Jennifer George
| Culture | February 9
Whether you're a hopeless romantic or over the Valentines Day hype, here's a binge-worthy movie guide for every romantic trope out there.
The season of love is almost upon us. And as most of us scurry to find the perfect presents for our special someone’s and loved ones, here’s a binge-worthy list of WIRED Middle East movie recommendations with picks for every kind of romantic this Valentine’s Day.
My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
Starting the running with a 90s classic featuring a rom-com veteran, Julia Roberts, who plays Julianne Potter, a 27-year-old food critic who receives a mysterious voicemail from her best friend Michael O’Neal, played by Dermot Mulroney. Reminded of a promise the two friends made years ago to marry each other if they were single at 28, Jules picks up the phone and calls Michael. To her shock, Michael reveals he has met someone and is getting married in four days. And thus begins Jules’ psychotic pursuit to bring back “the man in her life” and break up his wedding in four days. Her relentless mission to split the happy couple is immediately stifled when she meets Kimberly Wallace, ‘Kimmy’, Michael’s fiancée, played by the angelic Cameron Diaz. Featuring an iconic rendition of Diana King’s “I Say a Little Prayer” by the cast, My Best Friend’s Wedding is a hilarious yet heartbreaking goose chase in the name of love.
Heartburn (1986)
In this adaptation of Nora Ephron’s best-selling autobiographical novel, Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson battle the trials and tribulations of love and marriage. The movie follows the union of two fiercely independent individuals who find love and make it work in the face of life’s many ebbs and flows. A tearjerker with an idyllic scene crafted around a midnight bowl of spaghetti carbonara.
Bones and All (2022)
Luca Guadagnino’s directorial craft never fails to surprise an audience. Bones and All follows a young Maren, played by Taylor Russell, who suppresses a specific craving for flesh until she encounters a fellow cannibal. Soon, the two become inseparable and carve out a discreet existence in society. A movie that lacks a happy ending and does not shy away from the gore but manages to capture the innocence of young love and attachment.
Past Lives (2023)
A nostalgic trip down memory lane. Nora and Hae Sung were childhood best friends torn apart by fate when Nora’s family moved from South Korea to America. Written and directed by Celine Song, this movie captures the many things we choose not to say in the moment but feel very intensely in the company we share them with. The silences shared between these two intertwined souls when they reunite twenty years later speak greater volumes than the most eloquent dialogues in the film.
Before Trilogy (1995–2013)
Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy masterfully portrays the evolution of love and its intricacies. A series of three movies that follow Jesse and Celine as they embark on an eighteen-year-long relationship together and apart. Depicting the different seasons and ages of love in all its vibrant technicolor and gloom, the Before Trilogy is deserving of an exclusive night with popcorn on the couch with a loved one.
500 Days of Summer (2009)
Speaking of seasons and the changes they personify, Tom Hansen’s tumultuous love affair with Summer Finn is a cinematic depiction of love as a teacher. Despite its conventional boy meets girl and they fall in love plot, it is Tom’s inner battle between his idea of Summer and who she truly is that guts the audience. A seemingly depressing take on the idea of “having loved and lost it, then never loved at all,” this movie serves as the unexpected gem in a sea of classic love stories.
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)
An Emma Thompson-led movie is always sure to please, and this film does just that and plenty more. This movie follows its protagonist, Nancy Strokes, yearning for adventure at the ripe age of 55 when she hires a young sex worker named Leo Grande, played by charming Daryl McCormack. A witty introspection into desire and lust at an unconventional, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande attempts to destigmatize the idea of lust beyond one’s youthful days.
Fingernails (2023)
Can you imagine a world in which a bulky machine could accurately ascertain if you and your partner are in love? Christos Nikou pondered this apocalyptic reality and created Fingernails. A movie that examines the gradual crumbling of a healthy relationship between Anna (played by Jessie Buckley) and Ryan (played by Jeremy Allen White) despite receiving a perfect score on the “love test”. Minor cracks transform into noticeable fractures in the relationship when Anna begins working at the Love Institute and forges an intimate connection with her colleague, Amir (played by Riz Ahmed). With a soothing soundtrack that will ease you in and out of love, Fingernails presents the eerie possibility of a future so deeply dictated by the whims of technology.
Along Came Polly (2004)
A Ben Stiller classic co-starring Jennifer Aniston is about former classmates who embark on a chance relationship years later. Naturally, no good thing is everlasting, and Reuben Feffer’s (played by Ben Stiller) ex-wife reappears out of the blue after cheating on him on their honeymoon. Polly (played by Jennifer Aniston) and Reuben are worlds apart in nature and sentiment, yet their love flourished in the face of Reuben’s messy recent past.
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Romantic Movies for Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is a special occasion for many people, and watching romantic movies is a popular way to celebrate. The article suggests several movies that cater to different romantic tropes. Here's a brief overview of each movie mentioned:
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My Best Friend's Wedding (1997): This 90s classic stars Julia Roberts as Julianne Potter, a food critic who realizes she has feelings for her best friend Michael, played by Dermot Mulroney, when he announces his upcoming wedding. Julianne embarks on a mission to break up the wedding and win Michael's heart.
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Heartburn (1986): Based on Nora Ephron's autobiographical novel, this movie follows the ups and downs of a marriage between two independent individuals, played by Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson. It explores the challenges of love and marriage.
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Bones and All (2022): Directed by Luca Guadagnino, this movie tells the story of Maren, played by Taylor Russell, who forms a connection with a fellow cannibal. It explores the complexities of young love and attachment.
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Past Lives (2023): This movie, written and directed by Celine Song, follows the reunion of childhood best friends Nora and Hae Sung, who were separated when Nora's family moved from South Korea to America. It delves into the unspoken emotions and connections between the two characters.
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Before Trilogy (1995–2013): Directed by Richard Linklater, this trilogy of movies spans 18 years and follows the evolving relationship between Jesse and Celine, played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Each movie explores different stages of love and the complexities of long-term relationships.
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500 Days of Summer (2009): This movie portrays the tumultuous relationship between Tom Hansen, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Summer Finn, played by Zooey Deschanel. It challenges conventional romantic narratives and explores the complexities of love and heartbreak.
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Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022): Led by Emma Thompson, this movie follows Nancy Strokes, a woman in her 50s who hires a young sex worker named Leo Grande, played by Daryl McCormack. It explores desire and lust beyond youth and challenges societal norms.
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Fingernails (2023): Directed by Christos Nikou, this movie presents a dystopian world where a machine determines the strength of a couple's love. It follows Anna, played by Jessie Buckley, and Ryan, played by Jeremy Allen White, as their relationship faces challenges despite receiving a perfect score on the "love test."
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Along Came Polly (2004): Starring Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston, this movie tells the story of former classmates who reconnect and enter into a relationship. However, complications arise when Reuben's ex-wife reappears, testing their love.
These movies offer a variety of romantic stories, from classic rom-coms to unconventional love stories. Whether you're a hopeless romantic or not, there's something for everyone to enjoy on Valentine's Day.
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