February 9, 2023
Romantic Dramas for Valentine’s Day
Everyone needs a movie night once in a while. Whether it’s hanging out with all your best friends or laying low at home with some popcorn, we’ve got you covered!Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Everyone has that one ex. Things were great; then they weren’t. You wish you could get all the time and energy you spent on them back and forget them entirely. When Joel Barish discovers that his girlfriend has gone through a revolutionary procedure to do just that and purge any memories of him from her life, he decides to do the same. But as Joel feels all his greatest experiences slipping through his fingers, he instead fights to remember his past. Starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet with appearances from Elijah Wood and Mark Ruffalo, this cult classic asks: If we refuse to learn from heartbreak, will we ever stop getting hurt? I found the film alternatively heartwarming and bittersweet, feeling like a story of everyday people despite the very out-there premise. Is your interest piqued? You can stream it for free with an Amazon Prime subscription or rent it elsewhere.
When explaining romantic conflict to wannabe romance authors, a lot of writing instructors will fall back on the “one is a firefighter, and the other is an arsonist” example. The screenwriters of Out of Sight took that example to heart, but in this romantic-suspense drama—helmed by Steven Soderbergh of Ocean’s 11 and Magic Mike fame—she’s a federal agent, and he’s a wanted criminal. Based on the book by bestselling crime novelist Elmore Leonard, the film begins with U.S. Marshal Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez) arriving at Miami’s Glades Correctional Institution, just in time to catch notorious bank robber Jack Foley (George Clooney) as he finishes tunneling out of the prison. Determined not to let her foil his escape plan, Jack tosses her into the trunk of his getaway vehicle and then joins her. His accomplice shuts them in and drives off, and sparks fly as Jack and Karen spend the uncomfortable trip verbally sparring with each other. After managing to escape, Karen gets a hold of herself and immediately launches a federal pursuit of the charming fugitive, and the cat-and-mouse chase at the center of this film is on. But every time they connect for a moment and quickly ricochet apart, the two can’t help but wonder what if?—even though both know they have no future. (Or do they?) Highly improbable as it is, Out of Sight is still a step up from the average romantic drama due to the likeable leads’ whipsmart banter and crackling chemistry. Ignore your internal film critic’s complaints about how “this would never happen in real life” and just enjoy the ride. Available on Peacock and to rent on other streaming services.