Cupid's Choice a.k.a. Celluloid Wishes & Romantic Dreams, Part II

6. Before Sunrise (1995)/Before Sunset (2004)
Isn't it fascinating how time and space and chance can conspire both for and against a pair of lovers? The best thing about this pair of films is that the second one was even made -- thus granting the audience a rare glimpse into the future. Does the couple actually live happily ever after? Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) have finally found each other, and are allowed to continue their mutually introspective, intimate journey through yet another lovely European city (first Vienna, now Paris). Even if these particular soul mates only exist on film, only exist in an old woman's dream (see Waking Life), transforming encounters with strangers and/or lost loves do happen. Ah, the fleeting nature of passionate connections... as Celine says "the answer must be in the attempt." Linklater's "bookend" films are unique, enchanting, and touching in their depiction of an eternal flame.




7. Magnolia (1999)
Most people think of raining frogs or Tom Cruise's evil womanizer, but for me, the oddball romance between Melora Walters (Claudia) and John C. Reilly (Jim) is one of the core elements of the film. Added bonus -- it's played pitch perfectly to Aimee Mann's heartbreaking score. In one of many plot lines, a kind, honest albeit dopey cop falls for a drug addicted, emotionally-wounded young woman. She knows she's bound to fuck it up, yet falls for his bumbling savior nature anyway. We should all be so lucky to find a compassionate, non-judgmental listener who just wants to be there for us, in whatever troubled state we may be. To quote Mann's song lyrics: "Do you think you could save me... from the ranks, of the freaks, who suspect, they could never love anyone?" I think that Claudia -- and myself -- could believe in a heroic prince like the Good Officer Jim, especially after all those frogs fell from the sky! (Then again, I'm pretty gullible. You wouldn't think so, but I am.)



8. Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
Oh Gerald Cooperberg (Michael Showalter)! How could Katie (Marguerite Moreau) resist you? Goofy, gangly, awkward yet still so charmingly endearing -- Coop, you had us from "I want you inside me." Basically, Coop has a crush on Katie and she knows it. Katie's boyfriend Andy (Paul Rudd) is a total jerk who treats her badly, thus she flirts with/turns to Coop for attention/affection. Look, I'm not saying it's right, it's just something us girls tend to do with the nice-guy-next-door types. But if you pull a few power moves (Coop's "training" montage is priceless), you might just have us eating out of your hand... until our demeaning/neglectful/cheating BF returns and unfairly sweeps us away again. Sorry! But we're sure all the brooding you do in the wake of losing us will intrigue a new, sweeter girlfriend who will appreciate you in all the ways we could not. And now, behold my favorite Katie quote:

"Listen, Coop. Last night was really great. You were incredibly romantic and heroic, no doubt about it. And that's great. But I've thought about it, and my thing is this. Andy is really hot. And don't get me wrong, you're cute too, but Andy is like, cut. From marble. He's gorgeous. He has this beautiful face and this incredible body, and I genuinely don't care that he's kinda lame. I don't even care that he cheats on me. And I like you more than I like Andy, Coop, but I'm 16. And maybe it'll be a different story when I'm ready to get married, but right now, I am entirely about sex. I just wanna get laid. I just wanna take him and grab him and fuck his brains out, ya know? So that's where my priorities are right now. Sex. Specifically with Andy and not with you."





9. Secretary (2002)
I've confessed my attraction for James Spader numerous times before on this blog, so instead I will take a moment to discuss the cool, quirky beauty of Maggie Gyllenhaal (in the title role). Leigh transforms from a shirking, shrinking wallflower into the most seductively obedient rose under new boss E. Edward Grey's tutelage. She finds an unlikely sense of self-empowerment and satisfaction through their weirdly erotic rituals, giving the audience an unusually sympathetic understanding of a sadomasochistic relationship. Then again, who hasn't mistaken pain for pleasure at some point in their romantic history? (And I'm not just talking about a good spanking, although I very well could be.) Leigh eventually goes "on strike" to prove her love. It's this act of self-punishment and depravity that Grey ultimately cannot resist. Awww.




10.Lost in Translation (2003)

Ever had an inexplicable, unspoken, undeniably intense bond with someone even though he or she didn't "fit" into your life anywhere but in that exact present moment? Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) and Bob (Bill Murray) are two jetlagged American tourists passing through Tokyo in the night. Despite the chic, modern setting, it's a timeless tale: lost lady meets stray hang-dog guy, they secretly fall devastatingly in love and the rest is...well, a history that never quite happens beyond a quiet, mutual agreement that it did in fact exist. This kind of love is more like a terrible longing, an acceptance of the sad knowledge that what you have will never be more than it currently is -- and approaching that wisdom affectionately -- just caring for a beautiful stranger anyway, understanding someone else's peculiar sense of loneliness in the world -- then parting, maybe forever. God, now I need a tissue. *teardrop, sniffle*



And that my loyal readers (if I have loyal readers) is about as sentimental as I get, ya know, like in public. Won't you stay mine? xoxo

Cupid's Choice a.k.a. Celluloid Wishes & Romantic Dreams, Part I

In honor of Valentine's Day (my second favorite manufactured holiday after Halloween) I'm posting a top ten list of my favorite cinematic love stories, couples and crushes. It was tough to narrow it down - I know I'm crass sometimes but truly I'm pretty sappy at heart - so I wanted to stay true to myself and the films that are registered in my personal romantic memory, not just say "When Harry Met Sally" because it's popular, or "Gone With The Wind" because it's a classic, or even "Amalie" because it's foreign. Those movies are great, but these movies are particular to moi. And guess who is playing Cupid today? Arrow through the heart! Purrrr...



1. Sixteen Candles (1984)
Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald) has a severe sophomore girl crush on perfect senior hunk Jake Ryan (Michael Shoeffling - where did you go? come back!), and she's convinced he does not even know she exists. What girl hasn't had a fantasy crush like this? The miraculous part of this silly teen confection is that Jake eventually becomes aware of Samantha, and begins to nervously crush on her back. After a series of failed attempts at communication, the pair end up celebrating her birthday together - to the sweet, new wave stylings of "If You Were Here" by the Thompson Twins. Check out one the most girlie, sigh-inducing fairy tale endings of all time:



2. Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)
I'm a sucker for John Hughes movies. And Mary Stuart Masterson just wins my heart here, way more than Molly Ringwald ever did. I can totally relate to the unrequited "best friend" crush. Tough-talking tomboy Watts (MSM) secretly pines for the outcast, sensitive artist boy next door Keith (Eric Stoltz). But stupid Keith - along with every other guy in school - has the hots for head cheerleader-type Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson). I'll give it to Miss Jones, as far as popular girls go, she's one of the kindest, least stereotypical portrayals out there - and yet the prize diamond earrings end up on pixie-drummer Watts. (Watch it, you'll see.) Kissing lessons is one of my all-time favorite love scenes - the tune is "She Loves Me" by Stephen Duffy, and yes, I own the soundtrack. pffffft!



3. Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)

What if you could go back to a romantic fork in the road of your past and do it all over again, but differently? Talk about wish fulfillment fantasies! Kathleen Turner stars as the title character, Peggy Sue, in this lesser known time travel sub-genre film by Francis Ford Coppola (Sofia Coppola has a cameo, as do a young Jim Carrey and Joan Allen). When Peggy Sue passes out at her 25 year high school reunion, she wakes up in 1960, with the choice to remain attached to her then-sweetheart/now-philandering husband Charlie (Nicolas Cage - so adorable singing Dion & The Belmonts!):



Or to pursue a romance with mysterious, sexy English Lit. class beatnik Michael Fitzsimmons:



The themes behind this film get me every time. In the end Peggy Sue accepts her bittersweet romantic destiny, but gets to have that one special starry night too. Was it all a dream? Doesn't matter. In the magical words of Disney: A dream is a wish your heart makes.

4. Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)

I seriously dig this movie not only for James Spader (my all-time fave "older man" crush), but for the concept of finding love through the act/art of confession. The dynamics between straight-laced Anne (Andie MacDowell) and the enigmatic Graham (Spader) set the stage for a sexy and edgy, yet surprisingly sympathetic and sensitive portrayal of two opposite but equally lost souls who strangely bring out the best in one another. Spader's camera finds and frees the sexual being inside of MacDowell, and in return she manages to restore both his humanity and his manhood. Less shocking, more sweet than you'd expect.



5. Heathers (1989)

If you've ever fallen for a sociopath...ummmm...you'll empathize with Veronica (Winona Ryder)and her criminally intense attraction for JD (Christian Slater, at his teenage Jack Nicholson finest). It's an age old story: Bad boy encourages rebellious spirit in good girl, good girl gets caught up in bad boy's malevolent schemes. JD slurpies ("Coke or Cherry? Cherry!") his way into Veronica's life, leaving a trail of dead, popular bitches and jerks in their wake. One of my all-time favorite movie lines: "Are we going to prom, or are we going to hell?"



***Tune in tomorrow for Cupid's Choice, Part II where I further discuss my obsession with James Spader and wax poetic about the absurdist summer camp comedy Wet Hot American Summer once again!