70 Favorite Films Part III: Romantic Comedies

56. His Girl Friday (1940)
Director: Howard Hawks
Starring: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russel
Plot: Love blossoms again between reporter ex-spouses.

If you want to watch a sparring couple at its classic best than this is the film to rent. With Cary Grant and Rosalind Russel constantly throwing insults at each other, it’s impossible not to have fun.

55. Strictly Ballroom (1992)
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice
Plot: Rebel ballroom dancer Scott can’t find anyone willing to be his partner and is forced to train an ugly duckling into a swan.

Luhrmann is fond of (over)mentioning his film’s statement so if Moulin Rouge’s is “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is to love and be loved in return,” Strictly Ballroom’s is “A life lived in fear is a life half lived.”  I especially love that scene where they dance the rumba to “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps.”

54. Confidentially Yours (1983)
Director: Francois Truffaut
Starring: Fanny Ardant, Jean-Louis Trintignant
Plot: When her boss is suspected for murder, Barbara leads her own investigation even though she doesn’t exactly believe he’s innocent.

When I watched this with my friends-and-fellow-Truffaut-lovers ES and Chard, I was expecting it to be good but in fact, it was even better.  This was Truffaut’s last film and he went with a well-deserved round of applause. Vivement Dimanche!

53.  The Science of Sleep (2006)
Director: Michel Gondry
Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg
Plot: Falling in love is a dreamy business…

This film features beautiful animation, beautiful writing, a beautiful score and not to mention beautiful actors. How can you not love it?

52. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Director: George Cukor
Starring: Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Stewart
Plot: …Three guys fighting for the love of socialite Tracy Lord. Priceless.
Awards: 2 Oscars – Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay

Kate Hepburn’s career was almost dead when this film came along and made her a superstar. Also, I fell in love with James Stewart in this film. Kate can have her Cary Grant because Jimmy’s mine. Oops, did I just spoil you? Sorry.

51. Clueless (1995)
Director: Amy Heckerling
Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd
Plot: Ugh! As if!

Everyone’s clueless in this teen-movie remake of Jane Austen’s Emma and that’s what makes it so fun to watch. And when spoiled heroine Cher finally has her epiphany, we all say “duh!”

50. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Director: Gil Junger
Starring: Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles
Plot: “The Taming of the Shrew” in high school…

How do I love this? Let me count the ways….
10) In the words of Cameron (Joseph Gordon Levitt) Heath Ledger is “…very pretty.”
9) Speaking of Heath Ledger, in that scene where he’s singing his heart out in the bleachers…now how can you resist a guy like that?
8) A kick-ass soundtrack featuring Letters to Cleo.
7) Finally, a blonde girl who’s not a dumb blonde.
6) “I want you, I need you, oh baby, oh baby…” the chemistry between Heath and Julia is amazing.
5) David Krumholtz. Who knew that when he’d grow up (and grow out his hair) he’d be so cute?
4) Love is shown in all of it’s adorably/sickly glory.
3) I burn, I pine, I perish. All those Shakespeare references sound cool.
2) Heath Ledger singing his heart out in the bleachers.
1) What other teen film includes philosophical discussions like the difference between like and love? I mean I like my Sketchers, but I love my Prada backpack.

Next: Twists, Turns and 49 More Films to Go…

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