February 14, 2011
Review - " 50 greatest Romance Movies of the past Decade "
By Roland Hansen




There are so many wonderful romances that were left off my list - included here are the "honorable mentions"
10 Items or Less (2007)
An actor doing research for a part has a sweet relationship with a local grocery store checkout girl.
27 Dresses (2008)
Perky perpetual bridesmaid meets cynical society page journalist. Prepare for sparks to fly
50 first dates (2004)
Henry think he's finally found the girl of his dreams, until he discovers she has short-term memory loss and forgets him the very next day.
About a Boy (2002)
The story of a cynical, immature young man who is taught how to act like a grown-up by a little boy
The Accidental Husband (2009)
When talk radio host Emma Lloyd advises one of her listeners to break up with her boyfriend, the jilted ex sets about getting his revenge.
Angel Eyes (2001)
A mysterious man is drawn to a feisty female police officer and a unusual relationship ensues, as not everything is as it seems.
The Answer Man (2009)
A reclusive author of spiritual books, is pursued for advice by a single mother and a man fresh out of rehab.
The Backup Plan (2010)
A single woman unable to find love decides to get in vitro fertilization then literally bumps into the man of her dreams
Bridget Jones Diary (2001)
A British woman is determined to improve herself while she looks for love in a year in which she keeps a personal diary.
Casanova (2006)
The legendary Lothario isn't quite who you think he is.
Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)
A young woman with a shopping addiction takes a job writing for a financial magazine and falls in love with the editor
Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
The story of a man who starts aging backwards with bizarre consequences.
Dakota Skye (2009)
Dakota has been cursed with a super power. She has the ability to see the truth in any lie she hears. Until she meets a boy who seemingly never lies
Definitely, Maybe (2008)
A political consultant tries to explain his impending divorce and past relationships to his 11-year-old daughter.
Down With love (2004)
New York City in 1962, and love is blooming between a journalist and a feminist advice author, who's falling head over heels despite her beau's playboy lifestyle.
Enchanted (2007)
A classic Disney fairytale collides with modern-day New York City in a story about a fairytale princess who is sent to our world by an evil queen.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Devastated Peter takes a Hawaii vacation in order to deal with recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend, Sarah. Little does he know she's traveling to the same
resort ... and she's bringing along her new boyfriend.
Hitch (2005)
While helping his latest client woo the lady of his dreams, a professional "date doctor" finds that his game doesn't quite work on the gossip columnist with whom he's
smitten.
The Illusionist (2006)
A turn of the century magician conjures up spirits to secure the love of a woman and rescue her from an evil Crown Prince
The Jane Austen Book Club (2007)
Six Californians start a club to discuss the works of Jane Austen, only to find their relationships, both old and new, begin to resemble 21st century versions of her
novels.
A Knights Tale (2001)
A lowly commoner changes his stars to become a knight and win the heart of fair princess
Knocked Up (2007)
The last thing he ever expected was for his one night stand to show up on his doorstep eight weeks later to tell him she's pregnant.
Last Holiday (2006)
After she's diagnosed with a terminal illness, a shy woman decides to take a European vacation. Sometimes it takes dying to learn how to really live.
Leap Year (2010)
A woman who has an elaborate scheme to propose to her boyfriend on Leap Day, an Irish tradition which occurs every time the date February 29 rolls around,
discovers a romance she never expected.
Let the Right One In (2008)
Vampire movies have been a dime a dozen this decade. Few as affecting as this snow-capped charmer about alienated Swedish teenagers.
Little Manhattan (2005)
Two 11-year-olds find love in New York City.
Love in the Time of Cholera (2008)
Rejected by the beautiful Fermina at a young age, he devotes much of his adult life to carnal affairs as a desperate attempt to heal his broken heart.
Marie Antoinette (2006)
From her betrothal and marriage to Louis XVI at 15 to her reign as queen at 19 and to the end of her reign as queen and ultimately the fall of Versailles.
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)
A middle-aged London governess, finds her new employment catapults her into the glamorous world and dizzying social whirl of an American actress and singer.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
A young Greek woman falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity.
My Summer of Love (2006)
working-class tomboy Mona meets the exotic, pampered Tasmin. Over the summer season, the two young women discover they have much to teach one another,
and much to explore together.
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)
High school student Nick O'Leary, member of the Queercore band The Jerk Offs, meets college-bound Norah Silverberg and she asks him to be her boyfriend for
five minutes.
No Reservations (2007)
The life of a top chef changes when she becomes the guardian of her young niece and fears being replaced in her own kitchen .
Prime (2005)
Recently divorced, later thirty something Rafi tells her psychoanalyst all about her conflictions and romps with an early twenty something painter - who just happens
to be her therapists son.
The Proposal (2009)
A workaholic, tyrannical book editor suddenly finds her career in jeopardy as she faces deportation back to Canada. Her solution is to simply fake an engagement
to her unsuspecting assistant.
Someone Like You (2001)
After being jilted by her boyfriend, a talkshow talent scout writes a sexist column accusing all men of being cheaters, which gains her national fame.
Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
An IRS auditor suddenly finds himself the subject of narration only he can hear: narration that begins to affect his entire life, from his work, to his love-interest, to
his death.
The Oh in Ohio (2006)
Priscilla Chase, married for more than ten years, is a woman who has never had an orgasm. She decides to buy a vibrator and discovers what it's all about.
Valentine's Day (2010)
Intertwining couples and singles in Los Angeles break-up and make-up based on the pressures and expectations of Valentine's Day.
Vanilla Sky (2001)
A successful playboy publisher finds his life taking a turn for the surreal after a car accident with a jaded lover.
When in Rome (2010)
a young, ambitious New Yorker who is completely unlucky in love, on a trip to Rome impulsively steals some coins from a reputed fountain of love, and is then
aggressively pursued by a band of suitors.
The Young Victoria (2010)
The turbulent first years of Queen Victoria's rule, and her enduring romance with Prince Albert.
For comments or to submit a movie review for possible inclusion on Delta Films site
please send an email to Critics@deltafilms.net

















In honor of the upcoming Valentines Day holiday I wanted to present my list of the top 10 or 20
most romantic films of the past decade. The problem was that I couldn't pare it down to only 20
movies. As those who read my reviews may have noticed, I'm a big fan of romance and
romantic comedies. I created a list of about 100 romantic films from 2001 through 2010. I then
went and put a check next to all the ones I felt I HAD to include. I figured I'd go back and select
a few of the "maybe" films to fill out the list but when I counted the "Had To" movies I found I
had a total of 50. 50! So a lot of very good romantic flix get left out.
Putting them in order of the most romantic seemed a daunting task so I chose to list them
alphabetically by year of release.
Here is my compilation of the 50 most romantic movies of the 2000's. See if your favorites
made my list - and if some I chose you wouldn't.


Amelie (2001)
"Amélie still seeks solitude. She amuses herself with silly questions about the
world below, such as "How many people are having an orgasm right now?"
Amélie: Fifteen. "
A delicate, delicious little French trifle, Amélie is easily the most romantic film
on this list. The adorable Audrey Tautou launched herself into the American
consciousness as the quirky do-gooder waitress who sends her secret crush
photos and riddles masking her identity in order to make their first encounter,
and first kiss, the most romantic moment of her life.
Amelie is a film soaked in romance. Every frame of this gorgeously
photographed film, tinted in hues of red, resembles a magical version of Paris
– something that director Jean-Pierre Jeunet intended. At the center of this
imaginative film is young Amelie, a lonely 20-something Parisian waitress with
a vivid imagination who decides to bring happiness to people by helping
them. One day, she picks up a photo album lost by a mysterious young
stranger leading her to embark on her greatest quest – something that brings
love and happiness to her door. Whimsical, quirky and romantic, Endlessly
imaginative and beautifully photographed, Amélie is a film to be treasured
Serendipity (2001)
"You know the Greeks didn't write obituaries. They only asked one question
after a man died: "Did he have passion?"."
John Cusack, what more do I need to say? Serendipity (noun) - the faculty
or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for; a
natural gift for making useful discoveries by accident. This is a wonderful gift
of a Divine accident. or as Sarah Explains "It's such a nice sounding word for
what it means: a fortunate accident. "
A young man and a drop dead gorgeous woman keep meeting by chance
and wonder if they are meant for each other. Although both are promised to
others...oddly enough they still feel that their soul mate is out there
somewhere. A little sappy in some places, but viva la love. Being a romantic I
am almost obligated to be riveted. My favorite scene is where Cusack is on
the ground and snow starts falling. The finale is almost too sweet, but most
deserving. Many crazy moments in this movie about the crazy love and the
fantasy make the movie more exciting.


Kissing Jessica Stein (2002)
"When it comes to love, sometimes she just can't think straight. "
Jessica Stein is a single, straight, successful, journalist, part of a bonded
Jewish family living in New York City, who finds herself not as straight as she
thought when Jessica meets and begins an intense friendship with career
woman Helen Cooper which ultimately leads to romance. "Kissing Jessica
Stein" is a romantic comedy about a girl who basically just doesn't know what
she wants, but its better than that statement. The film is very well written and
very funny. The relationships explored are real and three-dimensional and
every element that moves the story forward is done with subtlety and humour.
Maid in Manhattan (2002)
"What we do does not define who we are. What defines us is how well we
rise after falling."
Marisa Ventura is a struggling single mom who works at a posh Manhattan
hotel and dreams of a better life for her and her young son. One fateful
day hotel guest and senatorial candidate Christopher Marshall meets
Marisa and mistakes her for a wealthy socialite. After an enchanting
evening together the two fall madly in love. But when Marisa's true identity
is revealed issues of class and social status threaten to separate them.
Can two people from very different worlds overcome their differences and
live happily ever after? Two people falling in love is always a nice thing and
seeing how they cross boundary's for that love is even nicer. There's one
line that particularly caught my fancy, when her son asks Marisa if she
thinks Marshall will miss them. `He's crazy not to', she replies, a nice blend
of confidence, sweetness and honesty



Possession (2002)
"The past will connect them. The passion will possess them."
A pair of literary sleuths unearth the amorous secret of two Victorian poets
only to find themselves falling under a passionate spell. Roland Michell is
an Americian trying to make it in the difficult world of British Academics. He
has yet to break out from under his mentor's shadow until he finds a pair of
love letters in the textbook that once belonged to one of his idols, a famous
long dead Victorian poet. Michell, after some sleuthing around, narrows
down the suspects to a woman not his wife, another well known Victorian
poet. Roland enlists the aid of a Dr. Maud Bailey, an expert on the life of
the woman in question. Together they piece together the story of a
forbidden love affair, and discover one of their own.
Two Weeks Notice (2002)
"Before you came into my life I could make all kinds of decisions now I'm
addicted I have to know what you think."
If you are looking for a cute romantic movie, you can never go wrong with
Hugh Grant, who is teamed in this one with Sandra Bullock as an
environmental lawyer who becomes Grant's legal eagle and mommy. Yes,
she gets more than she bargains for and finally gives notice - hence, the
title. In typical Grant style, he spends the rest of the movie trying to get
her back. Sure, his movies follow the same formula, but they are just fun
to watch. The script is funny and fast paced and both are handed good
comedy material to sink their teeth into. Hugh Grant is surrounded by
beautiful women throughout the film giving him the opportunity to work his
English charm school act, and with another sexy secretary in the picture,
Bullock is given her opportunity to spar in her own inimitable way.
A Walk to Remember (2002)
"Find out who you are, and do it on purpose."
Landon Carter, the most popular guy in school, gets into some trouble, and
as punishment his principal makes him tutor a younger student, and be in
the school's spring play. Jamie Sullivan is considered an outcast in school
and is also in the school play. One day Landon realizes that he's in over
his head and ends up asking Jamie for help. Soon Landon unexpectedly
finds himself falling in love with Jamie. A love story about two North
Carolina teens who are completely different but made the most beautiful
romantic move in this movie. You must feel and enjoy each and every
dialogue and line of this movie. Landon Carter was just like a normal teen
who loves fun and care-free life until he met Jamie Sullivan. She completely
changed his life and the last part of the movie when Landon started loving
her and taking care of every single moment of Jamie is really an element to
feel. A trustworthy, touching story that you won’t forget ater you’ve seen it.
Well written and absolutely worth being watched.











Lost in Translation (2003)
"The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let
things upset you."
A movie star with a sense of emptiness, and a neglected newlywed meet
up as strangers in Tokyo, Japan and form an unlikely bond. One of the
best movies ever made about loneliness, “Lost in Translation” is about two
completely different Americans who meet at a hotel in Tokyo and bond
through their shared disappointments with life. It certainly is not your typical
romantic comedy, most notably because the relationship between Bob and
Charlotte is not so much about love as it is about truly understanding
where the other is coming from. They are both stranded far from home,
Bob filming commercials and Charlotte's husband off at different photo
shoots, and when they meet they find a connection that they can't find
anywhere else in Tokyo. I will admit that the film isn't for everyone. But for
those who get it, it’s an unforgettably rich experience. It also has one of the
beautiful endings of any film released this decade.
Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
"What is it about love that makes us so stupid?"
While on vacation, a just-divorced writer buys a villa in Tuscany on a whim,
hoping it will be the start of a change for the better in her life. After
Frances's seemingly happy San Francisco marriage ends abruptly, she
goes into a funk. Urged by her friends to move on, she joins a bus tour of
Tuscany where, on the spur of the moment, she buys a crumbling villa.
She assembles a crew of oddballs and immigrants to repair the house;
over the next year, as they work, she welcomes one of her New York
friends who's pregnant and at loose ends, and she seeks love, first
(tenuously) with her married real estate agent, then with a charming
stranger. Although life gets in the way of love, Frances's wishes come true
in unexpected ways, and there's always the Tuscan sun. This is a film for
adults, for people who can understand pain and the search for recovery
and understand the difficulty of coming back from a space that once
offered the mirage of safety and security.
Before Sunset (2004)
"You were, for me, that night - Everything I always dreamt of in life."
Amazingly effective in its simplicity. Two people meet on a train and spend
a romantic night together in Vienna—talking, walking, philosophizing and
falling in love. Ten years later they meet again by happenstance. That's
the premise for Richard Linklater's Before Sunset, a lovely tone poem that
stands as a bookend to 1994's Before Sunrise. It didn’t seem likely or
possible that Richard Linklater could strike gold twice but this sequel is
every bit as worthwhile as the original. Actors Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy
have a tremendous rapport together, and imbue their characters with just
the right mix of cynicism and hurt, but also passion and longing. This is a
very intellectually stimulating romance film that takes place in real time. It’s
essentially just two people having a conversation from start to finish as
they walk about in beautiful Paris. If you haven’t seen this film, make sure
you watch it coupled with “Before Sunrise.”



































Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
"How happy is the blameless vestal's lot! / The world forgetting, by the world
forgot / Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! / Each pray'r accepted, and
each wish resign'd. "
Would you erase the memory of a past relationship if you had your heart
broken? Based on an absurd premise but grounded in real emotion, Eternal
Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is about a man who wishes to erase his ex-
girlfriend from his memory after he finds out she erased him first. Life isn't
always that easy, as Joel discovers: as he's erasing Clementine from his
memory, he's also erasing some of the best parts of his life. Joel starts to fight
the memory erasing in a desperate effort to protect what he's discovered he
loves most about life .... Clementine. A beautifully structured film, which has
the story going both backwards and forwards, that always reminds us how
precious our memories truly are. Jim Carry breaks free of his traditional role,
and goes ultra-unfunny. And he does this brilliantly. Winslet and Carrey’s
career-best performances make the characters magnetic and you pray that
they get together at the film’s end. Not only is this the best romance this
decade, it's also one of the best films of the decade. Laughs, heartache,
suspense follow in this smart, warm unique rom-com. If you take a moment
and really open your mind, the brilliance of this film will definitely shine through.
Love Actually (2004)
"To me, you are perfect"
If any movie is totally about love this one is it. Love Actually captures the
lives of 8 couples in the weeks before Christmas in London. It beautifully
weaves multiple stories of blossoming love during the Holiday season using
a first-rate all-star cast.This holiday film is laced with all different stories of
love: puppy love, lost love, unrequited love, and great big declarations of
feelings. The most romantic scene (for us) is perhaps also the most
heartbreaking. Mark (Andrew Lincoln), long smitten with his best friend's girl
(Keira Knightley), appears at her door with a series of hand written posters
expressing what he's always wanted to say: "To me, you are perfect." He
gets us every time. You’d have to be a curmudgeon to dislike “Love
Actually,” one of the most entertaining and romantic holiday-movies ever.
Sideways (2004)
"I like to think about the life of wine. How it's a living thing..."
Sideways is a pretty great buddy comedy (featuring a hilariously brazen
performance from Thomas Haden Church), but it's an even better romantic
comedy. At its heart is the tender relationship between Miles and Maya, two
bruised divorcees who forge a tenuous connection to each other. There is a
scene in “Sideways” where Miles, played by Paul Giamatti in the best
performance of his career, describes the delicate nature and the virtues of
the Pinot Noir grape. If you listen closely, it’s not hard to see parallels
between the character and the grape he’s describing. Soon, you realize that
he’s more or less describing himself. You know your hearing expressions of
love as poetic and beautifully rendered as anything else in the movies in well
over a decade. From both of their beautiful speeches expressing their love
of Pinot Noir to the wonderfully poignant open-ended knock at the door, their
romance is note-perfect. This quirky off-beat and sometimes very funny
movie remains a delight. It’s hard for me to not think of the film’s simple but
heart-warming final scene. Movie-making at its finest!



Something's Gotta Give (2004)
"When something happens to you that hasn't happened before, don't you at
least have to find out what it is? "
Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton are wonderful together playing complete
opposites, who despite his desire to skirt-chase substantially younger women
and her desire to remain single as relationships are far too complicated, end
up having a romantic interlude. They clash, offend and even scare one
another until "something gives." This is the exception to the general rule that
loves stories have to concern people thirty and under. Keaton and Jack play
the couple who are at the heart of this story and make the movie a wonderful
winner. Both of these award-winning actors are in top form and the story is
tailor made for their talents. Something's Gotta Give is a great film about
grown-ups finding romance, and in a day and age where society is so
youth-obsessed, this film is welcomed for those who are not.
The Notebook (2004)
"It wasn't over – it still isn't over"
A man tells the story of a young couple who struggle through the times as
rich daughter and a poor mill worker some 50 or 60 years ago. Two people
from different walks of life who meet at a carnival in the 1940s and spend the
next bulk of years fighting for love or hiding from it. The story of this couple is
relayed back from an elderly man to an old lady in a nursing home via a
notebook. As the young couple Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams are
magnetic while screen legends James Garner and Gena Rowlands are
heartbreaking as the older couple. Just try not to cry while watching this flick
based on a Nicholas Sparks novel. It's a tearjerker for sure, but there's an
underlying sentimentality that rings true. What really does us in is the
juxtaposition of Noah and Allie's story of young love set against the modern
reality of Allie's deteriorating health. This film has all the elements of a great
romance. The angst, crazy young love, lost love, found love and true love in
old age. It's a film that truly reinvigorates ones belief that love is worth living
for and dying for.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
"I wish I knew how to quit you"
The most romantic movies are about the subtle gestures, the moments in
between intimacy, and Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain captures them against
a vibrant Alberta landscape. Set in the 1960s, Ennis (Heath Ledger) and
Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) are sheep herders who spend months of the year
living in isolation atop the rugged Brokeback Mountain. When they develop
feelings for each other, it's something neither of them can ignore and each
will spend decades torn between what society expects from them and their
passion for each other. Only an ignorant person would label Brokeback
Mountain as the “gay-cowboy movie.” With its universal themes of love and
loss, you could say the film is just like any romance epic but it’s the execution
and the unbelievably moving performances that make it one of the most
beautiful and powerful romantic films of the decade. Featuring a career-best
performance from Heath Ledger and Oscar-winning direction from Ang Lee
Brokeback is a film for everyone - gay, straight or bisexual. It deserved to be
called ground-breaking.




Elizabethtown (2005)
"I want you to get into the deep beautiful melancholy of everything that's
happened. "
A very funny movie but also very sad. After causing a loss of almost one
billion dollars in his company, the shoe designer Drew Baylor decides to
commit suicide. However, in the exact moment of his act of despair, he
receives a phone call from his sister telling him that his beloved father had
just died in Elizabethtown, and he should bring him back since his mother
had problem with the relatives of his father. He travels in an empty red
eye flight and meets the attendant Claire Colburn, who changes his view and
perspective of life. This "life journey" movie was filled with moments we can
all relate to and understand. Cameron Crowe has created a quirky, funny,
sad, happy movie that made a couple of turns I did not expect. The road trip
at the end was so familiar and brought back enough memories to leave me
wanting more.
Just Like Heaven (2005)
"You think if you could ever really touch me, I might wake up from all of this."
A lonely landscape architect falls for the spirit of beautiful woman who used
to live in his new apartment. Elizabeth Masterson, a dedicated doctor in San
Francisco, had almost no time for anything. When her sister with two kids
set her up on a date, she gets into a tragic car crash and falls into a coma.
Meanwhile, an artist named David Abbott moves into San Francisco and
coincidentally, into Elizabeth's apartment for rent. While at the apartment,
Elizabeth's spirit haunts him. She doesn't remember who she is, who her
family is, and what she did - All that she remembered was her apartment
and where everything was. To settle the arguments, David agrees to figure
out who Elizabeth really is. When they get close to figuring out who she is,
they eventually find love in each other and as they finally know who she
really is, they learn that fate really has put them both together. The movie is
sweet, it has a fairy-tale feel, which is comforting in an uncertain world. The
chemistry between Reese and Mark is amazing and the story is unusual
and entertaining. The plot is fairly predictable, but the audience is thrown a
few curve balls. There is uncanny humor, yet the movie maintains a
poignant sense of reality.
Must Love Dogs (2005)
"I want to be in love. I want to wake up next to someone and see them smile,
do the whole Sunday breakfast thing, go out and get the paper, stay in bed
together all day."
The film centers around a kindergarten teacher named Sarah Nolan, a
divorcée who swears off men after a devastating divorce. However, her
close-knit Irish-American family decides to 'help' her along by signing her up
for a number of online dating sites. After some hilariously painful dates,
Sarah meets Jake Anderson and instead of love at first sight, it's an awkward
fright. The awkward but hilarious moments keep coming as they give love
and each other a second chance. She finds herself caught between two
men, as she starts seeing the father of one her students. Diane Lane was
real, vulnerable and more beautiful than ever. The chemistry between her
and John Cusack was truly believable. Although the story line is slightly
predictable the dialog sparkles. And the dogs, needless to say, are Oscar
worthy. You don't have to love dogs to love this movie. An exceptionally
funny and entertaining comedy that has so much heart and soul that it is
very easy to watch and get enjoyment from.
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
"Believe me. Men are either eaten up with arrogance or stupidity. If they are
amiable, they are so easily led they have no minds of their own whatsoever. "
Sparks fly when spirited Elizabeth Bennett meets single, rich, and proud Mr.
Darcy. But Mr. Darcy reluctantly finds himself falling in love with a woman
beneath his class. Can each overcome their own pride and prejudice? There
have been countless adaptations of Jane Austen’s classic book. Once again
the fantastic romantic world of Jane Austen again makes its way to the silver
screen. This adaptation is a brilliant achievement that keeps you actively
involved from the first scene to the very last scene, just about consuming
you with aching romance – and it is sprinkled with humour and intelligence.
Austen's famous wit, satire & humour forms the basis for her enduring appeal.
Donald Sutherland's touching performance as Mr Bennet - capturing both the
humour of living in an all female household & five daughters to look after with
the poignancy of seeing his eldest children's difficult relationships develop -
easily his best acting performance in years. Macfadyen perfectly displays
Darcy's social & class problems, his unfortunate attempts at gaining Eliabeth
Bennet's interest & his painful adjustments to achieve their personal
love story. Macfayden & Knightley's objectionable first dance, their
embarrassingly moving Collins House meeting, the unexpected Pemberley
encounter plus their two proposal scenes are highlights of this film. it ultimately
completely captured the characters, their transformations, their strengths,
their vulnerabilities and their passions. You simply do not want it to end.










Shopgirl (2005)
"How is it possible, he thinks, to miss a woman whom he kept at a
distance so that when she was gone he would not miss her."
A film about a complex love triangle between a bored salesgirl, a wealthy
businessman and an aimless young man. A young 20-something woman,
Mirabelle, works selling gloves at Saks Fifth Avenue in L.A. She spends
most of her day behind the counter with not much to do and at night she
goes home alone to her apartment in Silverlake, with only her cat to keep
her company. She dreams of being an artist and of a man who will one
day sweep her off her feet and awaken her drab and lifeless existence.
She has two men in her life: wealthy divorcée Ray Porter and struggling
musician Jeremy. Mirabelle falls in love with the glamorous Ray, and her
life takes a magical turn, but eventually she realizes that she must
empower herself and make a choice between them. This film took an
interesting perspective on the May/December romance, through the eyes
of a female protagonist. It said a lot about what men and women expect
from relationships, and how love can be heartbreaking and painful, yet
wonderful and beautiful at the same time. It is also about a woman
discovering more about life, love, and most of all, herself.
Spanglish (2005)
"As I hope this essay shows, your acceptance, while it would thrill me, will
not define me. My identity rests firmly and happily on one fact: I am my
mother's daughter"
John Clasky is a devoted dad whose skills as a chef have offered his
family a very upscale life, including a summer home in Malibu and a
breathtaking new Mexican housekeeper, named Flor. She and her
daughter Cristina have recently emigrated to L.A. from Mexico and are
trying to find a better life. When they move in with the Claskys for the
summer, Flor has to fight for her daughter's soul as she discovers that life
in a new country is perilous! It's a comedy with enough serious moments
to give a person time to pause and think. Amidst the well written comedy
scenes, there are many life-impacting conversations. If you pay attention
to this movie, I think you will learn something about yourself, about cultural
differences, about responsibility....All while having a good time and a few
laughs. The characters are relateable, not so much as the commonness
of their ways, because they are very quirky almost to the extreme, but
because there is a part of every person in each of them, or at least a part
to strives to be. The language barrier just highlights the dialogue, as one
watching tries to hear it from foreign ears and yet understands movements
and emotions better than what is said.
A Good Year (2006)
"Forgive my lips. They find joy in the most unusual places."
It's premise is similar to Under the Tuscan Sun. Despite the similarities,
managed to create something new and different, mostly thanks to it's rich
plot, vivid characters and breathtaking landscape, that build up an
enchanting European atmosphere that allows you to wander off to France.
Maximillian Skinner is a young and bright manager in the British stock
market who has low morals which bring him high financial results. He's cocky
and arrogant, and his life is about to change dramatically. This occurs when
he finds out his Uncle Henry has passed away and left him his vineyard in
Provence, France. Skinner immediately realizes the financial value of the
property and boards the first plane to the colorful valley. Arriving there, he is
filled with childhood memories through which we see Henry teaching his
young oprhan nephew Max the values of life. He meets and falls for a local
French woman and starts unveiling the secrets of the vineyard. As he
becomes more and more adjusted to his past. He doesn't change, he opens
his heart and mind to qualities that he has been ignoring within himself. You
can see that other Max from the moment he opens the letter telling him
Henry is dead - but he tries to resist the feelings that are clearly there, in
large part because he doesn't want to face the fact that he has let his Uncle
down - and all of the guilt that is allied with that. The landscapes, the
Provence feeling, the interesting women, makes you fly between the clouds
and wonder: "what if I leave my job right now and start living the real life?". It
is a movie about feelings, enjoying life, and finding yourself.
Imagine Me & You (2006)
"Everyone promises you happily ever after... but life turns into a different
kind of fairy tale."
A newlywed bride becomes infatuated with another woman, who then
questions her sexual orientation, promoting a stir among the bride's family
and friends. Rachel and Heck, long time friends and lovers, finally tie the
knot, and during the celebration, Rachel locks eyes with their florist - for
only a split second, but that second changes everything. She starts a
friendship with the florist, Luce. And while Rachel originally intended to
match her new friend up with her husband's friend, Cooper, she soon finds
out that Luce is a lesbian. During the course of their friendship, Rachel
starts to question her own sexuality. And though she comes to realize she
may have feelings for her new friend, Rachel must decide who she will
ultimately find the most happiness with: Heck, her new husband who is also
adored by her family, or Luce, who has turned her life and everything she
thought she new about love upside down. Very entertaining and delightful,
the acting is excellent and the lead actresses are completely captivating.
With all the sexual tension, sexual chemistry, and positive presentation,
you will fall in love with the actresses. You will thrill to their budding love
and consummation of that love. This movie may haunt you, you may even
want to see it again and again.
The Lake House (2006)
"One man I can never meet. To him, I would like to give my whole heart."
A lonely doctor who once occupied an unusual lakeside home begins
exchanging love letters with its former resident, a frustrated architect.
Living two years apart in the same house, they must try to unravel the
mystery behind their extraordinary romance before it's too late. As they
correspond back and forth, creating an intimate relationship through
words, they discover they have a connection that bridges the two year gap.
When two people "connect" the bond between them can be so pure and
simple as to stir hearts in heaven. When they connect in all the right places
at all the wrong times, heaven weeps for broken hearts. To heal these
broken hearts, heaven breaks time. Lots of twists and turns to keep you
guessing and enough closeups to satisfy all. Christopher Plummer was an
interesting supporting actor and as always commanded the screen. There
were a lot of interesting supporting characters, there was Jack the dog,
and of course the Lakehouse and the mailbox. This was great popcorn
fare with your significant other! Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves are
once again a great on screen couple, even though weren't often on screen
together. Don't get too caught up in the plausibility aspect just enjoy it as a
romantic fantasy, we all need some escape now and then. This is a really
great film, and well worth multiple viewings.
Priceless (2006)
"charm is more valuable than beauty. You can resist beauty, but you can't
resist charm. "
The tale of two people who meet under unusual circumstances. Jean, a shy
bartender at a luxurious hotel, is mistaken for an ultra-rich socialite by a
beautiful young gold digger, Irene. When she discovers his real identity, she
flees instantly. But Jean is smitten and goes out and searches for her on the
Riviera. Irene repeated rebuffs his attentions only to find that a love-struck
Jean has no intention of letting her get away. After spending his entire life
savings he doesn't even get laid. She pretends to be asleep. It's a pretty juicy
revenge for his spoiling her chances with her rich boyfriend. She's trying to
teach him a lesson but it's a price he'd gladly pay just to spend some time
with her. There's an incredibly sweet moment when she's about to leave, he
gives her his last nickel for just ten more seconds of her time. He uses that
time to simply stand there gazing at her. Jean's comical attempts to gain her
affections gradually evolve into setting himself up as a gigolo at a luxury
hotel. This new situation brings him closer to Irene who finally accepts his
presence and sees him as one of her own. She begins to give him advice and
grows closer to him without realizing that she is falling in love. Happily
Priceless is one of the gems, a true sparkling diamond. Set against a wildly
atmospheric backdrop of the south of France. Sexy and thoroughly charming
romantic comedy which is a re-imagining of the cinema classic Breakfast at
Tiffany's. The dialogue is crisp and witty. This movie is very funny and well
made. It is high on charm and loads of laughs.
The Holiday (2006)
"I have found almost everything ever written about love to be true.
Shakespeare said, 'Journeys end in lovers meeting.' What an extraordinary
thought."
Two women troubled with guy-problems swap homes. In London, Iris Simpkins
writes a wedding column in a newspaper and has an unrequited love for her
colleague Jasper Bloom. She is informed that Jasper is engaged and will
marry another colleague, and her life turns head over heels. In Los Angeles,
the movie-trailers maker Amanda Woods has just broken with her unfaithful
boyfriend Ethan and wants to forget him. Amanda access a house exchange
website, and impulsively swaps her mansion for Iris' cottage in Surrey for the
holiday along the next two weeks. While in Surrey, Amanda meets Iris' brother
and book editor Graham and they fall in love for each other. Meanwhile Iris
meet her next door neighbor, the ninety year old screenplay writer Arthur,
who helps her to retrieve her self-esteem, and the film composer Miles, and
they fall in love for each other. The Holiday contains warm, natural dialogue
and heartfelt chemistry. Charismatic and entertaining, Diaz, Law and Winslet
are a joy to watch, filling their parts with love and light. There is an overall
honesty to the performances. Jack Black struggles to get out of his
music-and-silly-faces typecasting but just manages to look the part for an
intellectual Iris who is not attracted to skin-deep. With more Christmas songs
than you can shake a piece of tinsel at, The Holiday is a warm, snuggly
romance to lose yourself in before coming firmly back down to planet earth.
Atonement (2007)
"The story can resume. I will return. Find you, love you, marry you and live
without shame."
A fledgling writer irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she
accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit. When Briony
Tallis, 13 years old aspiring writer, sees her older sister Cecilia and Robbie
Turner at the fountain in front of the family estate she misinterprets what is
happening thus setting into motion a series of misunderstandings and a
childish pique that will have lasting repercussions for all of them. Robbie is
the son of a family servant toward whom the family has always been kind.
They paid for his time at Cambridge and now he plans on going to medical
school. After the fountain incident, Briony reads a letter intended for Cecilia
and concludes that Robbie is a deviant. When her cousin Lola is raped, she
tells the police that it was Robbie she saw committing the deed when in fact it
was a visitor to the estate. A superbly directed romantic epic Atonement is a
visually stunning and masterfully edited story about how one lie can ruin the
lives of many. As the two lovers separated by tragedy, Keira Knightley and
James McAvoy are absolutely wonderful. Saoirse Ronan's character, Briony,
is a vital in the movie, and for such a young actress she delivers her
performance so chillingly brilliant. Atonement is pure poetry on film. From the
hazy, dreamy, hopeful days of 1935, a destructive act of spite, the horrors of
Dunkirk, to the aftermath and a devastating "happy" ending, it is a
magnificent and moving film.
Dan in Real Life (2007)
"Love is not a feeling. It's an ability. "
Dan Burns is a single father who dedicates his life to his children, but one day
he meets Marie at a bookstore. They get to know each other, but then Dan
finds out that Marie is actually dating his brother, Mitch.
The relationship between Dan and Marie makes sense and is beautifully
realistic. The casting of Oscar-winner Juliette Binoche as Dan's love interest
was a superb decision; she is exceptionally talented, intelligent, naturally
attractive and, thank goodness, appropriately aged for the part! It is a perfect
film for adults who are interested in a mature comedy that leaves out the three
pillars of the "frat pack" formula: dumb chicks, chauvinistic guys, and sleazy
jokes. Dan in Real Life is witty and has fun, intelligent laughs throughout. All in
all this is a great film, a fantastic escape from the redundancy of offensive and
dumbed-down comedies. The quality of the writing, directing, acting, and
cinematography is excellent. It is simply a beautiful, light-hearted comedy.
Feast of Love (2007)
"There is a story about the greek gods. They were bored, so they invented
human beings, but they were still bored, so they invented love. Then they
weren't bored any longer, so they decided to try love for themselves. And
finally they invented laughter, so they could stand it."
A rustic Oregon town is the backdrop for this tale of men and women touched
by love's inescapable spell. From Bradley, the hopeless romantic who looks
for love in all the wrong places; to Harry, a local professor with the wisdom
and experience to guide those close to him; to young, beautiful Chloe, who
defies fate in romancing the troubled Oscar. The center of the film is the
lovable, clueless, hopeless-romantic played by Greg Kinnear. We see two
relationships end badly for him, yet he clings to his belief that love is what it's
all about. The story examines the lives and love stories of myriad characters,
each of whom is connected in some way to the father confessor of the town,
one elderly professor Harry Stevenson who not only narrates the threads of
the people's lives, but also plays a significant role as a father of an only son
who died in the recent past from a heroin overdose, a man bruised and
experienced in the vagaries of life, supported by his wife Esther, both of
whom cope with their loss by extending their love to young people. This is an
adult story for adults, and there are far too few of these. Be forewarned , this
is no light-hearted chick flick. It could be termed a romantic drama but more
accurately a human drama. In the end the film gives hope to all of us who
have loved and lost that we can find love again, and that that love can come
in many different forms and Configurations.












































Juno (2007)
"I don't really know what kind of girl I am."
A tale told over four seasons, starting in autumn when Juno, a 16-year-old high
school junior, discovers she's pregnant after one event in a chair with her best
friend, Bleeker. In the waiting room of an abortion clinic, the quirky and whip-
sharp Juno decides to give birth and to place the child with an adoptive couple.
She finds one in the PennySaver personals, contacts them, tells her dad and
step-mother, and carries on with school. The chosen parents, upscale yuppies
(one of whom is cool and laid back, the other meticulous and uptight), meet
Juno, sign papers, and the year unfolds. Juno MacGuff is a tiny force of nature.
An intelligent, articulate, teenager with a sardonic wit who seemingly has a
ready wisecrack for every occasion that might arise in her small Minnesota
town. But her bravada masks deeper emotions. The film goes beneath the
hipster surface and gives many of its characters an extra dimension that goes
beyond Juno's perception of them. This film empathizes with all of its main
characters. The heart of Juno is Ellen Page, and her coming to terms with her
feelings for her best friend Bleeker. Sure, it takes getting pregnant for her to
realize the man of her dreams is the wimp in yellow shorts, but then, the
characters in Juno aren't like normal people anyway. Ellen Page’s touching
performance and Reitman’s skillful direction that make it a fantastic movie.
Like its title character, Juno is funny, charming, honest and incredibly smart.
Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
"Bianca reached out and touched us all, in ways we could never have
imagined. She was a teacher. She was a lesson in courage. And Bianca loved
us all. Especially Lars. Especially him."
In this comedy, Lars Lindstrom is an awkwardly shy young man in a small town
who finally brings home the girl of his dreams to his brother and sister-in-law's
home. The only problem is that she's not real - she's a sex doll Lars ordered
off the Internet. But sex is not what Lars has in mind, but rather a deep,
meaningful relationship. His sister-in-law is worried for him, his brother thinks
he's nuts, but eventually the entire town goes along with his delusion in support
of this sweet natured boy that they've always loved. The premise should have
been cringe-worthy: Ryan Gosling dates a life-size sex doll, and the entire town
goes to great lengths to protect the fairy tale. But Nancy Oliver's script is so
gentle, and so melancholic, that it becomes a quietly powerful story of a
stunted man who finally comes of age. Darkly funny but sweet-natured, Lars is
a small treasure. Strong support is provided by the always-refreshing Emily
Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, and Kelli Garner as the sweet thing who becomes
"Bianca's" rival. But Gosling provides the heart and soul of this remarkable film
that never strikes a false note. The movie has an incredibly powerful and
positive message about the ability of a community to heal and nurture a
troubled soul by treating it with acceptance and compassion. It should be
required viewing by anyone who feels alone in the world.
Music and Lyrics (2007)
"A melody is like seeing someone for the first time. The physical attraction.
Sex. But then, as you get to know the person, that's the lyrics. Their story.
Who they are underneath. It's the combination of the two that makes it
magical."
Alex Fletcher lives comfortably in Manhattan off the residuals from his 80's
pop success and reprising his hits at school reunions, theme parks, and state
fairs. But those gigs are declining, so he jumps at the chance to write a song
and record it with reigning teen idol Cora Corman. Trouble is, he's good at
melodies but needs a lyricist and has less than a week to finish. Enter Sophie
Fisher, subbing for a friend who waters Alex's plants; she's a pretty good
poet, quick witted, and could do it, if she'd agree. But there's some sort of
shadow over her head that Alex may not be able to charm his way past. He's
convinced she's the help he needs. He's neurotic and she's a hypochondriac,
so can she write the lyrics while he writes the music without driving each other
crazy? Haley Bennett plays Cora, a Britneyesque teen singing idol who is
looking to do a duet with Hugh's character. She is brilliant at the shallow,
superficial teen-nymphette and it's a surprise to see that it's her first feature.
Music and Lyrics is a success. The film is as unpretentious as its two lead
actors, makes no great claims, and satisfies with a sincerity that takes it a
notch above the average cheese. Right from the hilarious opening, showing
Hugh's make-believe band "Pop" in their "MTV/VH1" hit video "Pop Goes My
Heart", you can't help but smile. All the songs are pure cheese (and
incredibly infectious), which coupled with some amusing lines, a very lovable
Hugh Grant, a very cute Drew Barrymore, and fabulous supporting roles from
Kristen Johnston and Aasif Mandvi make this movie a great romantic comedy
for those of us who actually enjoy a "bit of fluff".
Once (2007)
"the body moves on, the mind stays and circles the events of the past."
A simple story of a street musician in Ireland, singing covers during the day
for Euros, and his own music at night for cents. A verging on middle aged
man, still living with his Da, repairing vacuums in a tiny shop and writing songs
to his lost love in his tinier bedroom. An immigrant Girl is a Czech who plays
piano when she gets a chance, and does odd jobs by day and takes care of
her mom and her daughter by night. Guy meets Girl, and they get to know
each other as the Girl helps the Guy to put together a demo disc that he
can take to London in hope of landing a music contract. During the same
several day period, the Guy and the Girl work through their past loves, and
reveal their budding love for one another, through their songs. It is
bittersweet and romantic, with great music as the two main characters
collaborate on their songs and help each other become stronger and face the
romantic challenges they both are suffering from. The end of the film is
wonderful and Hollywood-cliché-free! You won't forget these people. You
can't forget their songs.
P.S. I Love You (2007)
"So now, all alone or not, you gotta walk ahead. Thing to remember is if we're
all alone, then we're all together in that too."
A young widow discovers that her late husband has left her 10 messages
intended to help ease her pain and start a new life. Holly Kennedy is beautiful,
smart and married to the love of her life - a passionate, funny, and impetuous
Irishman named Gerry. So when Gerry's life is taken by an illness, it takes the
life out of Holly. The only one who can help her is the person who is no longer
there. Nobody knows Holly better than Gerry. So it's a good thing he planned
ahead. Before he died, Gerry wrote Holly a series of letters that will guide her,
not only through her grief, but in rediscovering herself. The first message
arrives on Holly's 30th birthday in the form of a cake, and to her utter shock, a
tape recording from Gerry, who proceeds to tell her to get out and "celebrate
herself". In the weeks and months that follow, more letters from Gerry are
delivered in surprising ways, each sending her on a new adventure and each
signing off in the same way; P.S. I Love You. Holly's mother and best friends
begin to worry that Gerry's letters are keeping Holly tied to the past. This is
definitely a chick flick that will not only make you cry, but make you laugh, plus
the women will fall in love with Gerard Butler. Gerard was excellent in his part
and Hilary did a fine job as well. At first I didn't think Hilary could pull off the
romantic comedy role, but in the end you get use to her doing it. Hilary
actually makes you feel her pain and how devastated she was when her
husband died. I guarantee you that you will tear up during several scenes. A
five tissue movie! This movie will live on as a romantic classic.
Persuassion (2007)
"Never have I met her equal in good sense or sweetness of character. She's
perfection itself. I've never loved any but her."
Royal Navy captain Wentworth was turned down eight years ago as suitor of
pompous baronet Sir Walter Elliot's daughter Anne, despite true love. Now he
visits their former seaside country estate, rented by his uncle, admiral Croft,
so the financially stressed baronet can afford a fashionable, cheaper
residence in trendy Bath. First the former lovers meet again on the estate,
where they feel vibes again, but neither dares admit them until it seems too
late. Yet the truth becomes clear, both have moved, but meet again in Bath.
Persuasion is my personal favorite of all Jane Austen's books. There is
something about the longing of love lost long ago, lost but not forgotten, that
speaks to me as none of her other works do. There is a voice over so as to
enable the audience to get closer to the character of Anne Elliot played very
well by Sally Hawkins. Rupert Penry-Jones is good as Captain Wentworth,
whose interaction with Anne is concise and to the point. Adrian Shergold
employs a lot of hand held camera, and uses a lot of close ups in order for
the audience to recognise the relationships between characters and their
feelings. Quite often Sally Hawkins looks at the camera, and I felt this worked
very well. She was able to connect and communicate with the audience
without saying a word. A romantic movie based on one of Jane Austen‘s
books. Just as romantic and old fashioned as one could expect.
Stardust (2007)
"A philosopher once asked, 'Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or
do we gaze at them because we are human?' Pointless, really... 'Do the stars
gaze back?' Now THAT'S a question."
In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a
promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the
magical realm. The passage from this world to the fantasy kingdom of
Stormhold is through a breech in a wall beside an English village of Wall. In
the 1800s, a boy becomes a man when he ventures through the breech in
pursuit of a fallen star, to prove his love for the village beauty. The star is no
lump of rock, it's a maiden, Yvaine. Tristan, the youth, is not the only one
looking for her: three witches, led by Lamia, want her heart to make them
young; and, the sons of the dead king of Stormhold want her because she
holds a ruby that will give one of them title to the throne. Assisting Tristan are
his mother, the victim of a spell, and a cross-dressing pirate of the skies. Will
Tristan win his true love? An absolutely great date movie! Stardust mixes
action, adventure, fantasy, comedy, and romance into a masterpiece of a
movie. With surprise cameos by some of the world's most famous actors and
actresses, you will be truly amazed at how much fun this film actually is. The
flow of the movie was perfect. Right from the beginning I became consumed
with the movie, getting more and more excited with each minute passing. I
think this movie is destined to be a fantasy/fairytale classic. The actors were
fabulous, the pace was perfect, and the ending was magical.
Waitress (2007)
"I could find the whole meaning of life in those sad eyes."
It is the story of Jenna, a waitress and fantastic pie baker, married to a no-
good husband. Her dreams of escape from her situation are derailed by an
unexpected pregnancy, but Jenna finds lots of joy and love in her life. She
bakes phenomenal pies at Joe's diner, listens to old Joe's wisdom, tolerates
her sour boss Cal, is friends with Dawn and Becky (her fellow waitresses),
and finds a mutual attraction with the new doctor in town. As the pregnancy
advances, life with Earl seems less tolerable, a way out less clear, and the
affair with the doctor complicated by his marriage. A sweet and satisfying
romantic tale! A wonderful little movie full of memorable, witty funny moments.
It’s one of the few all out chick flicks that a lot of guys will also enjoy. The
story of a young lady trapped in a bad marriage who invents some incredible
pie recipes is a far cry from your typical rom-com formula. Every bit as
comforting as the delicious, candy-colored pies Keri Russell bakes in the film.
Waitress is a honeyed little comedy that should speak to anyone who has
ever felt stuck in a situation. And as good as Russell is, the film's true star is
its writer/director/co-star, the late Adrienne Shelly. Murdered before the film
saw its release, the film stands as a wonderfully bittersweet testament to her
considerable talent.
Ghost Town (2008)
"We just get the one life, you know. Just one. You can't live someone else's
or think it's more important just because it's more dramatic. What happens
matters. May be only to us, but it matters."
Bertram Pincus is a man whose people skills leave much to be desired.
When Pincus dies unexpectedly, but is miraculously revived after seven
minutes, he wakes up to discover that he now has the annoying ability to
see ghosts. Even worse, they all want something from him, particularly
Frank Herlihy who pesters him into breaking up the impending marriage of
his widow Gwen. That puts Pincus squarely in the middle of a triangle with
spirited result. Audiences gave this Ricky Gervais vehicle the cold shoulder,
and who could blame them? The premise appeared to be nothing more
than The Sixth Sense redid as a rom-com. While that might be true, Ghost
Town is that and so much more. It's a sweet tale of lonely souls struggling to
connect and to love, and a perfect showcase for Téa Leoni, Greg Kinnear
and, especially, the terrific Gervais, who shines as the man who undergoes
a Bill Murray in Groundhog Day-type transformation.
Last Chance Harvey (2008)
"When it comes to love, is it ever too late to take a chance?"
Harvey Shine is in London for the weekend for his daughter's wedding. His
work in New York preoccupies him: he writes music for ads, and he knows
his boss is pushing him aside for younger talent. With family he's also on the
sidelines - long divorced, his wife remarried, her husband closer to his
daughter than he. His path crosses that of Kate Walker, unmarried, her life
becoming that of a spinster, set up by friends on blind dates leading
nowhere. After Harvey's no good terrible day, he chats Kate up at a
Heathrow bar. She's not interested. Where can this conversation lead?
There's a chance they might make it as a couple despite differences in age,
culture and countries or they might be in for a huge disappointment and
hurt--something both have known in their lives. If you're expecting a movie
that will entertain, be free of gratuitous sex scenes and violence with a
charming backdrop of London landmarks, then this film is for you. The movie
isn't brilliant but I don't think it was trying to be. The movie doesn't have a lot
to say about relationships nor is it trying to be deep or thoughtful. The movie
just tries to be entertaining and lets two great actors do their thing and the
end result is something very moving, touching and at times funny.










Made of Honor (2008)
"Nobody in the world makes me laugh the way you do. You're my best
friend. I just wanna be with you. "
Made of Honor revolves around Tom and Hannah, who have been platonic
friends for 10 years. He's a serial dater, while she wants marriage but
hasn't found Mr. Right. Just as Tom is starting to think that he is
relationship material after all, Hannah gets engaged. When she asks Tom
to be her "maid" of honor, he reluctantly agrees just so he can attempt to
stop the wedding and woo her. This story is cute, clean, romantic-comedy
fun. Not really an original idea but it is MUCH funnier and more interesting
than most of the romantic comedies I have seen. Especially with him being
maid of honor, its really hilarious. For the most part "Made of Honor" is by
the numbers romantic comedy. It does manage a touching turn, because
we really want to know why Hannah ends up choosing Colin. It is
transparent to us that Colin is the perfect guy, but he is not the perfect guy
for Hannah. Fortunately, Dempsey and Monaghan's charm and chemistry
for the most part wins over Maid of Honor. If you enjoy romantic comedies
and want a good laugh this one is definitely worth seeing. It has all the
ingredients to entertain and spend a really good time with whoever you
want to. It is very funny and romantic without being corny. Enjoyable for
what it is: cookie cutter romantic comedy. We can suspend our disbelief,
because Dempsey and Monaghan are great together.
Nights in Rodanthe (2008)
"There's another kind of love. One that gives you the courage to be better
than you are, not less than you are. One that makes you feel that anything
is possible. I want you to know that you could have that. I want you to hold
out for it."
Adrienne Willis, a woman with her life in chaos, retreats to the tiny coastal
town of Rodanthe, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, to tend to a
friend's inn for the weekend. Here she hopes to find the tranquility she so
desperately needs to rethink the conflicts surrounding her -- a cheating
ex-husband who has asked to come home, and a teen-aged daughter who
resents her every decision. Almost as soon as Adrienne gets to Rodanthe,
a major storm is forecast and a guest named Dr. Paul Flanner arrive. The
only guest at the inn, Flanner is not on a weekend escape but rather is
there to face his own crisis of conscience. Now, with the storm closing in,
the two turn to each other for comfort and, in one magical weekend, set in
motion a life-changing romance that will resonate throughout the rest of
their lives. The Two unhappy people's lives become irrevocably intertwined.
Of course, these two actors are such shoe-ins for romances… when I hear
these names together, romance is the first thing I think of!
Twilight (2008)
"I'd never given much though to how I would die. But dying in place of
someone I love, seems like a good way to go. I can't bring myself to regret
the decisions that brought me face to face with death. They also brought me
to Edward."
Twilight is essentially Romeo and Juliet with vampires tossed in the mix. Bella
Swan reluctantly moves to the small town of Forks to live with her dad
Charlie. Being the new kid at school, Bella finds the outcasts, the Cullen
family, to be particularly interesting, especially the unreasonably gorgeous
Edward Cullen. Needless to say, there's more to the family than meets the
eye, and much conflict along the way. I think I’m safe giving away the fact
that Edward is a vampire, and their story line is a classic tale of star-crossed
lovers who can’t see a way to be together. This movie is tender, atmospheric
and extremely entertaining. The chemistry between Bella and Edward was
electrifying. The way he treated her when he first smelled her was perfect.
To Edward, Bella is that thing he has waited 90 years for - a soul mate. But
the closer they get, the more Edward must struggle to resist the primal pull
of her scent, which could send him into an uncontrollable frenzy. Somehow
or other, they will have to manage their unmanageable love. The romantic,
heartwarming story of a forbidden love and I am a sucker for romance. This
charming, softly speaking vampire falls for the beautiful girl. You want to
savor their relationship - enjoy the build-up - her dreaming and talking about
him, him being affected by that. A Love anyone would give their life for.
WALL-E (2008)
"Eeeee... va?"
A trash compactor and interplanetary bio probe fall in love and save humanity.
Not exactly the makings of the romance of the decade. But let's think about
the plot of Wall-E for a second: lonely boy meets girl, falls in love, and chases
girl to the ends of the earth - or, in this case, the universe. How is that not a
romantic? Nevermind they're robots. Nevermind the lack of dialogue.
Nevermind it's animated. When Wall-E and Eve dance together in the sky
amongst the stars, we might as well be watching the second coming of Fred
Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It’s almost sad that two animated robots floating in
space can say more about love and romance than most real-life actors, but
that’s what Pixar manages with the amazing Wall-E. The most appealing thing
about “Wall-E” is that it doesn’t rely on dialogue. Considering ‘romantic
comedy’ is a genre known for its reliance on dialogue, this is very impressive.
The first half of “Wall-E” contains no dialogue and apart from making robotic
sounds, Wall-E and Eve are essentially mutes. That it manages to tell a funny,
touching and romantic story while also mixing in science fiction and an
eco-centric message, is a testament to the skill of the guys at Pixar.
(500) Days of Summer (2009)
"This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know up front: This is not a
love story."
An offbeat romantic comedy about a woman who doesn't believe true love
exists, and the young man who falls for her. The film tells the story of a
relationship in non-linear fashion, mixing the good times and the bad. It is
one of the more honest films about relationships that has ever been made,
fully grasping what it is like to both be happy and miserable in a relationship,
something anybody can relate to including the most masculine of guys.
charming, cute, quirky but also very honest in its depiction of relationships,
especially when it comes to expectations and letting go. Its smart screenplay,
inventive cinematography and strong performances made it one of 2009’s
finest offerings. Love story. Fairy tale. Call it what you want. Endearing, fresh
and funny, (500) Days of Summer also offers insights about fate, attraction,
infatuation, heartbreak and the perseverance of hope. One of the most
understated films of the last decade this is a must see for anyone looking to
watch an awesome romantic comedy.
The Lightkeepers (2009)
"You hate women for the same reason a poor boy hates ice cream. Cuz
there aint none around"
Set in 1912, The Lightkeepers is a charming and witty tale about a reclusive
lighthouse keeper and his mysterious assistant who are both self-described
"woman haters." They have disavowed any association with females. Then
their remote, woman-free utopia is ruined with the sudden appearance of
two attractive women who move into a nearby cottage for the summer.
Though the men vow to avoid these unwelcome outsiders, the grounds are
too small for them to keeptheir word, and before long, they're sneaking
behind one another's backs to spend time with the visitors. The film is an
adult romantic comedy, and, at times, perhaps the film reveals too much
consciousness of modern values. But the women characters in Adam's film
strive to be independent and taken seriously, and yet are entirely in and of
their worlds. It is beautifully acted, well-written, and visually stunning. It is a
breath of fresh air. Kudos to the director and producers for having the guts
to make a wonderful film that appeals to people who are tired of all the
nonsensical movies Hollywood usually produces. This is a character driven
film, wonderfully acted and executed.
Lost in Austen (2009)
"Just keep talking. From the talking comes the love."
A re-imagining of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. What if a modern
London girl switched places with Victorian era Elizabeth Bennet? While at its
core Lost in Austen stays quite within the confines of the book, it still takes
enormous liberties in swapping out plots and characters, sometimes to
fascinating effect as Charlotte Lucas becomes a bit more unlikable than you'd
assume and we discover that there may be a second side to Wickham's
storyline that we'd never heard, along with one major surprise about Caroline
Bingley (of which Amanda Price exclaims "Goodness. Jane Austen would be
fairly suprised to find she'd written that!"). We soon learn Mr Bennet's christian
name, something never mentioned in the novel. We also get a bit of backstory
as Mr Bennet tells of teaching Lizzie to fly a kite at age 10. We even get to
meet Mr Collin's brothers (who turn out to be even more repulsive than he - if
that's even possible) This is simply nonstop fun all the way, despite its length.
Jemina Rooper is an amazingly spunky heroine, with some great punchlines
along the way. Elliot Cowan makes a near-perfect Darcy, playing off the Firth
image with a sly wink, and ultimately finally revealing a little humanity beneath
the stolid facade toward the end of the film. Overall, it's an intriguing
exploration into Pride and Prejudice that makes it much more of a whimsical
adventure as some plotlines grow incredibly peculiar and new couplings are
forged that one wouldn't have dreamed from Austen's novel. The uneven yet
highly spirited and fun the film makes a nice escapist Darcy dream for those of
us who may have worn out our copies of the book or various versions of the
film and are in the mood for something entirely different, like the idea that
Elizabeth Bennet may some day just show up in our bathroom.
Letters to Juliet (2010)
"You need only the courage to follow your heart. I don't know what a love like
Juliet's feels like - love to leave loved ones for, love to cross oceans for but I'd
like to believe if I ever were to feel it, that I will have the courage to seize it. "
A wall in Verona, Italy, is known for Juliet's stone balcony. Lost souls leave
letters in the wall of love gone wrong, and love missing in action, and lovers
needing advice, and love stories lacking love. A group of Juliet's secretaries
answer the letters. An American girl on a pre-honeymoon vacation in Italy
finds an unanswered "letter to Juliet" from 50 years ago. Sophie decides that
she MUST answer the letter and thus begins a quest to find the lost lovers
referenced in the letter. Letters To Juliet, which takes its basic inspiration
from a true story, is a gentle, charming story that features a winning lead
performance from Amanda Seyfried. While her fiancé is visiting suppliers for
his restaurant Sophie meets up with Claire and her grandson. Together they
traipse around Italy searching for her long lost love, Lorenzo - a man she left
half a century earlier. The film is charming, adorable, and sweet with many
laughs to be had as well. The message of romantic love being timeless and
one that can cross many generations was very well appreciated and felt. The
scenery of Italy in the film is gorgeous. There are breathtaking shots that
make you want to hop on a plane after the film is over and go there yourself.
There is much to enjoy as the story unfolds. A very sweet film, with a fantastic
performance, and with much to offer a public that longs for some fulfilling
story lines.
Lovely, Still (2010)
"It feels like you've been here my whole life"
It's Christmastime in a small snowy town, and Robert Malone is all alone and
set in his daily routine. He lives by himself in a house with no pictures on the
walls and barely any furniture, and even puts a solitary gift under his
Christmas tree for himself. He shuffles off each day to a job in an Omaha
supermarket, where he appears to do little but sketch and yet is treated with
affection by the over-enthusiastic manager. A widow named Mary and her
daughter have just moved in across the street, and Mary, who has been
noticing Robert since she first saw him in the grocery store, invites Robert
out to dinner. Robert, who it seems hasn't had a date since the early 1950's,
finally has a reason to put a smile on his face. The two start dating, and
Robert is a changed man. He can't believe that he's finally found love,
especially so late in his life, and he doesn't want to let her go. The audience
is taken on a visually pleasing ride as the two find out more about each other
and themselves, relive their childhoods, and find the light in their lives when it
had previously seemed like it was extinguished forever. The movie
celebrates love, and the beauty that can be found at any age, but it also
celebrates how those who we quickly disregard (senior citizens) are lovely,
still. The romance between the two is undeniably tender and will bring out a
few tears even from the most cynical moviegoer. The exceptionally sweet
story with its subtle beauty is one that is a must-see, and will touch (and
perhaps break) your heart regardless. Not your conventional romance, but
one that is beautiful enough to make you cry.
The Secret in Their Eyes (2010)
"A guy can change anything. His face, his home, his family, his girlfriend, his
religion,his God. But there's one thing he can't change. He can't change his
passion."
A retired legal counselor writes a novel hoping to find closure for one of his
past unresolved homicide cases and for his unreciprocated love with his
superior - both of which still haunt him decades later. In 1999, retired
Argentinian federal justice agent Benjamín Espósito is writing a novel, using
an old closed case as the source material. That case is the brutal rape and
murder of Liliana Coloto. In addition to seeing the extreme grief of the victim's
husband Ricardo Morales, Benjamín, his assistant Pablo Sandoval, and newly
hired department chief Irene Menéndez-Hastings were personally affected by
the case as Benjamín and Pablo tracked the killer, hence the reason why the
unsatisfactory ending to the case has always bothered him. Despite the
department already having two other suspects, Benjamín and Pablo ultimately
were certain that a man named Isidoro Gómez is the real killer. Although he is
aware that historical accuracy is not paramount for the novel, the process of
revisiting the case is more an issue of closure for him. He tries to speak to the
key players in the case, most specifically Irene. The story deals with deep
matters, and it does so one step at a time, with a plot that moves steadily
forward, gathering force, substance and intensity, not settling for easy
answers or plot points, not cutting corners. The characters are complicated,
interesting, believable, flawed, funny, tragic and deeply human.






