@mike - I need to rewatch “Untamed Heart” and thank you for your proper inclusion of Christian Slater in the weird romance category with this add and also “Pump up the Volume.” Dare I say “Heathers” could have made it in an honorable mention for “Teen love” for me
Just watched "Untamed Heart" over Covid lockdown and it had me in tears (it was shot in Mpls and I recognized venues, like City Center downtown with Marisa Tomei, who is so so so beautiful in it! Call me George Costanza lol!)...Need to rewatch PUTV but Christian Slater is so marvelous with his raspy demeanor...I have "Heathers" on DVD and it's hard for me to watch. Guess I'm a softie, but THAT is one dark movie.
She'll shake off that Oscar nod curse, no doubt. Younger than I am, so she got that going for her. So much talent in the Twin Cities but they get smart and they leave (Dylan, Diablo, JTNAF) :-/
So many of my all-time faves in both of your lists. Harold and Maude I’ve mentioned a few times is my favorite film. And Her is right up there. It’s my favorite Joaquin Phoenix role. Beth, Moonrise Kingdom and The Shape of Water are so great too.
Mike mentioned “Rushmore” which can work as a double-sided “notable age difference” romance. And with Bill Murray as the much older man and Jason Schwartzman as the much younger teen.
I didn’t dig “Rushmore” as much as I wanted to and yet I love Anderson and all the actors. Olivia Williams is an incredible actress though “Counterpart” is probably her meatiest role
Rushmore is my favorite of the Anderson films. But maybe it's a guy thing. It was our introduction to Jason Schwartzman and he is so great in this. The staged version of Serpico deserved an Oscar on its own.
Steve went where I was reluctant to go: Rushmore (like Bottle Rocket) is more of a guy film than any of us would like (maybe it's something about absent mothers, like Max's? Or Herman Blume's wife? There's something angry there about women, even the way they treat Rosemary Cross, which is despicable, ugh.)? Still, I think it's sweet. I love the last dance to the Faces' "Ooh La La" which musically ties the ages together. The Serpico thing was hilarious--Dirk Calloway's nun disguise. LOL.
Yeah like I couldn’t get behind the rivalry I guess and it just felt mean- spirited or gross sometimes. But also my main complaint is that its HIGH praise as the seminal Wes Anderson film feels undue - like for instance I enjoyed more “The French Dispatch” or “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Even “Fantastic Mr. Fox”!
I didn't mention it on our newsletter, but "Moonrise" is perfect. Nerdy kids that were just trying to be together, I got it. Anderson can get on my nerves (I couldn't get through "Asteroid City" at all) but the ones you mention are better. Royal Tannenbaums also worth a revisit.
The Royal Tenenbaums is amazing. Good call Mike. Back to “Rushmore,” I can fully appreciate to Steve’s point too that some films might be more conducive to a male audience and resonate more with men.
I remembered seeing Shape of Water because we were curious to see how far they would take the romance. It's pretty bold to have a woman fall in love with a strange fish man. The visuals got us to the theater, and it was an experience I don't think I'll ever forget. Sitting on the edge of our seats, not because the movie was tense but because we did not know how much of that fish man we were going to see.
Thanks for sharing Shane. I mean the fact that he's this amphibious creature and that they share this non-verbal way of communicating is also noteworthy.
Two things stuck out for me too on these fronts:
- The scene where Eliza (main character) is explaining to her friend Zelda (Octavia Spencer) how she gets pleasured by said fish man. Like I didn't totally track but ok, I like that they even went there, cause yeah, we're all wondering. And she looked so happy at work, which let's face it, wasn't all that common.
- The fact that Eliza is a mute is exceptional in and of itself. She is the main character and commands such a presence AND falls in mutual love without needing to talk.
Jumping on what Beth said, if Eliza hadn't been mute, I doubt I would've believed in the basic premise. As I recall, it's a slow build with many shifts to get to the final act.
Damn. It's been awhile Beth and again, I come to peruse and then get caught in the love-web of movie magic. Thanks for ALL of these reminders and recommendations!
Thanks, Ellen. The pressure of this is fitting in stuff you haven't seen in a while. "Miracle Mile" was one for me, and Beth's pick of "Never Let Me Go" haunted me when I first saw it but I think reading the book first would add some depth. We aim to have fun here. Beth is a dear friend and a wise cohost. :-)
And thanks for sharing Ellen. We aim to steer you in good directions for film viewing. And to let you pick and choose what works for you. I’m rewatching “Untamed Heart” as we speak and find that I’m enjoying reliving moments of the film especially because with time and the wisdom one can only gain from life experience, your perspectives and viewpoints shift. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on films. Come back anytime and often!
I'm going to start with Benny and Joon and then revisit The Shape of Water. I think you're right -- I will perceive them very differently now. Should be fun and interesting!
Hey Ellen, we'd love to hear your thoughts on any of these. I revisited B&J last night and recalled an early trailer I saw when it first came out that really underscored the tragedy of parents dying. I recall how that actually MADE me want to see the movie but when I revisited it, they cut a lot of that out. Then I realized why: it didn't fit the love stories they were building. Made perfect sense. Sometimes it's short-view and then long-view. Can make you crazy! lol.
Thanks for sharing. I only just saw this film recently and was blown away. Pan’s Labyrinth is my top del Toro film. If you haven’t yet seen it, you should consider. It’s tragic and beautiful and life-affirming all at once. Like Wes Andersen, del Toro is masterful at creating these inspired self-continued worlds. The focus on relationships, good vs. evil and societal injustice is there too. But where it could be utter despair it’s hopeful.
Good choices. There are so many good movies out there. I'll have to think about it some. One that comes to mind is Forest Gump. It may seem trite or dumb, but Forrest's love for Jenny was true. And there aren't many movies that jolt me so I sit upright with my heart beating really fast. Forrest Gump did that for me. One scene in particular. It's where Forrest is standing on the veranda, looking out over the lawn, thinking hard and longingly about Jenny, and suddenly there she is walking across the lawn towards him, then just as suddenly she vanishes, it was just his mind playing tricks on him. The whole scene lasts maybe a minute. Maybe less. I will never forget it, because it paralleled something that happened to me. It's about the lonely longing of the heart for someone who won't be making an appearance anytime soon... if ever.
Thanks for sharing and for stopping by to read. You are absolutely right about 'Forrest Gump' being up there for romance films. It's an epic film that I always think about as one big enjoyable history lesson but at its core, it's a love story, for sure. As you described this scene, it came to life for me and I remembered it.
I rewatched over the Summer as it's my son's favorite film. He loves history so this is something that's always top of mind for me. But more so, it's the relationships that Forrest establishes with everyone he comes into contact with because his intentions are so pure.
A tangent, a bit..Have you see the SNL (Saturday Night Live) skit from the current season about Forrest going to his high school reunion? It's hilarious.
I would too Cary! Laughing and sharing popcorn with you would be a treat. Thanks for being a part of this junket Beth and I have going. It's been a blast.
@mike - I need to rewatch “Untamed Heart” and thank you for your proper inclusion of Christian Slater in the weird romance category with this add and also “Pump up the Volume.” Dare I say “Heathers” could have made it in an honorable mention for “Teen love” for me
Just watched "Untamed Heart" over Covid lockdown and it had me in tears (it was shot in Mpls and I recognized venues, like City Center downtown with Marisa Tomei, who is so so so beautiful in it! Call me George Costanza lol!)...Need to rewatch PUTV but Christian Slater is so marvelous with his raspy demeanor...I have "Heathers" on DVD and it's hard for me to watch. Guess I'm a softie, but THAT is one dark movie.
So dark!!!
Lots to investigate some of Michael’s titles. I love your interspecies pics.
Would Juno be weird? Maybe YA angst weird.
Juno is great! Diablo Cody wrote portions of it in Minneapolis, where I live.
Cool. I know she wrote a few scripts after. Is she still writing?
She has the best pseudonym ever.
She just did “Lisa Frankenstein” young adult / teen vampire movie that looks like an 80s cult classic
Cute.
She'll shake off that Oscar nod curse, no doubt. Younger than I am, so she got that going for her. So much talent in the Twin Cities but they get smart and they leave (Dylan, Diablo, JTNAF) :-/
Good water there.
I almost put Juno in for honorable mention for the quirky/forbidden one. It’s also has the young love thread. I love that one.
I've gotta do what you did Beth and read Never Let Me Go and watch it again. The film was lovely but I bet the book really digs deep.
So many of my all-time faves in both of your lists. Harold and Maude I’ve mentioned a few times is my favorite film. And Her is right up there. It’s my favorite Joaquin Phoenix role. Beth, Moonrise Kingdom and The Shape of Water are so great too.
Mike mentioned “Rushmore” which can work as a double-sided “notable age difference” romance. And with Bill Murray as the much older man and Jason Schwartzman as the much younger teen.
I didn’t dig “Rushmore” as much as I wanted to and yet I love Anderson and all the actors. Olivia Williams is an incredible actress though “Counterpart” is probably her meatiest role
"She was my Rushmore, Beth." lol.
Rushmore is my favorite of the Anderson films. But maybe it's a guy thing. It was our introduction to Jason Schwartzman and he is so great in this. The staged version of Serpico deserved an Oscar on its own.
Steve went where I was reluctant to go: Rushmore (like Bottle Rocket) is more of a guy film than any of us would like (maybe it's something about absent mothers, like Max's? Or Herman Blume's wife? There's something angry there about women, even the way they treat Rosemary Cross, which is despicable, ugh.)? Still, I think it's sweet. I love the last dance to the Faces' "Ooh La La" which musically ties the ages together. The Serpico thing was hilarious--Dirk Calloway's nun disguise. LOL.
Yeah like I couldn’t get behind the rivalry I guess and it just felt mean- spirited or gross sometimes. But also my main complaint is that its HIGH praise as the seminal Wes Anderson film feels undue - like for instance I enjoyed more “The French Dispatch” or “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Even “Fantastic Mr. Fox”!
I didn't mention it on our newsletter, but "Moonrise" is perfect. Nerdy kids that were just trying to be together, I got it. Anderson can get on my nerves (I couldn't get through "Asteroid City" at all) but the ones you mention are better. Royal Tannenbaums also worth a revisit.
The Royal Tenenbaums is amazing. Good call Mike. Back to “Rushmore,” I can fully appreciate to Steve’s point too that some films might be more conducive to a male audience and resonate more with men.
Steve, you'd appreciate a young Kelly McGillis with an older Tom Conti, which I neglected to include in my age difference sub-genre:
https://youtu.be/TJOH1GKuAfk?si=nKuc6wY3ZK7CBz6L
Rushmore is a really good movie.
I remembered seeing Shape of Water because we were curious to see how far they would take the romance. It's pretty bold to have a woman fall in love with a strange fish man. The visuals got us to the theater, and it was an experience I don't think I'll ever forget. Sitting on the edge of our seats, not because the movie was tense but because we did not know how much of that fish man we were going to see.
Thanks for sharing Shane. I mean the fact that he's this amphibious creature and that they share this non-verbal way of communicating is also noteworthy.
Two things stuck out for me too on these fronts:
- The scene where Eliza (main character) is explaining to her friend Zelda (Octavia Spencer) how she gets pleasured by said fish man. Like I didn't totally track but ok, I like that they even went there, cause yeah, we're all wondering. And she looked so happy at work, which let's face it, wasn't all that common.
- The fact that Eliza is a mute is exceptional in and of itself. She is the main character and commands such a presence AND falls in mutual love without needing to talk.
Jumping on what Beth said, if Eliza hadn't been mute, I doubt I would've believed in the basic premise. As I recall, it's a slow build with many shifts to get to the final act.
King Kong. A giant ape falls in love with a woman who fits in the palm of his hand. It doesn't get any weirder than that!
That's the Rosetta Stone of Weird Romance movies! Thanks Chris! lol.
So true!!!
I loved The Shape of Water
Damn. It's been awhile Beth and again, I come to peruse and then get caught in the love-web of movie magic. Thanks for ALL of these reminders and recommendations!
Ooh thanks for stopping by and thank you for your gracious words. I’m so glad you are finding recommendations here!
So many great picks here by both of you, and I now realize that I want to rewatch a lot of them.
Looking forward to the other sub-genres. (Don't let me rush you. I now have this list of yours to work through!)
Thanks, Ellen. The pressure of this is fitting in stuff you haven't seen in a while. "Miracle Mile" was one for me, and Beth's pick of "Never Let Me Go" haunted me when I first saw it but I think reading the book first would add some depth. We aim to have fun here. Beth is a dear friend and a wise cohost. :-)
Right back at ya Mike!
And thanks for sharing Ellen. We aim to steer you in good directions for film viewing. And to let you pick and choose what works for you. I’m rewatching “Untamed Heart” as we speak and find that I’m enjoying reliving moments of the film especially because with time and the wisdom one can only gain from life experience, your perspectives and viewpoints shift. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on films. Come back anytime and often!
I'm going to start with Benny and Joon and then revisit The Shape of Water. I think you're right -- I will perceive them very differently now. Should be fun and interesting!
Hey Ellen, we'd love to hear your thoughts on any of these. I revisited B&J last night and recalled an early trailer I saw when it first came out that really underscored the tragedy of parents dying. I recall how that actually MADE me want to see the movie but when I revisited it, they cut a lot of that out. Then I realized why: it didn't fit the love stories they were building. Made perfect sense. Sometimes it's short-view and then long-view. Can make you crazy! lol.
You're lucky to find a compatible, enjoyable and wise collaborator!
I only saw “The Shape of Water” just a few months ago and it was marvelous. I’ve come to really love Guillermo del Toro’s storytelling abilities.
Thanks for sharing. I only just saw this film recently and was blown away. Pan’s Labyrinth is my top del Toro film. If you haven’t yet seen it, you should consider. It’s tragic and beautiful and life-affirming all at once. Like Wes Andersen, del Toro is masterful at creating these inspired self-continued worlds. The focus on relationships, good vs. evil and societal injustice is there too. But where it could be utter despair it’s hopeful.
I have! Beautiful film as well. And his “Cabinet of Curiosities” series on Netflix is absolutely brilliant.
I saw the first episode. Did you watch the whole season? Worth it?
💯 Only a couple episodes I wasn’t too keen on, but overall I think it’s very well done.
I will have to resume it then.
Let me know what you think!
Good choices. There are so many good movies out there. I'll have to think about it some. One that comes to mind is Forest Gump. It may seem trite or dumb, but Forrest's love for Jenny was true. And there aren't many movies that jolt me so I sit upright with my heart beating really fast. Forrest Gump did that for me. One scene in particular. It's where Forrest is standing on the veranda, looking out over the lawn, thinking hard and longingly about Jenny, and suddenly there she is walking across the lawn towards him, then just as suddenly she vanishes, it was just his mind playing tricks on him. The whole scene lasts maybe a minute. Maybe less. I will never forget it, because it paralleled something that happened to me. It's about the lonely longing of the heart for someone who won't be making an appearance anytime soon... if ever.
Thanks for sharing and for stopping by to read. You are absolutely right about 'Forrest Gump' being up there for romance films. It's an epic film that I always think about as one big enjoyable history lesson but at its core, it's a love story, for sure. As you described this scene, it came to life for me and I remembered it.
The movie is a fun history lesson. The first time I saw it half the fun was in guessing who would make the next cameo appearance.
Keith,
I rewatched over the Summer as it's my son's favorite film. He loves history so this is something that's always top of mind for me. But more so, it's the relationships that Forrest establishes with everyone he comes into contact with because his intentions are so pure.
A tangent, a bit..Have you see the SNL (Saturday Night Live) skit from the current season about Forrest going to his high school reunion? It's hilarious.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6Drkj80qlQ
LOVE Forrest Gump. Need to rewatch it soon but it's also very sad, but "good sad." ;-)
So many great films. Never let me go… was brilliant
Thanks for sharing. Agreed. Hardest part was when they learn about the deferrals. It’s brutal
It still haunts me
Harold & Maude, Benny & Joon, and Miracle Mile. That’s a triple-feature I’d sit all day in a theater to watch. Maybe twice.
I would too Cary! Laughing and sharing popcorn with you would be a treat. Thanks for being a part of this junket Beth and I have going. It's been a blast.