Romance: An appreciation on film and television

Cachoo

Cachoo

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Yeah it's off season and I'm bored. Pick a romantic film that you love ? and pick your favorite romance on tv/netflix/prime/acorn/hulu etc.... It can be sad, happy, funny or out and out romance. It can be the most award winning film or a soap opera or both. You choose...


My picks:

Movie---Moonstruck

TV---The goofy romance between April and Andy (Aubrey Plaza and Chris Pratt) on Parks and Recreation. (I tend to go for humor.)
 
When Harry Met Sally -- the famous deli scene, among other memorable cinematic moments in that film.

The film, and it's still surviving cast and crew (including Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal) recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, commemorated by a special issue of People, with related recipes. Yum!

Here's another remembrance:
www.delish.com

How Meg Ryan In "When Harry Met Sally..." Taught Me How To Ask For What I Wanted

Go ahead, take an hour and a half to order a sandwich.
www.delish.com www.delish.com

I also enjoyed the Colin Firth/ Jennifer Ehle Pride & Prejudice, but I'm head-over-heels in love with the 2005 film version of P&P with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. :encore:


Fave oldies but goodies:
The Clock, 1945 (starring Judy Garland and Robert Walker) one of Vincent Minnelli's best. Although it's not a musical, the way it's filmed and directed is very musically informed -- an elegant romance with an air of mystery

Tiger Bay, 1959 (starring Horst Bucholz, Hayley Mills in her film debut, and John Mills) romance & suspense

The Philadelphia Story, 1940 (Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and Jimmy Stewart) rom-com

More recent (contemporary and historic romance):
Speed, 1994 (Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Dennis Hopper); Sense & Sensibility, 1995 (Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet); The English Patient, 1996 (Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Kristin Scott Thomas, Willem Dafoe); A Room with a View, 1986 (Daniel Day-Lewis, Helena Bonham-Carter)

I also love the hokey but feel good Starman (1984), sci-fi romance with Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen. I love Jeff Bridges, period. He's a great actor from romance, to suspense thrillers, to sci-fi, to character tales, to comedies, to westerns, to adventure stories, he can do and has done it all! Reminds me that I need to invest in a DVD set of his best films, if a set exists. :D :watch:

More Jeff Bridges faves:
The Last Picture Show
Rancho Deluxe
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (with Clint Eastwood)
Jagged Edge
Against all Odds
Fearless
Crazy Heart
Hell or High Water
The Giver
The Big Lebowski
Tron and the sequel, Tron Legacy
Seabiscuit
The Contender
The Mirror Has Two Faces
The Fisher King
The Fabulous Baker Boys
Tucker: The Man & His Dream
The Morning After
True Grit

Oh, and there's loads on Netflix. I've enjoyed watching some Bollywood rom-coms there. An obscure romance that's no longer on Netflix but used to be: My Last Day Without You (with Nicole Beharie and Ken Duken)

I signed up for The Crown, and it was well done, aside from a bit of odd casting and dramatic license taken too far in some instances.

I love the Bodyguard series on Netflix with Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes. Not a rom-com of course.
 
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For Romantic Drama:
Bridges of Madison County
Far From Heaven (not a typical romantic film, but a film involving two romances) - sort of a companion piece to Bridges of Madison Country
The Remains of the Day
The Return of Martin Guerre
Love Affair (Warren Beatty and Annette Bening)
The American President

For Rom Com:
The Truth About Cats and Dogs
Two Weeks Notice
Four Weddings and a Funeral

If Hugh Grant is in it (he was in the last two mentioned), I'm gonna like it.

And there must be more that just don't come to mind right now.
 
We are several posts in and clearly there is much I have yet to see as some of what has been mentioned is new to me. Ita about Jeff Bridges but my go-to actor in romances has to be Sandra Bullock. I love many of her costars and she hits the right notes when it comes to seasons and holidays: During the summer there is Hope Floats, at Halloween there is the delightful Practical Magic and at Christmas there is While You Were Sleeping. That gets me to Spring when I'll watch Two Weeks Notice or The Lake House.
 
^^ I love Sandra Bullock in While You Were Sleeping, which came after her breakout success in Speed. And I'm now reminded of Julia Roberts in Steel Magnolias (with a great ensemble cast), and in the iconic, Pretty Woman, with Richard Gere. Which further reminds me of Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney in My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), and sexy Mulroney again in The Wedding Date (2005), with Debra Messing.

Japanfan said:
Far From Heaven
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Yes, that's a good one. I enjoyed that film which starred Julianne Moore and Dennis Haysbert, as well as Bridges of Madison County with Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. There was excellent acting by the stars of both these films. Julianne Moore is so good in every role I've seen her portray. I particularly enjoyed her work in another romantic drama, The End of the Affair (based on the novel by Graham Greene). Moore starred in the 1999 remake with the woderfully sexy/moody Ralph Fiennes. The 1955 original starred Deborah Kerr, Van Johnson, and John Mills.

Speaking of Ralph Fiennes again, he was also good in the romantic dramas, The Constant Gardener (with Rachel Weisz), The White Countess (with Natasha Richardson), The Duchess (historical romance with Keira Knightley), and in the romantic comedy, Maid in Manhattan (with Jennifer Lopez).
 
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aftershocks said:
^^ I love Sandra Bullock in While You Were Sleeping, which came after her breakout success in Speed. And I'm now reminded of Julia Roberts in Steel Magnolias (with a great ensemble cast), and in the iconic, Pretty Woman, with Richard Gere. Which further reminds me of Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney in My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), and sexy Mulroney again in The Wedding Date (2005), with Debra Messing.



Yes, that's a good one. I enjoyed that film which starred Julianne Moore and Dennis Haysbert, as well as Bridges of Madison County with Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. There was excellent acting by the stars of both these films. Julianne Moore is so good in every role I've seen her portray. I particularly enjoyed her work in another romantic drama, The End of the Affair (based on the novel by Graham Greene). Moore starred in the 1999 remake with the woderfully sexy/moody Ralph Fiennes. The 1955 original starred Deborah Kerr, Van Johnson, and John Mills.

Speaking of Ralph Fiennes again, he was also good in the romantic dramas, The Constant Gardener (with Rachel Weisz), The White Countess (with Natasha Richardson), The Duchess (historical romance with Keira Knightley), and in the romantic comedy, Maid in Manhattan (with Jennifer Lopez).
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Did you like Ralph in "The English Patient?" ... Just curious
 
^^ Ralph is a great actor, and very sexy. You could feel the humanity of his character even beneath the bandages he wore after his character had been disfigured by flames. It was a sad film, but thought-provoking and informative in a different way about war. I also enjoyed Ralph in the ahead of its time 1995 film, Strange Days, with Angela Bassett (directed by the innovative Kathryn Bigelow). In 2013, Ralph did wonderful work starring in and directing The Invisible Woman (about Charles Dicken's passionate and forbidden love affair spanning many years, with a very young actress less than half his age).

oleada said:
10 Things I Hate About You
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Ah yes, that's so memorable with Julia Stiles, and the amazing, forever young, Heath Ledger! River Phoenix is another wonderful actor who was in some very good films before his untimely death.

In the vein of young romantic dramas, the recent social consciousness film, The Hate You Give is excellent (based on the young adult book of the same name by Angie Thomas). The cast is especially good with Amandla Stenberg in the starring role, and co-stars Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, K.J. Apa (of Archie fame), and Anthony Mackie.

Christian Bale is a dynamite, chameleon actor who I first saw when he was a child actor in Steven Spielberg's 1987 war film, Empire of the Sun. In his younger days, Bale was also the handsome heartthrob, Laurie, in Little Women (1994). I don't know how he remains healthy with all the drastic fluctuations in weight he has taken on for various film roles.

I enjoyed Ryan Gosling in The Notebook, Blue Valentine, and The Place Beyond the Pines. I haven't seen him in La La Land yet.

Having recently read biographies of Kick Kennedy, I think her amazing love story with Billy Hartington, heir to the Duke of Devonshire title and estate, would make an unforgettable film -- a real tearjerker. I can see Benedict Cumberbatch and Amy Adams in the starring roles (despite them both being in their forties, they can certainly still play young roles). This would be an excellent series for Masterpiece Theatre.

I haven't seen many of Aaron Taylor-Johnson's recent films, but he's a very good and a very sexy actor. As Aaron Johnson, he starred in Nowhere Boy, portraying young John Lennon. The film was directed by Aaron's future wife, Sam Taylor, now Taylor-Johnson. I've seen a number of Aaron's early films when he was a child actor - he brilliantly played twins in Tom & Thomas (2002). I've also seen Aaron in The Illusionist, Alfred Nobbs, and Kick-Ass. I have to catch up with his more recent films.
 
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I love the 1930's/40's rom-coms like It Happened One Night, The Awful Truth, The Lady Eve, Shop Around the Corner, My Man Godfrey, His Girl Friday, Ninotchka. Something about the Hays code and the way directors had to cleverly film around those restrictions made those rom-coms so clever and sexy.
 
I liked many but I can’t separate the theatre from Netflix. So here is the list (some of these have tragic endings).

An affair to remember
You’ve got mail
The English patient
Roman Holiday
Somewhere in time
It happened one night
Sleepless in Seattle
Gone with the wind
Contact
Dirty Dancing

Zanjeer (Bollywood)
Bride and Prejudice (adapted from P &P by Bollywood)
Ballad of a soldier (Russian)

TV-
Pride and Prejudice - Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle
Georgia O’Keef

Will think of more later
 
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Adding to the classic films: The Ghost & Mrs. Muir

When Daniel gives Lucia her freedom in the middle to the movie, it's heartbreaking, romantic, and so very emotional.
 
Ah yes, Roman Holiday was one of my huge favorite films years ago. I looked at it again recently and it really seems dated to me now, but Gregory Peck and the amazing Audrey Hepburn have lost none of their charm. The story was probably somewhat partly inspired by the real-life drama of Princess Margaret's star-crossed love affair with war hero and equerry to King George VI, Peter Townsend. I was recently pleasantly surprised to learn that Audrey's character, Holly Golightly, in Truman Capote's, Breakfast at Tiffany's, was inspired by the young Gloria Vanderbilt.

One of the most sexiest actors of all time is Steve McQueen. I love him with Natalie Wood in, Love With the Proper Stranger (1963). I recently saw for the first time, Natalie Wood with Warren Beatty in the classic coming of age love story, Splendor in the Grass (1961). And I loved recently seeing for the first time the young Jane Fonda and Robert Redford in Barefoot in the Park (1967), but I was not enthused by the story line. I enjoyed Dustin Hoffman and Katharine Ross in The Graduate years ago. It held up to repeat veiwings way back when. Now, it might not. ;)

Meanwhile, James Dean lives forever in Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant.
 
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How could I forget Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan??? For some time I didn't get the fascination with Ryan Gosling until I saw him with Emma Stone in "Crazy, Stupid Love. They were so good together.
 
Cachoo said:
Did you like Ralph in "The English Patient?" ... Just curious
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You didn't ask me specifically, but I'll note that I loved Ralph in 'The English Patient'.
aftershocks said:
^^ I love Sandra Bullock in While You Were Sleeping, which came after her breakout success in Speed.
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I digress, but am reminded of how much I miss incomparable Dennis Hopper. Loved him in 'Speed' - "You need a nest egg at my age, Jack" :D
 
Adding to the list-

Pretty woman
Jane Eyre (TV)
The Cutting Edge
Out of Africa
Casablanca
The Notebook
Fanny (Leslie Caron)
The Piano
The competition (Amy Irving, Richard Dreyfus)
The far pavilions (TV)( Amy Irving, Ben Cross)
The mirror has two faces (Barbra Streisand, Jeff Bridges?)
 
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Cachoo said:
How could I forget Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan??? For some time I didn't get the fascination with Ryan Gosling until I saw him with Emma Stone in "Crazy, Stupid Love. They were so good together.
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Yeah, I meant to mention Crazy, Stupid, Love too with the other Ryan Gosling films. :)

I'm sure there's something else I've enjoyed that I'm forgetting...
 
canbelto said:
Something about the Hays code and the way directors had to cleverly film around those restrictions made those rom-coms so clever and sexy.
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Exactly. Hitchcock was a notorious master at skillfully finding ways to do what he wanted in films. Example: The famous kissing sequence in Notorious (1946) between Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant. Because of the censorship restrictions, the stars were not supposed to remain for too long in a lip-lock. Therefore, Hitchcock cleverly had the two stars lean against each other affectionately while watching the rolling ocean tide from their balcony, then lock lips, break away slightly and stare closely into each other's eyes, hug, sigh, nibble each other's faces, smooch again softly, pause to catch their breaths, rub noses, then touch lips again lightly and enticingly, walk back inside so Grant's character can make a phone call even while continuing to smooch and whisper dialogue to each other. This way they were able to engage in intermittent smooching for much longer than a mere lip-lock time limitation. :lol: Of course, the scene turned out to be even more romantic and sexy. Leave it to Hitchcock, and to the master behind-the-scenes, his wife and collaborator, Alma Reville. ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8xRZeIZAx8

I too enjoyed It Happened One Night. That one never got old, even though the time period and so many of the jokes and circumstances are dated. I'm suddenly reminded of Mr Smith Goes to Washington; Rear Window; Vertigo; film noir classic, Double Indemnity; Rebecca; and Marnie with Tippi Hedren and Sean Connery.
 
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It Happened One Night - hands down favorite.
Clark Gable killed the undershirt. First time in film that a man took off his shirt, and found bare skin.
It Happened One Night was also played on Lux Radio. While looking that little fact I learned that my Great-Uncle Irving Cummings was the host that night.

And then Sabrina - either version :)

Favorite NetFlix - Grace and Frankie - Brilliant.
 
YES to Umbrellas at Cherbourg, Casablanca, and the Before Sunrise/Sunset series.
Also love When Harry Met Sally, Moulin Rouge, Brief Encounter, and Letter from an Unknown Woman.
 
Smiles of a Summer Night
Paper Wedding
Local Hero
Perfectly Normal
Men with Brooms
Boyfriends and Girlfriends
 
kwanfan1818 said:
Men with Brooms
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I thought I was the only who has seen Men with Brooms! (Took a zigzag path to find it - saw Paul Gross play Hamlet in Stratford, which lead me to the incredibly awesome Slings and Arrows, which then prompted me to seek out Men with Brooms.

I have a soft spot for the Nora Ephron romantic comedies...also, Say Anything, The Holiday, Amelie, Cinema Paradiso (but NOT the director's cut), Wings of Desire, The Princess Bride, the Big Sick, Your Name.
 
Impromptu said:
I thought I was the only who has seen Men with Brooms! (Took a zigzag path to find it - saw Paul Gross play Hamlet in Stratford, which lead me to the incredibly awesome Slings and Arrows, which then prompted me to seek out Men with Brooms.

I have a soft spot for the Nora Ephron romantic comedies...also, Say Anything, The Holiday, Amelie, Cinema Paradiso (but NOT the director's cut), Wings of Desire, The Princess Bride, the Big Sick, Your Name.
Click to expand...

Another Men With Brooms fan and Nora Ephron too. Wings of Desire is so visually beautiful---I'm so glad it was not made in color. You also mentioned The Holiday and I like two more Nancy Meyer films that fit this category: It's Complicated and Something's Gotta Give. I love that her focus in these films are women of a certain age in love (or lust.)
 
Hmmm

Casablanca
West Side Story
Somewhere in Time
Pride and Prejudice (Ehle-Firth version)
It Happened One Night

more when I can think of more. :D
 
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