That time of year is approaching once again for us men to venture to the local Tesco, or indeed last minute garage to buy that special someone a bunch of flowers to celebrate that thing we call love. Oh, l’amour (I hope that’s correct). Now, with us being a movie website and all, and to celebrate the release of Just Go With It (out this Friday 11th February), the only new romantic comedy in cinemas this Valentine’s Day, we decided to count down the top ten Valentine’s Day movies…. ever (well, in my mind). Now, this list is a little bit different, for that movie lover who wants to screen his or hers special one something different this Valentine’s Day (which is next Monday). These movies are a little bit less obvious that the er, the more obvious choices to throw down to watch, bar a couple. This is the thinking man’s Valentine’s Day movie list if you will.
So, we’ve given you enough time to prepare between now and the big day… so let’s, ahem, Just Go With It!
#10 – Once
A film that I literally only discovered last year, but it was released all of the way back in 2006. Shot on a very, very tight budget, Once tells the story of Dublin based busker who meets an imigrant and over the course of a week, writes and performs a series of songs which tell their love story.
Why it’s good for your Valentine?: Well, did you not read the above? It’s a very simple story, but the catchy songs and likeable characters, along with a great script will earn you some definite Brownie points come Monday.
Serve with: Guinness and craic.
#9 Before Sunrise/ Before Sunset
A bit like the aforementioned Once, where a boy meets a girl, and then only has a very brief amount of time to spend with said girl. The first movie is set on the streets on Vienna, where a chance meeting between characters Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delphy) takes place late one day. The two then, quite literally, spend the rest of the movie walking the streets and chatting… well about anything and everything. The follow up, Before Sunset takes place nine years on… It’s best seen as a double header, and to say any more would spoil everything.
Why it’s good for your Valentine?: There’s just something about this movie which just grabs you by the short and curlies and hooks you ’til the very end. Sweet, subtle and unltimately enjoyable… your devoted other half with defo thank you for the recommendation in kind afterwards.
Serve with: Bread and olives.
#8 – Blue Valentine
The film to test any relationship to the max. A little bit of a risk this one, but if you like playing with fire then this could be the one for you if you manage to seek it out (it’s still playing in selected cinemas). This film basically celebrates the beginning of a relationship, but also then shows you (at the same time no less) the very break down of it. Genius filmmaking, great writing and superb acting, but very hard to watch in places.
Why it’s good for your Valentine?: It’s an experience that will either make you look at your own relationship in a very positive, or at the other extreme, very negative way. Well, at least you’ll know right? Think of this one as ‘the tester’.
Serve with: Shots of tequila and three packs of Malboro (Lights).
#7 – Serendipity
The film that I always get a hammering for for liking too much. The film, starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, deals with fate, chance and the way things are meant to be. Very cheesy, totally unbelievable, but I think, very well executed, and very, very cute. It’s also got Jeremy Piven in it, which is always a good thing. A couple have a chance meeting when both are with other partners, have a wonderful evening but leave it to fate to decide if their paths are to cross again.
Why it’s good for your Valentine?: It’ will make them look back at the day that you met, and when you fell in love, and how the gods aligned that day to bring you together… yada, yada, yada…
Serve with: A big, gooey chocolate cake.
#6 – Love Actually
In a list that promises not to offer the obvious choices, it perhaps offers the biggest of them all… but hey, Richard Curtis works for me! You must know the story by now. A series of characters and (love) stories are all interconnected by a series of witty scenes and situations from perhaps the greatest comedy writer this country has ever seen!
Why it’s good for your Valentine?: Colin Firth. Keira Knightley.
Serve with: The biggest tub of Haribo sweets that you can find.
#5 – Moulin Rouge
Another obvious one for the list? Well, perhaps, but I for one think that this is the more obvious choice that Baz Luhrmann’s previous movie, William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Don’t forget, the greatest thing that you can ever have is to love… and be loved in return. The story is set in Paris at the turn of the century and the glory days of the wonderful Moulin Rouge. A young bohemian named Christian (Ewan McGregor) travels to the big city for love (and writing), and falls for one of the club’s most famous courtesan’s of them all, Satine (Nicole Kidman). Great sets, great songs, great costumes and high octane madness throughout.
Why it’s good for your Valentine?: There’s a love story at it’s core. It’s tragic, it’s wonderfully entertaining with likeable central characters – chances are you’ll know the tunes littered throughout, and above al, it’s fun!
Serve with: Absinth.
# 4 – Heartbreaker
Another curve ball from the Heathmeister! This is a film that you could perhaps serve as a double bill with the chick flick to end all chick flicks; Dirty Dancing. Heartbreaker is a 2010 French movie that has similar themes to the aforementioned 1980’s classic. The central character of Alex Lippi (Roman Duris) has his own little business going that he runs with a group of friends where he can be hired to influence any couple to split up. Usually paid by over-powering fathers, Lippi meets his match with sociallite Juliette (Vanessa Paradis) who is about to marry a rich British fellow, and who also has a penchent for all things Wham and that little known Patrick Swayze movie.
Why it’s good for your Valentine?: Above all, this is a classy little French chick flick that has that dance from Dirty Dancing, and hey, you can impress your other half with your world cinema knowledge, as chances are – they’ve never heard of it.
Serve with: A nice French Brie.
# 3 – (500) Days Of Summer
A bit like Blue Valentine, (500) Days Of Summer (bet they haven’t been compared before), this film is more like the anti-chick flick, and explores the break down of a relationship rather than a celebration of the start of one. The plot revolves around the 500 days that lead character Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is with Summer (Zooey Deschanel). we see the good times, the bad… and to smash head on into the cliche… the ugly.
Why it’s good for your Valentine?: Although this is about the beginning, the middle and the end of a relationship, the film remains upbeat, warm, light-hearted and insanely funny. A very original script and wonderful direction from Marc Webb, as well as superb lead performances, lend to a huge feeling of satisfaction as the end credits roll.
Serve with: A four pack of Bud (each), and bucket full of ice.
#2 – The Notebook
Yes, here it is, Ryan Gosling movie #2! This isn’t obvious at all is it? Based on the popular book by Nicholas Sparks, and directed for the screen by Nick Cassavettes, The Notebook tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a rich young woman and gives her a sense of freedom. The tale is told in retrospect by James Garner to Gena Rowlands in a nursing home in the present day. I will leave it at that.
Why it’s good for your Valentine?: That ending. Tears rolling. Down. My. Face.
Serve with: Tissues.
#1 – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Okay, so I was going to put the ultimate love story Top Gun at number one, but my something got the better of me. So, for me the ultimate Valentine’s movie is Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. When I first saw this film in cinemas upon its release with a bunch of mates, it was perhaps the very first time in a long time that I can say that I felt truly affected by a romantically themed movie. It all revolves around a couple who ‘undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories when their relationship turns sour, but it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with.’
Why it’s good for your Valentine?: Again, a tragic love story wonderfully and skillfully told through script and direction from the truly unique talents of Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry. Aside from that, you’ll walk away cherishing what you have, what you may have, want to have, or choose to let go… and for me this is why it’s the ultimate.
Serve with: The love of your life, the love to be or the one you want it to be.
So, there we have it. Choose from any of the above, and I guarantee you’ll get something from any of those listed. All have a very special place with me, and that’s why they made the list…
… or you could go and check out Just Go With It starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, which is released everywhere on Friday 11th February!
Our friends at LOVEFiLM have a huge back catalogue including most of the film listed above, and you can also now watch movies online as well as rent them.
