Five Films that made me laugh, cry and took me on a roller coaster of emotions, but ended on a sad note.
If you ever put a search words for best romantic films of all time, you'll come across films like The Notebook, Gone with the wind, Casablanca, My Fair Lady, Pretty Women and the list goes on and on. These films reaffirm you faith in love and redefines the passion and takes you on a journey where you face the trials and tribulations of love and romance. But while some end on the classic fairy tale where the boy gets the girl ( the scenario which changed with coming of films like The Brokeback Mountain and 'I can't think straight'), these so-called romantic doesn't always end on a happy note with the much awaited union. Presenting Five films that tread the path of typical romantic flick but don't end on a happy note.
5. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Genre: Romance, Western
Director: Ang Lee
Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhal,Anne Hathway
This film, one of the few movies dealing with same-sex love and the massive homophobia associated with it was critically acclaimed for its treatment of such a delicate issue. Two young cowboys a ranch hand and a rodeo embark on a shepherding experience in summer of 1969 in grasslands of Wyoming and strike up friendship and love affair that transcends boundaries and decades. Both are married with children but still are passionately in love with each other, and goes through the trials and tribulations of love. Sadly, their affair is exposed and with the massive homophobia reaping through the Southern states of United States in the early 60s, one of them Jack though said to be died in a vehicular accident, becomes the victim of gay bashing, as the lovers are separated forever.
Memorable moments: Their first union and Ennis's visit to Jack's parents home where he finds his blood stained shirt he thought he lost during their sheepherding adventure as he walks away into absolution.
4. Roman Holiday (1953)
Genre: Romantic comedy
Director: William Wyler
Starring: Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn
This 1953 classic shot Audrey Hepburn to an instant fame as she won an Oscar for her portrayal of Princess Ann who escapes her country's embassy during her highly publicized world tour to experience the city of Rome and runs into a struggling reporter Joe Smith (played by Gregory Peck) who for the sake of safety takes her to his apartment not knowing that she's actually a Princess and his ticket to success. He realizes it later and decides to write an exclusive on her with the aid of his photographer friend Irving. They embark on a journey of Rome as both Joe and Irving secretly film her actions, but soon Ann and Joe in their day's journey fall for each other, but promises have been made as Ann returns to her monarchy and Joe goes back to his life, as they are separated forever.
Memorable moments: The whole sigh seeing through the city of Rome and the final goodbye as Ann bids adieu to Joe and Rome in a press conference.
3. Gone with the Wind (1939)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Director: Victor Fleming
Starring: Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh
Epic, thats how Margaret Mitchell's 900 page book and the screen adaptation can be described.A love affair during the war ravaged America during civil war was the plot of this classic. Scarlett O' Hara (Vivian Leigh) a headstrong woman who is determined to woo Ashley Wilkes who's already married to kind-hearted Melanie does whatever she can, even it means entering matrimony to be close to him. During her mad rush she meets Captain Rhett Butler ( played by dashing Clark Gable), a roguish man whose manners are similar to Scarlett who's headstrong as her to woo her off her feet. Scarlett struggle through the war, her various affairs and her marriage to Rhett were the high points of the story. But as blind as Scarlett is after her struggle to make her end meet, she throws away the only true love she ever had, as Rhett leaves her, and Scarlett couldn't do anything about it.
Memorable moments: The film shot in Eastman colors is cinematically powerful with moments of war and destruction captured on a massive scale, along with scenes of plantation and Rhett's professing his love for Scarlett while going to fight in the war.The most famous lines: Frankly, my dear i don't give a damn.
2. Casablanca (1942)
Genre: Romance
Director" Michael Curtiz
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains
Lovers united and separated again, the theme runs high in this 1942 classic. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) an exiled American and resistance fighter runs the most popular night joint in Casablanca, he doesn't believe in politics and is extremely cynical with an attitude of 'I stick my neck out for nobody', his world is left upside down when he runs into his former love Ilsa now married to a French underground leader. They plan to escape Casablanca together but in the end out of love towards Lisa and loyalty to the cause he lets the couple escape and sees to it that they are not in harms way. Its the ultimate sacrifice letting go to someone you love for their happiness.
Memorable moments: The noiristic airport sequence in the end with dialogues like Here looking at you kid and Of all the gin joints in the world she had to walk into mine.
1. Titanic (1997)
Genre: Romance
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Leonardo Di Caprio, Kate Winslet
This film as drawing from the title had disaster written all over it, winner of 11 academy awards a tale of two lovers belonging to different world as one is an aristocratic lady and other is a bum and struggling painter is an epic romance which ends with the voyage of Titanic. As the lovers are united they are separated due to fateful sinking of the ship as Rose Dawson (Kate Winslet) survives to narrate the story of her first love, who died with another 1600 on the fateful night of 12th January 1912.
Memorable moments: The last sequence where Rose throws the heart of the ocean and is united with her lover cheered by all those who perished in the sea. Title track 'My Heart will go on' by Celine Dion is a classic
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