What do Moulin Rouge, Michel Gondry, Love Actually and Richard Linklater Have in Common?

Posted by Jason Ihle | 2 Comments

I’m not generally a romantic (at least on the outside) and I often shun romantic films. But that’s mostly to do with the fact that they tend to come in one of two formats: the interminable romantic comedy or the insipid dramatic romance. Sometimes, however, a romance film is created that really touches me or, better yet, a film not really intended as a romance succeeds at being one in spite of itself.

That said, there may be one or two on this list that will have you scratching your head. Hey, I can’t help what connects with me.

So here, to continue my list of favorites of the decade, are six romantic films that I find/found to be really good and well-told stories.

Moulin Rouge! (2001) dir. Baz Luhrmann – Generally speaking I find musicals to be absurd. There are rare occasions when they’re done really well and the songs serve the story rather than the other way around. Luhrmann created an incredible visual spectacle with this musical that utilizes pop music in ways you might never have imagined, occasionally bringing new significance to old tunes. This movie exposed me to the lyrical beauty of “Your Song” by Elton John, provided a brilliant outlet for The Police’s “Roxanne” and allowed the humorous absurdity of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” to shine through. I was mesmerized so much by this film when I first saw it on video that I was immensely disappointed I’d skipped it in cinemas. Luckily I was able to catch it in New York in January 2002 and see it the way it was meant to be seen.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) dir. Michel Gondry – Screenwriter Charlie Kaufmann had already blessed us with the inner workings of his bizarre mind in Being John Malkovich and Adaptation before collaborating with the always intriguing Michel Gondry on this wonderful romance film in which Jim Carrey goes through a memory erasure procedure to forget his lost love played by Kate Winslet. As usual Kaufmann poses fascinating questions about the nature of mind, specifically what your life actually means or amounts to if memories are dissolved.

Before Sunset (2004) dir. Richard Linklater – Before the release of this sequel I had never seen its predecessor, Before Sunrise, itself an indie favorite a decade earlier. I sought it out to finally catch up with it before seeing this one. I thought it was well-written and acted but perhaps it would have had a greater impact had I seen it as a teenager. But this sequel is somehow more complete, more mature, less idealized. It’s a story of regret and loss but with an ambiguously hopeful conclusion.

Once (2007) dir. John Carney – This was like a perfect little love story that didn’t pander and didn’t have a big sweeping, you-know-it-could-never-happen ending. It’s a simple, low-budget, shot on digital and on the fly in Dublin. It’s about two musicians who meet in a music store and develop a fondness and affection for one another as they begin to socialize and eventually record some music together. Not groundbreaking, but lovely, simple and sweet. It’s a truly rare movie experience.

Love, Actually (2003) dir. Richard Curtis – Syrupy and saccharine, without a doubt, but I find this film of intertwining stories and characters to be a really sweet and good-natured Christmas treat. It panders all over the place and everything I just oh so perfect, but it’s got some honestly funny and heartwarming moments.

Monsoon Wedding (2002) dir. Mira Nair – I’ve only seen this film the one time in the cinema, but it had a lasting impression. I recall thoroughly enjoying it, drinking in the sumptuous colors and the wonderful interaction of all the family members gathering for a big wedding.

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