These movies are either drama or romantic comedy. Warning, for those who can't stomach sappy stuffs, it's better that you go away. Meanwhile enjoy the list (in no particular order):
1. While You Were Sleeping
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman
Before she started making crappy romantic comedies, Sandra Bullock was actually a good romcom actress that could match Julia Roberts. This is the film that show it. The story is quite silly - about the woman who pretend to be the fiancee of a guy in coma, winning over his family except 1 guy, his brother - but Sandra Bullock was quite sweet and cute and fresh then to carry this film. I watched this film on HBO long ago and still have fond memories
2. Notting Hill
Director: Roger Michell
Writer: Richard Curtis
Cast: Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant
A look at the credits of Notting Hill could make you think that this movie is made in romantic comedy heaven. There's romcom queen Julia Roberts, romcom king Hugh Grant and prolific british romcom writer Richard Curtis (Four Wedding and Funerals, Bridget Jones Diary, Love Actually etc). But those romantic comedies written by Richard Curtis and produced by Working Title are good, unless you don't like romcom in the first place, and this is my personal favourite.
Some people prefer "Four Wedding and a Funeral" among all Richard Curtis/Hugh Grant romantic comedies the most (it was nominated for Best Picture oscar), but i found that film rather unfocused by its multiple storyline. Notting Hill, is on the other hand, truly my favourite and I still remember the time I went to watch it in theater and laughed so hard. This movie has lots of funny lines and moments, many of which is delivered effortlessly by Hugh Grant. Speaking of which, this is also the first Hugh Grant film I watched (and hearing him speak, the first time I know what's british accent), and I can't think of anyone better to be a funny and charming romantic lead.
Richard Curtis and Hugh Grant haven't made another romcom since Love Actually, which is kind of long. But until they make another one, this is the best among all of them.
3. Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Director: Joe Wright
Starring: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is one of the classic romantic story of all time. So when the news came that Working Title (producers behind the Richard Curtis/Hugh Grant romantic comedy) is making an adaptation with then unknown Joe Wright directing and Keira Knightley starring as Elizabeth Bennet, it's not hard to be very skeptical about it. after all, there was already a successful adaptation a few years ago starring Colin Firth (which I haven't watched). Personally, I was also skeptical because, even though I like P&P story, I've always had reservation about the theme of the story, which i thought is more about how every woman, no matter how strong they are, would like to have a man in the end, their "Mr Darcy". That's why I'm not sure if I could like this movie anymore.
Turns out, well the movie was great and truly romantic. It's very easy to ridicule a romantic film, especially with a story like P&P which is unabashedly romantic from the start, but unless you're an extreme cynic, it's really hard to fault this film. everything is just perfect. Keira Knightley totally nails Elizabeth Bennet and truly deserved that Oscar Nomination for this role. Joe Wright has since proven to be an amazing director in his own right (recently of Atonement). This movie definitely defied my expectation and delivered a great pleasant surprise.
On a personal note, this is also the first movie that I watched with my current girlfriend. Don't worry, I have recently watched it again, so the verdict wasn't biased by the 1st experience =)
4. Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)
Director: Blake Edwards
Starring: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard
It's hard to think of a more iconic Audrey Hepburn film than this. There's Audrey and her black Givenchy dress and there's that song by Henry Mancini, "Moon River". I personally find the movie very romantic too.
(Spoiler)
This film has many complaints against it. One that I'll address is that it's not as dark as the original Truman Capote novel, especially with the "happy ending" that the book doesn't have. First of all, this is a hollywood studio film made in 1961, a conservative time, that's why the studio remove all explicit references of Holly Golightly being a call girl/prostitute (especially given the glamorous and clean image of Audrey Hepburn) and to a lesser extent, Paul Varjak being a gigolo. But instead of being an obstacle, this limitation turned to be a blessing in disguise because it forced the writer and director to show more than tell in the movie, which made it subtle (isn't this approach always favoured by critics and film school teachers?).
also, this film may not have the most original/epic love story, but as a character driven romance, it succeeds brilliantly. This film is a good case study on how the characters' relationship affect each other and made them change. It also help that Audrey Hepburn gave the character an innocent and sympathetic quality for what's essentially a dark role and that George Peppard and her has an unspoken, slow burn chemistry that just explode in the end. Then, there's the eternally melancholic "Moon River". and I'll even bring the "happy ending" again. To me, happy ending does not always make a bad movie if the characters earned it and this film just calls for it. It turns out to be one of the most memorable ending ever (the rain). Still not convinced? I'll just quote Joe Wright, the director of Pride & Prejudice and Atonement:
"Pride [and Prejudice] is my first film with a happy ending. Before, I naively thought they were a cop-out, but now I've come to believe that happy endings and wish fulfillment are an incredibly important part of our cultural life."
5. Moulin Rouge (2001)
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return."
Not all romantic movies have to have happy ending. This is one has a heartbreaking conclusion (which is revealed in the beginning), but it's one of the best ones too. Before I watched this movie, I hated musicals - especially the old hollywood ones, but I came out believing I've watched not only the best musical I've seen (still is) but one of the best movies as well. Credits go to visionary director Baz Luhrmann and Craig Armstrong who's in charge of integrating and making the pop songs work flawlessly in the movie (especially El Tango De Roxanne - truly a heartbreaking song). But there's also Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor who sang their hearts (and lung) out. when I watched it, I remember clapping at the end and the full house theater refusing to leave their seats as the end credits roll. That's how powerful this film is. Many has tried to capture its magic, like Chicago and recently Across The Universe but none has succeeded.
6. Cinema Paradiso (1988) - Director's Cut (or any cut that resolves the romance plotline)
Director: Giusepe Tornatore
Cinema Paradiso is a classic italian film more known for its tribute and nostalgia to a bygone era where going to cinema is a magical experience. So why am I'm putting this in a list or romantic film. Well, while those tribute and nostalgia is a fine romantic quality itself, they only form the soul of this film. The heart comes from the relationship between the main character Toto and the old film projectionist Alfredo; but most importantly it also comes from the heartbreaking and impossible romance between Toto and the girl of his dream Elena. That's why it's important to watch the Director's cut (and not the american cut) of this film because it powerfully and tragically resolves the romance plot and bring to light the reality behind Alfred, Toto and Elena (you'll just have to see it to understand what I'm talking about; and I guarantee some crying). Any other cut/version that doesn't do that only does a huge disservice to this great film.
Oh, there's also the unforgettable soundtrack by Ennio Morricone, especially "The Love Theme".
7. Love Me if You Dare / Jeux D'enfants (2003)
Director: Yann Samuel
Starring: Guillaume Canet, Marion Cotillard
How far would you go for love? Many people have said they would cross the sea and climb mountains for love, but how many actually do it? If you think you have gone far in the name of love, think again. What the couple do in the end of Love Me If You Dare is so outrageous, it will make you think again.
Love Me If You Dare, a french film released in the wake of the famous "Amelie", is about the game of dare played between Julien (Guillaume Canet) and Sophie (Marion Cotillard) starting since they were children. As they grow older, the dares grow more humiliating, dangerous and deadlier, and even if they are brave enough to play the game, they just don't have the courage to admit their love for each other. and the dare keeps on escalating until the ending. The outrageous ending. I was quite put off
initially by the ending, but I quickly changed my mind. The ending is as perfect as it is, given what has come before. Whether it's "happy" or "tragic" depends on your interpretation, but it sure is unforgettable.
8. 50 First Dates (2004)
Director: Peter Segal
Starring: Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore
I enjoy both romcoms with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore in it: The Wedding Singer and this one. On the surface, this looks like another romantic comedy with Adam Sandler crudeness and Drew Barrymore cuteness, but I was surprised by how much I loved it. There are Adam Sandler funny moments and jokes but when it comes to the love story, it is surprisingly poignant and doesn't cheat and of course, Sandler and Barrymore makes it work too. But this film is still made like any other romantic comedy so romcom hater definitely won't like this one. But that's ok. It's not original but it's very solid.
9. Chasing Amy (1997)
Director: Kevin Smith
Starring: Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee
This is probably the most "adult" entry on this list. It's a love story between a guy and a lesbian, with many dialogue with swear words, graphic descriptions, oh geeky references too. ah, the typical funny and smart Kevin Smith movie. But this is the first time Kevin does something romantic and it works really well. This movie may look like a love story at first, but it's also about the relationships between the characters. It's very interesting the way the characters talk in the film, they swear, shout, curse and 'talk adult' all the time, but they're essentially childish and still need attention. It's great how Kevin Smith manage to capture all of it. and then there's Ben Affleck. many people hate Ben, but he can actually act and in this movie he shows. The confession monologue he delivers to the lesbian Joey Lauren Adams character was truly touching (enough to win over a lesbian). Yeah, this may not be a conventional choice, but it's still a great one.
10. My Sassy Girl (2001)
Director: Kwak Jae-Yong
Starring: Jun Ji-Hyun, Cha Tae-Hyun
Ah ... My Sassy Girl. If there's a movie that started the korean romantic comedy cliches, this is it. The movie where the girl beats up the boy senseless ... but the boy still likes the girl, also the romantic comedy that shifts into a serious melodrama in the end but still manages to warm the heart. It was really amazing how fresh it was when it came out, how everything's so perfect, including Jun Ji-Hyun's bravura performance and the quirky in-jokes including twins and UFOS, the music, and The Ending. Pretty much everything in this film is perfect. I'm sorry if I go hyperbole on this one. but it truly is my favourite of all time.
Has been remade into hollywood version by Yann Samuel, director of Love Me If You Dare. It's currently stuck in Limbo
11. 2046 (2004)
Director: Wong Kar-Wai
Starring: Tony Leung, Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li, Faye Wong, Takuya Kimura
When it comes to capturing the melancholic, heartbreaking, tragic qualities of love (as well as the beauty of chinese women) so poetically beautiful, no filmmaker can do it besides Wong Kar Wai. 2046, like majority of Wong Kar-wai's work, doesn't have a narrative, it's just multiple stories with many characters talking and reminisces poetically about love, especially unrequited ones shot beautifully by frequent collaborator DP Chris Doyle. I have not many Wong Kar-Wai's work, only this one and Chungking Express. But I just prefer this one, it's more beautiful and heartbreaking.
12. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Director: Michel Gondry
Writer: Charlie Kauffman
Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet
I'm really tired of writing by now. So, I'm not going to say much for this one. This is truly one of the best and most original romantic film in recent times. Charlie Kauffman and Michel Gondry have really delivered everything to make it work above typical romantic story with sci-fi angle, wacky visuals and even surprisingly touching and melancholic resolution. This is perhaps Jim Carrey's best role and he and Kate Winslet really works. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is all wacky, challenging and fun to watch, but i guess behind the whole memory erasing thing, what's the movie is trying to say is we can run away from our emotion and feelings, but we can't hide from them.
2 comments:
Speaking of Wong Kar Wai movies, I agree with you, that it captures the beauty of chinese women. I watched In the mood for love before; Maggie Cheung looks really pretty in an oriental way, and that movie also affirm my opinion about cheongsam: it is something to be proud of.
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