What to Watch on Valentine’s Day

As Valentine’s day is upon us, the film folks at The Indiependent decided to put together not one, but two Valentine’s Day features. This is the first, where we recommend our films to watch on Valentine’s Day, the best films featuring romance or love of any kind.

Love and Other Drugs (Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway & Josh Gad) – EM

Love and Other Drugs isn’t one of the most memorable rom-coms of all time, it still follows the basic template and design of all rom-coms. But what makes this film different to the others in my opinion are the wonderful performances by Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway. The story follows Jake’s character ‘Jamie’ a womaniser who becomes a drug rep and ends up falling for Parkinson’s sufferer Maggie played by Anne Hathaway. The film instead of choosing to focus on Maggie’s disease (though it is a part of the story) focuses on loving someone for everything they are and all the struggles they come with. As I mentioned before this film really isn’t that great, it is a decent watch however and the characters emotions command screen presence. Making emotional scenes really emotional. Another little thing about this film I really enjoy is the role reversals between characters in scenes with just Maggie and Jamie, the stereotypical roles and males and females aren’t present – creating realistic interactions between characters when they’re alone. I feel like Love and Other Drugs is your standard rom-com without the ‘cheesiness’ despite it’s predictable story and cliche’s like ‘sex and no emotions’. Nevertheless I’m sure any couple will appreciate their other half even more after watching this film, I mean of course they can’t be as sexy as Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal, but they can be there for each other through everything forever.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth-Winstead & Jason Schwartzman) – EM

Scott Pilgrim isn’t the traditional romance story, but not everyone likes the cheesy traditional romance stories. So this is for the special ones, Edgar Wright is let loose and allowed to pretty much have as much fun as he wants. Scott Pilgrim is about an average 23 year old who meets the girl of his dreams; Ramona Flowers. But in order to date her, he must defeat her seven, deadly, evil ex boyfriends (and one girlfriend). A league made up of the likes of Chris Evans (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) and Jason Schwartzmen (The Grand Budapest Hotel). This film is a good time for any one watching with side splitting comedy due to masterful writing, editing, sound mixing, cinematography and pretty much everything for that matter. Everything in the movie is made to make you laugh, thus there’s never a dull moment and new quirks can be found on each viewing. However the film takes an intimate look at the idea that everyone has baggage when you meet them, and we all must resolve our pasts before we can really move forward with someone. Yes, the way this is presented to us is a bit over the top but it’s different and a lot more fun than watching the standard, mostly lazily made rom-com movies of the early 2000s. Wrights fuses reality with the comic books and classic video games to create a unique universe that always excites while still being intelligent and teaching you valuable lessons not only about love; but more importantly about self respect and the power that comes from it. The film’s soundtrack is also a plus, the impact of their music is only elevated by the crazily well made fight scenes which sometimes feel like they happen too often. All round this is almost a perfect movie, so feeling romantic or not – if you want to not be bored, this is the one.

The Apartment (Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine) – AB

Billy Wilder’s 1960 dramatic comedy doesn’t immediately present itself as a romance, but it does most definitely become one, making it perfect alternative to a modern mushy rom-com. Starring two of the most recognisable faces of the black-and-white movie era, Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, The Apartment centres on Lemmon’s character C. C. Baxter, a loveably chatty and slightly awkward insurance company employee as he rents out his apartment to company executives for an evening, allowing them to carry on affairs and secret liaisons, whilst slowly becoming infatuated with MacLaine’s Fran Kubelik, a coy and charming elevator girl. Packed full of almost farcical comedy, light-hearted drama and of course some old-school romance, the timeless classic has its more emotional moments, too: when C. C. catches Fran checking her reflection in a broken pocket mirror, she responds with the often-quoted phrase “I like it that way. Makes me look the way I feel.” Perhaps the most recognisable and best loved scene of the film is its final one – Fran visits C. C. in his now famous apartment to play poker. The romance in The Apartment is that of so many films made in the early to mid-20th century – quiet declarations of affection, sideways glances and small smiles and opposed to the wild sex and passionate kisses in buy train stations seen in so many newer love stories. Its old-school style will suit both fans of classic romance and those that’d rather avoid a sickly-sweet couple movie – it’ll make the former silently swoon, whilst not shoving roses and giant teddy bears in the face of the latter. Not only that, it’s also a great, light introduction to black-and-white movies for those (like myself) not hugely versed in them. So whether you’re single and looking for some comedy, or loved up and looking for some understated romance, this could very well be for you.

Her (Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson & Amy Adams) – AB

Perhaps one of the most profoundly beautiful films of the last fifteen years, Spike Jonze’s Her follows Joaquin Phoenix’s Theodore, a lonely, recently divorced writer that falls in love with an almost frighteningly human-like operating system named Samantha, expertly voiced by Scarlett Johansson. As his attachment to Samantha grows, Theodore becomes a new man and she, in turn, gains even more innately human characteristics. Whilst it does base itself on very modern ideas of technology and our interaction with it, Her marries modern perceptions of romance with more classic ones: a desire to spend time together and show one another beautiful things is just as important as the sexual intimacy so celebrated in modern cinema. This beautiful combination of emotion and the very modern concept of how attached we are to technology makes for a film that will make you think like no other. Despite the content, the film doesn’t – as many feared before its release – intend to act as a warning: instead, the seemingly bizarre nature of Theodore and Samantha’s love simply acts as a showcase to celebrate that all kinds of love are viable and wonderful. Not only is the storyline unique and heart-wrenching, it’s impossible to watch Her without falling in love with its characters. Theodore is almost painfully true-to-life (both in a modern way and a fundamentally emotional one), his neighbour and friend Amy – played by Amy Adams – brings a splash of a reality check, and Samantha – despite her detachment, being only a voice – cannot help but win your heart and have you rooting passionately for the relationship. All of this paired with visually striking cinematography and an enveloping score makes for a film that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled, and have you quietly celebrating true love in all its forms.

Notting Hill (Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts) – MH

Notting Hill is a classic a romantic comedy. The main character, William Thacker, played by Hugh Grant, is a hopeless romantic running a travel bookstore when, one day, famous movie star Anna Scott, played by Julia Roberts wanders in. Given Willy’s sweet awkwardness and extremely cheesy lines (“Nice to meet you. Surreal, but nice”), it’s no wonder Anna falls for him after an incident involving orange juice. The film follows the course of their relationship over a year as Anna travels all over for her film career and poor Willy is left behind. It explores the heartache of being left behind. During the love fiasco between the bookstore owner and the movie star, William’s friends stick beside him no matter what. Their unfaltering love for him help him through the rough times. Notting Hill has got the perfect balance of love and humour, which makes it an absolute no-brainer as to why it’s a classic romantic comedy. The relationship formed between Anna and Will is enough to make anyone swoon. At the same time, the emphasis on friendship is enough to keep the loners happy and not wanting to die because they have no valentine. The love seen between the two main characters seems so real and genuine, it’s impossible not to giggle at their cute, and semi-cliché, actions and affections. The romance between them has its awkward moments, but those moments only make the story seem more real. With a constant back and forth with emotions and feelings and the perfect amount of humour, Notting Hill becomes a perfect romantic comedy.

Pride and Prejudice (Keira Knightley, Matthew McFadyen) – MH

Pride and Prejudice is based on the classic Jane Austen book. It tells the story of young girl named Elizabeth Bennet, played by Keira Knightley, in the 1810s who is not at all interested in men or marrying but is constantly reminded that she must by her mother and the laws of the state  that say she cannot own or inherit land. After a very rich and kind Charles Bingley and his miserable friend Fitzwilliam Darcy, played by Matthew Macfayden, come to town. Upon Darcy’s arrival, Elizabeth is faced with prejudice against her family, socioeconomic background and education, and must question her own pride. This film is great because it shows a very flawed relationship that the characters must work on. It’s great for couples and it’s good for those going solo on Valentine’s Day as well. Along with romantic relationships, Pride and Prejudice focuses greatly on family relationships, such as the conflict of interests between Elizabeth and her mother and the distance between Elizabeth and her older sister Jane. Her relationship with Darcy is quite complex in the sense that you can never be too sure whether they’re hot or cold. Many things seem to go wrong for the two, and it is no great feat for them to work things out. On top of a gaping difference in family power and wealth,  Elizabeth is seen as a “plain Jane” especially next to her sister, who is commonly  spoken of as the most beautiful girl in the room.  Mr. Darcy, on the other hand, is spectacularly handsome quite frankly doesn’t give a damn that she isn’t the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen. Darcy comes to love Elizabeth for her quick wit and her disregard for the opinions of others on her. All this makes for a fantastic romance focused on overcoming one’s own stubbornness to truly see what lays before them.

Words by Mell Hirsch, Amie Bailey & Eddie Michael

Compiled by Eddie Michael