Hm. This will be difficult due to my expansive definition of “romantic”.
- The first romantic comedy —and first conventionally romantic movie of any kind— on my ranked list of movies is Kenneth Branagh’s Much Ado About Nothing. I saw it in an almost-empty theater with three or other people in 1993, and loved every second. (Sadly, it was the last Branagh film to deliver that level of delight.) Emma Thompson’s performance was genius and surprisingly, convincingly sexy, while Kate Beckinsale’s original face was cute as a button. Keanu was —to say the least— in over his head, but Denzel was fantastic, and Michael Keaton did as well as anyone could with one of Bill S.’s weaker comic fools. Robert Sean Leonard was… well, I really liked Dead Poet’s Society when I was eighteen.
- Across the Universe: Evan Rachel Wood and Jim Strugis are extremely talented people who look pretty together, so what’s not to love? My generation’s Boomer parents pounded their music into our heads with such determined force that it really stuck, so even though the Beatles broke up before I could say “McCartney”, I know that shit even better than I know Nirvana.
- Love & Basketball: It’s just awfully goddamned sweet. And Gabrielle Union was so fucking pretty.
- Lost In Translation: A sad old man and a sad young girl make each other feel alive for a while. So… duh.
- I have Blue Valentine ranked pretty high, but to be honest, it didn’t stick with me. I remember being impressed with Gosling and Michelle Williams, but that’s about it… so consider this a recommendation with an asterisk.
- Does Heavenly Creatures count? It’s primarily notable for being the only Peter Jackson movie that doesn’t frustrate or bore the hell out of me.
- sex, lies & videotape: about which I’ve already said too much, I think.
- A Walk To Remember: This is as far as I go with Nicholas Sparks shit… this far, no further. Mandy Moore was as angelic here as she was demonic in Saved!
- Moulin Rouge: I want to like Baz’s stuff more than I actually do… but MR features perhaps my favorite Ewan McGregor performance, and definitely my favorite lead work from Nicole Kidman.
- It’s my second-favorite Bertolucci film, and it delivers a lot of naked Eva Green, so I have to mention The Dreamers.
- “Titanic,” he said reluctantly.
- I’m tempted to insert Another Earth, Upstream Color, and Wild At Heart here, none of which would seem romantic to normal people, but work as such for me.
- Punch-Drunk Love: Paul Thomas Anderson is probably my favorite filmmaker of the last twenty years, so this is a no-brainer. And it’s memorable as the only occasion when I have loved Adam Sandler. It’s a performance that makes up for a whole lotta Opera Man, and some small bit of The Waterboy.
- Grease: Olivia Newton John. Pre-teen me had a huuuuuge crush on her. So much so that I’ve watched Xanadu. More than once. I need say no more.
- Beauty and the Beast (1991): I didn’t love Belle the way I loved Ariel because I didn’t love her songs as much, but still… it was shocking, how good B&TB turned out to be. For the entirety of my life to that point, “Disney” had meant either “classic” or “contemporary mediocrity”… The Little Mermaid and B&TB set the tone for everything that’s come since.
- Dead Again: Another one of those movies I’ve talked about too much around here.
- Roman Holiday: Audrey Hepburn is precious, and you don’t have to overlook Mickey Rooney in this one.
- Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist: It’s not immortal filmmaking, but it’s sweet, funny, and Michael Cera + Kat Dennings was a killer casting combo.
- Secretary: Obviously.
- The Phantom of the Opera: Gerard Butler was… not Michael Crawford. But Emmy Rossum was wonderful, and I had fun.
- The Station Agent: Okay, this is maybe questionable, but fuck you, it’s lovely. Peter Dinklage’s best work, since I no longer acknowledge that other thing with the fancy chair.
- Lars and the Real Girl: It’s my list, man. And my favorite Ryan Gosling.
- Moonstruck: He didn’t really get respect until Leaving Las Vegas, but this was Gonzo Nicholas Cage near the height of his powers. (The real summit was in Vampire’s Kiss.)
- Her: Scarlett Johannson had never been my favorite part of anything, until 2013 arrived and she was the best thing in both Her and Under The Skin. Which should have been expected with the latter… but in the former, she was a disembodied voice, playing opposite the most accomplished actor of his generation, and still stole the show.
- The Fault In Our Stars: Shut up.
- Only Lovers Left Alive: My favorite Tom Hiddleston movie, by a mile.
- When Harry Met Sally: I’m a little young for its demographic, but I enjoyed the hell out of it thirty years ago.
- Four Weddings And A Funeral: The last time I was happy watching Hugh Grant.
I’m stopping there, because I’m realizing I have way more romantic movies on the list than I thought… this could go on for a while.