Comments on: Contemporary Romance: 10 Great Films

By: Justine Smith

Justine Smith — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:14:55 +0000

I haven’t written about it, and don’t really have a very rational reason for disliking it. I just failed to connect with it. There are many aspects of the film I enjoy, like the score and the cinematography, but the story itself never grabbed me emotionally. So far, it’s the only one of his films I’d say I dislike, though I haven’t seen Magnolia.

By: David Fiore

David Fiore — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:00:44 +0000

I’d love to hear more about your dislike for Punch-Drunk Love–have you written on it?

Is it all of PT Anderson that rubs you the wrong way, or just that one?

By: Justine Smith

Justine Smith — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:45:19 +0000

Viv: Thank you

David: Lost in Translation almost made my list, and I wasn’t sure if I’d qualify Mulholland as romance, though it certainly has romantic aspects. I didn’t like Punch-Drunk Love but I se the appeal, I haven’t seen the others (except Eternal sunshine.

I haven’t seen any of your controversial choices either, so unfortunately, I can’t be shocked! (yet?)

By: David Fiore

David Fiore — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:12:59 +0000

great insights–especially on the subject of contemporary Hollywood romantic comedy (and what it fails to learn from McCarey)

I’ve been toying with starting my own film blog–and if I do, I’ll probably kick it off with a post-1980 list of my own

off the Top (Ten) of my head, I’d say it would feature:

Mulholland Dr.
Punch-Drunk Love
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Lost in Translation
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle
Les Amants du Pont-Neuf
2046

and then some controversial ones (or maybe some of the above are controversial as well?)

Joe Vs The Volcano
Bounce (yes! Bounce!)
Peggy Sue Got Married

By: Viv

Viv — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:32:07 +0000

Rouge - Great list! Love can be and mean so many different things and this list highlights that with some rather unconventional picks.

By: Justine Smith

Justine Smith — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:45:08 +0000

Orph: I’m happy you enjoyed it, I know many of these are your favourites too, so I’m not entirely surprised. All the Real Girls is a special film, honest seems to be the right word. Makes it all the more heartbreaking. I love it for it’s simplicity, and yes, the lead’s have incredible chemistry. It’s understated in the best possible way.

By: Orpheline

Orpheline — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:19:45 +0000

This is such a wonderful list. I’m so glad you thought so highly of The Piano, and The New World and Double Life of Veronique are some of my favorites of all time, as well as extremely interesting, not-obvious choices. Your write-ups are all incredibly insightful. I actually just watched All the Real Girls last night. I loved it; it’s very understated, although it deals with huge, life-changing issues and feelings. The two leads are perfect, their chemistry is tangible. It seemed very honest to me, very true to life. It’s good stuff.

By: Justine Smith

Justine Smith — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:16:54 +0000

I still might write something on Wall-E, so don’t lose hope! Thank you for recommending Whisper of the Heart in the first place

I wont tell because it’ll spoil it, but you maybe should see it, though I don’t know if you would like it.

By: lostty

lostty — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:17:18 +0000

your list is great, I would have liked to see what you would have written about Wall-E though, but seeing Whisper of the Heart was good enough for me
I need to see All the Real Girls! Mostly because of the image that is hilarious and cute, but I hope the characters will stay together even after the climactic heartbreak you mentioned about…