Watch Elizabethtown

Elizabethtown is a 2005 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Cameron Crowe and starring British actor Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst, and Susan Sarandon. The movie revolves around the story of Drew Baylor, a shoe designer from Oregon, who after facing a major failure in his career is informed of his father's death while he is on a business trip. With his entire world crumbling around him, Drew decides to travel to his hometown of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, to take care of his father's final rites and to connect with his family roots.

The movie starts with Drew's suicide attempt, which he puts on hold as he gets the news of his father's death. His father's death has a profound impact on Drew and he finds himself lost, drifting through life without any sense of purpose. On his way to Elizabethtown, Drew meets Claire Colburn (played by Kirsten Dunst), a flight attendant who is charming, quirky and a free spirit. She helps him to come to terms with life and the world around him. As Drew begins to connect with Claire, he starts to rediscover the joys of life and slowly begins to heal from his pain.

The movie takes place over a few days as Drew spends time in his hometown, reconnecting with his extended family, and trying to organize a farewell service for his father. Drew's family, who live in Elizabethtown, are filled with different personalities and quirks, and they help Drew confront his father's legacy and come to terms with his own life. Drew's father was a resident of Elizabethtown and the local community pays tribute to him in their own ways. Drew's journey of self-discovery is also interwoven with the story of his father, who was once a well-known businessman in Elizabethtown.

The relationship between Drew and Claire is the emotional center of the movie. Claire's presence is calming and reassuring to Drew, and her outlook on life helps Drew appreciate the importance of family, friends and love. The chemistry between Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst is palpable, and their relationship is an integral part of the movie. There are several comedic moments in the movie, particularly in the interactions between the quirky characters from Elizabethtown, and these moments provide a counterpoint to the more serious themes of the movie.

Along with the various characters and relationships, music plays a fundamental role in the movie. The music in the movie, including the soundtrack and score, is composed by legendary rock musician Tom Petty. As a longtime friend of director Cameron Crowe, Petty was an essential collaborator in creating the emotional landscape for the movie. The music captures the essence of various emotions, and it complements the poignant moments in the movie.

One of the most notable aspects of Elizabethtown is the attention to detail in the movie's visual style. The film takes full advantage of the rich cinematography, showing the beauty of both Oregon and Kentucky landscapes. The use of natural and bright colors enhances the movie's emotional palette and guides the viewer to different moods.

Overall, Elizabethtown is a heartfelt film about dealing with loss, relationships, and the importance of living life to the fullest. The movie's characters are eccentric but endearing, and their relationships are organic and relatable. The beautiful moments of heartbreak, joy, and humor perfectly balance the movie's themes, and Tom Petty's musical score elevates the movie to new heights. Elizabethtown is a beautiful and moving film that should be seen by anyone who has had to grapple with the unpredictability of life.

Elizabethtown is a 2005 comedy with a runtime of 2 hours and 3 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 45.