When it comes to matters of the heart, few things are as unpredictable as love. Maybe that’s because, as humans, we’re hard-wired for romance. Our DNA makes us want to find that one person who will stick with us for the rest of our lives.
For many of us, that person is our romantic partner. And according to a 2015 study, around 40% of Americans plan to get engaged within the next five years. What’s more is 80% of those surveyed said they wouldn’t mind if their engagement gift was spending time with a loved one. Well, it’s no secret that romantic comedies are a billion-dollar industry.
While there’s no denying that Hollywood often gets it wrong when it comes to portraying romance, it gets it right when it comes to showing what real love is. In this article, we’re going to explore some of Hollywood’s most romantic scenes and give them our love and lust rating from one to five stars. Hopefully, this will help you appreciate the love story that is unfolding before you in the movies even more. Let’s get started.
The Notebook
Let’s begin with The Notebook, which is one of the greatest love stories ever told. If you’ve never seen it, then it’s basically a contemporary re-telling of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Featuring two gorgeous main stars, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, it’s the perfect romance. And, as the title suggests, it’s centered around a notebook. Gosling’s character, Noah, is a college kid who writes a love letter to a girl named Claire (McAdams). The note takes the form of a short story that is interspersed with journal entries. During an isolated camping vacation, Noah and Claire get trapped in a tent by a freak storm. While they’re trying to figure out a way to survive, they start finding their way back to one another. The storm eventually passes, but not before giving them the chance to reflect on their love story. In the end, they decide to go their separate ways, but their love for one another never really leaves them. When Claire turns up at Noah’s door, it’s an emotional reunion filled with lots of nostalgia. What’s more is McAdams’s character decides to give it a go despite her best friend’s warnings. That, my friends, is what we call a romance with a twist.
Casablanca
Casablanca has always been considered one of Hollywood’s greatest love stories. In fact, it was the first movie to ever win the Academy Award for best picture. And for good reason. It’s an incredible story of love and loss set against the backdrop of World War II. We’re introduced to Humphrey Bogart’s Rick as he walks through the marketplace of Casablanca, which is in occupied Paris. In accordance with French law at the time, he has to make a big decision. Do I stay and fight for my country, or do I head to Spain where I know things will be less complicated? (Spoiler alert: He stays and fights for his country.) The film’s greatest strength is that it doesn’t hold back when it comes to showing the emotional and physical toll that World War II was taking on its main characters. The audience is treated to one of the greatest scene transitions ever when Rick walks from the marketplace to the top of a building, and the camera slowly pans over Paris before focusing on Rick and his surroundings. This is a man whose heart is broken, who is searching for the love of his life, and who eventually finds it in the form of Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman). Ingrid Bergman may be the greatest living actress of all time. And, really, who is she playing in this scene? She’s playing herself. What a role model!
A Few Good Men
A Few Good Men won the Academy Award for best picture in 1992, which makes it one of Hollywood’s greatest romantic comedies. Based on the 2007 Tom Cruise movie of the same name, it’s the story of a federal prosecutor who is assigned to defend two Marine officers accused of murder. One of the officers, Aaron, is played by Jack Nicholson, who also directed the film. It’s a classic case of Jack Nicholson vs. Tom Cruise. Anyway, this is one of those rare instances where Jack Nicholson actually plays against type as a jaded, heartless defense lawyer. It’s actually quite the opposite. In fact, he’s supposed to be the quintessential romantic lead. And, really, who is he pursuing? A very pregnant Melanie (Melanie Griffith). While this isn’t the most traditional love story, it’s a very romantic one. And it’s definitely worth seeing yet another Jack Nicholson–Tom Cruise showdown. Of course, we have to wait until the very end to see the true bond between the two men. It’s probably one of the most famous movie hugs of all time. You won’t soon forget it. And, really, who is the object of Jack Nicholson’s affection? Nobody but himself. The character is supposed to be a joke, but he delivers one of the most romantic speeches in movie history. Who is he talking to? To himself. He’s so lost in his thoughts, he doesn’t even realize Melanie has walked away. It’s a heartbreaking moment, but also one of the most beautiful. Just go and see it. You won’t be disappointed.
How to Lose a Guy In Ten Minutes
How to Lose a Guy In Ten Minutes is a 1991 romantic comedy about a girl named Kate who meets a guy named Jeff whose life is fairly uneventful up until the point where Kate shows up and turns it all topsy-turvy. She quickly befriends Jeff’s neighbor, Linda, and starts seeing things from Linda’s perspective. It’s a classic case of mistaken identity and a situation comedy in one. Linda thinks she’s helping Jeff get over his shyness by setting him up on a date with Kate. Instead, he ends up falling in love with her and breaking several hearts in the process. Kate is one of the most original and refreshing characters in cinema, proving that females don’t always have to be the ones writing the stories. Jeff is a wonderful example of what a romantic lead looks like in cinema today. He’s a nice guy who likes cooking and going to the movies, and he has absolutely no clue how to flirt or kiss a girl. But it’s all in the way he carries himself. In fact, the entire film is a comedic homage to old fashioned romantic comedies, with an emphasis on slapstick violence, asides from a few romantic interludes here and there. And it’s all played for laughs. The filmmakers even spoofed the typical romantic comedy climax with a shotgun wedding, which serves as a nice homage to A Few Good Men. How to Lose a Guy in Ten Minutes is the perfect romantic comedy for fans of Woody Allen and director James Berardinelli. And it’s a great starting point for anyone looking to delve into the world of romantic comedy.
There’s a reason why these films have stood the test of time. They’re absolutely filled with romantic tropes that we’ve come to expect and demand from Hollywood. However, it’s the little things that make these films so great. For example, in The Notebook, we see a lot of genuine and raw emotion from both actors. And it feels real. It’s the little details that make it feel so much like a real relationship. Take, for example, Noah’s writing. We never actually see him write the story. But as the camera slowly pans over to the right, we catch a glimpse of the notebook. It’s almost as if the writers and directors knew what we were missing. And that, my friends, is the power of narrative architecture. It’s the craft of telling a story, and the way directors like Noah Hawley and Ridley Scott use it in Babylon A.D. and Thelma, respectively, is something to behold.
Rocky
Rocky is one of the greatest sports movies of all time. It’s the story of a rugged individualist named Rocky Balboa, who learns to express himself through his athletics. And it features one of the greatest final scenes in film history. You’ll know it when you see it. For those of you who haven’t seen it, here’s the trailer:
And here’s the scene: