While ostensibly not a rom-com or plain rom, Good Will Hunting does have romance in it with Matt Damon and Minnie Driver and fits our time period (1997). LOVE that film.
Like Beth with her surprise in noticing a lot of Debra Winger in her choices, my surprise was seeing Lily Taylor (Mystic Pizza and Say Anything). Truth is, Lily is fantastic. Love her work.
I also don't remember Lily in "Say Anything" but she's top billed so maybe she's his sister? I see that Pamela Adlon is also billed as starring in it -- clearly I need to watch this again, pronto.
Actually, Steve, JOAN Cusack (ironically enough) plays Lloyd Dobler's sister and Lily Taylor is a buddy of Lloyd's (in the kind of nerd pack I used to be in during high school, lol)...it's such a great film. Lots of 80s actors in it, Jeremy Piven, etc.
I’ve seen it, I just forgot about Lily and the female friend pack. Such a great film and it made me a big Ione Skye fan. Loved her in Gas, Food and Lodging.
My book, Just Like A Movie, is a romcom and I’d currently being developed as a screenplay in LA, but whether it ever gets made is another kettle of fish. But it’s in the vein of Only You, and Four Weddings and Notting Hill, and oh yes, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, remember that one? That’s how long ago I wrote the book!! But it really would make a cute movie so fingers crossed!!!
Incredible!! Congrats! I’m writing a romance novel and nearly done. Would love to hear more about this! Personally I loved “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and totally remember “Stella”!!
Apr 15Liked by Beth Lisogorsky, Michael Maupin 🄾🄵 🅂🅃🄾🅁🅈🅂🄷🄴🄳
Great lists, both of you! You already know that Before Sunrise is a favorite of mine, and When Harry Met Sally is a fave. I was happy to see Racing with the Moon on this list. As a humongous Nic Cage fan (and Sean Penn too of course) this one really did it for me. Nic Cage in "Birdy" was also amazing. I could make my top 5 romance films all be Nicolas Cage films. Okay, here you go:
Steve, thanks! “When Peggy Sue Got Married” left such a conflicting impression on me. I loved the leads but the story felt so sad to me. “Moonstruck” is a good one. It definitely seems like you have a Nic Cage fondness and I understand why.
I haven’t watched Peggy Sue Got Married in a long time but I feel like it had a fair bit of humor mixed into the sadness and pathos. I need to see it again.
I still need to see Dream Scenario. I know you asked if anyone else had seen it and I wanted to raise my hand. Hopefully this week. I am watching Sugar right now and am really liking it a lot.
I didn't realize only half the eps have aired so far and I'm all caught up! As I've been on a sugar-free diet for 6 weeks now, I should be well-practiced at not ingesting Sugar, but the cravings are still there!:) Will be curious to hear your thoughts in 4-ish weeks. BTW, instead of finishing my writing last night I watched Dream Scenario. I'll try and find where you talked about it and comment there.
Apr 16Liked by Michael Maupin 🄾🄵 🅂🅃🄾🅁🅈🅂🄷🄴🄳, Beth Lisogorsky
Another favorite I don't see mentioned is Tootsie. Some may see it as a comedy, but there's a lot of romancing -- requited and unrequited -- going on in it.
Also a huge fan of When Harry Met Sally, co-written by Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron, both remarkably funny and making the film one that appeals to both men and women.
Moonstruck also a favorite -- different levels and successes with romancing by various characters.
Agree with Mike on “Tootsie” - it’s such a good one! Ellen, the second I posted this, one of my family readers tsked tsked me for my absence of the beloved “When Harry Met Sally” - it’s a good one no doubt but it didn’t fall into the top 5. Top 15 for sure! You also made me think of another film from 80s with your mention of Nora Ephron, only I’m thinking Nancy Meyer. Did you ever see “Baby Boom” with Diane Keaton and Sam Shepherd? I loved that one!
I need to revisit Nancy Meyers' filmography. It's impressive. If Beth and I do more recent romantic comedies, I'd throw in this by another Nancy, Nancy Oliver's script of Lars and the Real Girl. Fantastic film.
May I suggest, if Beth likes the idea too, a theme of "Love Is A Super-Weirded Thing" and maybe expand (I could go over five, and across decades) under which I'd put "Tootsie," as well as "As Good As It Gets," "Harold & Maude," "Benny & Joon," "A Matter of Life and Death," AND "Lars and the Real Girl"? I currently own DVDs of four of those, but would have to revisit AGAIG and Tootsie. "Risky Business" is another oddball romance, I guess. :-D
It’s a spectacular film. I could do a whole series on Ryan Gosling romance films (his Emma Stone ones alone) - La La Land and Crazy Stupid Love rate up there for me
Apr 24Liked by Beth Lisogorsky, Michael Maupin 🄾🄵 🅂🅃🄾🅁🅈🅂🄷🄴🄳
I really adore Only You! With Robert Downer Jr and Marisa Tomei! I don't even know how many times I've watched it. Italy always looks amazing in movies, and the storyline is charming and funny. Have you seen it?
Apr 25Liked by Michael Maupin 🄾🄵 🅂🅃🄾🅁🅈🅂🄷🄴🄳, Beth Lisogorsky
Marisa Tomei is wonderful, she was brilliant in that hilarious film with that short actor, can’t think of the name right now, my neurones aren’t yet fully functional… MY COUSIN VINNIE! Voila! So good!
Apr 17Liked by Michael Maupin 🄾🄵 🅂🅃🄾🅁🅈🅂🄷🄴🄳, Beth Lisogorsky
Three movies: Roxanne, Moonstruck, and Princess Bride. Weirdly, they are all from 1987. So I hereby declare: 1987-the greatest year ever for romance movies!
You are not wrong. Wowza! 1987 was a peak year for romance. Also, "84 Charing Cross Road" which was also commented on and "Baby Boom" - Oddly, it was also a year for twisted love with "Fatal Attraction" and "Black Widow" also being released that same year. I saw both.
I need to revisit Moonstruck, but Princess Bride is a fav, and askew Roxanne, I LOVED Jean-Paul Rappeneau's Cyrano (1990) over Steve Martin's "Roxanne" which is charming but doesn't have the power of Rappeneau (and still the humor and language). Glad you got the cross-post, Chris! :-)
Completely agree on all accounts. Swayze is dreamy and will always be. “Dirty Dancing” didn’t make the cut as it wasn’t up there for me in top5 but his performance in it was hot.
Ha! Not bad films though! I can’t bring myself to watch the remake- partially because of my compulsion to compare it to the original and also Jake is now forever soiled based on “all too well”
I'm going to stretch the definition of Romance -- perhaps beyond recognition -- to suggest _84 Charing Cross Road_ (my memories of the film have faded a bit, but I remember liking it, and recently re-read the book and was completely taken by it)
I loved Stella! I want to hear about your romance ❤️. You can read the first chapter of my book either on Amazon or on my website. I also posted it on here a while back if you’re INT interested 🙏❤️
Forgot “Kissing Jessica Stein”!
And if we were to add to Y2K cusp films “Love & Basketball” with Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan was a beloved one.
While ostensibly not a rom-com or plain rom, Good Will Hunting does have romance in it with Matt Damon and Minnie Driver and fits our time period (1997). LOVE that film.
The quintessential Boston film. Oh I moved here pretty much the year it was released
Like Beth with her surprise in noticing a lot of Debra Winger in her choices, my surprise was seeing Lily Taylor (Mystic Pizza and Say Anything). Truth is, Lily is fantastic. Love her work.
Lily is so good. I don't remember her clearly enough from “Say Anything” - so I need to go back but she was a favorite in “Mystic Pizza”
I also don't remember Lily in "Say Anything" but she's top billed so maybe she's his sister? I see that Pamela Adlon is also billed as starring in it -- clearly I need to watch this again, pronto.
Actually, Steve, JOAN Cusack (ironically enough) plays Lloyd Dobler's sister and Lily Taylor is a buddy of Lloyd's (in the kind of nerd pack I used to be in during high school, lol)...it's such a great film. Lots of 80s actors in it, Jeremy Piven, etc.
I’ve seen it, I just forgot about Lily and the female friend pack. Such a great film and it made me a big Ione Skye fan. Loved her in Gas, Food and Lodging.
I’ve seen most of these. I remember them well. 🥰👏
Do you have any others we missed? I would have added "Four Weddings & A Funeral" but had to cut somewhere...
I always preferred the RomCom over just plain Rom.
Julia-- Pretty Woman, Notting Hill.
Meg-- When Harry Met Sally, You've Got Mail
Sandra-- Oh, hers were mostly early 2000's.
“While you were sleeping” is my favorite rom com of Bullocks and that was 1995
Loved that movie. 🥰
My book, Just Like A Movie, is a romcom and I’d currently being developed as a screenplay in LA, but whether it ever gets made is another kettle of fish. But it’s in the vein of Only You, and Four Weddings and Notting Hill, and oh yes, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, remember that one? That’s how long ago I wrote the book!! But it really would make a cute movie so fingers crossed!!!
Congrats! I know how hard it is to get a script made into a movie after selling one and optioning two. All the best to you!
Thank you. Just because there will be a screenplay doesn’t mean there will be a film! But it’s exciting and wonderful anyway!
Keep moving forward with your work and good things will come. :-)
Incredible!! Congrats! I’m writing a romance novel and nearly done. Would love to hear more about this! Personally I loved “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and totally remember “Stella”!!
Yes!!!
Great lists, both of you! You already know that Before Sunrise is a favorite of mine, and When Harry Met Sally is a fave. I was happy to see Racing with the Moon on this list. As a humongous Nic Cage fan (and Sean Penn too of course) this one really did it for me. Nic Cage in "Birdy" was also amazing. I could make my top 5 romance films all be Nicolas Cage films. Okay, here you go:
1. Raising Arizona
2. Wild at Heart
3. Valley Girl
4. Moonstruck
5. Peggy Sue Got Married
Steve, thanks! “When Peggy Sue Got Married” left such a conflicting impression on me. I loved the leads but the story felt so sad to me. “Moonstruck” is a good one. It definitely seems like you have a Nic Cage fondness and I understand why.
I haven’t watched Peggy Sue Got Married in a long time but I feel like it had a fair bit of humor mixed into the sadness and pathos. I need to see it again.
I still need to see Dream Scenario. I know you asked if anyone else had seen it and I wanted to raise my hand. Hopefully this week. I am watching Sugar right now and am really liking it a lot.
I’m watching “Sugar” too! Just started yesterday.
I didn't realize only half the eps have aired so far and I'm all caught up! As I've been on a sugar-free diet for 6 weeks now, I should be well-practiced at not ingesting Sugar, but the cravings are still there!:) Will be curious to hear your thoughts in 4-ish weeks. BTW, instead of finishing my writing last night I watched Dream Scenario. I'll try and find where you talked about it and comment there.
Another favorite I don't see mentioned is Tootsie. Some may see it as a comedy, but there's a lot of romancing -- requited and unrequited -- going on in it.
Also a huge fan of When Harry Met Sally, co-written by Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron, both remarkably funny and making the film one that appeals to both men and women.
Moonstruck also a favorite -- different levels and successes with romancing by various characters.
Tootsie is brilliant and I saw that in the theaters when it came out (as with the other two you mentioned)!
Agree with Mike on “Tootsie” - it’s such a good one! Ellen, the second I posted this, one of my family readers tsked tsked me for my absence of the beloved “When Harry Met Sally” - it’s a good one no doubt but it didn’t fall into the top 5. Top 15 for sure! You also made me think of another film from 80s with your mention of Nora Ephron, only I’m thinking Nancy Meyer. Did you ever see “Baby Boom” with Diane Keaton and Sam Shepherd? I loved that one!
Big fan of Nancy too -- Baby Boom and many others she's done. Diane in her Something's Gotta Give with Jack Nicholson was great fun, but post-90s.
I need to revisit Nancy Meyers' filmography. It's impressive. If Beth and I do more recent romantic comedies, I'd throw in this by another Nancy, Nancy Oliver's script of Lars and the Real Girl. Fantastic film.
I LOVE Lars and the Real Girl. It's so funny and charming, and Ryan Gosling is brilliant. Great pick.
May I suggest, if Beth likes the idea too, a theme of "Love Is A Super-Weirded Thing" and maybe expand (I could go over five, and across decades) under which I'd put "Tootsie," as well as "As Good As It Gets," "Harold & Maude," "Benny & Joon," "A Matter of Life and Death," AND "Lars and the Real Girl"? I currently own DVDs of four of those, but would have to revisit AGAIG and Tootsie. "Risky Business" is another oddball romance, I guess. :-D
If we can work the word “splendored” into it I may be convinced
Love that, and an additional suggestion -- advnture romance movies. The Princess Bride and Romancing the Stone as examples.
And I forgot to add Jerry Macguire to my 90s romance favorites!
It’s a spectacular film. I could do a whole series on Ryan Gosling romance films (his Emma Stone ones alone) - La La Land and Crazy Stupid Love rate up there for me
I really adore Only You! With Robert Downer Jr and Marisa Tomei! I don't even know how many times I've watched it. Italy always looks amazing in movies, and the storyline is charming and funny. Have you seen it?
I have not, so thanks for recommending. Adored Marisa Tomei in Untamed Heart with Christian Slater!
Marisa Tomei is wonderful, she was brilliant in that hilarious film with that short actor, can’t think of the name right now, my neurones aren’t yet fully functional… MY COUSIN VINNIE! Voila! So good!
Tell me what you think when you watch it!
Ok another one I need to rewatch
Thanks Francesca / I’m watching this again tonight. I love ❤️ love ❤️ love ❤️ this one. Thanks for bringing this back into my life
I have not! Thanks for recommending!
Wings of Desire. Wim Wenders.
I was thinking of “Paris, Texas” by Wim Wenders and if this makes my
Top 5!
Loved that one too!
Just watched a doc on Werner Herzog and it reminded me I need to revisit more Wim Wenders!
You reminded me to watch the Herzog doc!
Three movies: Roxanne, Moonstruck, and Princess Bride. Weirdly, they are all from 1987. So I hereby declare: 1987-the greatest year ever for romance movies!
Chris - Thank you and welcome!
You are not wrong. Wowza! 1987 was a peak year for romance. Also, "84 Charing Cross Road" which was also commented on and "Baby Boom" - Oddly, it was also a year for twisted love with "Fatal Attraction" and "Black Widow" also being released that same year. I saw both.
I need to revisit Moonstruck, but Princess Bride is a fav, and askew Roxanne, I LOVED Jean-Paul Rappeneau's Cyrano (1990) over Steve Martin's "Roxanne" which is charming but doesn't have the power of Rappeneau (and still the humor and language). Glad you got the cross-post, Chris! :-)
Forget Paris is lovely. The depiction of a love story with its murky bits and personal desires is what made it believable for me.
In another note Patrick Swayze was the sexiest man ever 😍
Completely agree on all accounts. Swayze is dreamy and will always be. “Dirty Dancing” didn’t make the cut as it wasn’t up there for me in top5 but his performance in it was hot.
Did you see the new “Roadhouse” remake with Jake Gyllenhaal or sacrilege?
I have not. My movie days are now reduced to Harry Potter and the likes… 🤣
Ha! Not bad films though! I can’t bring myself to watch the remake- partially because of my compulsion to compare it to the original and also Jake is now forever soiled based on “all too well”
I'm going to stretch the definition of Romance -- perhaps beyond recognition -- to suggest _84 Charing Cross Road_ (my memories of the film have faded a bit, but I remember liking it, and recently re-read the book and was completely taken by it)
you know, I've never seen it, but had it recommended time and again. Maybe I'll fold it in to what I need to rewatch! lol.
You can tell it's based on a true story; if you tried to invent it, it would just be twee.
Is that with Anthony Hopkins?
yup.
Ok I need to see this
If either of you watch it, I would be curious to hear what you think.
For sure! I’m having a lot of fun writing my book and also poetry, often funny poems! It’s a new thing for me, really unexpected.
I loved Stella! I want to hear about your romance ❤️. You can read the first chapter of my book either on Amazon or on my website. I also posted it on here a while back if you’re INT interested 🙏❤️