Why do I feel like I’m undeserving of love. I feel like I’ll know when I have found the one. The perfect mix of love and lust. I do feel like I have found someone. But I know his feelings won’t recepicate. Or one day, I will stumble upon someone and I’ll know, I feel it. For now, I want to sit alone, do my own thing, and crave and desire love. Im happy with that. Bittersweet.
I feel like no matter how hard I try I always end up here. This place. The constant feeling of why am I here. Why do I have keep on suffering? Why do I have to keep on living? Why I couldn’t I be better? Why do I feel so worthless? Don’t I deserve a touch of real joy? Why do I feel so out of place ? Like I don’t belong here. I still disconnected and alone with family or friends. Am I here to just fill an empty space in the ground?
I think we can all agree that Valentine’s Day is the absolute worst. If you are single, it makes you feel like shit about your single status and if you are in a relationship, it puts too much pressure on you and your partner to have a perfect romantic evening.
BUT…Valentine’s Day can be a fantastic excuse to binge on loads of dark chocolate/ice cream/soft red wine, snuggle up with your best friends and watch all your favorite romantic movies. Be sure to alternate between movies that are pure feel-good fluff and movies that rip your heart out and leave you ugly crying and reaching for the nearest box of tissues.
Check out the following list of some of my favorite romantic movies and start planning a Galentine’s Day that would make Leslie Knope proud!
1. Amélie (2001)
The highest-grossing French film to hit America, Amélie is about a shy and thoughtful girl (Audrey Tautou) who loves finding creative ways to bring happiness to others. When she falls in love with a mysterious man (Mathieu Kassovitz) on the subway, Amélie devises a plan to lead him to her. Along the way, she must decide if she is ready to take the risk and truly open herself up to finding her own happiness.
Directed by: Jean-Pierre Jeunet Starring: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz IMDb Rating: 8.5/10 Reasons to Watch: EVERYTHING. The beautiful colors. The score by Yann Tiersen. The traveling gnome. The first five minutes. Audrey Tautou.
2. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
This Oscar-nominated film addresses issues of mental illness and past failures in a way that is humanizing and relatable. After a brief period in a mental hospital, Pat (Bradley Cooper) moves back in with his parents until he can get his life in check. Along the way, he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a younger woman with a dark past of her own.
Directed by: David O. Russell Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, Julia Stiles, John Ortiz IMDb Rating: 7.8/10 Reasons to Watch: The chemistry between Bradley and JLaw. The dance sequences (I literally cried during the final dance recital scene). The feel good ending.
3. Love, Rosie (2014)
Rosie (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Claflin) have been best friends since they were kids. As they get older, the terms of their friendship become more complicated and their bond is tested in more ways than one (unplanned pregnancies, moves across oceans, cheating spouses, missed opportunities). The film focuses on the twelve years between Rosie’s 18th birthday and the night of Alex’s wedding to Bethany (Suki Waterhouse). Love, Rosie is a very cute chick-flick that will pull at your heartstrings and leave you with lots of feelings.
Directed by: Christian Ditter Starring: Lily Collins, Sam Claflin, Jaime Winstone, Christian Cooke, Suki Waterhouse IMDb Rating: 7.4/10 Reasons to Watch: The chemistry between Lily and Sam is ON POINT. Sam Claflin’s dimples, dance moves and British accent. The soundtrack. Jaime Winstone as Rosie’s other best friend, Ruby. The cinematography. SAM CLAFLIN & LILY COLLINS PERIOD END OF STORY.
4. Stuck in Love (2012)
While I could do without the plot holes and a few rather annoying characters, Stuck in Love is a cute romantic comedy about the various members of the Borgens family and their messy love lives. Bill (Greg Kinnear) is a moderately famous author who is sleeping around with Tricia (Kristen Bell), but is still hung up on his ex-wife Erica (Jennifer Connelly). High school student and hopeless romantic Rusty (Nat Wolff) is infatuated with Kate (Liana Liberato), a beautiful but damaged girl in his English class. Samantha (Lily Collins) is a promiscuous college student and recently published writer who begins to change her skeptical outlook on love when she begins to fall for Louis (Logan Lerman).
Directed by: Josh Boone Starring: Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connelly, Kristen Bell, Nat Wolff, Lily Collins, Logan Lerman and Liana Liberato IMDb Rating: 7.3/10 Reasons to Watch: Nat Wolff as the sweet stoner who loves Stephen King and writing poetry. The scene when Louis (Logan Lerman) plays his favorite Elliott Smith song for Samantha (Lily Collins). The memorable quotes about writing and the writing process.
5. Before Sunrise (1995)
Before Sunrise is the story of a young man (Ethan Hawke) and woman (Julie Deply) who meet on a train while traveling in Europe and end up spending a romantic evening together in Vienna. The film is full of thoughtful dialogue and showcases the magic of chance meetings and life’s spontaneous events. If you like this film, make sure you watch its sequels, Before Sunset (2004) and Before Midnight (2012).
Directed by: Richard Linklater Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy IMDb Rating: 8.1/10 Reasons to Watch: The screenplay. The dialogue. The simplicity.
6. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) meet through a mutual friend when they both decide to move to NYC after graduating from the University of Chicago. Years pass and the two gradually progress from hostile acquaintances to intimate friends. As they become closer, they are constantly confronted with the question: “Can a man and a woman be friends, without sex getting in the way?”
Directed by: Rob Reiner Starring: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan IMDb Rating: 7.6/10 Reasons to Watch: Nora Ephron’s script. The ending which will forever ruin your expectations for New Year’s Eve. The couple interviews inserted throughout the movie. It’s a classic rom-com, you’ve gotta watch it.
7. While You Were Sleeping (1995)
Lucy (Sandra Bullock) is a ticket collector at a railway station in Chicago with a big time crush on a stranger named Peter (Peter Gallagher). When Peter gets caught in the railroad tracks and sent to the hospital, Lucy pretends to be his fiancé, which fools everyone in his family except his scruffy brother, Jack (Bill Pullman).
Directed by: Jon Turteltaub Starring: Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher IMDb Rating: 6.6/10 Reasons to Watch: Bill Pullman as the laid-back man’s man in a plaid shirt with a heart of gold. Cuteness overload with a side of heavy fluff. The scenes with Jack & Peter’s family.
8. Roman Holiday (1953)
When a beautiful young princess becomes bored with her highly supervised travels through Europe, she decides to break free for a night of adventure in Rome. After she has made her escape, Princess Anne becomes acquainted with Joe Bradley, an American journalist who sees her rebellion as an opportunity for a story.
Directed by: William Wyler Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Eddie Albert IMDb Rating: 8.1/10 Reasons to Watch: The chemistry between Hepburn & Peck. The scenes from Rome. A sweet, good old-fashioned love story. The ending may make you cry.
9. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Based on the life-changing book by Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age film that tells the story of Charlie (Logan Lerman), an introverted freshman who becomes friends with two upperclassman, Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller), who teach him about love, connection, confidence, friendship and how to feel alive. This movie isn’t only about love in the traditional romantic way, it also addresses love between family members, friends and how to love and accept yourself. THIS MOVIE WILL CAUSE YOU TO FEEL EVERY EMOTION & WILL MAKE YOU CRY.
Directed by: Stephen Chbosky Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Mae Whitman, Johnny Simmons, Kate Walsh, Dylan McDermott, Nina Dobrev, Paul Rudd IMDb Rating: 8.1/10 Reasons to Watch: EVERYTHING. This is hands down the best movie about high school I have ever seen and it will bring back feelings of nostalgia you didn’t even know existed. The cast is on point, especially the chemistry between Logan, Emma and Ezra. The soundtrack. The script and the quotable lines. It’s just a very special movie that everyone needs to see (more than once).
10. Juno (2007)
I cannot even begin to describe how obsessed I was with this movie when it first came out. Juno is a story of unplanned pregnancy, quirky young love, and the trials and tribulations of the adoption process. The casting is spot-on and Diablo Cody won an Oscar for Best Screenplay (no surprise there).
Directed by: Jason Reitman Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons, Olivia Thirlby IMDb Rating: 7.6/10 Reasons to Watch: Diablo Cody’s script. Michael Cera & Ellen Page. The set design and quirky props. The soundtrack. The one-liners and jokes.
11. 13 Going on 30 (2004)
As a child of the eighties, Jenna (Jennifer Garner) is desperate to become a successful career woman. When her thirteenth birthday becomes a disaster, she locks herself in the closet with her custom Dream House gift containing magic dust from her best friend Matt (Mark Ruffalo), and wakes up in a thirty year old’s body. But Jenna soon finds that having a high power job, athlete boyfriend and luxurious lifestyle cannot bring her happiness.
Directed by: Gary Winick Starring: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, Andy Serkis IMDb Rating: 6.1/10 Reasons to Watch: Cuteness overload. The killer 1980’s soundtrack. The Thriller dance scene. The “Ice, Ice, Baby” strip tease scene. Jennifer Garner.
12. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
One of my favorite movies of all time, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a bit more heavy than many of the other films on this list. It’s a mixture of drama, romance and sci-fi that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you with a sense of new perspective after you finish watching it. After reading the synopsis on IMDb, I can not come up with anything better, so I am copying it here: “When their relationship turns sour, a couple undergoes a procedure to have each other erased from their memories. But it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with.”
Directed by: Michel Gondry Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst IMDb Rating: 8.4/10 Reasons to Watch: Charlie Kaufman’s script and incredible storytelling. Jim Carrey’s really great dramatic role. The playfulness of the visual effects and science fiction qualities. It’s weird, it’s quirky and it’s beautiful.
13. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
When Jamal (Dev Patel) becomes a successful contestant on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”, he is accused of cheating because he is just a boy from the slums of Mumbai. As he is being interrogated, Jamal begins to describe how he knows the answers to the questions by revealing painful stories from his past, especially the loss of the love of his life, Latika (Freida Pinto).
Directed by: Danny Boyle Starring: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto IMDb Rating: 8.0/10 Reasons to Watch: The love story between Latika and Jamal. The cinematography. The soundtrack. The adorable younger versions of Latika, Jamal and Salim. AH I LOVE THIS MOVIE. It won 8 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay.
14. 500 Days of Summer (2009)
500 Days of Summer tells the story of the relationship between Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a hopeless romantic, and Summer (Zooey Deschanel), a girl who doesn’t believe in love. Very funny and at times touching, the film tells the story out of sequence –making for a very interesting progression of time. The ending is open to interpretation; just remember that a number of the movie’s promotional material included the disclaimer “this is not a love story”. FYI: I have seen this movie at least 10 times.
Directed by: Marc Webb Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Matthew Gray Gubler, Geoffrey Arend, Chloë Grace Moretz, Minka Kelly IMDb Rating: 7.8/10 Reasons to Watch: The chemistry between JGL and Zooey Deschanel. The beautiful and experimental cinematic elements of the film. The soundtrack.
15. The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
Hazel (Shailene Woodley) wants to be seen as more than a teenage girl with cancer. When her mother encourages her to attend a local support group, she meets her match in Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort), a charming boy with a love of metaphors.
Directed by: Josh Boone Starring: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, Willem Dafoe IMDb Rating: 8.0/10 Reasons to Watch: The chemistry between Shailene and Ansel. The brilliance of John Green. Nat Wolff. It’s supposed to be set in my hometown of Indianapolis. Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber’s script.
16. Don’t Let Me Drown (2009)
Set in New York City in 2001, Don’t Let Me Drown tells the story of Lalo (E.J. Bonilla) and Stefanie (Gleendilys Inoa), two teenagers who are struggling in the aftermath of 9/11. It’s a very sweet story of young love, with lots of heartbreaking scenes about abuse, race/ethnicity and losing loved ones.
Directed by: Cruz Angeles Starring: E.J. Bonilla, Gleendilys Inoa, Gina Torres, Damián Alcázar, Ricardo Chavira, Yareli Arizmendi IMDb Rating: 6.5/10 Reasons to Watch: E.J. Bonilla. The performances of all the actors. The nuanced and complicated portrayal of race and ethnicity in NYC. The way the film deals with the aftermath of September 11th.
17. Mamitas (2011)
Borrowing from a number of traditional teenage rom-coms, Mamitas manages to pull off a touching and inspiring love story between Jordin (E.J. Bonilla), the school’s hot shot, and Felipa (Veronica Diaz-Carranza), the bookish girl who is eager to get a college scholarship.
Directed by: Nicholas Ozeki Starring: E.J. Bonilla, Veronica Diaz-Carranza IMDb Rating: 7.0/10 Reasons to Watch: Once again, E.J. Bonilla is GORGEOUS, a superb actor and incredibly charismatic. A sweet portrait of Latino culture in Los Angeles.
