Saturday, October 6, 2007

I'll have what she's having


A sort of hip, more intellectually approachable homage to Annie Hall, When Harry Met Sally is the perfect romantic comedy - and it's not far from being the perfect movie. Witty, funny, endearing, adorable, beautifully acted and perfectly timed, there's not one thing actually wrong with When Harry Met Sally: it's one of the best written stories of a relationship, so filled with great moments and with such rich characters, it's impossible not to love it.

I admit that in itself, Nuovo Cinema Paradiso is not quite a story. But, being as it is, a loving ode to cinema, there's no better place to categorize it than as a romance. A heart-warming, lovely, delicate and beautiful piece of work, Nuovo Cinema Paradiso is pure cinematic magic.

A decidedly less than common choice (particularly due to being a dystopia) but the romantic subplot is really what moves the entire story in Brazil: it's the lead character's escape from his world of maddening bureaucracy, boredom, eeriness and pain. As he puts his dreams together, piece by piece, the leading lady appears and turns his real world upside down - giving place to one of the single greatest quotes in film history: "Care for a little necrophilia?"

An out-of-time love epic, Out of Africa is, despite its many flaws, a beautiful film. Albeit clichéd and sometimes too slow, the (rather idealized) love story between Karen von Blixen and Denys Finch Hatton is still a powerful, convincing and heartbreaking one - and it's the only film I've seen in my life when I've believed Meryl Streep in a romantic role.

Perfectly endearing, fabulously funny, Moonstruck has a certain magical quality that very few films have. Passionate in the way that makes fireworks fly around the skies, this witty Little Italy romantic comedy even makes Nicolas Cage look sexy - and Cher look at the very top of her fabulousness, whatever anyone might say of her Oscar win.

Besides being sexy and unmistakably elegant, the 1988 adaptation Dangerous Liaisons (of Les Liaisons Dangereuses) is also ultimately an almost operatic period romance of the most divinely malicious kind - and, I do believe Michelle Pfeiffer's beautiful and sensible performance has a lot to do with it.

1 comment:

kimboluvr said...

Just wanted to let u know that you continue to be one of my favourite reads. Unique approach, and inspired thought. I also can't help but notice how similar our taste in film is - right down to your flixster ratings. Keep up the good work, darlin', you've got a fan in me ;-)