Sgt. Ezenwa's Lonely Hearts Club List
I hate movies about romance. So cheap. So sugary and yet unrealistic. Yes, I know. Movies are fantasy. They bring about an escape from reality. Yes, that's a great part about movies, honestly. My biggest gripe is how people look to this fantasy as more than that. They look to it as a dream. A desire. An aspiration. They want to be swept off their feet. They want to be floored by a drop-dead-gorgeous person. They want all that fairy-tale stuff. Here's the thing: there's no guarantee that's going to happen. In fact, I'm pretty sure it won't. Maybe it's my embittered soul over the years of rejection. Maybe it's my lament that there aren't many love stories you can sit down and appreciate for the balance between the fantasy and reality (the acceptance and surrender in finding romance). Maybe it's because I'm single again after a failed marriage that lasted a year and upon moving forward, I found how challenging it can be when adjusting to the nuances of love and romance in today's world (yes, that happened and no, I'm not ashamed to say it anymore). Whatever the reason, I have a solution for my aching, not-so-breaking, heart:
Here is my top 10 list of my favorite romantic movies. This list, to me, is synonymous with what I feel is a perfectly balanced look or at least remotely decent look at love for all to enjoy. Now, some choices I know aren't for everyone. And some might just be guilty pleasures of some sort. But, I feel that the message rings as clear as ever when it comes to love. And if you aren't down with that, I got two words for ya: my opinion. Having said all that, let's go ahead and start the list proper, eh?
Deadpool
OK, so at first, I figured this was just a comic book adapted into a movie after years of waiting, planning, and whatnot. I figured this was even a comic movie that helped change the face of movie adaptations of comic films, like The Dark Knight did, and Spider-Man did, and The Avengers and most Marvel movies have done. But, I never figured it to be a love story, even if Deadpool jokes about it in the beginning. But, after being given that P.O.V. from a very good friend, I can see that, yea, it is a love story.
The general crux of the story is even showcased in the trailer, honestly. Deadpool wants to get his woman back from the man who turned him into "Ryan Reynolds crossed with a radioactive Sharpei". The key reason he does look like that was to cure his cancer, so he could spend the rest of his days with his love. All turns out bad in the beginning, so what does one masterful mercenary with a mean mouth and the ability to heal anything do? Gets some sweet revenge! But, in the process, he sees that it's not about him alone. It was always about her. And if it means becoming the hero (which is something he never saw himself as), then he'll do it. Deadpool: a love story for the killer in you...and the comic book lover in all of us.
Grosse Pointe Blank
John Cusack has always had a knack for playing a lovable yet hate-able loser in some of his movies. His biggest claim to fame was the classic, "Say Anything". The boom box scene will be remembered forever. When it comes to Grosse Pointe Blank, it's more of a dark romance, with just as much comedy, and just as much romance. And it all surrounds a high school reunion in Grosse Point, Michigan.
Martin Blank is a contract killer who sees a therapist to try and keep his mental health together. Upon deciding that it was time to hang it up, he gets two life changing bits of information: 1) an old rival wants him to join up in creating an assassin's union, or kill him if refused, and 2) his final mission leads him back to his home town of Grosse Pointe, where he left a decade ago on prom night, standing up the woman of his dreams, Debbie. And wouldn't you know it, there's a reunion that weekend. What follows is a hilarious romp filled with gunfights, explosions, dates, murder, and a slap that you'd swear would unhinge even Trap Jaw's mandible. It's also very insightful when it comes to reconnecting with a lost love: sometimes it's best to just let go of the past and move forward...even if it means right out of town and away from other killers. Definitely check it out!
OK, so at first, I figured this was just a comic book adapted into a movie after years of waiting, planning, and whatnot. I figured this was even a comic movie that helped change the face of movie adaptations of comic films, like The Dark Knight did, and Spider-Man did, and The Avengers and most Marvel movies have done. But, I never figured it to be a love story, even if Deadpool jokes about it in the beginning. But, after being given that P.O.V. from a very good friend, I can see that, yea, it is a love story.
The general crux of the story is even showcased in the trailer, honestly. Deadpool wants to get his woman back from the man who turned him into "Ryan Reynolds crossed with a radioactive Sharpei". The key reason he does look like that was to cure his cancer, so he could spend the rest of his days with his love. All turns out bad in the beginning, so what does one masterful mercenary with a mean mouth and the ability to heal anything do? Gets some sweet revenge! But, in the process, he sees that it's not about him alone. It was always about her. And if it means becoming the hero (which is something he never saw himself as), then he'll do it. Deadpool: a love story for the killer in you...and the comic book lover in all of us.
Grosse Pointe Blank
John Cusack has always had a knack for playing a lovable yet hate-able loser in some of his movies. His biggest claim to fame was the classic, "Say Anything". The boom box scene will be remembered forever. When it comes to Grosse Pointe Blank, it's more of a dark romance, with just as much comedy, and just as much romance. And it all surrounds a high school reunion in Grosse Point, Michigan.
Martin Blank is a contract killer who sees a therapist to try and keep his mental health together. Upon deciding that it was time to hang it up, he gets two life changing bits of information: 1) an old rival wants him to join up in creating an assassin's union, or kill him if refused, and 2) his final mission leads him back to his home town of Grosse Pointe, where he left a decade ago on prom night, standing up the woman of his dreams, Debbie. And wouldn't you know it, there's a reunion that weekend. What follows is a hilarious romp filled with gunfights, explosions, dates, murder, and a slap that you'd swear would unhinge even Trap Jaw's mandible. It's also very insightful when it comes to reconnecting with a lost love: sometimes it's best to just let go of the past and move forward...even if it means right out of town and away from other killers. Definitely check it out!
High Fidelity
And, look, it's John Cusack again, in a film made by the minds who did Grosse Point Blank. Only this time, it's not about murder. It's about the music, man! Anyhoo, High Fidelity is an emotionally charged and amazingly insightful romantic comedy about losing love, regaining love, and honestly what it all means in to be in romantic love. It's also about music...and many guest stars.
Rob is narrating and starring in his own tale about losing Laura, his longtime girlfriend, due to, well, anything and everything he did to mess it up in the first place. Yes, all relationships are two way streets. But sometimes, one person does the lion's share of damage to the relationship, and he's your lion. While we watch him work at a record store with his co-workers, we go through his romantic life in the past and present from his perspective as he tries to figure it all out. One key reason I put this movie here was his scene with Laura near the end of the film where he pretty much sums up love in his own way...and it actually makes sense. All this after he proposes to her....and gets laughed at. When you see the movie, you'll know why.
And, look, it's John Cusack again, in a film made by the minds who did Grosse Point Blank. Only this time, it's not about murder. It's about the music, man! Anyhoo, High Fidelity is an emotionally charged and amazingly insightful romantic comedy about losing love, regaining love, and honestly what it all means in to be in romantic love. It's also about music...and many guest stars.
Rob is narrating and starring in his own tale about losing Laura, his longtime girlfriend, due to, well, anything and everything he did to mess it up in the first place. Yes, all relationships are two way streets. But sometimes, one person does the lion's share of damage to the relationship, and he's your lion. While we watch him work at a record store with his co-workers, we go through his romantic life in the past and present from his perspective as he tries to figure it all out. One key reason I put this movie here was his scene with Laura near the end of the film where he pretty much sums up love in his own way...and it actually makes sense. All this after he proposes to her....and gets laughed at. When you see the movie, you'll know why.
Swingers
The first time I heard of the director, Doug Liman, it was from one of my favorite movies of all time: The Bourne Identity. I figured that was the type of director that he was. Then I was told about the cult classic, Swingers with Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn. And, lo and behold, Liman directed this one, too. Sweet. So, was it really the cult classic that everyone called it? Yes. Very much so.
Jon Favreau plays a comedian who looks to make his way to stardom by living out in L.A. for work. As it turns out, his girlfriend of a very long time breaks up with him and it leaves him in a tremendous funk. Well, that, and the fact that achieving your dream in L.A. from NYC ain't all it's cracked up to be. It's another well-scripted comedy showcasing the hustle and bustle of not just finding work and navigating the social scene of the late 90s. It also showcases that same hustle and bustle when it comes to finding love again, specifically after a tough breakup. It's easy to think it will never happen, but when it comes to finding a new love, you're money and you don't even know it.
The first time I heard of the director, Doug Liman, it was from one of my favorite movies of all time: The Bourne Identity. I figured that was the type of director that he was. Then I was told about the cult classic, Swingers with Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn. And, lo and behold, Liman directed this one, too. Sweet. So, was it really the cult classic that everyone called it? Yes. Very much so.
Jon Favreau plays a comedian who looks to make his way to stardom by living out in L.A. for work. As it turns out, his girlfriend of a very long time breaks up with him and it leaves him in a tremendous funk. Well, that, and the fact that achieving your dream in L.A. from NYC ain't all it's cracked up to be. It's another well-scripted comedy showcasing the hustle and bustle of not just finding work and navigating the social scene of the late 90s. It also showcases that same hustle and bustle when it comes to finding love again, specifically after a tough breakup. It's easy to think it will never happen, but when it comes to finding a new love, you're money and you don't even know it.
Punch-Drunk Love
I used to really detest Adam Sandler films after say...The Wedding Singer and The Waterboy. I even gave Big Daddy a pass for its attempt at earnestness. Every movie with Sandler after that looked ridiculous. Very ridiculous. That is of course, until I opened my mind just a little bit and saw that there may be more to this hard-edged comedian who had to grow up a bit on the screen. I found this out primarily by watching the one movie that I always wanted to see and never got around to until recently: Punch-Drunk Love. And I have to tell you, this is a winner.
Sandler plays a salesman who works in a factory. He also has dangerous fits and outbursts of rage to go along with his mild-mannered demeanor. You'll see where it comes from and how it even manifests. It looks as if he'll never really be more than, well, just what I said, until he comes across a woman (Emily Watson) who happens to leave her car in the parking lot near the factory. It turns out she wants to meet him and is very attracted to him. It turns out he is attracted to her as well. They are also very awkward in their approaches and such, but they find a way to make it work. Oh, and to top this off, Sandler has to deal with a crooked phone-sex line operator and her boss, who are trying to extort money out of him. You'll be amazed at what love can do to someone who lives their life thinking they can never be OK. Truth is, if someone loves you enough that you think you're OK after all, then no amount of anything can stop you. Like Deadpool, the right person will bring the good out of you.
I used to really detest Adam Sandler films after say...The Wedding Singer and The Waterboy. I even gave Big Daddy a pass for its attempt at earnestness. Every movie with Sandler after that looked ridiculous. Very ridiculous. That is of course, until I opened my mind just a little bit and saw that there may be more to this hard-edged comedian who had to grow up a bit on the screen. I found this out primarily by watching the one movie that I always wanted to see and never got around to until recently: Punch-Drunk Love. And I have to tell you, this is a winner.
Sandler plays a salesman who works in a factory. He also has dangerous fits and outbursts of rage to go along with his mild-mannered demeanor. You'll see where it comes from and how it even manifests. It looks as if he'll never really be more than, well, just what I said, until he comes across a woman (Emily Watson) who happens to leave her car in the parking lot near the factory. It turns out she wants to meet him and is very attracted to him. It turns out he is attracted to her as well. They are also very awkward in their approaches and such, but they find a way to make it work. Oh, and to top this off, Sandler has to deal with a crooked phone-sex line operator and her boss, who are trying to extort money out of him. You'll be amazed at what love can do to someone who lives their life thinking they can never be OK. Truth is, if someone loves you enough that you think you're OK after all, then no amount of anything can stop you. Like Deadpool, the right person will bring the good out of you.
Love and Sex
I initially got this movie some time ago after watching it during my late teens. I initially just watched the movie for the fact that there was a lot of, well, intense intimacy. After a few watches, I realized that there's more to the movie than that. It's actually a no-holds barred trip down memory lane for our female lead, played by Famke Jennsen, and all the romantic experiences she's had in life. This is for an article she has to write for a magazine. However, it's not as easy as one would hope, if your experiences aren't very good.
She meets Adam (Jon Favreau...again) and sees a man that not only sees her for what she is, but appreciates her for who she is, while being his comical yet difficult self. We see their relationship go up and down and up and down, and end. And as they move on, you see the connection that they have together, as friends as much as they were as lovers. One great message I got from this film is the importance of timing when it comes to finding love. Favreau states that people in relationships either suffer from bad timing or have great timing. Either way, timing is everything. And he couldn't be more right, in my view.
I initially got this movie some time ago after watching it during my late teens. I initially just watched the movie for the fact that there was a lot of, well, intense intimacy. After a few watches, I realized that there's more to the movie than that. It's actually a no-holds barred trip down memory lane for our female lead, played by Famke Jennsen, and all the romantic experiences she's had in life. This is for an article she has to write for a magazine. However, it's not as easy as one would hope, if your experiences aren't very good.
She meets Adam (Jon Favreau...again) and sees a man that not only sees her for what she is, but appreciates her for who she is, while being his comical yet difficult self. We see their relationship go up and down and up and down, and end. And as they move on, you see the connection that they have together, as friends as much as they were as lovers. One great message I got from this film is the importance of timing when it comes to finding love. Favreau states that people in relationships either suffer from bad timing or have great timing. Either way, timing is everything. And he couldn't be more right, in my view.
Mr. And Mrs. Smith
Doug Liman is back. Yes, again! Only this time, he's directing the movie that has been known to be the death knell in the Brad Pitt/Jennifer Aniston relationship and the budding flower in the Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie relationship. Despite all that, it's one solid movie about a married couple who's marriage is on the rocks after 5 or 6 years. They hope they can keep it together, but there's something missing: complete and total honesty. However, there's a reason for that.
John Smith is an architect and engineer who makes various buildings and structures. Jane Smith is an IT specialist that knows her way around the most complicated of servers. By chance, they met in South America. They fell for each other and upon returning to the U.S., they were married. It did seem pretty fast, but they were both sure that they were meant for each other. So, where does the honesty part come in? It turns out that they are both assassins...for rival companies...and have been so for years. They do what they must to keep their identities a secret from each other, even if it means hiding other things about themselves. That is, of course until one day, they are on a mission after the same target and they discover the awful truth about themselves. So, they have to choose: talk or walk, fight or flight, kill or be killed? It's a stylish movie about the rigors of marriage and how it is tested...even in the most extreme of circumstances.
Doug Liman is back. Yes, again! Only this time, he's directing the movie that has been known to be the death knell in the Brad Pitt/Jennifer Aniston relationship and the budding flower in the Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie relationship. Despite all that, it's one solid movie about a married couple who's marriage is on the rocks after 5 or 6 years. They hope they can keep it together, but there's something missing: complete and total honesty. However, there's a reason for that.
John Smith is an architect and engineer who makes various buildings and structures. Jane Smith is an IT specialist that knows her way around the most complicated of servers. By chance, they met in South America. They fell for each other and upon returning to the U.S., they were married. It did seem pretty fast, but they were both sure that they were meant for each other. So, where does the honesty part come in? It turns out that they are both assassins...for rival companies...and have been so for years. They do what they must to keep their identities a secret from each other, even if it means hiding other things about themselves. That is, of course until one day, they are on a mission after the same target and they discover the awful truth about themselves. So, they have to choose: talk or walk, fight or flight, kill or be killed? It's a stylish movie about the rigors of marriage and how it is tested...even in the most extreme of circumstances.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
The one reason I kept this movie dear to my heart is because it's a movie I saw after a tough breakup I had. I watched it to relate to it as best I could. And in the end, I found that it was very easy to relate to. It hit on and still hits on a lot of cylinders with me when it comes to healing after a breakup and moving forward...with a few laughs along the way.
Jason Segel plays Peter Bretter, a musician who is dating the star of the show he works on, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). They are very much in love until it is discovered that Sarah is dumping him. She found someone else for herself as it seems; Peter can't quite cope with it so he gets pretty self-destructive with his actions. So, he takes the advice of his step-brother and goes to Hawaii to get away from Sarah. As he heads to his hotel (one he heard about from Sarah), he realizes that Sarah is also there at that same time, with her new beau, Aldous Snow. What follows is up to two hours of hilarity where Peter learns how to move forward with a new prospect in the concierge, Rachel, learns why his relationship failed, and learns that it's time to get off his rock and start moving forward with his dream of making a musical. A key lesson that I learned: sometimes the best way to move forward after a breakup is to do what you dream of doing, hobby or passion. Love somehow finds a way to you when it needs to.
The one reason I kept this movie dear to my heart is because it's a movie I saw after a tough breakup I had. I watched it to relate to it as best I could. And in the end, I found that it was very easy to relate to. It hit on and still hits on a lot of cylinders with me when it comes to healing after a breakup and moving forward...with a few laughs along the way.
Jason Segel plays Peter Bretter, a musician who is dating the star of the show he works on, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). They are very much in love until it is discovered that Sarah is dumping him. She found someone else for herself as it seems; Peter can't quite cope with it so he gets pretty self-destructive with his actions. So, he takes the advice of his step-brother and goes to Hawaii to get away from Sarah. As he heads to his hotel (one he heard about from Sarah), he realizes that Sarah is also there at that same time, with her new beau, Aldous Snow. What follows is up to two hours of hilarity where Peter learns how to move forward with a new prospect in the concierge, Rachel, learns why his relationship failed, and learns that it's time to get off his rock and start moving forward with his dream of making a musical. A key lesson that I learned: sometimes the best way to move forward after a breakup is to do what you dream of doing, hobby or passion. Love somehow finds a way to you when it needs to.
Untamed Heart
This movie really hits me in my heart. Really. I remember seeing commercials for it and not really wondering what it was about until I was a teenager. I saw it the first time during Mid-Winter Recess in high school and enjoyed it. It was warm, sad, and beautiful almost all at once. I got to hand it to Christian Slater and Marisa Tomei in this one. They could not have gotten it any more spot on as a couple.
Long story short, it's a tale of two people with two different paths in their lives who come together in a variety of circumstances. Adam was an orphan from adolescence and was cared for at an orphanage. During his years there, he had some very dangerous health issues that made it hard for him to be around others. Caroline was a young adult who lives at home with her parents and teenage brother. She has an inability to follow through with things she may want in life, like finishing beauty school (which she hasn't done) or leaving a detrimental relationship (which she didn't do, hence why she was dumped). In an odd twist of fate, they both work at the same diner. One night, as Caroline is heading home, she is harassed by two of the patrons at the diner who were looking for trouble in the worst way. As they attempt to rape her, she is saved by Adam and taken home by him. What follows is a very sweet, very honest love story between a man who has been kept away from everything his whole life and a woman who lets many people into her life, mostly the wrong ones. Caroline even sums up why their relationship works which really resonates with me ("He doesn't make sense. I don't make sense. Together, we make sense.") I'm smiling right now just writing that. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll want to celebrate Christmas and New Year's with this movie as it takes place around those times. A definite must see.
This movie really hits me in my heart. Really. I remember seeing commercials for it and not really wondering what it was about until I was a teenager. I saw it the first time during Mid-Winter Recess in high school and enjoyed it. It was warm, sad, and beautiful almost all at once. I got to hand it to Christian Slater and Marisa Tomei in this one. They could not have gotten it any more spot on as a couple.
Long story short, it's a tale of two people with two different paths in their lives who come together in a variety of circumstances. Adam was an orphan from adolescence and was cared for at an orphanage. During his years there, he had some very dangerous health issues that made it hard for him to be around others. Caroline was a young adult who lives at home with her parents and teenage brother. She has an inability to follow through with things she may want in life, like finishing beauty school (which she hasn't done) or leaving a detrimental relationship (which she didn't do, hence why she was dumped). In an odd twist of fate, they both work at the same diner. One night, as Caroline is heading home, she is harassed by two of the patrons at the diner who were looking for trouble in the worst way. As they attempt to rape her, she is saved by Adam and taken home by him. What follows is a very sweet, very honest love story between a man who has been kept away from everything his whole life and a woman who lets many people into her life, mostly the wrong ones. Caroline even sums up why their relationship works which really resonates with me ("He doesn't make sense. I don't make sense. Together, we make sense.") I'm smiling right now just writing that. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll want to celebrate Christmas and New Year's with this movie as it takes place around those times. A definite must see.
The Princess Bride
OK, now I did say that the whole fairy tale thing doesn't work for me. However, this movie earns a special place in my heart for many reasons. For starters, it's not your conventional fairy tale romance. It has comedy, swashbuckling, drama, all that stuff. OK, so that's in fairy tales, but I'm telling you it's not like your average fairy tale romance. In fact, I'm sure it's way different than your standard Disney movie.
For starters, the story is being told from grandfather to grandson. It's a tongue-in-cheek reference towards the writer, really. Also, the princess isn't quite defenseless, let alone in distress. Third, the male lead isn't a prince, nor does he show much kindness towards the princess. I don't know how to say it, but I just know it's not quite the same. In my honest opinion, it's 10 times better than your standard Disney princess movie. And the cast, it's an all-star lineup. You've got Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Billy Crystal and Carol Kane, Chris Sarandon, Mandy Patinkin, Andre the Giant, Peter Falk, and Fred Savage just to name a few. This is definitely one of those love stories that do the justice in the world of fantasy. Then again, there is Legend...but I never seen that whole movie.
Honorable Mentions:
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
These are my honorable mentions that, for the most part, have a place in my heart but don't quite cut the mustard like the top 10 do for a few reasons. Scott Pilgrim was based on a 6 volume comic about a 20-something Canadian slacker of a guy who finds the perfect girl for him, even if he is dating a high schooler. There's just one problem: he has to fight and destroy all 7 of her evil ex-lovers. You'd think that was straight out of a video game or something. You're right, it is. Unfortunately, when comparing the books to the movie, both don't hold up very well over time. It's disappointing, but it's how I feel.
These are my honorable mentions that, for the most part, have a place in my heart but don't quite cut the mustard like the top 10 do for a few reasons. Scott Pilgrim was based on a 6 volume comic about a 20-something Canadian slacker of a guy who finds the perfect girl for him, even if he is dating a high schooler. There's just one problem: he has to fight and destroy all 7 of her evil ex-lovers. You'd think that was straight out of a video game or something. You're right, it is. Unfortunately, when comparing the books to the movie, both don't hold up very well over time. It's disappointing, but it's how I feel.
Loser
Loser is a tale about a guy named Paul who moves from the Midwest to New York to attend NYU. He doesn't fit in....practically anywhere. His dorm-mates are entitled jerks. New Yorkers aren't very polite. And, he's a bit clumsy for his own good. Then he meets a woman named Dora, who sticks out like a sore thumb in her unique and charming way. Like Paul, she's very nice. Like Paul, she's considered a loser according to most standards. Unlike Paul, she has a boyfriend: a philandering professor who likes to bed students and dispose of them. What follows is a chemistry-filled friendship that blossoms into a romance when they both realize that they are right for each other and everything and everyone else around them aren't right for them. I sadly sold this movie because, honestly, I feel it's only great for its last scene for me. Other than that, I don't see any real need to watch it over and over.
The Adjustment Bureau
The Adjustment Bureau is an science fiction suspense thriller adapted from a short story by Philip K. Dick. Matt Damon is David Norris, a man on tap to be elected as one of the youngest senators in U.S. history. It all falls apart when more and more evidence is shown to his impetuous nature. As he is about to finish his concession speech in the bathroom, he encounters a mysterious woman named Elise who was hiding in the same bathroom to avoid security. Their chemistry is so intense that they kiss almost as soon as they stop talking, and passionately, too. So, what's the catch? Well, as she leave, he makes an amazing speech that puts him on track to possibly succeed again in politics. The thing is, there are mysterious men inconspicuously watching him in the background, well-dressed and wearing a variety of hats. When it is shown that these men have special powers and certain intentions for David, it becomes a thriller where David has to ultimately choose between accepting his fate or trying to change it. It gets the love story nod because of David and Elise's relationship together being very strong in some great relationship qualities. However, it gets honorable mention because it's more sci-fi than romantic. Of the three movies, it's the only one I still own, not for the romance, but for the message of free will and choice that it sends. Great film.
The Adjustment Bureau is an science fiction suspense thriller adapted from a short story by Philip K. Dick. Matt Damon is David Norris, a man on tap to be elected as one of the youngest senators in U.S. history. It all falls apart when more and more evidence is shown to his impetuous nature. As he is about to finish his concession speech in the bathroom, he encounters a mysterious woman named Elise who was hiding in the same bathroom to avoid security. Their chemistry is so intense that they kiss almost as soon as they stop talking, and passionately, too. So, what's the catch? Well, as she leave, he makes an amazing speech that puts him on track to possibly succeed again in politics. The thing is, there are mysterious men inconspicuously watching him in the background, well-dressed and wearing a variety of hats. When it is shown that these men have special powers and certain intentions for David, it becomes a thriller where David has to ultimately choose between accepting his fate or trying to change it. It gets the love story nod because of David and Elise's relationship together being very strong in some great relationship qualities. However, it gets honorable mention because it's more sci-fi than romantic. Of the three movies, it's the only one I still own, not for the romance, but for the message of free will and choice that it sends. Great film.
The Big Sick
When Harry Met Sally...
Now, I know what some of you are already thinking. Why isn't this on your top 10 list? This is a classic story of love between two people. And not just any two people, either. It's love between two New Yorkers, and it asks the age-old question: Can two people be friends as well as lovers? Ok, so that's what I see it asking, but I digress. This movie is about two people who happen to meet through friends and encounter each other over a span of years in a variety of circumstances. They can't stand each other at first, but as time passes, a bond is formed. As for how much of a bond, well, you'll have to see for yourself. No spoilers from me. Then again, by now, you've probably seen it enough to know what happens alread.
Unfortunately, that's one reason why the movie is not on the top 10 list. I've only seen it once or twice and just recently. I guess it doesn't have that much of an effect on me. But I'd be hard-pressed to say that this doesn't get put in the rotation for a romantic movie marathon from yours truly. In fact, this and The Big Sick are in that rotation almost guaranteed. I guess I just can't bring myself to remove one of my go-to films on my list for this one. But, I can definitely add this to the list. Perhaps I would if I had seen this sooner...when I wasn't so embittered...or something....
And that's my list. Agree? Disagree? Want to know more about little old me? Don't forget to leave a comment in the comment section. A love story shouldn't just be chock full of clever misunderstandings, cute encounters, and ultimately a loving conclusion. It should look at love objectively, expressing the messages that a good, strong relationship can convey as well as messages that persons should follow if they hope to either obtain or remain in a loving, caring, relationship. I feel these 10 movies do just that, without sacrificing quality. Maybe some of you agree with me, specifically of the female variety. This way, I can give you a call and we can get some coffee. No? Would you believe two glasses of water at an outdoor cafe? No? How about a giant Slurpee on a cold day? Fine. If you need me, I'll be blogging about something else...up on board the "Single Train". LOL. See ya!
Great choices! I always liked the Cusack movies, because they're not typical of the genre. So much of romance on film is too contrived and disingenuous. Swingers is also one of my all-time fave indies, though I think I like it more for the chemistry bet Favreau and Vaughan, than the romance bet Favreau and Heather Graham:P Can I mention She's So Lovely, with Sean Penn and Robin Wright (of Lrincess Bride fame), a unique romantic dramedy about an ex-con who attempts to rexonnect with his ex-wife. Unique tone, underrated movie. I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting. More top ten lists, please;)
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks for the comment, Eddie, and the suggestion. I'll keep that in mind. She's so lovely..yup. As for more top 10s, I have a few up right now, focusing on Smash Bros, the Koei/Tecmo Warriors game series, and TellTale games. Follow the links on the side...and tell your friends!!
DeleteGreat list, I've already seen a few; now I have more to see! Ed P.
ReplyDeleteExcellent to hear. Have a watch of the others and please, have fun.
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