience to relate to the scene and as it is a romantic song it creates ambience. At the end of this scene the camera flashes and then clicks to show that something life changing has / is about to happen.
We meet the other main character, Hugh Grant in a very different way however. It fades from Julia Roberts to Hugh Grant as we see him walk across the road and suddenly he becomes the narrator. He tells us the history of Notting Hill and this allows the audience to really depict the scene and imagine that they are there with him. This introduction immediately gives us the background information into his life. The narration stops when dialogue begins and there is also a break in narration when we meet Spike. This is to draw attention to the character as he is the antithesis (complete opposite) to Hugh Grant's character. Differences are cleverly shown throughout the opening of 'Notting Hill'. For example; Hugh Grant appears to be poor as we get shown his house and then we see where he works, which is a book shop. Julia Roberts is shown mainly through media coverage so we immediately realise she is a famous actress and therefore must be wealthy. These differences denote a famous actress and an ordinary bloke.
Overall, Notting Hill shows all of the codes and conventions of a typical rom-com through light hearted humour, romance and social comment.
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