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Subgenre Sampler

 
BarbieBarbie (2023) Recommended
Dir. Greta Gerwig
Feat. Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are perfectly cast as “perfect” dolls Barbie and Ken facing an existential crisis in Barbieland in Greta…
No Hard FeelingsNo Hard Feelings (2023) Recommended
Dir. Gene Stupnitsky
Feat. Jennifer Lawrence, Matthew Broderick, Natalie Morales
Jennifer Lawrence produces and stars in this sweet–natured sex comedy spiked by more than a few laugh–out–loud moments and at least…
PriscillaPriscilla (2023) Recommended
Dir. Sofia Coppola
Feat. Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, Ari Cohen
Sofia Coppola's delicate and understated adaptation of Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir about the stifling reality of being Mrs. Elvis Presley. Aussie…
Bones And AllBones And All (2022) Recommended
Dir. Luca Guadagnino
Feat. Taylor Russell, Timothée Chalamet, Mark Rylance
A captivating, sincere horror–romance from the director of CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, based on the novel by Camille DeAngelis. Set in the late…
Downton Abbey: A New EraDownton Abbey: A New Era (2022)
Dir. Paul Aaron, Simon Curtis
Feat. Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith, Tuppence Middleton
A celebrated cinematic return of Julian Fellowes' beloved creation that reunites the cast to embark on a grand journey to the South of France in 1928…
Marry MeMarry Me (2022)
Dir. Kat Coiro
Feat. Owen Wilson, Jennifer Lopez, Chloe Coleman
Jennifer Lopez stars in this “modern love story about celebrity, marriage and social media” as a version of her musical superstar self who…
One Fine MorningOne Fine Morning (Un Beau Matin) (2022) Aro Favourite
Dir. Mia Hansen-Love
Feat. Léa Seydoux, Pascal Greggory, Melvil Poupaud
Lea Seydoux is French movie star royalty but she keeps it real in this sublime film from Mia Hansen–Løve (Bergman Island), one of Europe’s…
Ticket To ParadiseTicket To Paradise (2022)
Dir. Ol Parker
Feat. George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Kaitlyn Dever
Middle–aged rom–com fluff with George Clooney and Julia Roberts starring as ex–marrieds who find themselves on a shared mission to…
What's Love Got to Do With it?What's Love Got to Do With it? (2022)
Dir. Shekhar Kapur
Feat. Lily James, Shazad Latif, Emma Thompson
How do you find lasting love in today’s world? For documentary filmmaker Zoe (Lily James), swiping right to find Mr. Right has only delivered bad…
CyranoCyrano (2021) Recommended
Dir. Joe Wright
Feat. Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Peter Dinklage and Haley Bennett are terrific in this musical take on the iconic French romance, Cyrano de Bergerac, based on Erica Schmidt's 2018…
Licorice PizzaLicorice Pizza (2021)
Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
Feat. Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn
Celebrated auteur Paul Thomas Anderson amusingly runs through the fads of the 1970s while loosely following the relationship between a precocious…
Locked DownLocked Down (2021) Recommended
Dir. Doug Liman
Feat. Anne Hathaway, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Stephen Merchant
Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor play a newly separated couple confined to their swanky London apartment during a mandatory lockdown, with…
Mothering SundayMothering Sunday (2021)
Dir. Eva Husson
Feat. Odessa Young, Josh O’Connor, Olivia Colman
On a warm spring day in 1924, house maid and foundling Jane Fairchild (Odessa Young) finds herself alone on Mother’s Day. Her employers, Mr. and…
PoppyPoppy (2021)
Dir. Linda Niccol
Feat. Libby Hunsdale, Ari Boyland, Seb Hunter
Endearing Kiwi drama about an ambitious teenager who aspires to be a car mechanic despite the hurdles – which include her protective brother…
West Side StoryWest Side Story (2021) Aro Favourite
Dir. Steven Spielberg
Feat. Rachel Zegler, Ansel Elgort, Ariana DeBose
Steven Spielberg's dazzling adaptation of the 1957 musical, an American fairy tale of doomed love and the rivalry between Puerto Rican and white…
Worst Person in the World, TheWorst Person in the World, The (2021) Aro Favourite
Dir. Joachim Trier
Feat. Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Herbert Nordrum
Gloriously provocative and richly perceptive comedy drama from talented Norwegian director Joachim Trier (THELMA), which follows an unpredictable,…
AmmoniteAmmonite (2020)
Dir. Francis Lee
Feat. Kate Winslet, Saoirse Ronan, Gemma Jones
A speculative lesbian period drama from the director of the acclaimed gay male romance, GOD'S OWN COUNTRY. Kate Winslet plays British palaeontologist…
Baby DoneBaby Done (2020) Recommended
Dir. Curtis Vowell
Feat. Rose Matafeo, Matthew Lewis, Emily Barclay
Appealing Kiwi comedy with award–winning stand–up comedian Rose Matafeo playing a reluctant soon–to–be parent in a state of…
Broken Hearts Gallery, TheBroken Hearts Gallery, The (2020)
Dir. Natalie Krinsky
Feat. Geraldine Viswanathan, Dacre Montgomery, Bernadette Peters
Glossy rom–com featuring a winning performance from Geraldine Viswanathan as a 20–something in New York who creates an art gallery to…
Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie's Dead Aunt)Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie's Dead Aunt) (Ellie and Abbie) (2020)
Dir. Monica Zanetti
Feat. Sophie Hawkshaw, Zoe Terakes, Marta Dusseldorp
Australian lesbian rom–com from writer–director Monica Zanetti, based on her own stage play about a teenager who is visited by the ghost…
Freshman YearFreshman Year (S#!%house) (2020) Recommended
Dir. Cooper Raiff
Feat. Cooper Raiff, Amy Landecker, Dylan Gelula
An intimate microbudget indie depicting the experience of an awkward, lonely college freshman who unexpectedly makes a connection with a girl at a…
High Note, TheHigh Note, The (Covers) (2020)
Dir. Nisha Ganatra
Feat. Dakota Johnson, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Bill Pullman
Rom–com set in the music industry, with Dakota Johnson playing an overworked personal assistant who longs for fame and recognition, and Tracee…
Love SarahLove Sarah (2020)
Dir. Eliza Schroeder
Feat. Rupert Penry-Jones, Celia Imrie, Shelley Conn
Charming multi–generational rom–com set in Notting Hill, where a 19 year–old woman enlists the help of her mother's best friend and…
SupernovaSupernova (2020)
Dir. Harry Macqueen
Feat. Colin Firth, Stanley Tucci, Pippa Haywood
A poignant modern love story with Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci playing a couple who have been in love for 20 years. After a wrenching diagnosis…
Wild Mountain ThymeWild Mountain Thyme (2020) Recommended
Dir. John Patrick Shanley
Feat. Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan, Jon Hamm
John Patrick Shanley, who created MOONSTRUCK, brings his sweeping romantic vision to Ireland with Wild Mountain Thyme. The headstrong farmer Rosemary…
A Hidden LifeA Hidden Life (2019)
Dir. Terrence Malick
Feat. August Diehl, Matthias Schoenaerts, Valerie Pachner
Historical drama of distinction from writer director Terrence Malick (THE THIN RED LINE), depicting the life of Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian…
A Rainy Day in New YorkA Rainy Day in New York (2019)
Dir. Woody Allen
Feat. Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Selena Gomez
Whimsical rom–com set in New York and following a young college student (Timothée Chalamet) and his romantic exploits with his film student…
After MidnightAfter Midnight (2019)
Dir. Jeremy Gardner
Feat. Jeremy Gardner, Brea Grant
After his long–term girlfriend unexpectedly leaves him. a small town bar owner finds himself threatened by a mysterious unseen evil. A curious…
Aftermath, TheAftermath, The (2019) Recommended
Dir. James Kent
Feat. Keira Knightley, Jason Clarke, Alexander Skarsgard
Period melodrama of some distinction due to its strong cast, set in postwar Germany in 1945, where a British colonel and his wife move into a…
An Unexpected LoveAn Unexpected Love (El amor menos pensado) (2019)
Dir. Juan Vera
Feat. Ricardo Darín, Mercedes Morán
Argentinian romantic comedy exploring the lives of a couple who, after 25 years of marriage, decide to explore being single, with hilarious and…
BabyteethBabyteeth (2019) Recommended
Dir. Shannon Murphy
Feat. Eliza Scanlen, Toby Wallace, Michelle Lotters
Australian coming–of–age drama marking the feature debut for director Shannon Murphy (KILLING EVE), from a screenplay by Rita Kalnejais,…
Berlin, I Love YouBerlin, I Love You (2019)
Dir. Peter Chelsom, Fernando Eimbcke, Claus Clausen
Feat. Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, Mickey Rourke
Anthology film continuing the "Cities of Love" franchise (PARIS, JE T'AIME, NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU) set in the German capital where ten sugary stories…
Brown BoysBrown Boys (2019)
Dir. Hans Masoe
Feat. Hans Masoe, Lagi Farani
A comedic coming–of–age film about six Samoan men (Peter the Player, Kiligi the Bad Influence, Magele the Tough Guy, Luka the Drunken…
Five Feet ApartFive Feet Apart (2019)
Dir. Justin Baldoni
Feat. Haley Lu Richardson, Cole Sprouse, Moises Arias
Teen romance with two cystic fibrosis patients whose undeniable attraction threatens the rules and boundaries put in place to protect their health,…
Gloria BellGloria Bell (2019) Recommended
Dir. Sebastián Lelio
Feat. Julianne Moore, John Turturro, Caren Pistorius
Another winner from Chilean director Sebastian Lelio, who remakes his superb Spanish–language mid–life romance with absolute assurance…
Hope GapHope Gap (2019)
Dir. William Nicholson
Feat. Annette Bening, Bill Nighy, Josh O’Connor
Adapted from the director's own play The Retreat from Moscow, this British drama stars Annette Bening and Bill Nighy as a couple who are facing a…
In the Name Of The LandIn the Name Of The Land (2019)
Dir. Edouard Bergeon
Feat. Guillaume Canet, Veerle Baetens, Anthony Bajon
Following the life of a stoic farmer across four decades, this bittersweet and deeply moving drama marks the directorial debut of French…
Long ShotLong Shot (2019)
Dir. Jonathan Levine
Feat. Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, Andy Serkis
Charming rom–com with Seth Rogen playing a journalist who becomes speechwriter to presidential candidate Charlize Theron, who was his childhood…
Marriage StoryMarriage Story (2019) Aro Favourite
Dir. Noah Baumbach
Feat. Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, Laura Dern
A brutal, funny and at times almost unbearably insightful depiction of the divorce of an upper class stage director and actress (played brilliantly…
Portrait of a Lady on FirePortrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) Recommended
Dir. Céline Sciamma
Feat. Noémie Merlant, Adele Haenel
Céline Sciamma (GIRLHOOD) directs this devastatingly good, exquisitely executed lesbian period drama. Set in France in the 18th century, where a…
Room 212Room 212 (Chambre 212, On a Magical Night) (2019)
Dir. Christophe Honore
Feat. Chiara Mastroianni, Vincent Lacoste, Camille Cottin
Playful French rom–com from acclaimed writer–director Christophe Honore (MA MERE, DAN PARIS). Set over the course of one night, where…
SummerlandSummerland (2019)
Dir. Jessica Swale
Feat. Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Lucas Bond
A love–story set in the timeless and enchanting world of Summerland; sun–dappled days by the sea over one achingly beautiful summer.…
Top End WeddingTop End Wedding (2019)
Dir. Wayne Blair
Feat. Miranda Tapsell, Gwilym Lee, Kerry Fox
Charming Australian rom–com with impressive actress Miranda Tapsell playing a woman who is in love and and newly engaged, but before her dream…
Weathering with YouWeathering with You (2019)
Dir. Makoto Shinkai
Touching Japanese animated romance doubling as an eco–fable, about a high school boy who befriends a girl who can manipulate the weather. From…
What Men WantWhat Men Want (2019)
Dir. Adam Shankman
Feat. Taraji P. Henson, Aldis Hodge, Richard Roundtree
A mildly raunchy, gender–switched remake of the 2000 romantic comedy, WHAT WOMEN WANT, following a woman who, after drinking a potent…
YesterdayYesterday (2019) Recommended
Dir. Danny Boyle
Feat. Himesh Patel, Lily James, Kate McKinnon
Another smash hit from writer Richard Curtis which, like ABOUT TIME, works a fantasy element into his patented brand of well–scrubbed English…
A Discovery of Witches (TV Series)A Discovery of Witches (TV Series) (2018)
Dir. Juan Carlos Medina
Feat. Teresa Palmer, Matthew Goode, Malin Buska
A romantic thriller series adapted from Deborah Harkness' trilogy of novels that uncovers a secret underworld of vampires, witches and daemons hiding…
A Faithful ManA Faithful Man (L'homme fidèle) (2018)
Dir. Louis Garrel
Feat. Louis Garrel, Laetitia Casta, Lily-Rose Depp
Romantic farce with a whimsical, French new–wave sensibility directed by and starring Louis Garrel. A dashing journalist finds his life…
A Star is BornA Star is Born (2018) Recommended
Feat. Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott
Bradley Cooper debuts impressively as director while sparking the right chemistry in front of the camera with real–life pop…
Book ClubBook Club (2018)
Dir. Bill Holderman
Feat. Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen
Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen play four life–long friends who read Fifty Shades of Grey as part of their…
BorderBorder (Gräns) (2018) Recommended
Dir. Ali Abbasi
Feat. Eva Melander, Eero Milonoff, Jörgen Thorsson
Remarkable Swedish black comedy about a customs officer with an extraordinary sense of smell who sniffs out a suspicious–looking traveller with…
Breaker Upperers, TheBreaker Upperers, The (2018) Aro Favourite
Dir. Madeleine Sami, Jackie Van Beek
Feat. Madeleine Sami, Jackie Van Beek, James Rolleston
Madeleine Sami and Jackie Van Beek write, direct and star in this frisky and flat–out hilarious Kiwi comedy as heart–burned pals who form…
Cold WarCold War (2018) Recommended
Dir. Pawel Pawlikowski
Feat. Joanna Kulig, Tomasz Kot
The director of 'Ida' (2013) follows up with a deeply romantic, immaculately composed tale of a Polish concert pianist and a charismatic singer who…
Crazy Rich AsiansCrazy Rich Asians (2018) Recommended
Dir. Jon Chu
Feat. Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh
Highly effective hi–gloss American rom–com featuring an all Asian cast that follows a young native New Yorker and her longtime boyfriend…
Destination WeddingDestination Wedding (2018)
Dir. Victor Levin
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Dj Dallenbach
Two hopelessly mismatched wedding guests develop a mutual affection while contending with their own spiteful feelings about the wedding, the guests,…
Every DayEvery Day (2018)
Dir. Michael Sucsy
Feat. Angourie Rice, Justice Smith, Debby Ryan
Romantic drama based on the New York Times bestseller by David Levithan. A 16 year old girl called Rhiannon falls in love with a mysterious traveling…
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, TheGuernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The (2018)
Dir. Mike Newell
Feat. Lily James, Michiel Huisman, Glenn Powell
Warm and picturesque romantic comedy from the director of FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL. Set in 1946, the charismatic and free–spirited writer…
In The AislesIn The Aisles (In den Gängen) (2018) Recommended
Dir. Thomas Stuber
Feat. Franz Rogowski, Sandra Huller
A German wholesale supermarket is the setting for this gentle romantic drama following a reclusive blue–collar shelf stacker (Andreas Leupold,…
Love, SimonLove, Simon (2018)
Dir. Greg Berlanti
Feat. Nick Robinson, Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Garner
A high school love story taking the best of the genre cliches (yes, John Hughes) and translating them into a gay context – an unprecedented…
Mamma Mia: Here We Go AgainMamma Mia: Here We Go Again (Mamma Mia 2) (2018)
Dir. Ol Parker
Feat. Amanda Seyfried, Lily James, Christine Baranski
Everything you adored (or despised) about the first movie is here in spades in this sequel to the impossibly rowdy all–singing,…
Mary ShelleyMary Shelley (2018)
Dir. Haifaa Al-Mansour
Feat. Elle Fanning, Maisie Williams, Bel Powley
A startling Elle Fanning enlivens this period melodrama about Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin's romantic relationship with the poet Percy Shelley, which…
PhotographPhotograph (2018)
Dir. Ritesh Batra
Feat. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra
A charming romance from the director of THE LUNCHBOX set in Mumbai, where a struggling street photographer convinces a shy stranger to pose as his…
Sorry AngelSorry Angel (2018)
Dir. Christophe Honore
Feat. Pierre Deladonchamps, Vincent Lacoste, Denis Podalydes
Articulate and powerful love story set in Paris in the 90's, where a worldly writer falls for a younger, carefree university student.
Tell It To The BeesTell It To The Bees (2018)
Dir. Annabel Jankel
Feat. Anna Paquin, Holliday Grainger, Emun Elliott
Romantic drama set in 1950's rural Scotland, where a burgeoning romance between a female doctor and the mother of one of her patients provokes social…
Vita and VirginiaVita and Virginia (2018)
Dir. Chanya Button
Feat. Gemma Arterton, Elizabeth Debicki, Rupert Penry-Jones
British biopic about the unconventional romance between wickedly brilliant writer Virginia Woolf and the beguiling Vita Sackville–West –…
ZoeZoe (2018)
Dir. Drake Doremus
Feat. Ewan McGregor, Léa Seydoux, Theo James
An engineer and a robot fall in love at a research lab for perfecting romantic relationships. An open minded but scientifically undemanding romantic…
AuroreAurore (I Got Life!) (2017)
Dir. Blandine Lenoir
Feat. Agnes Jaoui, Thibault de Montalembert, Pascale Arbillot
Actress and co–writer Jaoui is the heart and soul of this witty if overly–familiar rom–com as the eponymous 50–year–old…
Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast (2017) Recommended
Dir. Bill Condon
Feat. Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans
A live–action re–telling of Disney's own animated classic which refashions the original French fairy tale for a contemporary audience,…
Berlin SyndromeBerlin Syndrome (2017) Recommended
Dir. Cate Shortland
Feat. Teresa Palmer, Riemelt Max
An Australian photographer visiting Berlin to shoot architecture meets a charismatic local English teacher, but their first date turns into a…
Big Sick, TheBig Sick, The (2017) Recommended
Dir. Michael Showalter
Feat. Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter
Pakistan–born comedian Kumail Nanjiani (SILICON VALLEY) and Zoe Kazan find the right chemistry in this winning culture clash rom–com that…
Bitter HarvestBitter Harvest (2017)
Dir. George Mendeluk
Feat. Max Irons, Samantha Barks, Terence Stamp
A modest epic with a romantic centre set against the backdrop of the Holdomor, a death–by–starvation program that ultimately killed…
BreatheBreathe (2017)
Dir. Andy Serkis
Feat. Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Tom Hollander
Actor Andy Serkis marks his directorial debut with this inspirational love story based on the true story of adventurer Robin Cavendish, who became…
Crash PadCrash Pad (2017)
Dir. Kevin Tent
Feat. Domhnall Gleeson, Christina Applegate, Thomas Haden Church
Awkward rom–com where a hopeless slacker (Dominic Gleeson) falls for an older woman who turns out to be using him to get back at her neglectful…
Film Stars Don't Die in LiverpoolFilm Stars Don't Die in Liverpool (2017)
Dir. Paul McGuigan
Feat. Annette Bening, Jamie Bell, Vanessa Redgrave
Romantic drama based on the 1986 memoir of Peter Turner, the lover of actress Gloria Grahame, who was 28 years his senior. Explores the…
Finding Your FeetFinding Your Feet (2017)
Dir. Richard Loncraine
Feat. Imelda Staunton, Timothy Spall, Celia Imrie
A newly divorced woman finds a new lease on life and love when she is dragged along to a community dance class and meets the delightful array of…
FireworksFireworks (Fireworks: Should We See It from the Side or The Bottom?) (2017)
Dir. Nobuyuki Takeuchi
Beautifully romantic Japanese anime set during a school summer vacation, based on Shunji Iwai’s 1993 TV series, “Fireworks”. Refreshingly…
HampsteadHampstead (2017)
Dir. Joel Hopkins
Feat. Diane Keaton, Brendan Gleeson, Lesley Manville
Cosy Brit rom–com in the Richard Curtis tradition, following a mis–matched love affair between Diane Keaton (a wealthy widow) and Brendan…
How to Talk to Girls at PartiesHow to Talk to Girls at Parties (2017)
Dir. John Cameron Mitchell
Feat. Elle Fanning, Alex Sharp, Nicole Kidman
An energetic, endearingly campy film blending aliens with punk culture, from John Cameron Mitchell (HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH). Set in 1970's London…
Jane The Virgin (TV Series)Jane The Virgin (TV Series) (2017)
Feat. Gina Rodriguez
Miami–set comedy about a bright young Latina woman who is accidentally inseminated during a trip to the doctor. A unique series which satirises…
Lovers, TheLovers, The (2017) Recommended
Dir. Azazel Jacobs
Feat. Debra Winger, Tracy Letts, Aidan Gillen
Authentic sombre comedy with Debra Winger and Tracy Letts well matched as a long–married, dispassionate couple whose romantic spark suddenly…
MadameMadame (2017)
Dir. Amanda Sthers
Feat. Toni Collette, Harvey Keitel, Rossy de Palma
Aristocratical farce starring Toni Collette and Harvey Keitel as a wealthy, well–connected American couple who move into a manor in Paris where…
Marjorie PrimeMarjorie Prime (2017) Recommended
Dir. Michael Almereyda
Feat. Jon Hamm, Geena Davis, Lois Smith
An entirely thought–provoking chamber–piece set in the not–too–distant future where an elderly woman with encroaching…
Mr. Stein Goes OnlineMr. Stein Goes Online (Un profil pour deux) (2017)
Dir. Stéphane Robelin
Feat. Pierre Richard
Old–fashioned French farce where a reclusive widower enters the world of online dating, using the profile photo of his young computer tutor to…
PermissionPermission (2017)
Dir. Brian Crano
Feat. Rebecca Hall, Dan Stevens, Morgan Spector
A rom–com that explores thought–provoking themes in a charming package, with Rebecca Hall and Dan Stevens as a committed and loving…
Phantom ThreadPhantom Thread (2017) Aro Favourite
Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
Feat. Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville
Deliciously gothic period drama by acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson. Set in 1950's London, a charismatic and obsessive couturier meets a…
Romantic RoadRomantic Road (2017)
Dir. Oliver McGarvey
Leading London lawyer and his wife re–define later life by motoring across rural India in their battered 1936 Rolls Royce, to get to a human…
Shape of Water, TheShape of Water, The (2017) Recommended
Dir. Guillermo Del Toro
Feat. Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins
At a top secret research facility in the 1950s, a lonely janitor forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature that is being held in…
Space Between Us, TheSpace Between Us, The (2017)
Dir. Peter Chelsom
Feat. Asa Butterfield, Gary Oldman, Carla Gugino
Sci–fi romance where a teenage boy who has grown up on Mars visits earth for the first time. Enlisting the help of a misfit girl from Colorado,…
Their FinestTheir Finest (2017) Recommended
Dir. Lone Scherfig
Feat. Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy
Charming, rousing WWII romance starring Gemma Arterton as a greenhorn screenwriter who joins a makeshift cast and crew to make a film to lift British…
Tulip FeverTulip Fever (2017)
Dir. Justin Chadwick
Feat. Alicia Vikander, Dane DeHaan, Zach Galifianakis
Elegant romantic drama where an artist falls for a young married woman (Alicia Vikander) while he's commissioned to paint her portrait during the…
Wilde Wedding, TheWilde Wedding, The (2017)
Dir. Damian Harris
Feat. Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Patrick Stewart
A retired film star prepares for her fourth wedding to a successful British novelist as tensions fly and hi–jinks ensue among the guests at the…
A Date for Mad MaryA Date for Mad Mary (2016) Recommended
Dir. Darren Thornton
Feat. Seána Kerslake, Tara Lee
Smart, soulful Irish rom–com following "Mad" Mary McArdle (Seana Kerslake) as she struggles to find a date to her best friends wedding after…
A Silent VoiceA Silent Voice (Koe no katachi) (2016)
Dir. Naoko Yamada
Feat. Miyu Irino
Unique Japanese anime following a deaf girl called Shoko, who is bullied at school by a boy who grows up to be tormented by his past behavior, and…
AlliedAllied (2016)
Dir. Robert Zemeckis
Feat. Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard, Lizzy Caplan
Old–fashioned wartime romance between an intelligence officer and a French resistance fighter in 1942, which develops into a satisfying…
Bridget Jones's BabyBridget Jones's Baby (2016) Recommended
Dir. Sharon Maguire
Feat. Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Patrick Dempsey
A belated and rather witty third screen outing for Helen Fielding's comic heroine, with Renee Zellweger returning as the beleaguered Bridget, now 43,…
Cafe SocietyCafe Society (2016) Recommended
Dir. Woody Allen
Feat. Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Jeannie Berlin
Diverting valentine to the 1930s from Woody Allen, in his 49th film, following Bronx–born Jesse Eisenberg through romantic, familial and…
Choice, TheChoice, The (2016)
Dir. Ross Katz
Feat. Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer, Maggie Grace
Romantic drama from the Nicholas Sparks playbook, and novel, about a couple who meet as neighbors in a small coastal town and wind up in a…
ChronesthesiaChronesthesia (2016) Recommended
Dir. Hayden J. Weal
Feat. Hayden J. Weal, Michelle Ny, Cohen Holloway
Indie rom–com with a curious time–shifting twist in which a socially isolated young man's burgeoning romance with a science student is…
Exception, TheException, The (2016)
Dir. David Leveaux
Feat. Lily James, Jai Courtney, Janet McTeer
Romantic war drama fictionalizing the last few days in the life of exiled Kaiser Wilhelm II, played by Christopher Plummer. A German soldier tries to…
Kiki, Love to LoveKiki, Love to Love (2016)
Dir. Paco Leon
Feat. Natalia de Molina, Alex Garcia, Jacobo Sanchez
Vibrant Spanish sex comedy that follows a collection of lovers in Madrid through a series of five intertwined stories, delivering an outrageously…
La La LandLa La Land (2016) Aro Favourite
Dir. Damien Chazelle
Feat. Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, Rosemarie DeWitt
The wunderkind director of WHIPLASH fashions another bold, contemporary love letter to the Jazz age, this time as a widescreen, technicolor romantic…
Lazy EyeLazy Eye (2016)
Dir. Tim Kirkman
Feat. Lucas Near-Verbruggh, Aaron Costa Ganis, Michaela Watkins
A graphic designer in his 40's reconnects with a lost love over a weekend away in the Californian desert in this gay–themed romantic drama.…
Light Between Oceans, TheLight Between Oceans, The (2016)
Dir. Derek Cianfrance
Feat. Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Weisz
An elegant sweeping melodrama set in post–WWI Western Australia about a lighthouse keeper and his wife who raise a baby they rescue from an…
MaudieMaudie (2016)
Dir. Aisling Walsh
Feat. Ethan Hawke, Sally Hawkins, Kari Matchett
An arthritic Nova Scotia woman works as a housekeeper while she hones her skills as an artist and eventually becomes a beloved figure in the…
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016)
Dir. Kirk Jones
Feat. Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine
Frivolous sequel to the surprise hit has romantic leads Vardalos and Corbett negotiating parenthood, teenage rebellion and a family secret comes to…
Paris Can WaitParis Can Wait (Bonjour Anne) (2016)
Dir. Eleanor Coppola
Feat. Diane Lane, Alec Baldwin, Arnaud Viard
Indulgent romantic dramady with Diane Lane as a woman at a crossroads in her life who is wooed throughout the French countryside by a charming Gallic…
PassengersPassengers (2016)
Dir. Morten Tyldum
Feat. Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Laurence Fishburne
Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt play passengers on board a spacecraft destined for a distant planet, who are awakened from their sleeping pods 90…
PatersonPaterson (2016) Recommended
Dir. Jim Jarmusch
Feat. Adam Driver, Golshifteh Farahani
A profound ode to small–town life and the beauty found within everyday simplicity, director Jim Jarmusch here creates a masterful, carefully…
Pride and Prejudice and ZombiesPride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)
Dir. Burr Steers
Feat. Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston
The myriad charms of Jane Austen's classic novel are put to the test when zombies threaten the happiness of all who dwell on the Bennett estate.…
Rosalie BlumRosalie Blum (2016) Recommended
Dir. Julien Rappeneau
Feat. Noemie Lvovsky, Alice Isaaz, Kyan Khojandi
An intriguing and relatable French rom–com that tells the same story of romantic serendipity from three different points of view. Based on a…
Shared RoomsShared Rooms (2016)
Dir. Rob Williams
Feat. Daniel Lipshutz, Alex Neil Miller, Enzo Nova
Queer rom–com telling three interconnected stories of gay men seeking love during the holiday season. A married couple take in a teenage…
United Kingdom, AUnited Kingdom, A (2016) Recommended
Dir. Amma Asante
Feat. Rosamund Pike, David Oyelowo, Jack Davenport
Assured historical drama which deftly covers a decade–long fight for acceptance when the King of Botswana falls in love with a British clerk…
Up For LoveUp For Love (Un homme à la hauteur) (2016)
Dir. Laurent Tirard
Feat. Jean Dujardin, Virginie Efira
Warm hearted French rom–com about a lawyer who unexpectedly falls for a man with short stature (Jean Dujardin, star of THE ARTIST and the OSS…
Your NameYour Name (Kimi no na wa) (2016) Recommended
Dir. Makoto Shinkai
Another exquisite animated drama from Makoto Shinkai, an increasingly beloved and notable voice in the world of Japanese anime. The story is based on…
5 Flights Up5 Flights Up (Five Flights Up) (2015)
Dir. Richard Loncraine
Feat. Diane Keaton, Morgan Freeman, Cynthia Nixon
Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton headline this amiable drama as a long–married couple endure a hectic weekend as they ponder the sale of the…
Age Of AdalineAge Of Adaline (2015)
Dir. Lee Toland Krieger
Feat. Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford
Blake Lively headlines this appealing fantasy about a young woman, born at the turn of the 20th century, rendered ageless after an accident.
AlohaAloha (2015)
Dir. Cameron Crowe
Feat. Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Emma Stone
Hawaiian set romantic comedy with Bradley Cooper as a defense worker who teams up with a pilot to stop a satellite launch.
Already Tomorrow in Hong KongAlready Tomorrow in Hong Kong (2015)
Dir. Emily Ting
Feat. Jamie Chung, Bryan Greenberg
A charming romance unfolds in Hong Kong between a Chinese–American toy designer and an American ex–pat. Based on the director's own…
Far from the Madding CrowdFar from the Madding Crowd (2015) Recommended
Dir. Thomas Vinterberg
Feat. Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen
Stirring adaptation of the Thomas Hardy novel boasts a very fine performance from Carey Mulligan as Bathsheba Everdene a young farmer who attracts…
Hello, My Name is DorisHello, My Name is Doris (2015)
Dir. Michael Showalter
Feat. Sally Field, Max Greenfield, Tyne Daly
Off–beat romantic comedy with a winning performance from Sally Field as a smitten woman concocting schemes to woo her much younger colleague.
I'll See You In My DreamsI'll See You In My Dreams (2015)
Dir. Brett Haley
Feat. Blythe Danner, Sam Elliott, Martin Starr
Blythe Danner is exceptional in this heartfelt drama about a widow and former songstress who discovers that life can begin anew at any age.
In the Shadow of WomenIn the Shadow of Women (L'ombre des femmes) (2015)
Dir. Philippe Garrel
Feat. Clotilde Courau, Stanislas Merhar, Lena Paugam
Romantic drama from Philippe Garrel, a prolific French auteur whose work is rarely available outside of France and often deal with the subject of…
La Belle SaisonLa Belle Saison (Summertime) (2015)
Dir. Catherine Corsini
Feat. Cecile De France, Izia Higelin, Noemie Lvovsky
Two women strike up a passionate affair against a backdrop of the feminist movement in early–1970's France, but struggle to reconcile of…
Man UpMan Up (2015) Aro Favourite
Dir. Ben Palmer
Feat. Lake Bell, Simon Pegg, Olivia Williams
Simon Pegg and Lake Bell have the requisite chemistry and comedy chops in this nimble and self–aware rom–com about a single woman who's…
Roald Dahl's Esio TrotRoald Dahl's Esio Trot (2015) Recommended
Dir. Dearbhla Walsh
Feat. Dustin Hoffman, Judi Dench, James Corden
Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman star in this fine Roald Dahl adaptation about a retired bachelor who has a thing for his tortoise–obsessed…
TannaTanna (2015) Aro Favourite
Dir. Martin Butler, Bentley Dean
Feat. Mungau Dain, Marie Wawa
A fact–based "Romeo and Juliet" tale that took place on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu in 1987, this is a splendidly realized and moving…
TumbledownTumbledown (2015)
Dir. Sean Mewshaw
Feat. Rebecca Hall, Jason Sudeikis, Blythe Danner
Earnest romantic drama with the widow of a acclaimed folk–singer tentatively exploring romance with his biographer.
WaspWasp (2015)
Dir. Philippe Audi-Dor
Feat. Hugo Bolton, Elly Condron, Simon Haycock
Romantic drama about two gay men whose vacation in the South of France is interrupted when one of their female friends show up, leading to sexual…
3 Hearts3 Hearts (2014)
Dir. Benoît Jacquot
Feat. Benoit Poelvoorde, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Chiara Mastroianni
Tense romantic drama centered around a complicated love triangle that develops between a married couple and the wife's sister.
A Chance EncounterA Chance Encounter (Quantum Love) (2014)
Dir. Lisa Azuelos
Feat. Sophie Marceau, Francois Cluzet, Lisa Azuelos
High–concept romantic comedy which blends fantasy with reality as a a married man's encounter with another woman develops into a mutual…
A Little ChaosA Little Chaos (2014)
Dir. Alan Rickman
Feat. Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Stanley Tucci
Alan Rickman directs and stars with Kate Winslet in this lavish study of two landscape artists who become romantically entangled while building a…
And So It GoesAnd So It Goes (2014)
Dir. Rob Reiner
Feat. Michael Douglas, Diane Keaton, Annie Parisse
A curmudgeon and his widowed next door neighbor bond when they come into the care of a 9–year–old girl in this sweet–centred late…
Are We Officially Dating?Are We Officially Dating? (That Awkward Moment) (2014)
Dir. Tom Gormican
Feat. Zac Efron, Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan
Three bros contemplate the status of their respective relationships in this slack–jawed romantic calamity. Eye candy notwithstanding, an…
BarefootBarefoot (2014)
Dir. Andrew Fleming
Feat. Evan Rachel Wood, Scott Speedman, Treat Williams
Evan Rachel Wood plays a severely sheltered psychiatric patient who's invited to a wedding in this light romance. Leans heavily on the pixie dream…
Before We GoBefore We Go (2014)
Dir. Chris Evans
Feat. Chris Evans, Alice Eve, Emma Fitzpatrick
Schmaltzy rom–com with Chris Evans and Alice Eve as two strangers stuck in Manhattan for the night where they grow into each other's trusted…
Best of Me, TheBest of Me, The (2014)
Dir. Michael Hoffman
Feat. Michelle Monaghan, James Marsden, Luke Bracey
Nicholas Sparks adaptation with a pair of former high school sweethearts reuniting after many years when they return to visit their small hometown.
CometComet (2014)
Dir. Sam Esmail
Feat. Justin Long, Emmy Rossum, Kayla Servi
Visually distinctive romantic drama set in a parallel universe that bounces back and forth over the course of an unlikely but perfectly paired…
Cuban FuryCuban Fury (2014)
Dir. James Griffiths
Feat. Rashida Jones, Chris O'Dowd, Nick Frost
Chubby Nick Frost makes a play for his cute American boss (Rashida Jones) who both share a secret passion for salsa in this boisterous dance…
Date and SwitchDate and Switch (2014)
Dir. Chris Nelson
Feat. Nicholas Braun, Hunter Cope, Dakota Johnson
Your standard issue teens–get–laid high school comedy from the exterior, this sweet–centred romp finds two best friends at odds…
Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, TheDisappearance of Eleanor Rigby, The (2014) Recommended
Dir. Ned Benson
Feat. James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis
An ambitious and elegant New York love story from first time director Benson follows a couple as they try to reclaim the life and love they once…
Elsa & FredElsa & Fred (Elsa and Fred) (2014)
Dir. Michael Radford
Feat. Shirley Maclaine, Christopher Plummer, Marcia Gay Harden
Shirley Maclaine and Christopher Plummer take the leads in this remake of the Argentinian romance in which a feisty retiree and her new neighbor, an…
Endless LoveEndless Love (2014)
Dir. Shana Feste
Feat. Alex Pettyfer, Gabriella Wilde, Bruce Greenwood
Petty–ful remake of the Brooke Shields weepie about young love suppressed by disapproving parents.
Fault in Our Stars, TheFault in Our Stars, The (2014) Recommended
Dir. Josh Boone
Feat. Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff
A pair of offbeat teengers – one terminally ill – embrace the journey of life in this sweeping teen romance based on John Green's popular…
Hidden AwayHidden Away (A escondidas) (2014)
Dir. Mikel Rueda
Feat. German Alcarazu, Adil Koukouh, Joseba Ugalde
Spanish romantic drama filmed in neighbourhoods throughout Bilbao, exploring themes of sexual awakening, racism and deportation through the story of…
I Am Happiness on EarthI Am Happiness on Earth (2014)
Dir. Julien Hernandez
Feat. Hugo Catalan, Gabino Rodriguez, Andrea Portal
Gay–themed Mexican film about the infatuation a commitment–phobic film director has for a talented dancer. Director Julian Hernandez…
If I StayIf I Stay (2014)
Dir. R.J. Cutler
Feat. Chloe Grace Moretz, Mireille Enos, Jamie Blackley
Soapy teen drama with Chloe Moretz as a young woman in a coma who must decide whether to wake up, and live a life far different than she had…
Life After BethLife After Beth (2014)
Dir. Jeff Baena
Feat. Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly
Grieving over the death of his girlfriend, a young man gets a second chance when she returns from the dead in this zany and inventive…
Longest Week, TheLongest Week, The (2014)
Dir. Peter Glanz
Feat. Jason Bateman, Olivia Wilde, Billy Crudup
This modest rom–com pleasure with Wes Anderson undertones centres on a rich Manhattanite whose life is upended by several chance encounters…
Magic in the MoonlightMagic in the Moonlight (2014)
Dir. Woody Allen
Feat. Colin Firth, Emma Stone, Marcia Gay Harden
Colin Firth plays a magician recruited to expose a fraudulent spiritualist (Emma Stone) in Woody Allen's latest period charmer.
MaleficentMaleficent (2014)
Dir. Robert Stromberg
Feat. Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley
Angelina Jolie plays Sleeping Beauty's iconic villain in this visually striking update of the Disney animated classic.
One I Love, TheOne I Love, The (2014) Recommended
Dir. Charlie McDowell
Feat. Mark Duplass, Elisabeth Moss, Ted Danson
Beguiling indie comedy about a couple struggling with a marriage on the brink of falling apart; after escaping for a weekend in pursuit of their…
Other Woman, TheOther Woman, The (2014)
Dir. Nick Cassavetes
Feat. Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Cameron Diaz and cohorts bond over their shared betrayal at the hands of a two–timing jerk, plotting to exact their revenge, in this uneasy…
Playing It CoolPlaying It Cool (A Many Splintered Thing) (2014)
Dir. Justin Reardon
Feat. Chris Evans, Michelle Monaghan, Aubrey Plaza
Romantic comedy with a lovestruck author entering into a platonic relationship with a woman who's already engaged to someone else.
SpringSpring (2014) Recommended
Dir. Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead
Feat. Lou Taylor Pucci, Nadia Hilker, Vanessa Bednar
A captivating hybrid of "tourist romance" and "body horror" (yes, Linklater meets Cronenberg) in which a recently orphaned young man flees the US for…
Step Dave (TV Series)Step Dave (TV Series) (2014)
Feat. Sia Trokenheim, Jono Kenyon, Tania Nolan
Bright, punchy Kiwi sitcom about the up–and–down relationship between a 20–something slacker and the woman of his dreams – a…
They Came TogetherThey Came Together (2014) Recommended
Dir. David Wain
Feat. Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Cobie Smulders
Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd (in his fifth consecutive film for writer–director David Wain) send–up every trope and cliche of the Hollywood…
Winter's TaleWinter's Tale (2014)
Dir. Akiva Goldsman
Feat. Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Russell Crowe
This mythic New York romance centres on an Irish burglar (Farrell) who falls for an aristocrat's dying daughter, and seeks a miracle to save her life.
A Case of YouA Case of You (2013)
Dir. Kat Coiro
Feat. Evan Rachel Wood, Justin Long, Peter Dinklage
A stock premise of romantic misfortune – the lovely heart who pretends to be someone else in order to win the girl of his dreams – is…
A PromiseA Promise (2013)
Dir. Patrice Leconte
Feat. Rebecca Hall, Alan Rickman, Richard Madden
Rebecca Hall falls in love with her husband's protégé in this weepy wartime romance, a rare English–language film from veteran French…
About TimeAbout Time (2013) Recommended
Dir. Richard Curtis
Feat. Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy
Writer–director Richard Curtis infuses time travel into his romantic comedy formula in which a lovelorn man's ability to relive the past…
AdmissionAdmission (2013)
Dir. Paul Weitz
Feat. Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Wallace Shawn
A sweet, serio–comic romance with Tiny Fey as a Princeton admission officer whose straight–laced existence is invigorated by a…
Ain't Them Bodies SaintsAin't Them Bodies Saints (2013)
Dir. David Lowery
Feat. Rooney Mara, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster
In this poetic tale of love and desperation, a Texan outlaw on the run attempts to reunite with his wife and daughter.
AustenlandAustenland (2013)
Dir. Jerusha Hess
Feat. Keri Russell, Bret McKenzie, Jennifer Coolidge
Notable for being the debut of Jerusha Hess, sister of NAPOLEAN DYNAMITE auteur Jared and the often–geeky Bret McKenzie as romantic interest.…
Beautiful CreaturesBeautiful Creatures (2013)
Dir. Richard LaGravenese
Feat. Alden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert, Jeremy Irons
A young man is drawn to a mysterious new arrival whose family possess secret supernatural powers in this vivid adaptation of Kami Garcia and Margaret…
Before MidnightBefore Midnight (2013) Recommended
Dir. Richard Linklater
Feat. Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Ariane Labed
In sunny Greece, long–time lovers Jesse and Céline reunite almost two decades after their first meeting in this wistful sequel to BEFORE…
Best Offer, TheBest Offer, The (2013)
Dir. Giuseppe Tornatore
Feat. Geoffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess, Donald Sutherland
An obsessive antiques dealer becomes entangled with an heiress who asks him appraise a series of family art works in this baroque mystery from CINEMA…
Breathe InBreathe In (2013)
Dir. Drake Doremus
Feat. Guy Pearce, Felicity Jones, Amy Ryan
The dir. of LIKE CRAZY explores another English–American relationship in this melancholic romance between a British exchange student and the…
Broken Circle Breakdown, TheBroken Circle Breakdown, The (2013) Recommended
Dir. Felix Van Groeningen
Feat. Veerle Baetens, Johan Heldenbergh, Nell Cattrysse
Dynamic and sexy musical romance set in the Flemish region of Belgium over seven years of poignant love and loss, and featuring a magnificent…
C.O.G.C.O.G. (2013)
Dir. Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Feat. Jonathan Groff, Denis O'Hare, Casey Wilson
Coming–of–age dramedy based on the story of the same name by David Sedaris. A young man (Jonathan Groff) travels to Oregon to work on…
Chinese PuzzleChinese Puzzle (2013)
Dir. Cedric Klapisch
Feat. Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Cecile De France
Cédric Klapisch's cosmopolitan trilogy wraps up with this breezy reunion of the characters first introduced in THE SPANISH APARTMENT, now…
Don JonDon Jon (2013) Recommended
Dir. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Feat. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore
Joseph Gordon–Levitt wrote, directs and stars in this distinctly masculine rom–com as a New Jersey 'player' who must confront his nagging…
Drinking BuddiesDrinking Buddies (2013) Recommended
Dir. Joe Swanberg
Feat. Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick
Dir. Joe Swanberg instills a mumblecore ethos into this lively and naturalistic comedy of two friendly couples fighting an attraction to opposite…
Enough SaidEnough Said (2013) Aro Favourite
Dir. Nicole Holofcener
Feat. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener
Writer/director Nicole Holofcener moves into the first division with her fifth feature film, a savvy divorcee rom–com in perfect accord with…
Face of Love, TheFace of Love, The (2013)
Dir. Arie Posin
Feat. Annette Bening, Ed Harris, Robin Williams
Annette Bening is superb in this otherwise carelessly melodramatic romance centred on a woman who falls in love with a man (Ed Harris) who's the…
Garden of Words, TheGarden of Words, The (2013) Recommended
Dir. Makoto Shinkai
Feat. Miyu Irino, Kana Hanazawa
Another gorgeous animated romance from the director of 5 CENTIMETRES PER SECOND, centred on the poignant relationship between a sensitive teenager…
Half of a Yellow SunHalf of a Yellow Sun (2013)
Dir. Biyi Bandele
Feat. Thandiwe Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Boyega
A moving, if overly melodramatic rendering of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novel about the Nigerian Civil War as experienced by two…
HerHer (2013) Recommended
Dir. Spike Jonze
Feat. Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Rooney Mara
Joaquin Phoenix plays a lonely divorcee who finds himself falling in love with 'Samantha', the artificial intelligence behind a new computer…
Host, TheHost, The (2013)
Dir. Andrew Niccol
Feat. Saoirse Ronan, Diane Kruger, Max Irons
Saoirse Ronan plays a young woman who is taken possession of by a sympathetic alien host in the science–fiction romance from the pen of…
I Give It a YearI Give It a Year (2013)
Dir. Dan Mazer
Feat. Rose Byrne, Rafe Spall, Stephen Merchant
A newly wed couple agree to give their marriage a year to gestate after other prospective romances surface in this light British relationship comedy.
Invisible Woman, TheInvisible Woman, The (2013)
Dir. Ralph Fiennes
Feat. Ralph Fiennes, Felicity Jones, Kristin Scott Thomas
Ralph Fiennes plays Charles Dickens in this rich dramatisation of his relationship with his 'secret lover', Ellen Ternan.
It BoyIt Boy (2013)
Dir. David Moreau
Feat. Virginie Efira, Pierre Niney, Charles Berling
Lighthearted yet witty enough to leave a lasting impression, this hit romantic–comedy plays out the screwball courtship between a…
Just a SighJust a Sigh (2013)
Dir. Jérôme Bonnell
Feat. Emmanuelle Devos, Gabriel Byrne
Emmanuelle Devos and Gabriel Byrne experience a brief encounter as an actress and a professor who trade glances on a Paris–bound train. A…
Labor DayLabor Day (2013)
Dir. Jason Reitman
Feat. Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith
A lonely and depressed single mother harbours an escaped convict in this moving dramatic romance from dir. Jason Reitman (UP IN THE AIR).
Love PunchLove Punch (2013)
Dir. Joel Hopkins
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Emma Thompson, Timothy Spall
A divorced couple scheme to recover the retirement money that was stolen from them.
Lunchbox, TheLunchbox, The (2013) Recommended
Dir. Ritesh Batra
Feat. Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
A sweet and richly aromatic romantic comedy in which a mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient lunch delivery system connects a young…
Mood IndigoMood Indigo (2013) Recommended
Dir. Michel Gondry
Feat. Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh
Audrey Tautou and Romain Duris star in this wild interpretation of Boris Vian’s cult novel 'Froth on the Daydream' from dir. Michel Gondry.
Mr. Morgan's Last LoveMr. Morgan's Last Love (Last Love) (2013)
Dir. Sandra Nettelbeck
Feat. Michael Caine, Clemence Poesy, Gillian Anderson
Grieving for his beloved wife, a professor who planned to spend their twilight years in Paris rekindles a passion for life after a chance meeting…
Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman, TheNecessary Death of Charlie Countryman, The (2013)
Dir. Fredrik Bond
Feat. Shia LaBeouf, Evan Rachel Wood, Mads Mikkelsen
This chaotic, wildly expressive love story follows an American adrift in Bucharest and his affair with a beautiful cellist with ties to the…
Only Lovers Left AliveOnly Lovers Left Alive (2013) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jim Jarmusch
Feat. Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Anton Yelchin
Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston are sublimely cast as sophisticated vampire lovers who reunite after centuries in this stylish and imaginative new…
Perfect Wedding, ThePerfect Wedding, The (2013)
Dir. Scott Gabriel
Feat. James Rebhorn, Eric Aragon, Kristine Sutherland
Nobody's going for the Best Actor Oscar in this Hallmark–but–gay Xmas movie from New York Times Bestselling Author Suzanne Brockmann.…
Pretty One, ThePretty One, The (2013)
Dir. Jenée LaMarque
Feat. Zoe Kazan, Jake Johnson, Ron Livingston
An insecure young woman assumes the identity of her dead twin sister in this whimsical romantic comedy.
Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet (2013)
Dir. Carlo Carlei
Feat. Hailee Steinfeld, Douglas Booth, Damian Lewis
A richly imagined, though largely unreliable version of Shakespeare's most quoted play. Set in the authentic setting of Renaissance Verona, this only…
Safe HavenSafe Haven (2013)
Dir. Lasse Hallstrom
Feat. Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel, David Lyons
The Nicholas Sparks juggernaut rolls on, here delivering the calculated slow–reveal of an airport novel in its story of a mysterious woman who…
Say Yes!Say Yes! (2013)
Dir. Leste Chen
Feat. Godfrey Gao, Hailu Qin, Bo Huang
A Mainland spin on popular Japanese television series “101st Proposal”, about an eternally unsuccessful blind dater who finally meets the girl of…
Some Girl(s)Some Girl(s) (2013)
Feat. Adam Brody, Kristen Bell, Zoe Kazan
Adam Brody (THE OC) stars in this comedy about a man who decides to travel around the USA visiting his ex–girlfriends, who he mistreated,…
Spectacular Now, TheSpectacular Now, The (2013) Recommended
Dir. James Ponsoldt
Feat. Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Brie Larson
This wistful teen romance, scripted and performed with a bracing naturalism, centres on a glibly charming high school senior whose casual dating of a…
Summer in FebruarySummer in February (2013)
Feat. Dominic Cooper, Dan Stevens, Emily Browning
The famous Cornish Artists Colony is the setting for this beautiful looking but ultimately uninspiring Edwardian tragiromance.
Third PersonThird Person (2013)
Dir. Paul Haggis
Feat. Liam Neeson, Maria Bello, Mila Kunis
Paul Haggis attempts to renew the winning formula of his Oscar–winning CRASH with this trio of interlocking love stories set in Rome, Paris,…
Turtle Hill, BrooklynTurtle Hill, Brooklyn (2013)
Dir. Ryan Gielen
Feat. Brian W. Seibert, Ricardo Valdez, Joie Bauer
Micro–budget indie dramedy about a gay couple who invite their friends over for a 30th birthday party, with all kinds of drama ensuing. A well…
Very Good GirlsVery Good Girls (2013)
Dir. Naomi Foner
Feat. Dakota Fanning, Elizabeth Olsen, Ellen Barkin
Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Olsen play best friends determined to lose their virginity over one long hot summer. A pseudo–serious treatment of…
Warm BodiesWarm Bodies (2013)
Dir. Jonathan Levine
Feat. Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry
A young, sensitive zombie falls for a human girl in this savvy romantic comedy which turns the walking dead genre on its head.
What IfWhat If (2013)
Dir. Michael Dowse
Feat. Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Megan Park
A medical–school dropout tries to hide his attraction to his new friend, a bubbly artist who already has a boyfriend.
Words and PicturesWords and Pictures (2013)
Dir. Fred Schepisi
Feat. Clive Owen, Juliette Binoche, Bruce Davison
Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche play passionate arts teachers with opposing worldviews in this romantic comedy of the mind.
2 Days in New York2 Days in New York (2012)
Dir. Julie Delpy
Feat. Julie Delpy, Chris Rock
The sequel to 2 DAYS IN PARIS, written, directed and starring Julie Delpy, who is Marian, a Parisian woman now living in New York and exploring a new…
A Perfect EndingA Perfect Ending (2012)
Dir. Nicole Conn
Feat. Barbara Niven, Jessica Clark, John Heard
Romantic drama about a terminally ill women in a loveless marriage who turns to an escort service seeking seeking sexual fulfillment, and meets a sex…
And While We Were HereAnd While We Were Here (2012)
Dir. Kat Coiro
Feat. Kate Bosworth, Jamie Blackley
Kate Bosworth shines in this hushed, understated romance between a married woman and a younger man on an island off the coast of Naples.
Anna KareninaAnna Karenina (2012)
Dir. Joe Wright
Feat. Keira Knightley, Matthew MacFadyen, Kelly MacDonald
Costume drama artisan Joe Wright boldly directs this Tom Stoppard scripted adaptation of Tolstoy’s classic tale of Russian aristocracy.
Another Woman's LifeAnother Woman's Life (2012)
Dir. Sylvie Testud
Feat. Juliette Binoche, Mathieu Kassovitz, Aure Atika
Juliette Binoche is typically radiant in this otherwise slight variation on the time–leap genre. She plays a well–to–do woman who…
Any Questions for Ben?Any Questions for Ben? (2012)
Dir. Rob Sitch
Feat. Josh Lawson, Rachael Taylor, Daniel Henshall
Witty Gen–X comedy from Aussie writer–director Rob Sitch (THE CASTLE, THE DISH), centred on the perfect, but soulless life of an upwardly…
Birdsong (TV Mini-Series)Birdsong (TV Mini-Series) (2012)
Dir. Philip Martin
Feat. Eddie Redmayne, Clemence Poesy, Matthew Goode
The horrific experiences of an English soldier fighting in northern France are juxtaposed against his fond, but haunted memories of a forbidden love…
Comes a Bright DayComes a Bright Day (2012)
Dir. Simon Aboud
Feat. Craig Roberts, Imogen Poots, Kevin McKidd
The cherubic charm of Craig Roberts (SUBMARINE) and Imogen Poots carry this swish, luxuriously shot heist movie–cum–romantic comedy,…
Damsels in DistressDamsels in Distress (2012)
Dir. Whit Stillman
Feat. Greta Gerwig, Adam Brody
A welcome, long–overdue return to the youthful comedy of manners Whit Stillman made his name with in the 90s. Greta Gerwig plays an earnest…
Five-Year Engagement, TheFive-Year Engagement, The (2012)
Dir. Nicholas Stoller
Feat. Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Chris Pratt
Soul mates Jason Segel and Emily Blunt find each other, only to struggle over the line after becoming fiances in this engaging romantic comedy.
Fly Me to the MoonFly Me to the Moon (Un plan parfait) (2012)
Dir. Pascal Chaumeil
Feat. Diane Kruger, Dany Boon, Alice Pol
The French churn out another dispensable yet dishy rom–com, this time centred on a woman (Diane Kruger, she of the supermodel looks) who…
Happiness Never Comes AloneHappiness Never Comes Alone (2012)
Dir. James Huth
Feat. Gad Elmaleh, Sophie Marceau
French romantic fodder, with Gad Elmaleh as a commitment–phobic playboy who, against his constitution, falls head over heels for a divorced…
Hello I Must Be GoingHello I Must Be Going (2012)
Dir. Todd Louiso
Feat. Melanie Lynskey, Blythe Danner, John Rubinstein
Melanie Lynskey is excellent as a wounded young divorcee forced to move back in with her parents, in this serio–comic character…
ImogeneImogene (Girl Most Likely) (2012)
Dir. Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Feat. Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening, Matt Dillon
Kristen Wiig plays a downtrodden playwright consigned to the care of her eccentric mother after she fakes a suicide attempt in this offbeat comedy…
Jack & DianeJack & Diane (Jack and Diane) (2012)
Dir. Bradley Rust Gray
Feat. Riley Keough, Juno Temple, Kylie Minogue
Juno Temple and Riley Keough star in this romance between two teenage girls that quickly manifests as terrifying, violent and inexplicable.
Kiss of the DamnedKiss of the Damned (2012)
Dir. Xan Cassavetes
Feat. Joséphine de La Baume, Milo Ventimiglia, Roxane Mesquida
A luxurious Gothic romance that puts undead amour ahead of vampiric bloodlust, this sexy, baroque twist on a now ubiquitous genre plays out the…
Last Tango in Halifax (TV Series)Last Tango in Halifax (TV Series) (2012)
Feat. Derek Jacobi, Anne Reid, Sarah Lancashire
Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid play childhood sweethearts reunited via Facebook in their seventies in this thoughtful and engaging depiction of…
Liberal ArtsLiberal Arts (2012)
Dir. Josh Radnor
Feat. Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins
Josh Radnor, star of top–draw sitcom HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER directs his second self–penned romantic comedy, himself playing a…
LOLLOL (2012)
Dir. Lisa Azuelos
Feat. Miley Cyrus, Demi Moore, Jean-Luc Bilodeau
Perfunctory remake of the hit French teen comedy casts Demi Moore and Miley Cyrus as lovelorn mother and daughter in the social media age.
Lola VersusLola Versus (2012)
Dir. Daryl Wein
Feat. Greta Gerwig, Zoe Lister Jones, Hamish Linklater
Indie darling Greta Gerwig sizes up the 20–something dating scene after being unceremoniously dumped in this frivolous, if emotionally…
Love is All You NeedLove is All You Need (2012)
Dir. Susanne Bier
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Trine Dyrholm, Molly Blixt Egelind
Susanne Bier (AFTER THE WEDDING) directs this tender drama of mid–life romance, about an Englishman and a Danish woman who forge an unexpected…
Lucky One, TheLucky One, The (2012)
Dir. Scott Hicks
Feat. Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner
Man–candy Zac Efron stretches the truth as a hardened Iraq war veteran who falls in love with a woman whose photo he credits with keeping him…
Most Fun You Can Have Dying, TheMost Fun You Can Have Dying, The (2012)
Dir. Kirstin Marcon
Feat. Matt Whelan, Roxane Mesquida, Pana Hema Taylor
Sultry youth drama from first–time feature dir. Kirstin Marcon about a terminally ill young man who absconds overseas with the money raised for…
Much Ado About NothingMuch Ado About Nothing (2012) Aro Favourite
Dir. Joss Whedon
Feat. Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion
Thank heaven for Joss Whedon and for a tiny little project he threw together in his spare time whole he was in the editing room for THE AVENGERS.…
Not Suitable for ChildrenNot Suitable for Children (2012)
Dir. Peter Templeman
Feat. Ryan Kwanten, Bojana Novakovic, Sarah Snook
A hedonistic young man (Kwanten) faced with losing his reproductive ability from a life–saving operation sets about finding the mother of his…
Now is GoodNow is Good (2012)
Dir. Ol Parker
Feat. Dakota Fanning, Jeremy Irvine, Paddy Considine
Dakota Fanning plays a terminally ill teen determined to, among other bucket list necessities, lose her virginity before dying. A big, damp weepie…
One for the MoneyOne for the Money (2012)
Dir. Julie Anne Robinson
Feat. Katherine Heigl, Jason O'Mara, Daniel Sunjata
Rom–com floozy Katherine Heigl finds work as a bail–bond agent; must track down fugitive cop who just happens to be an old high school…
Paris-ManhattanParis-Manhattan (2012)
Dir. Sophie Lellouche
Feat. Alice Taglioni, Patrick Bruel
A Woody Allen–obsessed pharmacist employs the philosophies of her nebbish movie hero in life and in love. Typically, inconsequentially French,…
Perks of Being a Wallflower, ThePerks of Being a Wallflower, The (2012) Recommended
Dir. Stephen Chbosky
Feat. Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller
An introverted teen with a troubled past is embraced by an eccentric clique of friends in this deeply–felt coming–of–age drama,…
Playing for KeepsPlaying for Keeps (2012)
Dir. Gabriel Muccino
Feat. Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Dennis Quaid
A womanising hunk (Gerard Butler, obviously) allows himself to be objectified by the soccer moms on a junior team he's coaching in order to win back…
PopulairePopulaire (2012)
Dir. Régis Roinsard
Feat. Romain Duris, Deborah Francois, Bérénice Bejo
Full of colour and quick–witted style, this French period comedy plays up the vintage appeal of the 1950s through rose tinted glasses. Deborah…
Red EagleRed Eagle (2012)
Dir. Jose Ramon Ayerra Diaz
Feat. David Janer
Based on a popular Spanish TV show about a dashing teacher, who by night is a sort of Ninja–Zorro, fighting injustice and saving King and…
Red House, TheRed House, The (2012) Recommended
Dir. Alyx Duncan
A breakthrough for New Zealand's fledgling art cinema, this impressive first feature finds a beguiling middle ground between fiction and documentary…
RenoirRenoir (2012)
Dir. Gilles Bourdos
Feat. Michel Bouquet, Christa Theret, Vincent Rottiers
Sumptuous, sun–kissed art biopic based on the last years of impressionist painter Auguste Renoir (Bouquet) during World War I, and the…
Ruby SparksRuby Sparks (2012) Recommended
Dir. Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
Feat. Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Chris Messina
Real–life couple Dayton and Faris (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) direct real–life acting couple Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan in this zesty satire…
Save the DateSave the Date (2012)
Dir. Michael Mohan
Feat. Lizzy Caplan, Alison Brie, Martin Starr
Lizzy Caplan and Alison Brie play sisters with contrasting attitudes towards romance and commitment in this pleasing portrait of young love. An…
Seeking a Friend For the End of the WorldSeeking a Friend For the End of the World (2012)
Dir. Lorene Scafaria
Feat. Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, Melanie Lynskey
Unlikely partners Steve Carell and Keira Knightley gravitate towards each another as the end of the world approaches in this most unusual…
Silent YouthSilent Youth (2012)
Dir. Diemo Kemmesies
Feat. Martin Bruchmann, Josef Mattes, Linda Schule
Low key German indie drama offering a story of gay first love, replete with palpable sexual tension and interesting, honest performances. Like so…
Silver Linings PlaybookSilver Linings Playbook (2012) Aro Favourite
Dir. David O. Russell
Feat. Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro
An institutionalized man attempts to readjust to life and love in this full–bodied comedy–drama that pairs two of the hottest stars of…
Teddy BearTeddy Bear (10 Timer til Paradis) (2012) Recommended
Dir. Mads Matthiesen
Feat. Kim Kold
Real life body–builder Kim Kold stars as a shy and awkward 38 year–old Danish bodybuilder who still lives with his mum, but decides to…
This Means WarThis Means War (2012)
Dir. McG
Feat. Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy
Bombastic action romance pits two CIA two operatives (lugheads Chris Pine and Tom Hardy) against each other in a war to win the hand of Reese…
Tiger EyesTiger Eyes (2012)
Dir. Lawrence Blume
Feat. Willa Holland, Cynthia Stevenson, Tatanka Means
This sensitively observed teen drama – the first ever screen adaptation of a Judy Blume novel – centres on a 17–year–old girl…
To Rome with LoveTo Rome with Love (2012)
Dir. Woody Allen
Feat. Woody Allen, Jesse Eisenberg, Greta Gerwig
Woody Allen's love affair with Europe continues with this Italian picaresque set to tune of the romances, adventures and predicaments of various Rome…
To the WonderTo the Wonder (2012)
Dir. Terrence Malick
Feat. Ben Affleck, Olga Kurylenko, Rachel McAdams
Terrence Malick's latest rapturous odyssey is centred on the strained love between an American and a Ukrainian struggling to build a life together in…
Tortoise in LoveTortoise in Love (2012)
Dir. Guy Browning
Feat. Tom Mitchelson, Alice Zawadzki, Tom Yates
Cheap and cheerful rom–com concerning a socially awkward gardener who attempts to overcome his chronic shyness after falling in love with a…
Twice BornTwice Born (2012)
Dir. Sergio Castellitto
Feat. Penelope Cruz, Emile Hirsch
The memory of a passionate love affair with an American photographer and its harrowing aftermath is rekindled when a woman returns to Sarajevo with…
Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2012)
Dir. Bill Condon
Feat. Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Finally, the colossal vampire franchise meets its maker with this concluding chapter, with Bella and Edward fighting to protect their daughter from…
Upside DownUpside Down (2012)
Dir. Juan Solanas
Feat. Kirsten Dunst, Jim Sturgess, Timothy Spall
Two star–crossed lovers separated by opposite worlds attempt to overcome interplanetary boundaries in this head–turning sci–fi…
Vow, TheVow, The (2012)
Dir. Michael Sucsy
Feat. Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum, Jessica Lange
More fodder for helpless romantics, with beefcake romeo Channing Tatum losing his new bride (Rachel McAdams, naturally) to amnesia via a car…
What To Expect When You're ExpectingWhat To Expect When You're Expecting (2012)
Dir. Kirk Jones
Feat. Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks
Strictly one for those either expecting or rearing, this predictable rom–com via the rocky road of motherhood angles its jokes squarely at…
10 Years10 Years (2011)
Dir. Jamie Linden
Feat. Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Rosario Dawson
A group of friends take the opportunity to reassess their lives on the occasion of their ten–year high school reunion in this…
A Little Bit of HeavenA Little Bit of Heaven (2011)
Dir. Nicole Kassell
Feat. Kate Hudson, Gael Garcia Bernal, Rosemarie DeWitt
Colon cancer–sufferer Kate Hudson falls in love with her doctor (Mexican heartthrob Gael Garcia Bernal) in this hopelessly awkward romantic…
Adjustment Bureau, TheAdjustment Bureau, The (2011)
Dir. George Nolfi
Feat. Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, John Slattery
Matt Damon finds that his attraction to a woman (Blunt) may have altered his fate, as set out by a mysterious government agency, in this intriguing,…
Another EarthAnother Earth (2011) Aro Favourite
Dir. Mike Cahill
Feat. Brit Marling, William Mapother
The appearance of a parallel Earth hidden behind the Sun poses deep personal and philosophical questions for a troubled student in this superlative…
Art of Getting By, TheArt of Getting By, The (2011) Aro Favourite
Dir. Gavin Wiesen
Feat. Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano
A sensitive and even–handed coming–of–age tale about a teenage fatalist and his blooming friendship with the popular…
Art of Love, TheArt of Love, The (2011)
Dir. Emmanuel Mouret
Feat. Emmanuel Mouret, Pascale Arbillot, Ariane Ascaride
The French try their hand at the ensemble romantic comedy with this episodic insight into the dramas, dilemmas, and delights of love between a cast…
BeginnersBeginners (2011)
Dir. Mike Mills
Feat. Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Mélanie Laurent
Semi–autobiographical tale from the dir. of THUMBSUCKER reconciles two relationships in the life of a 38–year–old graphic artist…
Café de FloreCafé de Flore (2011)
Dir. Jean-Marc Vallée
Feat. Vanessa Paradis, Kevin Parent
Two parallel stories of love and hope transcend their time difference in this fantastical juggling act from French–Canadian filmmaker…
Celeste and Jesse ForeverCeleste and Jesse Forever (2011)
Dir. Lee Toland Krieger
Feat. Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Ari Graynor
Two best friends struggle to reconcile lingering feelings despite being divorced from one another in this smart, unexpected romantic comedy.
Coming & GoingComing & Going (2011)
Dir. Edoardo Ponti
Feat. Rhys Darby, Sasha Alexander, Fionnula Flanagan
Rhys Darby plays a luckless gynecologist who ends up temporarily in a wheelchair, only to attract the sympathy of a red hot lawyer looking to change…
Crazy, Stupid, LoveCrazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
Dir. Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Feat. Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling
Steve Carell plays a hapless recent divorcee co–piloted by a handsome wingman (Ryan Gosling) back into the dating game in this fresh scented…
Deep Blue Sea, TheDeep Blue Sea, The (2011) Recommended
Dir. Terence Davies
Feat. Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston, Simon Russell-Beale
Post–war romantic drama in which Rachel Weisz plays the wife of a British Judge caught in a self–destructive love affair with a Royal Air…
DelicacyDelicacy (2011)
Dir. David Foenkinos, Stéphane Foenkinos
Feat. Audrey Tautou, François Damiens
Audrey Tautou breezes through yet another whimsical French souffle, here playing a widowed gamine beauty who rediscovers love in the form of a…
Falling OvernightFalling Overnight (2011)
Dir. Conrad Jackson
Feat. Parker Croft, Emilia Zoryan
A shy young man spends his last night before brain surgery with a spontaneous, free–spirited artist in this modest miniature romance, a fine…
Friends with BenefitsFriends with Benefits (2011)
Dir. Will Gluck
Feat. Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Patricia Clarkson
Smug but sporadically amusing comedy with Timberlake and Kunis being the beneficial buddies whose agreement of course has complications. Inspired…
Friends with KidsFriends with Kids (2011)
Dir. Jennifer Westfeldt
Feat. Adam Scott, Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm
Jennifer Westfeldt directs and stars as a Manhattanite who convinces her platonic best friend to father the child she's always wanted. An upscale…
Goodbye, First LoveGoodbye, First Love (2011)
Dir. Mia Hansen-Love
Feat. Lola Créton, Sebastian Urzendowsky
The director of FATHER OF MY CHILDREN turns her nuanced lens on the passionate but slow–maturing romance between a couple who break up in their…
HarvestHarvest (Stadt Land Fluss) (2011)
Dir. Benjamin Cantu
Feat. Lukas Steltner, Kai Michael Müller
Muted romance set against a documentary esque background, that tracks the tentative relationship between two young apprentices training on a farm…
HereHere (2011)
Dir. Braden King
Feat. Ben Foster, Lubna Azabal, Peter Coyote
A cartographer strikes up a bond with a beautiful Armenian woman while surveying the country in this striking wanderlust romance.
HysteriaHysteria (2011)
Dir. Tanya Wexler
Feat. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Pryce
A buoyant, light–to–touch period romance about the 19th Century invention of the vibrator, devised as cure for the female ailment know as…
Kiss MeKiss Me (Kyss mig, aka With Every Heartbeat) (2011) Recommended
Dir. Alexandra-Therese Keining
Feat. Ruth Vega Fernandez, Liv Mjönes, Krister Henriksson
Heartfelt romantic drama about a woman who is engaged to be married when she finds herself falling for her soon–to–be stepmother's…
Larry CrowneLarry Crowne (2011)
Dir. Tom Hanks
Feat. Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Bryan Cranston
Feel–good flop, with Tom Hanks as an affable Navy vet who loses his job but bounces back, predictably, by enrolling in community college and…
Late BloomersLate Bloomers (2011)
Dir. Julie Gavras
Feat. William Hurt, Isabella Rossellini, Joanna Lumley
A breezy depiction of the late–life crisis, with old married couple William Hurt and Isabella Rossellini scrambling in opposite directions when…
Like CrazyLike Crazy (2011) Recommended
Dir. Drake Doremus
Feat. Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence
Not to be mistaken for another Nicholas Sparks spin–off, this poignant, intelligently crafted indie romance intimately examines the young love…
Love BirdsLove Birds (2011) Recommended
Dir. Paul Murphy
Feat. Rhys Darby, Sally Hawkins, Emily Barclay
Chirpy, engaging Kiwi comedy with Rhys Darby as a recently jilted council worker whose nursing of a wounded duck leads to unexpected romance with…
Love Never DiesLove Never Dies (2011)
Dir. Brett Sullivan
Feat. Ben Lewis, Anna O'Byrne
Spectacular sequel to Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA sees The Phantom relocated to an amusement resort in Coney Island, where he lures…
MedianerasMedianeras (Sidewalls) (2011)
Dir. Gustavo Taretto
Feat. Javier Drolas, Pilar López de Ayala
Two mournful souls destined for each other conspire to never cross paths despite living directly across from one another in this inventive modern…
My Piece of the PieMy Piece of the Pie (2011)
Dir. Cedric Klapisch
Feat. Karin Viard, Gilles Lellouche
A Capra–esque satire shot in the mode of a French romantic comedy, replete with clunky political statements and glossy Euro visuals. Karin…
My Wedding and Other SecretsMy Wedding and Other Secrets (2011) Recommended
Dir. Roseanne Liang
Feat. Michelle Ang, Matt Whelan, Kenneth Tsang
Dir. Roseanne Liang adapts her winning documentary (BANANA IN A NUTSHELL) on the struggle to get her traditional Chinese parents to accept her Kiwi…
New Year's EveNew Year's Eve (2011)
Dir. Garry Marshall
Feat. Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Robert De Niro
Made–to–order rom–com ensemble continues the work of star–laden date movie VALENTINE'S DAY, with New Year's celebrations in…
No Strings AttachedNo Strings Attached (2011)
Dir. Ivan Reitman
Feat. Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher, Kevin Kline
Bed buddies Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher do their best not to fall for each other in this frisky romantic comedy. Riffing on a similar premise…
Nothing Trivial (TV Series)Nothing Trivial (TV Series) (2011)
Feat. Shane Cortese, Tandi Wright, Blair Strang
An agreeable and endearingly performed 'singles' comedy by way of modern day Auckland, centred on the romantic hang ups of five friends who compete…
Off Hours, TheOff Hours, The (2011)
Dir. Megan Griffiths
Feat. Amy Seimetz, Ross Partridge, Scoot McNairy
Downbeat, deliberately–paced indie about a directionless waitress working the night shift at a roadside diner in a small, industrial town who…
One DayOne Day (2011)
Dir. Lone Scherfig
Feat. Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess, Patricia Clarkson
Tear–duct bursting romance based on the best–selling novel follows a couple's relationship as it flits between friendship and romance.
Pan Am (TV Series)Pan Am (TV Series) (2011-2012)
Feat. Margot Robbie, Christina Ricci, Karine Vanasse
Named for the iconic Pan American World Airways, this fictionalised period drama series revolves around the stories of the pilots and stewardesses of…
Red Riding HoodRed Riding Hood (2011)
Dir. Catherine Hardwicke
Feat. Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Billy Burke
Amanda Seyfried plays the eponymous fairytale heroine lusted after by a sinister werewolf in this deliriously overheated horror–fantasy pitched…
RemembranceRemembrance (Die Verlorene Zeit) (2011)
Dir. Anna Justice
A powerful, decades long Holocaust tale of two lovers who endure the horrors of concentration camps, only to be separated by the chaos of the war.
RestlessRestless (2011)
Dir. Gus Van Sant
Feat. Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper, Ryo Kase
Languid tween romance from dir. Gus Van Sant, about a terminally ill girl (Wasikowska) who falls in love with an eccentric boy with a compulsion for…
Salmon Fishing in the YemenSalmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011) Recommended
Dir. Lasse Hallstrom
Feat. Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas
Lasse Hallstrom directs this light–headed romantic comedy about a British businesswoman and a doctor recruited to project manage a Sheikh's…
Take This WaltzTake This Waltz (2011)
Dir. Sarah Polley
Feat. Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Luke Kirby
Sarah Polley (AWAY FROM HER) directs Michelle Williams in this soft–spoken indie about a happily married woman who falls for her next door…
Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011)
Dir. Bill Condon
Feat. Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Penultimate installment of the Gothic fantasy phenomenon teases out the conclusion to the romantic saga in lucrative and popular fashion with Bella…
Water for ElephantsWater for Elephants (2011)
Dir. Francis Lawrence
Feat. Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz
Polished romantic drama set in The Great Depression with Pattinson finding love and tragedy after joining the circus. Handsomely mounted weepie…
WeekendWeekend (2011) Aro Favourite
Dir. Andrew Haigh
Feat. Tom Cullen, Chris New, Kieran Hardcastle
A thematically rich, dramatically articulate gay romance between a semi–closeted man and a free–spirited cynic who casually hook up over…
What's Your Number?What's Your Number? (2011)
Dir. Mark Mylod
Feat. Anna Faris, Chris Evans, Ari Graynor
Lightly likable rom–com content to coast on the charms of its eclectic cast. Faris plays a woman looking back on her past loves and wondering…
Your Sister's SisterYour Sister's Sister (2011) Aro Favourite
Dir. Lynn Shelton
Feat. Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mark Duplass
A note–perfect indie drama from the dir. of HUMPDAY, this 'chick flick' may well appeal as much to male audiences with its engaging cast and…
33 (Three) (2010)
Dir. Tom Tykwer
Feat. Sophie Rois, Sebastian Schipper, Devid Striesow
Dir. Tom Tykwer energises this simple love story of a forty–something couple who fall for the same man with the frenetic visual and narrative…
After the Break UpAfter the Break Up (Break Ke Baad) (2010)
Dir. Danish Aslam
Feat. Imran Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sharmila Tagore
Two of India's most popular young stars feature in this coming–of–age story about an independent–minded woman who takes a small…
Age of Reason, TheAge of Reason, The (With Love... from the Age of Reason) (2010)
Dir. Yann Samuell
Feat. Sophie Marceau, Marton Csokas, Michel Duchaussoy
A frazzled career woman at breaking point reconnects with her childhood in this soul–searching romantic comedy. More melodramatic, and less…
Angele and TonyAngele and Tony (2010) Recommended
Dir. Alix Delaporte
Feat. Clotilde Hesme, Gregory Gadebois, Evelyne Didi
This quality, character–driven courtship between a prostitute with a past and a plainspoken fisherman successfully plays down obvious emotion…
Beautiful LiesBeautiful Lies (2010)
Dir. Pierre Salvadori
Feat. Audrey Tautou, Nathalie Baye, Sami Bouajila
Sweet and scenic Audrey Tautou confection, about a mother and daughter competing for the same secret admirer.
Bounty Hunter, TheBounty Hunter, The (2010)
Dir. Andy Tennant
Feat. Jennifer Anniston, Gerard Butler, Jason Sudeikis
Screwball romantic comedy sees Gerard Butler play a bounty hunter tasked with tracking down his crim ex–wife (Jennifer Aniston).
Charlie St. CloudCharlie St. Cloud (2010)
Dir. Burr Steers
Feat. Zac Efron, Amanda Crew, Charlie Tahan
Mawkish Zac Efron vehicle finds the former teen heartthrob overreaching for emotion and pathos in this story of a young man’s devastation after his…
CoachCoach (2010)
Dir. Will Frears
Feat. Hugh Dancy, Liane Balaban, Gillian Jacobs
Affable romantic comedy with a heartbroken slacker seeking to motivate himself by coaching a kids soccer team. Undemanding entertainment coasts on…
CyrusCyrus (2010) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass
Feat. John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei
This placid yet sophisticated comedy of male rivalry sees a middle–aged divorcee (Reilly) stumble upon the woman of his dreams (Tomei), only to…
Date NightDate Night (2010)
Dir. Shawn Levy
Feat. Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg
Steve Carell and Tina Fey play a bored married couple who are mistaken for a pair of international thieves in this crime–caper cum…
Dear JohnDear John (2010)
Dir. Lasse Hallstrom
Feat. Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried, Richard Jenkins
Another two–hankie tearjerker from the pages of Nicholas Sparks tells of the everlasting romance between an Iraq–bound solider (Tatum)…
Eat Pray LoveEat Pray Love (2010)
Dir. Ryan Murphy
Feat. Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem, Billy Crudup
Julia Roberts plays the divorced globetrotter of Elizabeth Gilbert's best–selling memoir in this gastro tiki tour of Italy, India, and Bali.…
Elena UndoneElena Undone (2010)
Dir. Nicole Conn
Feat. Necar Zadegan, Traci Dinwiddie, Gary Weeks
Lesbian drama about a pastor's wife who falls in love with a well–known writer. The ensuing secret relationship upends her marriage just as she…
Every DayEvery Day (2010)
Dir. Richard Levine
Feat. Liev Schreiber, Helen Hunt, Carla Gugino
Domestic comedy about a television writer whose life goes haywire when his wife's estranged father comes to stay.
FlippedFlipped (2010) Recommended
Dir. Rob Reiner
Feat. Callan McAuliffe, Madeline Carroll, Aidan Quinn
A welcome return to 50's childhood for the director of STAND BY ME, this equally charming tale charts the believably awkward courtship between two…
Going the DistanceGoing the Distance (2010)
Dir. Nanette Burstein
Feat. Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Christina Applegate
Drew Barrymore and Justin Long work through the plus and minuses of a long distance relationship in this bright romantic comedy. While the premise…
Griff the InvisibleGriff the Invisible (2010)
Dir. Leon Ford
Feat. Ryan Kwanten, Maeve Dermody, Marshall Napier
A sensitive approach to human drama elevates this delicately poised romance masquerading as a superhero movie. Ignore the cliched plot of a humble…
HeartbreakerHeartbreaker (L'arnacoeur) (2010) Recommended
Dir. Pascal Chaumeil
Feat. Romain Duris, Vanessa Paradis
Romain Duris exploits his handsome charms as a professional heartbreaker hired to ruin relationships – that is, until he strikes upon a woman…
Henry's CrimeHenry's Crime (2010)
Dir. Malcolm Venville
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Vera Farmiga, James Caan
Newly released from prison for a crime he didn't commit, an ex–con decides to target the same bank he was sent away for robbing.
Home By ChristmasHome By Christmas (2010) Recommended
Dir. Gaylene Preston
Feat. Tony Barry, Martin Henderson, Chelsie Preston-Crayford
The director of WAR STORIES returns to the subject for this deeply personal yet affecting docu–drama focusing this time on a single story…
How Do You KnowHow Do You Know (2010)
Dir. James L. Brooks
Feat. Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson
A softball star (Witherspoon) past her prime contemplates the future while flittering romantically between a major league baseballer (Wilson) and a…
Jack Goes Boating Jack Goes Boating (2010)
Dir. Philip Seymour Hoffman
Feat. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Ryan, John Ortiz
Philip Seymour Hoffman makes his directorial debut with this simple, affecting drama of a lonely limo driver’s quest for love and…
Kiss Me AgainKiss Me Again (Baciami ancora) (2010)
Dir. Gabriel Muccino
Feat. Stefano Accorsi, Vittoria Puccini, Pierfrancesco Favino
The lives of young Italians struggling with issues of marriage, parenthood, and relationships are revisited in this pleasant sequel to THE LAST KISS.…
KitesKites (2010)
Dir. Anurag Basu
Feat. Hrithik Roshan, Bárbara Mori
Overheated even by Bollywood standards, this outlandish Las Vegas–set border romp pits a lovelorn hunk (Roshan) against police, bounty hunters,…
Last NightLast Night (2010)
Dir. Massy Tadjedin
Feat. Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington, Eva Mendes
Glossy examination of fidelity with a married couple apart for the night finding themselves straying into temptation. Hamstrung by overt metaphor…
Last Song, TheLast Song, The (2010)
Dir. Julie Anne Robinson
Feat. Miley Cyrus, Greg Kinnear, Bobby Coleman
Sappy dramatic vehicle for Miley Cyrus sees the teenybopper upended from the big city and forced to stay with her estranged father in a small beach…
Leap YearLeap Year (2010)
Dir. Anand Tucker
Feat. Amy Adams, Matthew Goode, John Lithgow
The effervescent Amy Adams rescues this otherwise tired romantic comedy, moving the earth to propose to her boyfriend in Dublin on February 29th –…
Letters to JulietLetters to Juliet (2010)
Dir. Gary Winick
Feat. Amanda Seyfried, Vanessa Redgrave, Gael Garcia Bernal
Picturesque romance set in Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, where a young American tourist discovers a love letter that will change her life.
Loose CannonsLoose Cannons (2010)
Dir. Ferzan Ozpetek
Feat. Riccardo Scamarcio
An cheerfully overstuffed family comedy of a gay young man who attempts to come out to his ultra traditionalist parents in the south of Italy.
Love and Other DrugsLove and Other Drugs (2010)
Dir. Edward Zwick
Feat. Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Judy Greer
Winning romance with a charismatic pharmaceutical salesman falling for a free–spirited woman with a tragic secret.
Love StoryLove Story (2010) Recommended
Dir. Florian Habicht
Feat. Florian Habicht
Ebullient Kiwi filmmaker Florian Habicht creates his own 'New York Story' by turning his camera to a beautiful Russian model and his own creative…
LullabyLullaby (Lullaby for Pi) (2010)
Dir. Benoît Philippon
Feat. Rupert Friend, Clemence Poesy, Forest Whitaker
A jazz–playing, Some Like it Hot–idolizing drifter mourning the death of his soul mate strikes love with an idiosyncratic woman with a…
Marriage and Other DisastersMarriage and Other Disasters (Weddings and Other Disasters) (2010)
Dir. Nina Di Majo
Feat. Fabio Volo, Margherita Buy, Luciana Littizzetto
Likeable rom–com with romantically disillusioned woman finds herself organising her sister's wedding. Cue romantic mismatching and shenanigans.
My Name is KhanMy Name is Khan (2010)
Dir. Karan Johar
Feat. Shahrukh Khan, Kajol , Christopher B. Duncan
Well–meaning plea for racial tolerance with an Aspergers–afflicted Muslim detained in the U.S. as a terrorist and undertaking a journey…
Norwegian WoodNorwegian Wood (2010)
Dir. Tran Anh Hung
Feat. Rinko Kikuchi, Ken'ichi Matsuyama, Kiko Mizuhara
Yearning, visually rapturous adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s widely read novel, about a devoted college student in the 60s whose relationships are…
Perfect Date, ThePerfect Date, The (L'amour, c'est mieux à deux) (2010)
Dir. Dominique Farrugia, Arnaud Lemort
Feat. Clovis Cornillac, Virginie Efira, Manu Payet
A derivative French rom–com nonetheless delivered in good spirits, this focuses on the ingrained patterns of two male friends whose wildly…
RaavanRaavan (2010)
Dir. Mani Ratnam
Feat. Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan
Bullish, jungle–set spectacular, based on the Indian legend of 'The Ramayan', is both a vanity project for glamour couple Abhishek Bachchan and…
Remember MeRemember Me (2010)
Dir. Allen Coulter
Feat. Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Chris Cooper
Two tissue weepy with Robert Pattinson giving great brood as a troubled youth who tentatively finds love with a girl with a tragic past. Standard…
Romantics AnonymousRomantics Anonymous (2010) Recommended
Dir. Jean-Pierre Améris
Feat. Benoit Poelvoorde, Isabelle Carré
Two would–be lovers must overcome their timidness via a mutual passion for chocolate in this sweet–toothed romantic comedy.
Romantics, TheRomantics, The (2010)
Dir. Galt Niederhoffer
Feat. Anna Paquin, Katie Holmes, Josh Duhamel
Low–key ensemble drama has seven close friends re–unite for a wedding, but long simmering romantic tensions threaten to tear their…
Room in RomeRoom in Rome (Habitación en Roma) (2010)
Dir. Julio Medem
Feat. Elena Anaya, Natasha Yarovenko, Enrico Lo Verso
Erotic chronicle of a brief encounter between two women set almost entirely within the confines of a hotel room. More porno–profundity from…
SashaSasha (2010)
Dir. Dennis Todorovic
Feat. Sasa Kekez, Predrag Bjelac, Ljubisa Gruicic
Compassionate gay drama about a Yugoslav–German piano prodigy who is trying to gain admittance to a prestigious music school but who becomes…
Simple SimonSimple Simon (2010) Recommended
Dir. Andreas Öhman
Feat. Bill Skarsgård, Martin Wallström
Sensitive feel–good romantic–comedy of an Asperger's sufferer whose brother sets out to find him a new girlfriend. Eccentric Swedish…
Step Up 3Step Up 3 (Step Up 3-D) (2010)
Dir. Jon Chu
Feat. Rick Malambri, Adam G. Sevani, Sharni Vinson
Hormonal third entry in the back–popping dance series has a tight–knit group of street dancers pitted against the world's best…
Summer CodaSummer Coda (2010)
Dir. Richard Gray
Feat. Rachael Taylor, Alex Dimitriades, Jackie Weaver
Rewarding Aussie romance, set along the banks of the Murray River, centres on an itinerant young woman (Taylor) who seeks solace with an orchardist…
Twilight: EclipseTwilight: Eclipse (2010)
Dir. David Slade
Feat. Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner
Torrid third installment in the saga has Bella forced to choose between Edward and Jacob as a series of mysterious killings grip Seattle.
Valentine's DayValentine's Day (2010)
Dir. Garry Marshall
Feat. Jessica Alba, Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Garner
Star–studded romantic comedy is an ode to that special day with multiple story lines devoted to the search for love. Although cynics might…
When in RomeWhen in Rome (2010)
Dir. Mark Steven Johnson
Feat. Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Anjelica Huston
Puffy romantic fantasy has Kristen Bell fending off unwanted suitors after she steals some coins from Rome's 'Fountain of Love'.
500 Days Of Summer500 Days Of Summer (2009)
Dir. Marc Webb
Feat. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend
This twee romantic comedy couples indie kids Joseph Gordon–Levitt and Zooey Deschanel in a failed 500–day romance, chronicled through a…
All About SteveAll About Steve (2009)
Dir. Phil Traill
Feat. Sandra Bullock, Thomas Haden Church, Bradley Cooper
Misguided neurotic rom–com stars Sandra Bullock (who's had better days) as a loony crossword puzzler who gains an unhealthy obsession with…
AmeliaAmelia (2009)
Dir. Mira Nair
Feat. Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor
A conventional retelling of the Amelia Earhart legend, examining the ground–breaking aviator’s turbulent love life during the years between…
An EducationAn Education (2009) Aro Favourite
Dir. Lone Scherfig
Feat. Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina
An assured and alluring coming–of–age drama set in swinging sixties London (1961 in fact), with teenage ingenue Carey Mulligan falling in…
Breaking UpwardsBreaking Upwards (2009)
Dir. Daryl Wein
Feat. Daryl Wein, Zoe Lister Jones, Julie White
Skittish romantic comedy in which a couple attempt to end their moribund relationship gradually, beginning with three days off each week. Drawing…
Bride WarsBride Wars (2009)
Dir. Gary Winick
Feat. Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Bryan Greenberg
Light comedy focused on two best friends (Hudson and Hathaway) who become rivals after scheduling their weddings on the same day. Hudson and…
Bright StarBright Star (2009) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jane Campion
Feat. Ben Whishaw, Abbie Cornish, Paul Schneider
A resounding return–to–form for dir. Jane Campion, who is in full flourish with this delicate and deeply romantic tale of the doomed love…
Cairo TimeCairo Time (2009) Recommended
Dir. Ruba Nadda
Feat. Patricia Clarkson, Alexander Siddig
A sturdy, old–fashioned picaresque romance set in the heat of modern day Cairo, with Patricia Clarkson as an American wife who falls under the…
CheriCheri (2009)
Dir. Stephen Frears
Feat. Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Friend, Kathy Bates
Gorgeously–appointed period drama set in the "Belle Époque" of 1900s Paris, focused on a love affair between a retired courtesan (Pfeiffer)…
Coco Chanel & Igor StravinskyCoco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky (Coco & Igor) (2009)
Dir. Jan Kounen
Feat. Anna Mouglalis, Mads Mikkelsen
Fashion icon Coco Chanel and composer Igor Stravinsky share a passionate, illicit love affair in this lavish period romance, which more or less takes…
Confessions of a ShopaholicConfessions of a Shopaholic (2009)
Dir. P.J. Hogan
Feat. Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter
Charmingly indulgent chick flick centered on a 'shopaholic' journalist who is forced to support her addiction by writing for a financial advice…
Cougar Town (TV Series)Cougar Town (TV Series) (2009)
Feat. Courteney Cox, Busy Phillips, Christa Miller
Tragicomic adventures of a forty–something woman who decides to throw herself back into the dating pool.
Dating Guy, The (TV Series)Dating Guy, The (TV Series) (2009)
Chucklesome observational comedy with four friends on a largely hopeless quest for love. Merciless in its send up of the loveless foursome this is…
DuplicityDuplicity (2009) Recommended
Dir. Tony Gilroy
Feat. Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson
Power–dressed by Clive Owen and Julia Roberts, this is a smart, playful conundrum of a spy thriller that proves great fun to unravel, as…
Every Jack Has a JillEvery Jack Has a Jill (Jusqu'à toi) (2009)
Dir. Jennifer Devoldere
Feat. Justin Bartha, Mélanie Laurent, Valerie Benguigui
Fizzy romantic comedy of coincidence with a brokenhearted American's suitcase ending up in the hands of Parisian dreamer Laurent who sets out to find…
From Beginning to EndFrom Beginning to End (Do Começo ao Fim) (2009)
Dir. Aluizio Abranches
Feat. João Gabriel Vasconcellos, Rafael Cardoso, Júlia Lemmertz
Controversial Brazilian ode to incestuous half–brothers that's evocatively shot and titillatingly steamy but strangely coy on the consequences.
Ghosts Of Girlfriends PastGhosts Of Girlfriends Past (2009)
Dir. Mark Waters
Feat. Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Michael Douglas
Rom–com interpretation of 'A Christmas Carol' sees a womanizing bachelor (McConaughey) visited by the ghosts of three ex–girlfriends, who…
Giulia Doesn't Go Out at NightGiulia Doesn't Go Out at Night (2009)
Dir. Giuseppe Piccioni
Feat. Valerio Mastandrea, Valeria Golino, Sonia Bergamasco
Understated romantic drama with an enigmatic Golina as the titular character, a swimming instructor with a dark secret who embarks on a romance with…
Good Guy, TheGood Guy, The (2009)
Dir. Julio DePietro
Feat. Alexis Bledel, Scott Porter, Bryan Greenberg
Unusually stringent romantic comedy set against the back drop of Wall Street where an offbeat love triangle develops. Dir. De Pietro – a former…
GretaGreta (According to Greta) (2009)
Dir. Nancy Bardawil
Feat. Hilary Duff, Ellen Burstyn, Melissa Leo
Hilary Duff, in a serious turn, delivers a commendable performance as a suicidal teen sent to her grandparents house for the summer. Ellen Burstyn…
I Hate Valentine's DayI Hate Valentine's Day (2009)
Dir. Nia Vardalos
Feat. Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Zoe Kazan
The co–stars of MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING strike love again in this ill–fated reunion. Nia Vardalos plays commitment–phobic florist,…
I Love You, Beth CooperI Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)
Dir. Chris Columbus
Feat. Hayden Panettiere, Paul Rust, Jack Carpenter
Uneven high school comedy sees a nerd publicly profess his love for the hottest girl in school, only to have her turn up at his doorstep that night…
It's ComplicatedIt's Complicated (2009) Recommended
Dir. Nancy Meyers
Feat. Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin
A divorcee romantic–comedy, and a pretty good one, sees Meryl Streep in comedic bloom as her unlikely affair with her brazen ex–husband…
LeavingLeaving (Partir) (2009) Recommended
Dir. Catherine Corsini
Feat. Kristin Scott Thomas, Sergi Lopez, Yvan Attal
Doctor's wife and mother–of–two Kristin Scott Thomas falls unrelentingly for a blue–collar ex–con in this steamy, captivating…
Love HappensLove Happens (2009)
Dir. Brandon Camp
Feat. Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart, Martin Sheen
Chintzy romance with Eckhart as a self help author struggling to cope with the death of his wife and a burgeoning romance with a floral designer.…
Love HurtsLove Hurts (2009)
Dir. Barra Grant
Feat. Richard E. Grant, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jenna Elfman
Richard E. Grant plays a jilted single dad who must join forces with his teenage son in order to win back his awol wife (Carrie–Anne Moss).…
Many Kisses LaterMany Kisses Later (Ex) (2009)
Dir. Fausto Brizzi
Feat. Claudia Gerini, Flavio Insinna, Silvio Orlando
Breezy rom–com –a smash hit in Italy– follows six couples from Chistmas to Valetine's Day and their various entanglements.…
Must Love DeathMust Love Death (2009)
Dir. Andreas Schaap
Feat. Jeff Burrell, Sami Loris, Manon Kahle
Perversely romantic torture porn with a suicidal man joining up with what he assumes to be a group of like–minded individuals; unluckily for…
My Last Five GirlfriendsMy Last Five Girlfriends (2009)
Dir. Julian Kemp
Feat. Brendan Patricks, Naomie Harris, Kelly Adams
Whimsical romantic comedy based on an Alain De Botton novel about a clinically depressed man examining his failed relationships.
My Life In RuinsMy Life In Ruins (2009)
Dir. Donald Petrie
Feat. Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Alexis Georgoulis
The star of MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING has slimmed down and gone to Greece in this well–intentioned yet ultimately limp rom–com, where she…
New In TownNew In Town (2009)
Dir. Jonas Elmer
Feat. Renee Zellweger, Harry Connick Jnr.
Formulaic romantic comedy sees Zellweger play a Miami businesswoman who must leave her upscale lifestyle behind when she is sent to oversee a project…
New York, I Love YouNew York, I Love You (2009) Recommended
Dir. Fatih Akin, Yvan Attal, Allen Hughes
Feat. Bradley Cooper, Andy Garcia, Hayden Christensen
Not to be mistaken as a cynical American remake of PARIS, JE'TAIME, this – on the contrary – naturally extends the short–story…
Paper HeartPaper Heart (2009)
Dir. Nicholas Jasenovec
Feat. Michael Cera, Charlyne Yi, Martin Starr
Cutesy indie combination of documentary and narrative as Charlyne Yi travels America interviewing couples about their relationships. Meanwhile,…
Personal EffectsPersonal Effects (2009)
Dir. David Hollander
Feat. Michelle Pfeiffer, Ashton Kutcher, Kathy Bates
Perfunctory dramatic vehicle for Ashton Kutcher and Michelle Pfeiffer who star as two disparate characters unexpectedly united while attending the…
Pop SkullPop Skull (2009)
Dir. Adam Wingard
Feat. Brandon Carroll, Maggie Gwin
Utterly one–of–a–kind "acid horror" about a troubled drug addict who begins to fall under the influence of spirits that are…
Prime MoverPrime Mover (2009)
Dir. David Caesar
Feat. Michael Dorman, Emily Barclay, Ben Mendelsohn
Though far from original, this delightful Aussie road movie springs a few surprises in its sometimes–whimsical fable of truck mechanic whose…
Proposal, TheProposal, The (2009)
Dir. Anne Fletcher
Feat. Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen
America's sweethearts Bullock and Reynolds team up in this tepid rom–com about a driven editor who bribes her younger assistant to marry her in…
Rebound, TheRebound, The (2009)
Dir. Bart Freundlich
Feat. Catherine Zeta-Jones, Justin Bartha
Catherine Zeta Jones plays MILF to a younger man on the rebound from a failed marriage in this lightweight, passable rom–com.
Sea Purple, TheSea Purple, The (2009)
Dir. Donatella Maiorca
Feat. Valeria Solarino, Isabella Ragonese, Ennio Fantastichini
Solid lesbian bodice–ripper centres on the eternal romance between two 19th century Sicilian women, destined to suffer for their forbidden…
Separation CitySeparation City (2009)
Dir. Paul Middleditch
Feat. Joel Edgerton, Rhona Mitra, Danielle Cormack
Kiwi comedy penned by satirical cartoonist Tom Scott , musing on the struggle of long–term relationships among a group of…
Someone I LovedSomeone I Loved (2009)
Dir. Zabou Breitman
Feat. Daniel Auteuil, Marie-Josee Croze, Florence Loiret Caille
Nuanced romantic drama with Auteuil reflecting on his great lost love while attempting to console his jilted daughter–in–law.
Time Traveler's Wife, TheTime Traveler's Wife, The (2009)
Dir. Robert Schwentke
Feat. Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Arliss Howard
Eric Bana’s rare genetic disorder sees him thrown intermittently backwards in time, much to the despair of his frustrated wife (Rachel McAdams), in…
TiMERTiMER (2009) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jac Schaeffer
Feat. Emma Caulfield, Michelle Borth, John Patrick Amedori
A fresh, engaging independent rom–com that posits the invention of a literal biological clock which, when implanted, counts down to the moment…
Twilight: New MoonTwilight: New Moon (2009)
Dir. Chris Weitz
Feat. Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson
Succulent second helping of the Stephanie Meyer vampire saga finds pasty Edward no longer able to protect his beloved Bella, fleeing the country and…
Ugly Truth, TheUgly Truth, The (2009)
Dir. Robert Luketic
Feat. Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler, Bree Turner
Predictable rom–com stars Katherine Heigl as a single career woman who enlists the help of a chauvinistic advice guru (Butler) to help her land…
Unmade BedsUnmade Beds (2009) Recommended
Dir. Alexis Dos Santos
Feat. Fernando Tielve, Deborah Francois, Michiel Huisman
In parallel stories, a Spanish boy and a French girl try to find meaningful connection while squatting in a London hipster neighbourhood in this…
Vintner's Luck, TheVintner's Luck, The (2009)
Dir. Niki Caro
Feat. Keisha Castle-Hughes, Jeremie Renier, Gaspard Ulliel
Contentious, opulent NZ–made adaptation of the much–loved Elizabeth Knox novel, ostensibly about the relationship between a guardian…
Young Victoria, TheYoung Victoria, The (2009) Recommended
Dir. Jean-Marc Vallée
Feat. Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany
Emily Blunt radiates in this elegant if corseted biopic of Queen Victoria's early years as she deals with royal power struggles while being wooed by…
27 Dresses27 Dresses (2008)
Dir. Anne Fletcher
Feat. Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Edward Burns
Katherine Heigl is a perennial bridesmaid, torn between attending her 28th wedding, and falling in love with her sister's…
Accidental Husband, TheAccidental Husband, The (2008)
Dir. Griffin Dunne
Feat. Uma Thurman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Colin Firth
Romantic comedy stars Uma Thurman as a talk–show host who discovers she is somehow married to a man she has never met, and goes on a mission to…
American MallAmerican Mall (2008)
Dir. Shawn Ku
Feat. Nina Dobrey, Autumn Reeser, Rob Mayes
Fluffy teen pop–fest set in a mall concerns the budding romance between two mall denizens – an aspiring singer/songwriter and a janitor…
AustraliaAustralia (2008) Recommended
Dir. Baz Luhrmann
Feat. Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, David Wenham
Aussie golden boy Baz Luhrmann's larger–than–life epic sees an English aristocrat and cattle driver attempt to save an inherited outback…
Baby MamaBaby Mama (2008)
Dir. Michael McCullers
Feat. Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear
This odd–couple chick comedy feels lightweight and ultimately forgettable, however the talents of its two perfectly harmonized stars, Saturday…
Bride FlightBride Flight (2008)
Dir. Ben Sombogaart
Feat. Karina Smulders, Waldemar Torenstra, Anna Drijver
New Zealand in the 1950's from a Dutch perspective makes this melodrama an intriguing, unique experience for Kiwi audiences, which also has the…
Brideshead RevisitedBrideshead Revisited (2008)
Dir. Julian Jarrold
Feat. Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw, Hayley Atwell
Sound adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s classic novel of illicit love in the realms of High Society, set against the backdrop of pre–WWII Britain.…
Butterfly LoversButterfly Lovers (2008)
Dir. Jingle Ma
Feat. Charlene Choi, Chun Wu, Ge Hu
Martial arts 'M Butterfly' charts the afflictions that befall two lovers destined to always be parted. Gaudy, gender–bending romance from Hong…
Cloud 9Cloud 9 (Wolke 9) (2008) Aro Favourite
Dir. Andreas Dresen
Feat. Ursula Werner, Horst Rehberg, Horst Westphal
A frank yet sensitive depiction of a passionate love affair between a man and a married woman in their autumn years. Using a methodology similar…
Consuming Passion: 100 Years Of Mills And Boon (TV Mini-series)Consuming Passion: 100 Years Of Mills And Boon (TV Mini-series) (2008)
Feat. Jodie Whittaker, Daniel Mays, Patrick Kennedy
One–off 'docudrama' made to celebrate the centenary of romance publishing house Mills & Boon focuses on interweaving stories of three women…
Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, TheCurious Case Of Benjamin Button, The (2008) Recommended
Dir. David Fincher
Feat. Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton
The screenwriter of FORREST GUMP expands upon F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story to tell the curious case of a man born on Armistice day as decrepit…
Definitely, MaybeDefinitely, Maybe (2008)
Dir. Adam Brooks
Feat. Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fisher, Rachel Weisz
Ryan Reynolds explains his 'complicated' romantic history to his young daughter (Breslin) in this agreeable romantic comedy set against a backdrop of…
Duchess, The Duchess, The (2008)
Dir. Saul Dibb
Feat. Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Charlotte Rampling
Costume connoisseurs will rejoice in the splendour of Keira Knightley’s dazzling dresses and eye–catching cranial plumage in this depiction…
Edge of Love, TheEdge of Love, The (2008)
Dir. John Maybury
Feat. Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy
Atmospheric wartime romance based on the life of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (Rhys) and his love for two free–spirited women who become firm…
ElegyElegy (2008)
Dir. Isabel Coixet
Feat. Penelope Cruz, Ben Kingsley, Dennis Hopper
Following THE HUMAN STAIN comes another effort to translate revered American writer Phillip Roth to the screen. This time it's his novel "The Dying…
Fool's GoldFool's Gold (2008)
Dir. Andy Tennant
Feat. Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland
Combustable rom–com coupling McConaughey and Hudson reunite for this high seas adventure; he plays a bum treasure hunter obsessed with finding…
Forgetting Sarah Marshall Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) Recommended
Dir. Nicholas Stoller
Feat. Jason Segel, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand
A heartbroken musician takes a Hawaiian holiday in an attempt to get over his TV star ex–girlfriend, only to have her show up at the same…
French FilmFrench Film (2008)
Dir. Jackie Oudney
Feat. Hugh Bonneville, Victoria Hamilton, Douglas Henshall
Affable British rom–com about a jaded journalist who is forced to reassess his views on romance after interviewing a French…
GiganticGigantic (2008)
Dir. Matt Aselton
Feat. Paul Dano, Zooey Deschanel, Edward Asner
Whimsical, self–conscious indie comedy about a mattress salesman (Paul Dano) whose plan to adopt a baby from China is interrupted when a women…
Good DickGood Dick (2008) Recommended
Dir. Marianna Palka
Feat. Marianna Palka, Jason Ritter, Martin Starr
A romantic–comedy fraught with emotional damage, this unique American indie follows the strange yet touching relationship between a troubled,…
He's Just Not That Into YouHe's Just Not That Into You (2008)
Dir. Ken Kwapis
Feat. Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Drew Barrymore
Convoluted ensemble piece based on a self–help book focusing on a group of 20–somethings trying to navigate their way through love's…
High School Musical 3: Senior YearHigh School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008) Recommended
Dir. Kenny Ortega
Feat. Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale
More than delivering on fan expectations, this ambitious concluding chapter to Disney's HCM phenomenon sees the well–loved characters approach…
How To Lose Friends And Alienate PeopleHow To Lose Friends And Alienate People (2008)
Dir. Robert. B. Weide
Feat. Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Jeff Bridges
Rom–com following the fate of a bumbling Brit journalist who struggles to fit into the celeb obsessed world of trash mags after scoring a job…
Just Add Water Just Add Water (2008)
Dir. Hart Bochner
Feat. Dylan Walsh, Danny De Vito, Brad Hunt
Twisted rom–com centred on a parking attendant existing in a dead–end desert town whose life is flipped around by a shocking event and…
KeithKeith (2008)
Dir. Todd Kessler
Feat. Jesse McCartney, Elisabeth Harnois, Margo Harshman
Efficient teen weepie with pop star McCartney as a rebel with a tragic secret and Harnois as the prim preppy who falls for his broody charms.
Last Chance HarveyLast Chance Harvey (2008)
Dir. Joel Hopkins
Feat. Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Eileen Atkins
Simple romance stars Dustin Hoffman as a down–and–out divorcee whose life seems to be going nowhere until he meets the equally…
LeatherheadsLeatherheads (2008)
Dir. George Clooney
Feat. George Clooney, Renee Zellweger, Jonathan Pryce
The debonair George Clooney directs and stars in this charming 1920s comedy as a player–coach who gets caught up with a plucky journalist…
Lost in Austen (TV Mini-Series)Lost in Austen (TV Mini-Series) (2008)
Feat. Jemima Rooper, Alex Kingston, Hugh Bonneville
Fizzy twist on PRIDE AND PREJUDICE has an ardent Jane Austen fan, living in present day London, swapping places with Austen's fictional creation…
Love in the Time of CholeraLove in the Time of Cholera (2008)
Dir. Mike Newell
Feat. Javier Bardem, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Benjamin Bratt
Javier Bardem's outstanding performance cannot shore up this florid, largely faithful adaptation of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's universally adored novel…
Lovely, StillLovely, Still (2008)
Dir. Nicholas Fackler
Feat. Martin Landau, Ellen Burstyn, Adam Scott
As good as they are here, acting legends Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn probably deserve better as the late–life love birds of this…
Made of HonourMade of Honour (2008)
Dir. Paul Weiland
Feat. Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd
Cushy romantic comedy in the spirit of MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING, with a wealthy womaniser (Dempsey) asked to be maid of honour for his best chick…
Make-Out With ViolenceMake-Out With Violence (2008)
Dir. Deagol Brothers
Feat. Eric Lehning, Cody DeVos
A genuinely odd zombie movie about twin brothers whose teenage girl crush mysteriously disappears one day, only to emerge in a vegetative state…
Mamma Mia!Mamma Mia! (2008) Recommended
Dir. Phyllida Lloyd
Feat. Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth
A knowingly cheesy yet still irresistible movie version of the smash–hit stage musical about a girl trying to find her father before her…
ManagementManagement (2008)
Dir. Stephen Belber
Feat. Jennifer Aniston, Steve Zahn, Woody Harrelson
Likable rom–com sees Jennifer Aniston play an obsessively organized woman whose life is thrown into disarray when an employee of a roadside…
Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (2008)
Dir. Bharat Nalluri
Feat. Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Shirley Henderson
Zippy "roaring 30's" comedy about an unemployed governess (McDormand) who finds a new zest for life and love after accepting a job with a frivolous,…
Mistresses (TV Series) Mistresses (TV Series) (2008)
Feat. Sarah Parish, Sharon Small, Orla Brady
Provocative Brit series featuring four 30 something friends – a doctor, 9/11 widow, party gal and married mistress that get themselves into all…
My Best Friend's GirlMy Best Friend's Girl (2008)
Dir. Howard Deutch
Feat. Dane Cook, Kate Hudson, Alec Baldwin
Crass comedy starring Cook as a foul–mouthed 'emotional terrorist' who gets hired to take girls on the worst dates of their lives in order to…
My Friends My LovesMy Friends My Loves (Mes amis, mes amours) (2008)
Dir. Lorraine Levy
Feat. Vincent Lindon, Pascal Elbé, Virginie Ledoyen
A buddy movie for middle–aged divorcees, this lightweight odd–coupling follows two Parisian single dads who decide to raise their…
My SpyMy Spy (My Mom's New Boyfriend) (2008)
Dir. George Gallo
Feat. Antonio Banderas, Meg Ryan, Colin Hanks
Featherweight comedy–caper concerns an undercover FBI agent (Hanks) whose surveillance of an international art thief (Banderas) is undermined…
Nick And Nora's Infinite PlaylistNick And Nora's Infinite Playlist (2008)
Dir. Peter Sollett
Feat. Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Aaron Yoo
"Geeky Dreamboat" Michael Cera is typecast again in this pleasing but trifle indie flick centred around two high school seniors who bond over music…
Nights in RodantheNights in Rodanthe (2008)
Dir. George C. Wolfe
Feat. Diane Lane, Richard Gere, Viola Davis
Tears–and–tissues adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel of two souls at a crossroads in their muddled lives who end up finding solace…
OnlyOnly (2008)
Dir. Ingrid Veninger
Feat. Jacob Switzer, Elena Hudgins Lyle
Delicate Canadian coming–of–age drama focused around the relationship between two 12–year–olds who get to know one another…
Other Boleyn Girl, TheOther Boleyn Girl, The (2008) Recommended
Dir. Justin Chadwick
Feat. Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana
Blue–ribbon adaptation of the best–selling novel by Philippa Gregory, which tells the compulsive true story of sisters Anne and Mary…
Other End of the Line, TheOther End of the Line, The (2008)
Dir. James Dodson
Feat. Jesse Metcalfe, Shriya , Larry Miller
Bloodless romantic comedy focused around an Indian call centre worker who falls for an American she meets on the other end of the line. Shriya Saran…
Our Beloved Month of AugustOur Beloved Month of August (Aquele Querido Mês de Agosto) (2008) Recommended
Dir. Miguel Gomes
Feat. Sonia Bandeira, Fabio Oliveira
Beautifully idiosyncratic film blending documentary with drama, from distinctive Portuguese director Miguel Gomes (TABU). A summery and romantic…
Palermo ShootingPalermo Shooting (2008)
Dir. Wim Wenders
Feat. Campino , Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Dennis Hopper
A wild–living, world renowned German photographer travels to Sicily seeking a break from his past and encounters a beautiful woman and Dennis…
Paris Paris (2008)
Dir. Cedric Klapisch
Feat. Juliette Binoche, Romain Duris, Mélanie Laurent
A sweet–natured, if rather slight romantic dramedy, weaving in and out of the lives of a diverse set of heart–worn and heart–won…
PasschendaelePasschendaele (2008)
Dir. Paul Gross
Feat. Paul Gross, Caroline Dhavernas
Paul Gross (DUE SOUTH) directs and stars in this impressive wartime drama based on the exploits of the 1st Canadian Division during WWI.
Reader, TheReader, The (2008)
Dir. Stephen Daldry
Feat. Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross
Kate Winslet won an Oscar for her performance here as a German house–frau in this drama of post–war trauma, with Ralph Fiennes recalling…
Red Baron, TheRed Baron, The (Der rote Baron) (2008)
Dir. Nikolai Müllerschön
Feat. Maxim Mehmet, Til Schweiger, Joseph Fiennes
Biographical melodrama focused around Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the celebrated showboating WW1 pilot. Thrilling airborne set–pieces make up…
SalvationSalvation (2008)
Dir. Paul Cox
Feat. Wendy Hughes, Bruce Myles, Natasha Novak
Dir. Paul Cox delivers the right amount of tenderness and wickedness in this wry Australian comedy, about a downtrodden husband who cannot connect…
Second-Hand WeddingSecond-Hand Wedding (Secondhand Wedding) (2008)
Dir. Paul Murphy
Feat. Holly Shanahan, Geraldine Brophy, Patrick Wilson
Sweet–natured Kiwi suburban rom–com that was a surprise hit at the local box office, with large audiences responding to a highly…
Sense and Sensibility (TV Mini-series)Sense and Sensibility (TV Mini-series) (2008)
Dir. John Alexander
Feat. David Morrissey, Janet McTeer, Hattie Morahan
Another BBC adaptation of the Jane Austen novel centered around the Dashwood sisters and their search for love. Adapted by Andrew Davies of BLEAK…
Seven PoundsSeven Pounds (2008)
Dir. Gabriel Muccino
Feat. Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson
Will Smith pairs up again with dir. Muccino (THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS) to play a man who attempts to save the lives of seven strangers in order to…
Show of HandsShow of Hands (2008)
Dir. Anthony McCarten
Feat. Melanie Lynskey, Craig Hall, Stephen Lovatt
Quaint but contrived Kiwi rom–dram set in New Plymouth in which a grab–bag of townsfolk compete for new 4–wheel drive by keeping…
Smart People Smart People (2008)
Dir. Noam Murro
Feat. Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Elliot Page
Dunderheaded dramedy focused on a widowed, misanthropic professor (Quaid) who awakens to life again after a hit to the head, only to discover that…
Sorry If I Want to Marry YouSorry If I Want to Marry You (2008)
Dir. Federico Moccia
Feat. Raoul Bova, Michela Quattrociocche, Francesco Apolloni
Supremely frothy comedy about with a man's increasing insecurity about his relationship leads him to propose marriage setting off a comic chain of…
Speak To Me of LoveSpeak To Me of Love (Parlami d'amore ) (2008)
Dir. Silvio Muccino
Feat. Silvio Muccino, Carolina Crescentini, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón
Sasha is a boy in his twenties, deeply loving the beautiful Benedetta, who doesn't seem to recognize his existence. Nicole is a French woman in her…
Step Up 2: The StreetsStep Up 2: The Streets (2008)
Dir. Jon Chu
Feat. Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman, Adam G. Sevani
Sequel to the hip–hop dance hit flick following a group of young street dancers battling for supremacy. Well–orchestrated…
Tears for SaleTears for Sale (Charleston and Vendetta) (2008) Recommended
Dir. Uros Stojanovic
Feat. Katarina Radivojevic, Sonja Kolacaric
The sombre title belies what is in fact a joyously bawdy Balkan fairytale that blends fantastical folklore, striking burlesque visuals and ample…
Tess Of The D'Urbervilles (TV Mini-series)Tess Of The D'Urbervilles (TV Mini-series) (2008)
Feat. Gemma Arterton, Eddie Redmayne, Ruth Jones
Sound adaptation of Thomas Hardy's classic tragedy following Tess, the poor peasant girl who becomes an outcast after falling pregnant to her rich…
Tru LovedTru Loved (2008)
Dir. Stewart Wade
Feat. Najarra Townsend, Jane Lynch, Alexandra Paul
Recently relocated from San Francisco to conservative suburbia by her lesbian mothers, Tru struggles like all teens to fit in and find love, but her…
TwilightTwilight (2008) Recommended
Dir. Catherine Hardwicke
Feat. Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Billy Burke
The first installment of the uber–popular book franchise (by Stephanie Meyer) sees lonely teenage girl Bella fall in love with Edward, a…
Two LoversTwo Lovers (2008) Recommended
Dir. James Gray
Feat. Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw
Joaquin Phoenix (in reputedly his final film) re–teams with dir. James Gray for this acutely observed ‘anti–romance’, about a bipolar…
Vicky Cristina BarcelonaVicky Cristina Barcelona (Vicky Christina Barcelona) (2008) Aro Favourite
Dir. Woody Allen
Feat. Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, Javier Bardem
Woody Allen proves he hasn't lost his touch with this refreshing and vital rom–com that follows two American gal–pals who fall for the…
What Happens in Vegas What Happens in Vegas (2008)
Dir. Tom Vaughan
Feat. Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah
Inanely amusing screwball rom–com stars Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher as a pair of mismatched strangers forced to endure married life…
Zack and Miri Make a PornoZack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)
Dir. Kevin Smith
Feat. Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson
Latest comedic offering from King of Crude dir. Smith sees two platonic friends (Rogan and Banks) try to earn some much–needed cash by filming…
Across the UniverseAcross the Universe (2007)
Dir. Julie Taymor
Feat. Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson
Thirty–three tunes from the Beatles songbook are excitably re–constituted for this lavish 'jukebox' musical that threads together a story…
An Old MistressAn Old Mistress (Une vieille maîtresse/The Last Mistress) (2007) Recommended
Dir. Catherine Breillat
Feat. Asia Argento, Fu’ad Ait Aattou, Caroline Ducey
Fervent, visually opulent costume drama finds feminist firebrand Catherine Breillat tempering her sexually explicit tendencies to present a…
AngelAngel (2007)
Dir. Francois Ozon
Feat. Charlotte Rampling, Sam Neill, Lucy Russell
Pretty costume drama follows the fortunes of an aspiring lady writer in Edwardian England. Based on the novel by Elizabeth Taylor (MRS PALFREY AT…
Away From HerAway From Her (2007) Recommended
Dir. Sarah Polley
Feat. Julie Christie, Gordon Pinsent, Olympia Dukakis
Julie Christie stars in this carefully observed drama about a woman with Alzheimer's, her husband, and the tragedy of the disease's 'long goodbye',…
Because I Said SoBecause I Said So (2007)
Dir. Michael Lehmann
Feat. Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore, Lauren Graham
A cushy, formulated ‘chick flick’ made–to–order, concerning an over–controlling mother’s attempts to engineer her…
Becoming JaneBecoming Jane (2007)
Dir. Julian Jarrold
Feat. Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Julie Walters
The early chapters of Jane Austen’s literary life are dramatised in this rose–tinted biopic of her formative romantic…
Before the RainsBefore the Rains (2007)
Dir. Santosh Sivan
Feat. Linus Roache, Rahul Bose, Nandita Das
Steamy tropical melodrama made under the "Merchant Ivory" banner, set in southern India against the backdrop of a growing nationalist movement. A…
Black Snake MoanBlack Snake Moan (2007) Recommended
Dir. Craig Brewer
Feat. Christina Ricci, Samuel L. Jackson, Justin Timberlake
Christina Ricci stars as a scrawny, Southern–fried nympho whose demons get her deep into trouble in the deep, deep South the minute her doting…
Blood and ChocolateBlood and Chocolate (2007)
Dir. Katja von Garnier
Feat. Agnes Bruckner, Olivier Martinez, Hugh Dancy
A beautiful teenager must choose between her love for a young artist and her werewolf lineage in this campy but adequately entertaining supernatural…
Blue StateBlue State (2007)
Dir. Marshall Lewy
Feat. Anna Paquin, Breckin Meyer, Nick Ouellette
Politically skewed road movie following an ardent liberal who makes good on a drunken promise to move to Canada if George Bush wins the…
Broken EnglishBroken English (2007) Recommended
Dir. Zoe Cassavetes
Feat. Parker Posey, Drea De Matteo, Melvil Poupaud
The usually zany Parker Posey searches for love in this supple, melancholic romantic comedy, here playing a Manhattan thirty–something as yet…
CaramelCaramel (Sukkar banat) (2007) Recommended
Dir. Nadine Labaki
Feat. Nadine Labaki
Charming Lebanese soap opera with a social conscience, the latest in an emerging wave of dissenting Middle Eastern dramas divulges the stifled lives…
Chaos TheoryChaos Theory (2007)
Dir. Marcos Siega
Feat. Ryan Reynolds, Emily Mortimer, Stuart Townsend
Ryan Reynolds is an obsessive perfectionist whose precise index–carded existence is turned inside out, with fairly predictable 'chaotic'…
Closing the RingClosing the Ring (2007)
Dir. Richard Attenborough
Feat. Shirley Maclaine, Christopher Plummer, Mischa Barton
Richard Attenborough–directed romance set both in the '40s and present–day, following the wartime history of a ring and an unbreakable…
Crazy LoveCrazy Love (2007) Recommended
Dir. Dan Klores, Fisher Stevens
Stranger–than–fiction story of the obsessive love of Burt and Linda Pugach, whose personal tragedy made international headlines during…
Dan in Real Life Dan in Real Life (2007) Recommended
Dir. Peter Hedges
Feat. Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook
Sensitively handled indie rom–com starring funny–man Steve Carell (THE OFFICE) as a relationship advice writer who falls hard for his…
Death Defying Acts Death Defying Acts (2007)
Dir. Gillian Armstrong
Feat. Guy Pearce, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Saoirse Ronan
Handsomely mounted period romp from Aussie director Gillian Armstrong in which the illustrious escape–artist Harry Houdini (Pearce) becomes…
Eagle vs SharkEagle vs Shark (2007) Aro Favourite
Dir. Taika Waititi
Feat. Jemaine Clement, Loren Taylor (Horsley), Joel Tobeck
Wearing its Kiwi heart on its sleeve to delightful advantage, Taika Waititi's skewed romantic comedy managed to please a crowd both here and abroad,…
Elvis And AnnabelleElvis And Annabelle (2007)
Dir. Will Geiger
Feat. Max Minghella, Blake Lively, Joe Mantegna
Oddball indie romance sees a beauty queen (Lively) die in an accident, only to share an unlikely romance with a young man when she is unexpectedly…
EveningEvening (2007)
Dir. Lajos Koltai
Feat. Claire Danes, Toni Collette, Vanessa Redgrave
All–star, womanly melodrama unveils the secret life of an ailing matriarch (Redgrave), whose remembrance of an intense, tragic love fifty years…
Expired Expired (2007) Recommended
Dir. Cecilia Miniucchi
Feat. Samantha Morton, Jason Patric, Teri Garr
Idiosyncrasy without the gimmicky weirdness, this hilariously outre indie rom–com stars Samantha Morton as a sheltered, sweet–hearted…
Far NorthFar North (2007)
Dir. Asif Kapadia
Feat. Michelle Yeoh, Michelle Krusiec, Sean Bean
On the Arctic tundra a starving stranger is thrown upon the charity of two Inuit women, driven to isolation by fear of prophecy and a violent past,…
Feast of LoveFeast of Love (2007)
Dir. Robert Benton
Feat. Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell
Sage old bean Morgan Freeman dishes out romantic advice to unlucky–in–love Greg Kinnear and others in this feelgood drama about hopeless…
Gavin and Stacey (TV Series)Gavin and Stacey (TV Series) (2007) Recommended
Feat. Mathew Horne, Joanna Page, James Corden
Likeable Welsh comedy following the trials and tribulations of a long distance couple struggling to merge their two worlds when they finally meet.…
Georgia RuleGeorgia Rule (2007)
Dir. Garry Marshall
Feat. Jane Fonda, Lindsay Lohan, Felicity Huffman
Jane Fonda leads three generations of strong–minded females in this uneasy mix of comedy and drama. Georgia (Fonda), the…
Get Together Dinner, TheGet Together Dinner, The (La Ceno per Farli Conoscere) (2007)
Dir. Pupi Avati
Feat. Vanessa Incontrada, Diego Abatanthono, Violante Placido
Diverting comedy about three stepsisters playing cupid for their father, a jaded TV star whose career has seen better days. As lacerating as it is…
Good Luck ChuckGood Luck Chuck (2007)
Dir. Mark Helfrich
Feat. Dane Cook, Jessica Alba, Dan Fogler
A fratty and formulaic take on the recent vogue for skewed, matrimonial–themed romantic comedies. Dane Cook plays a guy who not only can't…
Good Night, TheGood Night, The (2007)
Dir. Jake Paltrow
Feat. Penelope Cruz, Martin Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow
Warped amorous comedy focused on a fed–up fella in the midst of a mid–life breakdown (played by Martin Freeman of THE OFFICE fame) who…
Gossip Girl (TV Series) Gossip Girl (TV Series) (2007)
Feat. Blake Lively, Taylor Momsen, Leighton Meester
Flashy teen series centred on a group of well–heeled New York prep school kids whose main focus in life is a blog written by 'Gossip Girl'…
GuruGuru (2007) Recommended
Dir. Mani Ratnam
Feat. Aishwarya Rai, Mithun Chakraborty, Abhishek Bachchan
Rewarding rags–to–riches drama relates the story of an entrepreneurial young boy from a village in Gujarat who became the biggest…
Hallam FoeHallam Foe (Mister Foe) (2007)
Dir. David Mackenzie
Feat. Jamie Bell, Sophia Myles, Ciaran Hinds
Jamie Bell plays the film's titular voyeur, a compulsive rooftop snoop in pursuit of justice and love, in this breezy, twisted romance. Fleeing…
Heartbreak Kid, TheHeartbreak Kid, The (2007)
Dir. Pete Farrelly, Bob Farrelly
Feat. Ben Stiller, Jerry Stiller, Michelle Monaghan
Rude, crude, heartily "Farrelly–ised" remake of the 1972 classic about a man who marries too fast, meeting his ideal woman while on honeymoon.…
High School Musical 2High School Musical 2 (2007) Recommended
Dir. Kenny Ortega
Feat. Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale
Exuberant sequel to the HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL phenomenon leaps into its senior year, concerning East High’s summer vacationing students who face…
Hunting and Gathering Hunting and Gathering (2007) Recommended
Dir. Claude Berri
Feat. Audrey Tautou, Guillaume Canet, Laurent Stocker
A waif–thin artist/cleaner (Tautou) gains a new lease on life after a chance encounter with a dignified stutterer in this heartwarming lost…
I Could Never Be Your WomanI Could Never Be Your Woman (2007)
Dir. Amy Heckerling
Feat. Michelle Pfeiffer, Paul Rudd, Jon Lovitz
Snappy and sweet romantic comedy with a moralistic bent directed by Amy Heckerling (CLUELESS) in which a divorcee career woman (Pfeiffer) attempting…
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and LarryI Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007)
Dir. Dennis Dugan
Feat. Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel
Broad 'dude' comedy effort from Adam Sandler (and co.) in which a very het. New York City fireman marries his best buddy to benefit from benefit…
In Search Of A Midnight KissIn Search Of A Midnight Kiss (2007) Aro Favourite
Dir. Alex Holdridge
Feat. Scoot McNairy, Sara Simmonds, Brian McGuire
Restoring our faith in the unreliable indie rom–com genre, this terrific example takes place on New Years Eve in Los Angeles, where two…
In the Land of WomenIn the Land of Women (2007)
Dir. Jon Kasdan
Feat. Olympia Dukakis, Meg Ryan, Kristen Stewart
Relationship drama centering on struggling writer Adam Brody (THE OC) and the neighbouring family of women he encounters when he moves in with his…
Jane Austen Book Club, TheJane Austen Book Club, The (2007)
Dir. Robin Swicord
Feat. Kathy Baker, Maria Bello, Emily Blunt
A refreshing 'click flick' in which six Californians convene to discuss the literary works of Jane Austen and discover their own lives are starting…
KaidanKaidan (2007)
Dir. Hideo Nakata
Feat. Kumiko Aso
Period J–horror from the director of THE RING relays the ghostly tale of a samurai’s son attempting to escape an ancient curse laid on his…
Knocked UpKnocked Up (2007)
Dir. Judd Apatow
Feat. Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd
The creators of THE 40–YEAR–OLD VIRGIN tackle the potential hilarity of a one–night–stand pregnancy, and the ensuing…
Last Magic Show, TheLast Magic Show, The (2007)
Dir. Andy Conlan
Feat. Andy Conlan, Jade Collins, Michael Hurst
Gothic New Zealand drama with a hint of romance follows a disturbed magician searching for his next great career move and a replacement assistant…
Love and Other DisastersLove and Other Disasters (2007)
Dir. Alek Keshishian
Feat. Brittany Murphy, Orlando Bloom, Gwyneth Paltrow
London–based It–girl gets buff boy, despite a case of mistaken sexuality, in this pretty piece of fashion–mag fluffola which owes…
Love Comes LatelyLove Comes Lately (2007)
Dir. Jan Schutte
Feat. Otto Tausig, Caroline Aaron, Olivia Thirlby
This well–spun octogenarian yarn dwells on the boundless sexual pursuits of an elderly cad (Tausig), whose lust for life jeopardises the…
Mama's BoyMama's Boy (2007)
Dir. Tim Hamilton
Feat. Jon Heder, Diane Keaton, Jeff Daniels
Antic comedy stars Jon Heder as a spoiled 29–year–old man–child hellbent on sabotaging his mother's (Keaton) budding relationship…
Manual of Love 2Manual of Love 2 (Capitoli successivi) (2007)
Dir. Giovanni Veronesi
Feat. Carlo Verdone, Monica Bellucci, Riccardo Scamarcio
Monica Bellucci climbs abroad in this wry sequel. Director Giovanni Veronesi delves once again into the mysterious recesses of the human heart and…
MetroMetro (2007)
Dir. Anurag Basu
Feat. Shilpa Shetty, Irfan Khan
Talk–of–the–town Shilpa Shetty (of Big Brother and Richard Gere controversy) plays a dissatisfied housewife in this collective of…
MoliereMoliere (2007) Recommended
Dir. Laurent Tirard
Feat. Romain Duris, Fabrice Luchini, Laura Morante
Jaunty period rom–com in the spirit of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE speculates on the creative catalysts for the comic masterpieces of famed French…
My Blueberry NightsMy Blueberry Nights (2007)
Dir. Wong Kar-Wai
Feat. Norah Jones, Jude Law, David Strathairn
Urban romantic Wong Kar–wai transposes the style and erstwhile longing of his Hong Kong mood pieces to the United States, with songbird Norah…
No ReservationsNo Reservations (2007)
Dir. Scott Hicks
Feat. Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin
US remake of German foodie rom–com MOSTLY MARTHA that’s inferior to its predecessor, yet appetizing enough in garnish (attractive…
Om Shanti OmOm Shanti Om (2007)
Dir. Farah Khan
Feat. Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone
From the dir. of MAIN HOON NA, this super–lush, mega–lavish Bollywood spectacular tells the story of a love that overcomes death (through…
P.S. I Love YouP.S. I Love You (2007)
Dir. Richard LaGravenese
Feat. Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow
Teary afterlife romance from the dir. of LIVING OUT LOUD, about a series of love notes left for a grieving widow (Swank) by her deceased…
Partition Partition (2007)
Dir. Vic Sarin
Feat. Jimi Mistry, Kristin Kreuk, Neve Campbell
Epic cross–cultural romantic drama set during the partition of India and Pakistan, told through the touching relationship between an ex British…
PersuasionPersuasion (2007)
Dir. Adrian Shergold
Feat. Sally Hawkins, Rupert Penry-Jones, Alice Krige
Brisk, sombre–toned ITV production of the Austen romance about the attempt to re–kindle a romance, previously doomed by class division…
Romance Of Astrea and Ceadon, TheRomance Of Astrea and Ceadon, The (2007)
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Stéphanie Crayencour, Andy Gillet, Cécile Cassel
Eric Rohmer, master of the seasonal romantic tryst, steps out with this playful adaptation of a 17th century French novel, in which a handsome…
Room with a View, ARoom with a View, A (2007)
Dir. Nicholas Renton
Feat. Elaine Cassidy, Rafe Spall, Timothy Spall
Sumptuous remake of the 1985 film, based on the E.M. Forster novel, of a daring young woman made to choose between two desirable suitors after moving…
Run Fatboy RunRun Fatboy Run (2007) Recommended
Dir. David Schwimmer
Feat. Simon Pegg, Thandiwe Newton, Hank Azaria
A relatively mainstream Brit rom–com from co–writer Simon Pegg (SHAUN OF THE DEAD, HOT FUZZ) who here stars as a 'runaway groom' who…
SaawariyaSaawariya (Beloved) (2007)
Dir. Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Feat. Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor
Notable for being the first mainstream Hindi movie to be funded by a U.S. studio, this stylistically decadent romance of unrequited love and desire…
Shall We Kiss?Shall We Kiss? (Un baiser s'il vous plaît) (2007)
Dir. Emmanuel Mouret
Feat. Virginie Ledoyen, Emmanuel Mouret, Julie Gayet
Delicate French comedy focused on two strangers who share a romantic evening but stop short of a kiss on her opinion that there is no such thing 'as…
Shanghai KissShanghai Kiss (2007) Recommended
Dir. Kern Konwiser, David Ren
Feat. Ken Leung, Hayden Panettiere, Joel David Moore
Cross–cultural rom–com follows a struggling Chinese–American actor (Leung) who must choose between his Shanghai roots or his…
Silk Silk (2007)
Dir. Francois Girard
Feat. Michael Pitt, Keira Knightley, Koji Yakusho
Sensuous period drama based on the popular Alessandro Baricco novel about a married silkworm smuggler who becomes infatuated with a local woman…
SparkleSparkle (2007)
Dir. Tom Hunsinger, Neil Hunter
Feat. Stockard Channing, Shaun Evans, Anthony Head
Easy–going Brit comedy about a ruthless young go–getter (Evans) whose career in public relations is turned upside down when the girl of…
Starting Out in the Evening Starting Out in the Evening (2007)
Dir. Andrew Wagner
Feat. Frank Langella, Lauren Ambrose, Lili Taylor
An aging, all–but–forgotten author (Langella) finds himself the object of an eager grad student’s attention when she decides to make…
Stomp the YardStomp the Yard (2007)
Dir. Sylvain White
Feat. Columbus Short
A stomping ghetto melodrama that follows a gangbanger's transformation into a champion hip–hop krump dancer, set in a fictional all–black…
Then She Found MeThen She Found Me (2007)
Dir. Helen Hunt
Feat. Helen Hunt, Bette Midler, Colin Firth
Rom–com focused on a woman (portrayed and directed by a wrinkles–and–all Helen Hunt) dealing with a perplexing mid–life…
This KissThis Kiss (2007)
Dir. Kylie Eddy
Feat. Melanie Lockman, Tamsin Gatewood
Drama about the relationship between two women, best friends since childhood but torn apart by a heartbreaking incident. One has become a successful…
Tonight, I'll Sleep At YoursTonight, I'll Sleep At Yours (Ce Soir, Je Dors Chez Toi) (2007)
Dir. Olivier Baroux
Feat. Jean-Paul Rouve, Mélanie Doutey, Kad Merad
Feather–light French comedy scripted around a stubborn commitment–phobe who goes to desperate extremes to retain both his freedom and…
Twice Upon a TimeTwice Upon a Time (Désaccord parfait) (2007)
Dir. Antoine de Caunes
Feat. Jean Rochefort, Charlotte Rampling, Isabelle Nanty
Agreeable Pan–Euro comedy recounting what happens when a former showbiz couple – a director and his actress muse – reunite thirty years…
Two Days in ParisTwo Days in Paris (2 Days in Paris) (2007) Recommended
Dir. Julie Delpy
Feat. Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg
Delightful, self–starring directorial debut from Julie Delpy about an angsty Franco–American couple who drop in to visit her very…
Unfinished Sky Unfinished Sky (2007)
Dir. Peter Duncan
Feat. William McInnes, Monic Hendrickx
Cross–cultural Australian romantic drama, in which a widowed farmer discovers a distressed Afghani refugee on his property, who he lets into…
Valentine Carol, AValentine Carol, A (2007)
Dir. Mark Jean
Feat. Emma Caulfield, Barbara Niven
A divisive radio host unlucky in love is granted a visit by three ‘spirit’ boyfriends in this Dickens–inspired romance. Based on ‘A…
Visitor, The Visitor, The (2007) Aro Favourite
Dir. Tom McCarthy
Feat. Richard Jenkins, Hiam Abbass, Marian Seldes
Compassionate, beautifully–measured tale of a widowed college professor whose banal mid–life finds renewed joy (and heartbreak) after he…
Waiting Room, TheWaiting Room, The (2007)
Dir. Roger Goldby
Feat. Anne-Marie Duff, Ralf Little, Rupert Graves
Brit romantic drama follows two strangers whose accidental meeting causes them to believe in love at first sight, however first they must face the…
WaitressWaitress (2007) Recommended
Dir. Adrienne Shelly
Feat. Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Adrienne Shelly
Keri Russell plays a small–town diner waitress and pie expert, stuck with (and knocked up by) the wrong man – her scary redneck husband…
World Unseen, TheWorld Unseen, The (2007)
Dir. Shamim Sarif
Feat. Sheetal Sheth, Lisa Ray
Actors Lisa Rayand and Sheetal Sheth team up again for director Shamim Sarif (I CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT) in this beautiful depiction of a lesbian love…
Year of the DogYear of the Dog (2007)
Dir. Mike White
Feat. Laura Dern, Peter Sarsgaard, Regina King
This sensitive comedy–drama about a woman whose life falls to pieces when her pet beagle dies, is the directorial debut of Mike White, writer…
Youth Without YouthYouth Without Youth (2007)
Dir. Francis Ford Coppola
Feat. Tim Roth, Alexandra Maria Lara, Bruno Ganz
Joining a recent glut of Dorian Gray–like fantasies, this Francis Ford Coppola comeback (following a 10 year sabbatical) centres on a Romanian…
10 Items Or Less 10 Items Or Less (2006)
Dir. Brad Silberling
Feat. Morgan Freeman, Paz Vega, Jonah Hill
Sugary character drama concerning a chance encounter between a mature actor and a jaded checkout chick that seriously impacts on both their lives.…
A Good YearA Good Year (2006)
Dir. Ridley Scott
Feat. Russell Crowe, Marion Cotillard, Albert Finney
Russell Crowe plays workaholic bonds–dealer who inherits a vineyard in Provence and discovers the easy life in this lightweight tale of…
BellaBella (2006)
Dir. Alejandro Gomez Monteverde
Feat. Eduardo Verastegui, Tammy Blanchard
Sweet–natured, unconventional romantic drama which follows one day in life of a Hispanic chef in New York City, and his relationship with a…
Break-Up, TheBreak-Up, The (2006)
Dir. Peyton Reed
Feat. Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, Vincent D'Onofrio
Skewed relationship comedy has an aspirant young couple (Aniston, Vaughn) split up but continue to wrangle and feud over the condo they refuse to…
CashbackCashback (2006)
Dir. Sean Ellis
Feat. Sean Biggerstaff, Emilia Fox, Shaun Evans
British crush–comedy about a heartbroken, insomniac art student and his nightjob in a supermarket, where he whiles away the hours by freezing…
Catch and ReleaseCatch and Release (2006)
Dir. Susannah Grant
Feat. Jennifer Garner, Kevin Smith, Juliette Lewis
A usually sprightly Jennifer Garner plays the soberly named Gray, a recent widow who finds comfort in the manly support group of three old…
CoeursCoeurs (Private Fears in Public Places) (2006)
Dir. Alain Resnais
Feat. Sabine Azema, Laura Morante, Pierre Arditi
Romantic French drama with a vulnerable edge explores the modern dilemmas of loneliness and adoration through the lives of six alienated Parisians…
ConfettiConfetti (2006) Recommended
Dir. Debbie Isitt
Feat. Martin Freeman, Stephen Mangan, Robert Webb
A first–rate mock–umentary, following three couples vying for the title of "The Most Original Wedding of the Year" in a…
Crown Prince, The (TV Mini-series)Crown Prince, The (TV Mini-series) (Kronprinz Rudolf) (2006)
Dir. Robert Dornhelm
Feat. Max von Thun, Vittoria Puccini, Klaus Maria Brandauer
Sumptuous historical Austrian mini–series based on the Crown Prince's doomed love affair with a baroness, that eventually requires the pair to…
Don't Worry, I'm FineDon't Worry, I'm Fine (Je Vais Bien, Ne T'en Fais Pas) (2006)
Dir. Philippe Lioret
Feat. Mélanie Laurent
Understated French drama centres on a distraught young woman's search for her twin brother after being told he has run away from the family…
EdenEden (2006)
Dir. Michael Hofmann
Feat. Josef Ostendorf, Charlotte Roche
Charming romance revolves around an eccentric chef, and a random encounter with a mother trapped in a monotonous relationship. Fans of…
Ex, TheEx, The (Fast Track) (2006)
Dir. Jesse Peretz
Feat. Zach Braff, Amanda Peet, Jason Bateman
Star studded rom com where a guy discovers that his wife's high–school sweetheart is his new boss and has not given up hope on getting back…
Failure to LaunchFailure to Launch (2006)
Dir. Tom Dey
Feat. Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zooey Deschanel
Amiable and clever enough to pass muster, this romantic comedy finds a thirty–something slacker, who still lives with his parents…
Golden Door, TheGolden Door, The (Nuovomondo) (2006)
Dir. Emanuele Crialese
Feat. Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vincenzo Amato
Award–winning Italian drama from the dir. of RESPIRO follows the fortunes of a family of dirt–poor Sicilian peasants, from their homeland…
Gray MattersGray Matters (2006)
Dir. Sue Kramer
Feat. Heather Graham, Bridget Moynahan, Tom Cavanagh
Quirky lesbian romance with Heather Graham playing a woman who unexpectedly falls for her brother's gorgeous new girlfriend.
Hey Good Looking!Hey Good Looking! (Comme t'y es belle!) (2006)
Dir. Lisa Azuelos
Feat. Aure Atika
Frank French chick flick centred around a SEX AND THE CITYish cast of four gal pals who share with each other the trials of finding (and keeping) the…
High School MusicalHigh School Musical (2006) Aro Favourite
Dir. Kenny Ortega
Feat. Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale
Top–notch Disney telemovie brims with youthful energy in telling the tale of two teens meeting at a party, being suddenly inspired by Karaoke…
Holiday, TheHoliday, The (2006)
Dir. Nancy Meyers
Feat. Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black
Reliable entertainment from 'chick flick' maestress, Nancy Meyer (WHAT WOMEN WANT, SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE) in which two disenchanted women (Diaz…
Hottest State, TheHottest State, The (2006)
Dir. Ethan Hawke
Feat. Ethan Hawke, Mark Webber, Laura Linney
A young Texan actor on the make in NYC obsesses about his ex, post their heady trip to Mexico, in this drama of youthful narcissism and lurve.…
I Do: Or How to Get Married and Stay SingleI Do: Or How to Get Married and Stay Single (Prete-moi ta main) (2006) Recommended
Dir. Eric Lartigau
Feat. Alain Chabat, Charlotte Gainsbourg
Under pressure from his nearest and dearest to wed, committed bachelor Alain Chabat solicits the gorgeous Charlotte Gainsbourg to become his faux…
I Served the King of EnglandI Served the King of England (2006) Recommended
Dir. Jiri Menzel
Feat. Julia Jentsch, Oldrich Kaiser, Ivan Barnev
Whimsical yet biting Czech farce centres on the exploits of an endearingly opportunistic waiter, whose thrifty wiles propel him into all manner of…
I Want Someone to Eat Cheese WithI Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2006) Recommended
Dir. Jeff Garlin
Feat. Jeff Garlin, Sarah Silverman, Bonnie Hunt
Fans of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM and SEINFELD should seek out this thoroughly likeable comedy written and directed by Larry David's benevolent offsider,…
I'm Reed FishI'm Reed Fish (2006)
Dir. Zackary Adler
Feat. Jay Baruchel, Alexis Bledel, Katey Sagal
Sweetly subversive coming–of–age indie comedy focused on Reed Fish (Baruchel), a philosophical young radio presenter whose idealistic…
Illusionist, TheIllusionist, The (2006)
Dir. Neil Burger
Feat. Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti
Edward Norton plays an enigmatic magician who courts a Viennese Dutchness (Biel) with the art of illusion in this lush and mystical period…
Jane Eyre (TV Mini-Series)Jane Eyre (TV Mini-Series) (2006)
Dir. Susanna White
Feat. Toby Stephens, Ruth Wilson
Commendable mini–series version of the classic Charlotte Bronte tale of a headstrong governess who falls madly in love with her employer.…
Just My LuckJust My Luck (2006)
Dir. Donald Petrie
Feat. Lindsay Lohan
Teen starlet Lindsay Lohan adds little spunk to the wasteland of romantic comedies, here a prosperous Manhattanite whose good fortune transplants to…
Lady ChatterleyLady Chatterley (2006) Recommended
Dir. Pascale Ferran
Feat. Hippolyte Girardot, Marina Hands, Jean-Louise Coulloc'h
Sensuous, heartrendingly tender French/Belgian adaptation of an alternate version of D.H. Lawrence's once notorious novel 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'…
Lake House, TheLake House, The (2006)
Dir. Alejandro Agresti
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock
Languid, high–concept romance teaming SPEED–buddies Sandra Bullock and Keaua Reeves as would–be soul mates exchanging love letters…
Last HolidayLast Holiday (2006)
Dir. Wayne Wang
Feat. Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Timothy Hutton
An infectiously optimistic Queen Latifah here plays a retail clerk diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour, who decides to reprioritise her life and…
Last Kiss, TheLast Kiss, The (2006)
Dir. Tony Goldwyn
Feat. Zach Braff, Casey Affleck, Rachel Bilson
Well–intentioned remake of Gabriel Muccino’s award–winning Italian melodrama, with Zach Braff as an architect lodged between…
Little ChildrenLittle Children (2006)
Dir. Todd Field
Feat. Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson, Jennifer Connelly
Kate Winslet goes all–American as a mildly desperate housewife, whose suburban idyll becomes unsettled when a convicted sex offender moves back…
LOLLOL (2006)
Dir. Joe Swanberg
Feat. Joe Swanberg, Kevin Bewersdorf, C. Mason Wells
Humble "mumblecore" rom–com about relationships and technology, written, directed, produced and starring Joe Swanberg, the artist who is…
Miss PotterMiss Potter (2006) Recommended
Dir. Chris Noonan
Feat. Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson
Charming biopic tells the tale of Beatrix Potter – specifically the story of the woman behind the drawings – and her fixation from a…
Music and LyricsMusic and Lyrics (2006) Recommended
Dir. Marc Lawrence
Feat. Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, Brad Garrett
An infectious romantic comedy that winningly pairs Hugh Grant with Drew Barrymore, this adds music notes to the formula and scores a…
My Super Ex-GirlfriendMy Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)
Dir. Ivan Reitman
Feat. Uma Thurman, Luke Wilson, Anna Faris
Superheroic romcom sees neurotic superhero 'G–Girl' (Uma Thurman) and a non–powered, somewhat nebbish architect (Luke Wilson) fall in…
OnceOnce (2006) Recommended
Dir. John Carney
Feat. Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova, Hugh Walsh
A gorgeous, understated paean to the transformative power of music, this unique, Irish independent follows the burgeoning relationship between a…
Outsourced Outsourced (2006)
Dir. John Jeffcoat
Feat. Josh Hamilton, Ayesha Dharkar
Quite charming cross–cultural comedy follows the romantic fortunes of an American call centre manager (Hamilton) sent to India to train his…
Painted Veil, ThePainted Veil, The (2006)
Dir. John Curran
Feat. Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Toby Jones
Haunting tragi–romance unveils the lives of a young English couple whose relocation to Shanghai and history of infidelity force them to…
Paris, Je T'aimeParis, Je T'aime (Paris, I Love You) (2006) Recommended
Dir. Olivier Assayas, Gurinder Chadha, Sylvain Chomet
Feat. Fanny Ardant, Juliette Binoche, Steve Buscemi
A prestige line–up of actors and filmmakers converge in this grand anthology of love letters to the city of romance. With each vignette…
PenelopePenelope (2006)
Dir. Mark Palansky
Feat. Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O'Hara
Whimsical fantasy comedy about an unfortunate girl cursed with the face of a pig whose family are driven to find her a "handsome prince" to undo the…
PricelessPriceless (2006) Recommended
Dir. Pierre Salvadori
Feat. Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh
Ultra–glamorous French romantic comedy, in which one can gorge on (or gawp at) Riviera culture at its most opulent – the clothes, the…
Puccini for BeginnersPuccini for Beginners (2006)
Dir. Maria Maggenti
Feat. Justin Kirk, Gretchen Mol, Elizabeth Reaser
Gretchen Mol is at the centre of a bi–sexual love triangle in this restless romantic comedy where a writer (Reaser) finds herself sleeping with…
Reef, TheReef, The (Shark Bait) (2006)
Dir. Howard Baker, John Fox IX
Feat. Freddie Prinze Jnr., Rob Schneider, Evan Rachel Wood
Animated kid's film with a superb voice over line up that introduces us to a fish who must save his one true love and the Reef that they share.
Robin Hood (TV Series)Robin Hood (TV Series) (2006) Recommended
Feat. Jonas Armstrong, Lucy Griffiths, Richard Armitage
The latest reincarnation of Robin Hood is a lavish, broadly appealing small screen BBC revival of the Sherwood legend. All of Robin’s friends and…
Save The Last Dance 2Save The Last Dance 2 (2006)
Dir. David Petrarca
Feat. Izabella Miko, Jacqueline Bisset
Not the last dance, but a sequel reprising the aspirations of Sarah (now played by Izabella Miko), here on the verge of attending prestigious…
Scenes of a Sexual NatureScenes of a Sexual Nature (2006)
Dir. Ed Blum
Feat. Ewan McGregor, Eileen Atkins, Gina McKee
An afternoon in the London sun is the setting for this amiable British ensemble piece of couples debating the vagaries and politics of modern sexual…
Science of Sleep, TheScience of Sleep, The (2006) Recommended
Dir. Michel Gondry
Feat. Gael Garcia Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Emma de Caunes
A delightfully self–conscious, self–indulged fantasy for cine–wizard Michel Gondry, the director's follow–up to ETERNAL…
Singer, TheSinger, The (Quand j'étais chanteur) (2006)
Dir. Xavier Giannoli
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Cecile De France, Mathieu Amalric
Gerard Depardieu works his rotund charm as a journeyman lounge singer, crooning his way through half–empty nightclubs while forging an unlikely…
Situation, TheSituation, The (2006)
Dir. Philip Haas
Feat. Damian Lewis, Connie Nielsen, Mido Hadama
A noted fictional dramatisation of the Iraq conflict and its many complex participants and victims, this film interweaves a love triangle with…
Sleeping Dogs LieSleeping Dogs Lie (2006) Aro Favourite
Dir. Bobcat Goldthwait
Feat. Melinda Page Hamilton, Bryce Johnson, Geoff Pierson
A disturbing dalliance with her pet pooch comes back to bite a newly engaged woman in this disarmingly frank indie rom–com that is certain to…
Speed DatingSpeed Dating (2006)
Dir. Tony Herbert
Feat. Hugh O'Conor
Farcical rom–com follows the tribulations of 30–year–old O'Conor, a hapless heir who bungles his way into a sorry state of…
Starter for 10Starter for 10 (Starter for Ten) (2006)
Dir. Tom Vaughan
Feat. James McAvoy, Rebecca Hall, Alice Eve
Cute but formulaic youthful rom–com set in Thatcher's Britain, with the boyishly handsome James McAvoy as a working–class (yeah, right)…
Tiger and the Snow, TheTiger and the Snow, The (2006)
Dir. Roberto Benigni
Feat. Roberto Benigni, Jean Reno, Nicoletta Braschi
Italian jester Roberto Benigni unites comedy and tragedy within the throws of the Iraq war, playing a poet who follows his true love (real life…
Trust the ManTrust the Man (2006)
Dir. Bart Freundlich
Feat. Julianne Moore, David Duchovny, Billy Crudup
A light New York relationship drama about two couples and the speed–bumps they run into when temptation comes–a–knocking. While…
VenusVenus (2006) Aro Favourite
Dir. Roger Michell
Feat. Peter O'Toole, Jodie Whittaker, Leslie Phillips
The writer and dir. of THE MOTHER reteam for a companion piece to that film, this time inverting its premise to detail a relationship between a…
Adam and SteveAdam and Steve (2005) Recommended
Dir. Craig Chester
Feat. Parker Posey, Chris Kattan, Malcolm Gets
Romantic farce, with the odd song–and–dance number, follows the second–chance love between two men, and the ups and downs in the…
Angel-AAngel-A (2005)
Dir. Luc Besson
Feat. Jamel Debbouze, Rie Rasmussen
This sleek, stylized departure for dir. Luc Besson dabbles in an unlikely romance between a statuesque blonde (Rassmusen), and a nebbish, diminutive…
Are We There Yet?Are We There Yet? (2005)
Dir. Brian Levant
Feat. Ice-Cube, Nia Long, Jay Mohr
Broad, but essentially successful comedy has a determined Ice–Cube proving to his girlfriend that he is 'child friendly' by transporting her…
AsylumAsylum (2005)
Dir. David Mackenzie
Feat. Natasha Richardson, Ian McKellen, Joss Ackland
Tense psychological thriller from the dir. of YOUNG ADAM that owes plenty to the master Hitch, with Natasha Richardson in fine form as a bored…
Bigger than the SkyBigger than the Sky (2005)
Dir. Al Corley
Feat. John Corbett, Amy Smart, Sean Astin
An innocuous if fitfully insightful drama about a sad–sack graphic designer (Thomas) who finds solace when he snags the lead role in a…
Brokeback MountainBrokeback Mountain (2005) Aro Favourite
Dir. Ang Lee
Feat. Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams
A 'cause celebre' of recent cinema, this epic romantic drama is set around the terse and smouldering long–term love affair between two cowboys…
CasanovaCasanova (2005)
Dir. Lasse Hallstrom
Feat. Heath Ledger, Sienna Miller, Jeremy Irons
A lavish, middle–brow account of the infamous 18th century Italian lover, played here with deadpan wit by Heath Ledger, which weaves its own…
Conversations with Other WomenConversations with Other Women (2005) Aro Favourite
Dir. Hans Canosa
Feat. Aaron Eckhart, Helena Bonham Carter
An innovative, bittersweet romantic two–hander that uses split screen for its entire running time to explore the contrasting…
DL Chronicles, The (TV Series)DL Chronicles, The (TV Series) (2005)
Feat. Damian T. Raven, Sheilynn Wactor, T. Ashanti Mozelle
Pioneering TV series about a group of gay African–American males who choose to lead double lives and attempt to keep their homosexual…
Down in the ValleyDown in the Valley (2005) Recommended
Dir. David Jacobson
Feat. Edward Norton, Evan Rachel Wood, David Morse
Slow–burn yet layered and intense drama has Edward Norton in fine form as a delusional 'cowboy' who charms his way into trouble via the heart…
ElizabethtownElizabethtown (2005)
Dir. Cameron Crowe
Feat. Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst, Susan Sarandon
A fatefully 'personal film' from dir. Cameron Crowe, who is plainly given too much rope to tell this semi–autobiographical story. Orlando…
Elsa and FredElsa and Fred (2005)
Dir. Marcos Carnevale
Feat. Manuel Alexandre, China Zorrilla
Exquisitely acted romance between a pair of senior citizens expresses enough tenderness and fragility to overcome its rather prosaic storyline.…
GabrielleGabrielle (2005)
Dir. Patrice Chereau
Feat. Isabelle Huppert, Pascal Greggory
Absorbing adaptation of a Joseph Conrad short story coolly dissects the disintegrating marriage of a bourgeois French couple. Gorgeously framed…
Girl in the Cafe, TheGirl in the Cafe, The (2005)
Dir. David Yates
Feat. Bill Nighy, Kelly MacDonald
Richard Curtis (LOVE ACTUALLY) penned this second–chances romance with a mild political streak, where an aging civil servant strikes up an…
Heartbreak HotelHeartbreak Hotel (2005) Recommended
Dir. Colin Nutley
Feat. Helena Bergstrom, Maria Lundqvist
Two recently–divorced Swedish women form an unlikely bond and navigate their way through the perils of singledom in this fresh–faced…
HitchHitch (2005)
Dir. Andy Tennant
Feat. Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Michael Rapaport
A self–amused Smith headlines this Manhattan comedy, as professional matchmaker who 'hitches' couples back together in faltering…
Imagine Me and YouImagine Me and You (2005)
Dir. Ol Parker
Feat. Piper Perabo, Lena Headey
Lightweight but toothsome Brit comedy in which a newlywed bride (Perabo) inadvertantly forms a lesbian attraction to the wedding florist (Heady),…
Just FriendsJust Friends (2005)
Dir. Roger Kumble
Feat. Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Chris Klein
Refreshingly sour comedy has an overweight high school dork (Reynolds) return to his home town ten years later as a trim, fit and super–smooth…
Just Like HeavenJust Like Heaven (2005)
Dir. Mark Waters
Feat. Reese Witherspoon, Mark Ruffalo, Jon Heder
A lonely architect (Ruffalo) falls for the the attractive spirit (Witherspoon) of the former tenant of his apartment who is trapped in some kind of…
Koi Aap SaKoi Aap Sa (2005)
Dir. Partho Mitra
Feat. Aftab Shivdasani
Fruity Bollywood number with Aftab Shivdasani as a hunky football captain torn between his spunky girlfriend and coltish childhood sweetheart.
Ladies in LavenderLadies in Lavender (2005)
Dir. Charles Dance
Feat. Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Natascha McElhone
During the pre–WW2 period, a handsome Polish stranger (Bruhl) is washed up on a beach in Cornwall and taken into care by two aging spinster…
Little ManhattanLittle Manhattan (2005)
Dir. Mark Levin
Feat. Josh Hutcherson, Bradley Whitford, Cynthia Nixon
Contemplative and sweetly romantic comedy following a 10–year old boy who experiences falling in love for the first time amidst his parents'…
Love Soup (TV Series)Love Soup (TV Series) (2005-2008)
Dir. Sandy Johnson
Feat. Tamsin Greig, Michael Landes, Sheridan Smith
BBC romantic comedy starring Tamsin Greig and Michael Landes (in Series 1 only) as people who like the same things and share the same beliefs, only…
Manual of Love, TheManual of Love, The (Manuale d'amore) (2005) Recommended
Dir. Giovanni Veronesi
Feat. Jasmine Trinca, Sergio Rubini, Silvio Muccino
Four couples experience the agony and ecstasy of modern love in this appealing romance of intertwining relationships. An agreeable, attractive…
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm SchoolMarilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School (2005)
Dir. Randall Miller
Feat. Robert Carlyle, Marisa Tomei, John Goodman
Old–fashioned melodrama, shading into elegaic whimsy, in which a widowed baker (Carlyle) helps and learns the story of a car crash victim…
Mistress of SpicesMistress of Spices (2005)
Dir. Paul Mayeda Berges
Feat. Aishwarya Rai, Dylan McDermott, Ayesha Dharkar
A beautiful Indian 'spice mistress' (Rai) emigrates to San Francisco, where she opens a dispensary, having to obey three special edicts –…
Mozart And The WhaleMozart And The Whale (2005)
Dir. Petter Naess
Feat. Josh Hartnett, Radha Mitchell, Gary Cole
An earnestly–conceived dramatic romance in which two Asperger's Syndrome (a form of autism) sufferers – a preoccupied taxi–driver…
Must Love DogsMust Love Dogs (2005)
Dir. Gary David Goldberg
Feat. Diane Lane, John Cusack, Elizabeth Perkins
Candyfloss romcom sees a forty–something teacher (Lane) recover from a broken marriage with the help of her large Irish–American family,…
One Stays, One LeavesOne Stays, One Leaves (L' un reste, l'autre part) (2005)
Dir. Claude Berri
Feat. Daniel Auteuil, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Nathalie Baye
Witty French comedy with an undercurrent of angst in which two philandering middle–aged husbands do their utmost to juggle fresh–faced…
Perfect Catch, ThePerfect Catch, The (Fever Pitch) (2005)
Dir. Bob Farrelly, Pete Farrelly
Feat. Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, James B. Sikking
Americanization of FEVER PITCH sees soccer swapped for baseball, but the story is essentially the same with Fallon as the sports obsessive, and…
Perfect Man, ThePerfect Man, The (2005)
Dir. Mark Rosman
Feat. Hilary Duff, Heather Locklear
Romantic comedy finds teenager Duff trying to devise a romance between her mother (Locklear) and a 'dream' man, so as to inject some stability into…
PrimePrime (2005) Recommended
Dir. Ben Younger
Feat. Uma Thurman, Meryl Streep
Light yet smart New York City comedy in the Woody Allen mode, proposing the cracked fairytale of 30–something Thurman being wooed by a young…
Princess RaccoonPrincess Raccoon (Operetta tanuki goten) (2005)
Dir. Seijun Suzuki
Feat. Zhang Ziyi, Joe Odagiri
Wacky musical rumpus stars Zhang Ziyi as a 'raccoon dog' who falls in love with a prince banished to her enchanted forest. A fanciful swansong for…
PuppyPuppy (2005)
Dir. Kieran Galvin
Feat. Bernard Curry, Nadia Townsend
A self–funded meditation on obsession and love, set in Victoria's pretty Yarra Valley, in which a free spirit is rescued by a delusional…
Romance and CigarettesRomance and Cigarettes (2005) Aro Favourite
Dir. John Turturro
Feat. James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet
Actor John Turturro wrote, directed and self–released this bawdy and often brilliant 60's–pop–anthem–fuelled comedy musical,…
Russian DollsRussian Dolls (Les Poupées russes) (2005)
Dir. Cedric Klapisch
Feat. Audrey Tautou, Romain Duris, Cecile De France
A sequel of substance to the pan–Euro comedy THE SPANISH APARTMENT, which will again strike an entertaining chord with the young globetrotting,…
Shadows in the SunShadows in the Sun (The Shadow Dancer) (2005)
Dir. Brad Mirman
Feat. Harvey Keitel, Claire Forlani, Joshua Jackson
A youthful literary editor from London (Jackson) is sent to Italy to track down a legendary reclusive writer (Keitel), esconced somewhere in the…
ShopgirlShopgirl (2005)
Dir. Anand Tucker
Feat. Claire Danes, Steve Martin, Jason Schwartzman
Generally thoughtful and subtle adaptation of Steve Martin's novella, set around the heartfelt search for life satisfaction by the lonely Danes, who…
SueñoSueño (Dream) (2005)
Dir. Renee Chabria
Feat. John Leguizamo, Elizabeth Pena
Light but good–hearted drama about an aspiring Mexican singer (Leguizamo) who transplants with difficulty to Los Angeles, finding success…
Sweet LandSweet Land (2005) Recommended
Dir. Ali Selim
Feat. Elizabeth Reaser, Tim Guinee, Lois Smith
Beautifully framed romantic saga about a German mail–order bride and her would–be husband's struggle to overcome the propaganda–led…
Three TimesThree Times (2005) Recommended
Dir. Hou Hsiao-Hsien
Feat. Chen Chang, Shu Qi
Taiwanese great Hou Hsiao–Hsien rekindles the memory of three of his finest films, linking a trio of elegant, erstwhile love stories (across…
Tyrannical LoveTyrannical Love (2005)
Dir. Scott Boswell
Feat. Stephen Jorgensen, Marcus Maclean
A homegrown low–budget comedy that follows the romantic manouverings amongst a group of young adults in Pakuranga, Auckland just before the…
Valley of FlowersValley of Flowers (2005)
Dir. Pan Nalin
Feat. Milind Soman, Mylène Jampanoï, Naseeruddin Shah
Visually gorgeous, sprawling love story from the director of SAMSARA revises an epic Himalayan legend of a mischievous couple whose immortal love…
Wedding Date, TheWedding Date, The (2005)
Dir. Claire Kilner
Feat. Dermot Mulroney, Debra Messing, Jack Davenport
Lightweight romcom sees a successful single woman (Messing, from TV's "Will and Grace") travel to her sister's wedding in London with a paid male…
Wendell Baker Story, TheWendell Baker Story, The (2005)
Dir. Luke Wilson, Andrew Wilson
Feat. Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Eva Mendes
Typical Wilson brother comedy fare about a scheming ex con who finds work at a retirement hotel and helps the residents get revenge on their nasty…
White Countess, TheWhite Countess, The (2005)
Dir. James Ivory
Feat. Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson, Vanessa Redgrave
Set in the tumult of 1930s Shanghai, when China was threatened with Japanese invasion, this final Merchant–Ivory production (producer Ismail…
13 Going on 3013 Going on 30 (2004) Recommended
Dir. Gary Winick
Feat. Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Andy Serkis
A winning variation on the "body swaparoo", with an unhappy teenager waking from her 13th birthday to find time fast–forwarded and herself a…
3-Iron3-Iron (Bin-jip) (2004)
Dir. Kim Ki-Duk
Feat. Seung-yeon Lee, Hee Song Jae
Odd, elliptical love story from the dir. SPRING, SUMMER concerns the blossoming romance between a domestic abuse victim and her savior, a…
50 First Dates50 First Dates (2004)
Dir. Peter Segal
Feat. Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Rob Schneider
A curious Hawaiian–set romcom with marine biologist Sandler wooing Barrymore – trouble is she has short–term amnesia (because of an…
A Lot Like LoveA Lot Like Love (2004)
Dir. Nigel Cole
Feat. Ashton Kutcher, Amanda Peet, Taryn Manning
Cutely delivered riff on WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, this pairs Kutcher with Peet for a long–stalling love affair over the years as both gradually…
Ae Fond KissAe Fond Kiss (A Fond Kiss) (2004) Recommended
Dir. Ken Loach
Feat. Eva Birthistle, Atta Taqub
This cross–cultural Glaswegian drama finds dir. Ken Loach in a more romantic mood than usual, portraying a Scots–Asian man and Catholic…
AlfieAlfie (2004)
Dir. Charles Shyer
Feat. Jude Law, Marisa Tomei, Omar Epps
Slicked back remake of the Michael Caine original, here translated to contemporary Manhattan, with Jude Law playing the Cockney skirt–chaser on…
Along Came PollyAlong Came Polly (2004)
Dir. John Hamburg
Feat. Ben Stiller, Jennifer Anniston, Philip Seymour Hoffman
A control–freak meets chaos–personified in a NYC comedy that, while utterly familiar, cannot fail due to its stars and overall…
Before SunsetBefore Sunset (2004) Aro Favourite
Dir. Richard Linklater
Feat. Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
Taking up some nine years after their characters met in BEFORE SUNRISE, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, now in their mid–thirties, reacquaint…
Bride and PrejudiceBride and Prejudice (2004)
Dir. Gurinder Chadha
Feat. Martin Henderson, Naveen Andrews, Aishwarya Rai
Bollywood meets Hollywood in this rather original Jane Austen adaptation, with ex–pat Kiwi Henderson playing a blueblood American who falls…
BridesBrides (Nyfes) (2004)
Dir. Pantelis Voulgaris
Feat. Damian Lewis, Victoria Haralabidou, Steven Berkoff
Through the passages of unrequited love, this bittersweet tale set on board a ship en route to the United States evokes a universal story of…
Bridget Jones: The Edge of ReasonBridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)
Dir. Beeban Kidron
Feat. Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant
Again playing the English everygirl betrayed by her genius for the 'faux pas', Rene Zellweger runs a gamut of embarassing situations as she…
Dear FrankieDear Frankie (2004) Recommended
Dir. Shona Auerbach
Feat. Emily Mortimer, Gerard Butler
An effectively written drama about the consequences of a mother's desire to protect her deaf son from the truth about his violent absent…
Elvis Has Left the BuildingElvis Has Left the Building (2004)
Dir. Joel Zwick
Feat. John Corbett, Kim Basinger, Denise Richards
A goofy roadtrip from the dir. of MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, in which a depressed advertising executive (Corbett) hooks up with a cosmetics saleswoman…
FidaFida (2004)
Dir. Ken Ghosh
Feat. Kareena Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Fardeen Khan
Typically likeable Bollywood item that intercrosses two love stories with the tale of an online bank heist. Treading lightly through the genre…
Futile AttractionFutile Attraction (2004)
Dir. Mark Prebble
Feat. Michelle Ang, Alistair Browning
Set around a 'Reality TV' show, whose attempt to follow a couple from arranged date through to consummation is frustrated when the selected twosome…
Garden StateGarden State (2004)
Dir. Zach Braff
Feat. Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Ian Holm
Sitcom actor Zach Braff compliments his career in "Scrubs" as the ambitious writer, director and star of this personal, melancholy comedy that became…
Head in the CloudsHead in the Clouds (2004)
Dir. John Duigan
Feat. Charlize Theron, Penelope Cruz, Stuart Townsend
Set in the turmoil of 1930s Europe, this cloudy melodrama involves an irresponsible French–American socialite (Theron) who becomes a…
Head-OnHead-On (Gegen die Wand) (2004) Recommended
Dir. Fatih Akin
Feat. Birol Unel, Sibel Kekilli
Set in scungy working–class Hamburg, this constructs an unusual love story around two Turkish immigrants – a drunken janitor (Unel) and a…
In Good CompanyIn Good Company (2004)
Dir. Paul Weitz
Feat. Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace, Scarlett Johansson
Grappling with the personal dynamics and conflicts of corporate culture in a marketing department, this has a youthful upstart (Grace) promoted over…
Italian Romance, AnItalian Romance, An (L'amore Ritrovato) (2004)
Dir. Carlo Mazzacurati
Feat. Stefano Accorsi, Maya Sansa, Marco Messeri
Languid Italian melodrama set in 1936, where a pair of young ex–lovers rediscover one another and have a passionate fling, despite an…
Jersey GirlJersey Girl (2004)
Dir. Kevin Smith
Feat. Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Jason Biggs
Surprising schmaltz from the dir. of CLERKS and CHASING AMY, who supresses (almost) the dick and movie jokes that are his stock–in–trade…
Laws of AttractionLaws of Attraction (2004)
Dir. Peter Howitt
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Julianne Moore, Parker Posey
Two divorce lawyers (Brasnan and Moore) feud in court, reconcile, schmooze and get drunkenly hitched, in this screwball comedy of average…
Life I Want, The Life I Want, The (Vita che vorrei, La) (2004)
Dir. Giuseppe Piccioni
Feat. Luigi Lo Cascio, Sandra Ceccarelli
Intriguing Italian romantic drama about two avid actors cast as lovers who begin to cross over the boundaries of stage–life and reality with an…
Mango KissMango Kiss (2004)
Dir. Sascha Rice
Feat. Daniele Ferraro, Michelle Wolff
Two recently outed lesbians embark on a new life in San Francisco, assuming various gender roles as queer performance artists while edging closer to…
Me and You and Everyone We KnowMe and You and Everyone We Know (2004) Aro Favourite
Dir. Miranda July
Feat. Miranda July, John Hawkes, Brad William Henke
An intriguing, fine–quality drama from the boundary of art and indie filmmaking, in which two struggling characters – a performance…
Notebook, TheNotebook, The (2004) Recommended
Dir. Nick Cassavetes
Feat. Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner
An old–fashioned weepie set in a coastal town in 1940's North Carolina, this nostalgic "woman's picture" finds a sure–footed romantic…
P.S.P.S. (2004)
Dir. Dylan Kidd
Feat. Laura Linney, Topher Grace, Gabriel Byrne
Nervy and refined sophomore effort from RODGER DODGER dir. Dylan Kidd, here unbuttoning the thirty–something dilemmas of a university…
Prince and Me, ThePrince and Me, The (2004)
Dir. Martha Coolidge
Feat. Julia Stiles, Miranda Richardson, James Fox
Solid 'Cinderella' updating, with Stiles playing a student who becomes romantically entwined with Crown Prince of Denmark. Fairly playful, and Stiles…
Producing AdultsProducing Adults (2004)
Dir. Aleksi Salmenpera
Feat. Minna Haapkyla, Kari-Pekka Toivonen, Minttu Mustakallio
Finnish comedy–drama about a woman who develops an unlikely relationship with the female doctor she meets at the fertility clinic, while she is…
RaincoatRaincoat (2004)
Dir. Rituparno Ghosh
Feat. Ajay Devgan, Aishwarya Rai
Dramatically–ambitious dir. Ghosh here creates an understated chamber piece from the usual Bollywood melodramatics, staging a rainy–day…
Raising HelenRaising Helen (2004)
Dir. Garry Marshall
Feat. Kate Hudson, John Corbett, Joan Cusack
Sweet comic fluff, with Hudson playing a successful New York party animal who is exiled to the suburbs when she 'inherits' the three children of her…
Saving FaceSaving Face (2004)
Dir. Alice Wu
Feat. Joan Chen, Lynn Chen, Michelle Krusiec
Comfy American indie which plumbs various relationship taboos in the world of Asian–America, centred around the lesbian longings of a surgeon…
Shadows Of TimeShadows Of Time (Scatten der Zeit) (2004)
Dir. Florian Gallenberger
Feat. Prushant Narayanan, Tanishta Chaterjee
Sumptuous romantic melodrama of a high order, following the bittersweet relations between two abandoned children, who graduate from working in a…
Shall We Dance?Shall We Dance? (2004)
Dir. Peter Chelsom
Feat. Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, Susan Sarandon
A fairly graceful remake of the 1996 Japanese hit comedy, with overworked city lawyer Gere finding release and solace in ballroom dancing lessons…
SpanglishSpanglish (2004)
Dir. James L. Brooks
Feat. Adam Sandler, Paz Vega, Tea Leoni
A Mexican maid (Vega) is inducted into the Bel Air household of a celebrity chef (Sandler) and his dysfunctional family, in this cheerfully sour…
Story of My Life, TheStory of My Life, The (Mensonges et trahisons et plus si affinités) (2004)
Dir. Laurent Tirard
Feat. Edouard Baer, Marie-Josee Croze, Clovis Cornillac
A ghostwriter’s charmed life is thrown into tailspin when he’s assigned the autobiography of a notoriously egotistical soccer star. Further…
Three Dancing SlavesThree Dancing Slaves (2004)
Dir. Gaël Morel
Feat. Nicolas Cazalé, Stephane Rideau, Thomas Dumerchez
French romantic drama set in a working class Annecy neighbourhood where three brothers are in and out of the criminal world after their mother dies,…
Touch of PinkTouch of Pink (2004)
Dir. Ian Iqbal Rashid
Feat. Kyle MacLachlan, Jimi Mistry
A gay Indo–Canadian man (Mistry) living happily in London with his boyfriend faces a crisis when his straight–laced Muslim mother flies…
Twenty Thirty FortyTwenty Thirty Forty (20 30 40) (2004)
Dir. Sylvia Chang
Feat. Sylvia Chang, Rene Liu, Lee Sinji
The destinies of three women in contemporary urban Taiwan – aged 20, 30 and 40 – evolve in parallel as each feels their way through the…
UnconsciousUnconscious (Inconscientes) (2004)
Dir. Joaquin Oristrell
Boisterous 'Freudian farce' set amidst the extravagent architecture of Barcelona in 1913, where a disturbed psychiatrist suddenly adandons his…
UnrealUnreal (2004)
Dir. Sloan Copeland
Feat. Michael Giese, Brad Schmidt, Jessica Morales
Patchy but likeable reality–TV spoof takes six cameras to follow three recently separated couples as they are re–released into the wild…
Upside of Anger, TheUpside of Anger, The (2004)
Dir. Mike Binder
Feat. Kevin Costner, Joan Allen, Erika Christensen
After being deserted by her husband, a resentful suburban Mom (Allen) turns to the bottle and the arms of her neighbour (Costner), an…
Very Long Engagement, AVery Long Engagement, A (Long dimanche de fiançailles, Un) (2004) Recommended
Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Feat. Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel, Clovis Cornillac
Another crowd–pleasing favourite from the dir. of AMELIE, which uses the Great War as setting for the fairytale search by Audrey Tatou for her…
Wicker ParkWicker Park (2004)
Dir. Paul McGuigan
Feat. Josh Hartnett, Diane Kruger, Rose Byrne
A flashily–filmed, functional Hollywood remake of L'APPARTEMENT, with Hartnett playing a Chicago artist who falls for a beautiful dancer…
WimbledonWimbledon (2004)
Dir. Richard Loncraine
Feat. Paul Bettany, Kirsten Dunst, Robert Lindsay
The producers of FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL et al replay the Anglo–American romance formula, appealingly set in the world of professional…
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004)
Dir. Robert Luketic
Feat. Kate Bosworth, Josh Duhamel, Topher Grace
Quality fluff, with Bosworth playing a smalltown girl who wins the titular date, expecting a one–off evening, but gaining an ardent…
YesYes (2004) Aro Favourite
Dir. Sally Potter
Feat. Joan Allen, Simon Abkarian, Sam Neill
Love and politics are brilliantly and inextricably entwined in this daringly original drama that sees a middle–aged American woman fall out of…
3 is a Crowd 3 is a Crowd (I'm Staying) (2003)
Dir. Diane Kurys
Feat. Sophie Marceau, Vincent Perez, Charles Berling
Farcical French romantic comedy about a wife, fed up with her stubborn husband's cycling obsession, who invites another man to move in. Unfortunately…
A Foreign AffairA Foreign Affair (2 Brothers and a Bride) (2003)
Dir. Helmut Schleppi
Feat. David Arquette, Tim Blake Nelson, Emily Mortimer
An underrated dramatic satire in which two American farmboys enrol in a 'romance tour' of Russia when their mother dies. As they tour the clubs…
A Heart ElsewhereA Heart Elsewhere (Il Cuore Altrove) (2003)
Dir. Pupi Avati
Feat. Giancarlo Giannini, Neri Marcore, Vanessa Incontrada
Seemingly a soft–centred drama set in 1930s Italy, this curious tale of blind love carries its own insinuating mood of melancholy. Marcore…
All the Real GirlsAll the Real Girls (2003)
Dir. David Gordon Green
Feat. Patricia Clarkson, Zooey Deschanel, Paul Schneider
Wistful, nuanced tale set in a tiny North Carolina town, where the town stud must prove himself in a romance with his best friend's…
Anything ElseAnything Else (2003)
Dir. Woody Allen
Feat. Woody Allen, Jason Biggs, Christina Ricci
Woody Allen returns to his home turf tracking the urban mores of various Manhattan–ites, in a fairly slight comic venture which follows the…
Apres VousApres Vous (After You) (2003)
Dir. Pierre Salvadori
Feat. Daniel Auteuil, Sandrine Kiberlain, Jose Garcia
A well–meaning French maitre d' (Auteuil) saves a lovelorn Parisian (Garcia) from topping himself in a midnight park, before becoming…
April's ShowerApril's Shower (2003)
Dir. Trish Doolan
Feat. Maria Cina, Trish Doolan, Randall Batinkoff
A closeted lesbian attempts to reconcile her relationship with her to–be–married best friend during a bridal shower in this madcap comedy…
ArmaanArmaan (2003)
Dir. Honey Irani
Feat. Amitabh Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Gracey Singh
A hospital soap–opera, Bollywood–style, centering around a doctor and his neurosurgeon son who dream of turning a private hospital into a…
BeautyBeauty (2003)
Feat. Martin Clunes, Sienna Guillory, Peter Vaughan
Brit comedy in which a cloistered aristocrat, represented by Martin Clunes (DOC MARTIN), scarred by years of inbreeding has chosen to "trap" himself…
Beyond BordersBeyond Borders (2003)
Dir. Martin Campbell
Feat. Clive Owen, Angelina Jolie, Teri Polo
An underrated romantic drama in which a bored American woman (Jolie) falls in with a compassionate aid–worker who works in war ravaged…
Bon VoyageBon Voyage (2003)
Dir. Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Feat. Isabelle Adjani, Gerard Depardieu, Virginie Ledoyen
A plushly–mounted, grander–than–life romantic farce from director of "Cyrano De Bergerac". It's June 1940, when a group of…
CarolinaCarolina (2003)
Dir. Marleen Gorris
Feat. Julia Stiles, Shirley Maclaine, Randy Quaid
Slightly off–kilter romantic comedy, with the dir. of MRS DALLOWAY injecting a little originality into the normal recipe. Stiles, projecting…
Chalte ChalteChalte Chalte (2003)
Dir. Aziz Mirza
Feat. Shahrukh Khan
Glossy Bollywood comic–romance that runs a typical gamut of emotions about a chalk–and–cheese yet glamourous couple, who against…
Code 46Code 46 (2003) Recommended
Dir. Michael Winterbottom
Feat. Tim Robbins, Samantha Morton
A cerebral, provocative 'future shock' thriller in which Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton try to conduct a forbidden affair in a politically…
Dot The IDot The I (El Punto sobre la I) (2003)
Dir. Matthew Parkhill
Feat. Gael Garcia Bernal, James D'Arcy, Natalia Verbeke
A skillfully moody London romance, in which the relationship of an engaged couple is disturbed by a pre–wedding ritual in which Verbeke must…
EasyEasy (2003) Recommended
Dir. Jane Weinstock
Feat. Marguerite Moreau, Brian F O'Byrne, Naveen Andrews
A nicely–judged indie riff on some of the perennial dilemmas of modern romance, as experienced by two sisters on the quest to find their…
GigliGigli (2003)
Dir. Martin Brest
Feat. Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Al Pacino
Famously derided as one of the worst films ever made, this cinematic failure finally proved to Hollywood that audiences don't care about $75 million…
Human Stain, TheHuman Stain, The (2003) Recommended
Dir. Robert Benton
Feat. Anthony Hopkins, Nicole Kidman, Gary Sinise
An astute adaptation of a modern American classic, with a distinguished Anthony Hopkins and a blazing Nicole Kidman striking a surprising…
I Capture the CastleI Capture the Castle (2003) Recommended
Dir. Tim Fywell
Feat. Rose Byrne, Henry Thomas, Tara Fitzgerald
Sleepy and amiable drama set in the 1930s England where a family living in genteel poverty in a dilapidated castle are 'beseiged' by visiting…
Intolerable CrueltyIntolerable Cruelty (2003) Recommended
Dir. Joel Coen
Feat. George Clooney, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Billy Bob Thornton
Another sophisticated comedy from the Coen Brothers, here certifying George Clooney as a leading man with dab comic timing, opposite a smouldering,…
It's All About LoveIt's All About Love (2003)
Dir. Thomas Vinterberg
Feat. Joaquin Phoenix, Claire Danes, Sean Penn
A wacky, overambitious, though not unendearing flop for dir. Vinterberg (FESTEN), in which young couple Danes and Phoenix attempt to resolve the…
Kal Ho Naa HoKal Ho Naa Ho (Tomorrow May Never Come) (2003) Recommended
Dir. Nikhil Advani
Feat. Shahrukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta
Sporting a string of hit songs and featuring a troika of India's most popular stars, this giddy swirl of romantic comedy, musical, family melodrama…
Kiss Me First Kiss Me First (Prima dammi un bacio) (2003)
Dir. Ambrogio Lo Giudice
Feat. Stefania Rocca, Marco Cocci
Endearing Italian comedy following the fate of two separated lovers whose lives cannot help but intersect. The events of WW2 inevitably drive these…
Latter DaysLatter Days (2003) Recommended
Dir. C. Jay Cox
Feat. Steve Sandvoss, Wes Ramsey, Jacqueline Bisset
Putting a slight twist on the conventions of romantic gay comedy, a Los Angeles party animal falls for and becomes involved with a young Mormon…
Le DivorceLe Divorce (2003)
Dir. James Ivory
Feat. Kate Hudson, Naomi Watts, Leslie Caron
Neither romantic escapism nor French farce American–style, this comedy from ‘prestige’ partnership Merchant–Ivory can’t find shape…
Lost in TranslationLost in Translation (2003) Aro Favourite
Dir. Sofia Coppola
Feat. Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi
A coolly romantic and engaging tale of a “brief encounter” between two Americans stranded in Tokyo – a movie–star in midlife crisis…
Love ActuallyLove Actually (2003)
Dir. Richard Curtis
Feat. Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson
Golden–boy comedy writer Richard Curtis assumes directing duties for the first time but mislays the Midas touch he gained from penning “Four…
Love Me If You DareLove Me If You Dare (Jeux d'enfants) (2003)
Dir. Yann Samuell
Feat. Marion Cotillard, Guillaume Canet
Two French kids develop an intense relationship through escalating games of "dare" that bond and haunt them through a turbulent teenage and…
Mambo ItalianoMambo Italiano (2003)
Dir. Emile Gaudreault
Feat. Luke Kirby, Ginette Reno, Paul Sorvino
Light–hearted story follows an Italian immigrant family in Canada who comically resist their son's efforts to announce he is gay. Set around…
My Date with DrewMy Date with Drew (2003)
Dir. Brian Herzlinger, Jon Gunn, Brett Winn
Feat. Brian Herzlinger
Taking the showbiz reality genre to its logical nadir, 'regular Joe' and amateur film–maker Brian Herzlinger documents his quest to, er, get a…
School for SeductionSchool for Seduction (2003)
Dir. Sue Heel
Feat. Kelly Brook, Emily Woof, Dervla Kirwan
An Italian temptress (Brook) arrives at a school in darkest Newcastle to try and teach a group of working women about the art of romance. Broadly…
Something's Gotta GiveSomething's Gotta Give (2003)
Dir. Nancy Meyers
Feat. Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves
Smoothly fashioned comic drama in which aging music–industry womaniser Nicholson suffers a heart attack and falls for grey–haired…
Story of Marie and Julien, TheStory of Marie and Julien, The (Histoire de Marie et Julien) (2003)
Dir. Jacques Rivette
Feat. Emmanuelle Beart, Jerzy Radziwilowicz
Meandering and hypnotic tale of the supernatural from French master Jacques Rivette, which begins in the apparently nondescript world of a Parisian…
Toy LoveToy Love (2003) Recommended
Dir. Harry Sinclair
Feat. Dean O'Gorman, Kate Elliot
Under–rated "bedroom comedy" from writer–director Harry Sinclair about the unruly love games played by a circle of flaky, impetuous…
Under the Tuscan SunUnder the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Dir. Audrey Wells
Feat. Diane Lane, Sandra Oh, Lindsay Duncan
Likeable tale of Mediterranean healing, with Diane Lane exuding considerable charm in her role as a divorcee who rebuilds her life by restoring a…
Watching YouWatching You (2003)
Feat. Diane Flacks, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Cara Pifko
A collection of award–winning international lesbian short films, which will be a treat for the target audience. There's a huge variety of…
Wilbur Wants to Kill HimselfWilbur Wants to Kill Himself (2003)
Dir. Lone Scherfig
Feat. Adrian Rawlins, Shirley Henderson
'Dogme' film by way of Scotland, that surveys the doings of four childlike adults, achieving a curious dual tone of whimsical drama and gallows…
William and Mary (TV Series)William and Mary (TV Series) (2003)
Feat. Martin Clunes, Julie Graham
The ups and downs of an undertaker (Clunes) and midwife (Graham) in love forms the basis of this rocky, unconventional relationship comedy, where…
Zhou Yu's TrainZhou Yu's Train (2003)
Dir. Sun Zhou
Feat. Tony Leung (Kar-fai), Gong Li, Honglei Sun
Gong Li shimmers as a gorgeous ceramic artisan in rural China, who is torn between two men – a reclusive poet (Leung) and an affable vetenarian…
And Now Ladies and GentlemenAnd Now Ladies and Gentlemen (2002)
Dir. Claude Lelouch
Feat. Jeremy Irons, Patricia Kaas, Thierry Lhermitte
A smooth exercise in self–satire from dir. Lelouch, with Jeremy Irons playing a shifty jewel–thief who hooks up with lounge–singer…
Australian RulesAustralian Rules (2002)
Dir. Paul Goldman
Feat. Nathan Phillips, Luke Carroll, Lisa Flanagan
A powerful, ultimately compassionate story of white and aboriginal youngsters in remote South Australia, who bond both on and off the football field.…
Bollywood HollywoodBollywood Hollywood (2002)
Dir. Deepa Mehta
Feat. Rahul Khanna, Lisa Ray
The dir. of the 'elements trilogy' (FIRE, EARTH, WATER) conceived this less artful, but rather clever insider's take on the Bollywood musical…
Book Of Eve, TheBook Of Eve, The (2002)
Dir. Claude Fournier
Feat. Claire Bloom, Susannah York, Daniel Lavoie
Canadian romantic drama with Claire Bloom playing a reclusive married woman who falls in love with a Romanian immigrant.
Charlotte GrayCharlotte Gray (2002)
Dir. Gillian Armstrong
Feat. Cate Blanchett, Billy Crudup, Michael Gambon
WWII France is the backdrop for a love–triangle in this well–made, though sappy war–romance, Cate Blanchett providing a compelling…
Down With LoveDown With Love (2002)
Dir. Peyton Reed
Feat. Ewan McGregor, Renee Zellweger, Tony Randall
Entertaining homage to the early 1960s comedies of Doris Day and Rock Hudson, where a 'love advice' columnist is slyly seduced by a playboy…
Heart of Me, TheHeart of Me, The (2002)
Dir. Thaddeus O'Sullivan
Feat. Helena Bonham Carter, Paul Bettany, Olivia Williams
A moody, though slightly outmoded period drama set in London between the wars in which two sisters become involved with the same man, as wife and…
Hope SpringsHope Springs (2002)
Dir. Mark Herman
Feat. Colin Firth, Minnie Driver, Heather Graham
Smoothly enjoyable though indistinguishable romance that sees a British illustrator (Firth) 'start again' in a small New England town after being…
Housekeeper, TheHousekeeper, The (Une Femme de Menage) (2002) Recommended
Dir. Claude Berri
Feat. Jean-Pierre Bacri, Emilie Dequenne, Catherine Breillat
Charming "French souffle" about a forlorn divorcee who hires a housekeeper to clean up his slovenly act. However, it turns out she's never done a…
How to Lose a Guy in 10 DaysHow to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2002) Recommended
Dir. Donald Petrie
Feat. Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey
Two sharp–witted yuppies spar away in this enjoyably far–fetched romantic comedy. Hudson plays a journalist who, for the premise of a…
Inner SensesInner Senses (Yee do hung gaan) (2002)
Dir. Chi-Leung Law
Feat. Leslie Cheung, Karena Lam, Maggie Poon
A loner psychologist (Cheung) falls for a suicidal woman he is treating for her constant, gloomy visions of the dead, in this stylish Asian riff on…
Jet LagJet Lag (2002)
Dir. Daniele Thompson
Feat. Juliette Binoche, Jean Reno, Sergi Lopez
Euro–comedy with supermodel Binoche and insomniac Reno forced into each's others' company by an airline strike and soon, opposites begin to…
Kissing Jessica SteinKissing Jessica Stein (2002)
Dir. Charles Herman-Wurmfeld
Feat. Jennifer Westfeldt, Heather Jurgensen
After a series of ‘straight’ failures, straight–laced Jessica Stein dabbles with same–sex romance and finds a twisted kind of…
L'IdoleL'Idole (2002)
Dir. Samantha Lang
Feat. Leelee Sobieski, James Hong
Playing a troubled Australian actress, Sobieski arrives in Paris and befriends her elderly Chinese neighbour in this melancholy…
Life Or Something Like ItLife Or Something Like It (2002)
Dir. Stephen Herek
Feat. Angelina Jolie, Edward Burns, Tony Shalhoub
An egotistical TV reporter learns to appreciate the good things in life thanks to a homeless clairvoyant (!) in this contrived romantic comedy.
Maid in ManhattanMaid in Manhattan (2002)
Dir. Wayne Wang
Feat. Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, Bob Hoskins
A middling contemporary ‘Cinderella’ romance, based around the dubious onscreen chemistry of Ralph Fiennes and J–Lo. When…
Marie-Jo and her Two LovesMarie-Jo and her Two Loves (2002)
Dir. Robert Guediguian
Feat. Ariane Ascaride, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Gerard Meylan
A dreamy, perceptive romance gently steered under the Mediterranean sun by dir. Guédiguian, who again uses the vibrant setting of his native…
Mostly MarthaMostly Martha (Bella Martha) (2002) Recommended
Dir. Sandra Nettelbeck
Feat. Martina Gedeck, Sergio Castellitto
Light and satisfying dish, concerning the frissions in a Hamburg restaurant between a chef, her eight year old neice and a talented…
My Big Fat Greek WeddingMy Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
Dir. Joel Zwick
Feat. Nia Vardalos, John Corbett
Surprise hit comedy written by its lead performer, Nia Vardalos, marries her own experience growing up a “plain Jane” in a Greek immigrant family…
OasisOasis (2002) Recommended
Dir. Chang-Dong Lee
Feat. Kyung-gu Sol, So-ri Moon
Tough and emotionally powerful drama, highlighted by fearless performances, which charts the romance between a recent parolee and a cerebral…
One and Only, TheOne and Only, The (2002)
Dir. Simon Cellan Jones
Feat. Justine Waddell, Richard Roxburgh
Based on a 1999 romantic comedy by Susanne Bier (OPEN HEARTS), this relocates the original film’s star–crossed predicament to Newcastle,…
Pipe DreamPipe Dream (2002)
Dir. John C Walsh
Feat. Martin Donovan, Mary-Louise Parker, Rebecca Gayheart
Snubbed as a serious romantic partner because he is a plumber, Martin Donovan decides to masquerade as a film director in order to attract women and…
Punch-Drunk LovePunch-Drunk Love (2002)
Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
Feat. Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Popular mainstream comic Adam Sandler takes a left turn for the director of MAGNOLIA and BOOGIE NIGHTS in this doggedly off–beat yet beguiling…
Raising Victor VargasRaising Victor Vargas (2002) Recommended
Dir. Peter Sollett
Feat. Victor Rasuk, Judy Marte
A sensitive, appealing urban coming of age story set in a Hispanic New York subculture that rewardingly favours low–key incident over…
SecretarySecretary (2002) Aro Favourite
Dir. Steven Shainberg
Feat. James Spader, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jeremy Davies
A spanking good black comedy detailing the bizarre relationship between a peculiar, ill–tempered lawyer and the meek secretary he…
Sex, Politics and CocktailsSex, Politics and Cocktails (2002)
Dir. Julien Hernandez
Feat. Julien Hernandez, Marisa Petroro
West Hollywood’s gay dating scene is the setting for this comedy–romance of queer encounters. Julien Hernandez takes on the acting,…
Spanish Apartment, TheSpanish Apartment, The (L'Auberge Espagnole) (2002)
Dir. Cedric Klapisch
Feat. Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Judith Godreche
Summery comedy set in a Barcelona apartment, where six international exchange students variously mingle, cavort and fall messily in love. Although…
Summer ThingsSummer Things (Embrassez qui vous voudrez) (2002)
Dir. Michel Blanc
Feat. Charlotte Rampling, Jacques Dutronc, Carole Bouquet
Rom–com with an ensemble cast led by Charlotte Rampling as an unhappily married woman who is off to stay at a seaside resort, where she…
TadpoleTadpole (2002) Recommended
Dir. Gary Winick
Feat. Aaron Stanford, Sigourney Weaver, Bebe Neuwirth
Slight but bright “indie” comedy about a precocious, Voltaire–reading 15–year–old with misplaced romantic designs on his…
Two Weeks NoticeTwo Weeks Notice (2002)
Dir. Marc Lawrence
Feat. Hugh Grant, Sandra Bullock, Alicia Witt
Ill–matched twosome Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock discover ‘love at the last moment’ in this proficient romantic comedy from the writer of…
Unconditional LoveUnconditional Love (2002)
Dir. P.J. Hogan
Feat. Kathy Bates, Rupert Everett, Lynn Redgrave
A neatly amusing comedy concerning the fan of a recently deceased pop crooner, who teams up with the singer's gay lover to investigate the death (or…
Walk to Remember, AWalk to Remember, A (2002)
Dir. Adam Shankman
Feat. Mandy Moore, Peter Coyote, Daryl Hannah
Based on the Nicholas Sparks novel (who also wrote THE NOTEBOOK) this romantic drama tells the classic story of two teens from different worlds who…
Affair of the Necklace, TheAffair of the Necklace, The (2001)
Dir. Charles Shyer
Feat. Hilary Swank, Jonathan Pryce, Joely Richardson
Hilary Swank (BOYS DON’T CRY) wigs up as a penniless French aristocrat in pre–revolution times who conspires to defraud Cardinal Jonathon…
AmelieAmelie (2001) Recommended
Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Feat. Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz
A charming romantic comedy stamped with the purely cinematic style of dir. Jean–Pierre Juenet, who here remixes intricate set pieces, editing…
America's SweetheartsAmerica's Sweethearts (2001)
Dir. Joe Roth
Feat. John Cusack, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Julia Roberts
Self–satirising amusement wherein Hollywood “golden–couple–who–actually–hate–each–other”, Catherine…
Amy's O Amy's O (Amy's Orgasm) (2001)
Dir. Julie Davis
Feat. Julie Davis, Nick Chinlund, Caroline Aaron
Invigorating rom–com of a single author on the hunt for a man and the ideal sexual experience. Guaranteed crowd pleaser for the single and…
Bob and Rose (TV Series)Bob and Rose (TV Series) (2001)
Dir. Julian Farino, Joe Wright
Feat. Alan Davies, Lesley Sharp
Smart, open–minded relationship drama contemplates the possibility of a gay man and a straight woman falling in love. Devoid of stereotypes,…
Born RomanticBorn Romantic (2001) Recommended
Dir. David Kane
Feat. Jane Horrocks, David Morrissey, Catherine McCormack
An acerbic portrait of romantic illusion and disillusion encompassing six regulars of a London sal sa club, all ‘born romantic’ and…
BounceBounce (2001)
Dir. Don Roos
Feat. Ben Affleck, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tony Goldwyn
Slick ad–exec Ben Affleck bounces spontaneously into the embraces of Gwyneth Paltrow due to a twist of circumstance. No better–no worse…
Bridget Jones's DiaryBridget Jones's Diary (2001) Recommended
Dir. Sharon Maguire
Feat. Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant
The anti–heroine of Helen Fielding’s novel makes the transition to the screen with her shrinking romantic options, stalled career and talent…
Captain Corelli's MandolinCaptain Corelli's Mandolin (2001)
Dir. John Madden
Feat. Penelope Cruz, Christian Bale, Nicolas Cage
A melodiously played costume–drama, that unfolds on the Greek island of Cephalonia during WWII. Occupation by Italian and later German…
CrushCrush (2001)
Dir. John McKay
Feat. Andie MacDowell, Imelda Staunton, Anna Chancellor
Uninhibited, yet ultimately wishful, this drama concerns the sex–starved lives of three middle–aged women, mainly teacher Andie…
Festival in CannesFestival in Cannes (2001) Aro Favourite
Dir. Henry Jaglom
Feat. Anouk Aimee, Greta Scacchi, Maximilian Schell
Not a documentary, but just as ‘real’ in the hands of veteran independent director Henry Jaglom, who fashions a delightfully candid…
Get Over ItGet Over It (2001)
Dir. Tommy O’Haver
Feat. Kirsten Dunst, Ben Foster, Melissa Sagemiller
Although helped by the charisma of Kirsten Dunst, this teen–movie retreads many of the usual formulas, with hero Ben Foster losing his…
God is Great, I'm NotGod is Great, I'm Not (Dieu est grand, je suis toute petite) (2001)
Dir. Pascale Bailly
Feat. Audrey Tautou, Edouard Baer, Julie Depardieu
Slim Audrey Tautou vehicle has the AMELIE–ingénue unable to settle on a religion, eventually converting to Judaism in order to win over a…
House of MirthHouse of Mirth (2001)
Dir. Terence Davies
Feat. Gillian Anderson, Eric Stoltz, Laura Linney
With its icy view of human affairs, Edith Wharton’s novel proves a good marriage for the discrete, subtle instincts of dir. Davies (DISTANT VOICES,…
In Praise of LoveIn Praise of Love (Eloge de L'amour) (2001)
Dir. Jean-Luc Godard
Feat. Bruno Putzulu, Cecile Camp, Jean Davy
Dir. Godard’s first major film in over a decade presents intellect and filmmaking in full–flight, while stubbornly refusing to provide a…
Italian For BeginnersItalian For Beginners (2001)
Dir. Lone Scherfig
Feat. Anders W Berthelsen
A likeable ensemble comedy in which six vulnerable characters orbit a drab Copenhagen suburb, each seeking some form of solace, romance or…
Kate and LeopoldKate and Leopold (2001)
Dir. James Mangold
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Meg Ryan, Liev Schreiber
Romantic time–travel whimsy spirits a buttoned–up Hugh Jackman from 1876 New York into modernday NYC and the sceptical embraces of Meg…
Last Kiss, TheLast Kiss, The (L'Ultimo Bacio) (2001) Recommended
Dir. Gabriel Muccino
Feat. Stefano Accorsi, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Stefania Sandrelli
Award–winning Italian melodrama investigates the anxieties of a young unmarried couple on the verge of parenthood. Stefano Accorsi is torn…
Lawless HeartLawless Heart (2001)
Dir. Tom Hunsinger, Neil Hunter
Feat. Douglas Henshall, Tom Hollander, Bill Nighy
A triptych of inter–related stories set in a coastal village in Essex, from the points–of–view of three different men who convene…
Lorna Doone (TV Series)Lorna Doone (TV Series) (2001)
Dir. Mike Barker
Feat. Rebecca Callard, Martin Clunes, Richard Coyle
R.D. Blackmore’s classic romantic swashbuckler, set amid the dynastic squabbles of a murderous Scottish clan – the Doones. Made by the BBC.
Love in a Cold Climate (TV Mini-Series)Love in a Cold Climate (TV Mini-Series) (2001)
Dir. Tom Hooper
Feat. Rosamund Pike, Megan Dodds, Alan Bates
This witty romantic comedy of manners revolves around three upper–class girls who are launched into society with the goal of landing suitable…
My Wife is an ActressMy Wife is an Actress (Ma Femme est une Actrice) (2001)
Dir. Yvan Attal
Feat. Charlotte Gainsbourg, Yvan Attal, Terence Stamp
Obviously modelled on his own life, first time writer/director Yvan Attal tailors a project for his real–life wife, Charlotte Gainsbourg, who…
Rare Birds (2001)
Dir. Sturla Gunnarsson
Feat. William Hurt, Molly Parker
A nice comic blend of romance, light farce and Canadian eccentricity, set around the efforts of two restaurateurs to lure customers to their sleepy…
Secret Life of Us, The (TV Series)Secret Life of Us, The (TV Series) (2001)
Feat. Claudia Karvan, Deborah Mailman
Surprisingly consistent dramedy set in funky, downtown Melbourne amongst a group of romantically ambitious young people. Maintains a quirky lightness…
SerendipitySerendipity (2001)
Dir. Peter Chelsom
Feat. John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale
Light romance–by–fate comedy, where, on their first meeting John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, decide to test their ‘rightness’…
Sidewalks of New YorkSidewalks of New York (2001)
Dir. Edward Burns
Feat. Edward Burns, Stanley Tucci, Dennis Farina
Ed Burns of THE BROTHERS MCMULLEN hits the byways of his usual home turf – cynical flirtation, adultery, longing to meet the right lover…
Station JimStation Jim (2001)
Feat. George Cole, Charlie Creed-Miles, Laura Fraser
Old–fashioned family frolic set in Victorian England that especially entertains through the wily antics of a Jack Russell terrier, and its…
Sweet NovemberSweet November (2001)
Dir. Pat O'Connor
Feat. Charlize Theron, Keanu Reeves
Charlize Theron takes on a new ‘man–project’ each month to see if romantic sparks will be struck, eventually coming across a…
The Way We Live NowThe Way We Live Now (2001)
Dir. David Yates
Feat. David Suchet, Matthew MacFadyen, Shirley Henderson
The rise and fall of a Jewish financer is laid bare by the masterful pen of Anthony Trollope. David Suchet broadly, if unlikeably encompasses the…
Very Annie-MaryVery Annie-Mary (2001)
Dir. Sara Sugarman
Feat. Rachel Griffiths, Jonathan Pryce
Set in the tiny Welsh village of Ogw and embracing the national obsession with singing, this doggedly eccentric comedy is not for all tastes yet has…
When Brendan Met TrudyWhen Brendan Met Trudy (2001) Recommended
Dir. Kieron J Walsh
Feat. Peter McDonald, Flora Montgomery
A Roddy Doyle–concocted boy–meets–girl comedy with a gentle twist – he’s a straightlaced schoolteacher, she’s a…
All the Pretty HorsesAll the Pretty Horses (2000)
Dir. Billy Bob Thornton
Feat. Penelope Cruz, Matt Damon, Henry Thomas
Serious–minded adaptation of Cormac McCarthey’s neo–western novel, the epic journey of 1950s cowboy Matt Damon across the Texan border…
Autumn in New YorkAutumn in New York (2000)
Dir. Joan Chen
Feat. Richard Gere, Winona Ryder, Anthony LaPaglia
Silver–maned Richard Gere may be an accomplished womaniser, but amid the golden–hued atmosphere of the Big Apple he can't help falling…
Beware of Greeks Bearing GunsBeware of Greeks Bearing Guns (Fovou tous Ellines) (2000)
Dir. John Tatoulis
Feat. Lakis Lazopoulos, Zoe Carides
A warm Greek–Australian rom–com following the exploits of a school teacher from Crete who is sent to Australia to avenge the family name…
Big EdenBig Eden (2000)
Dir. Thomas Bezucha
Feat. Arye Gross, Louise Fletcher, George Coe
Benignly wishful drama set in the small Montana hometown of a slightly stressed gay NYC painter (Gross), who has returned to nurse his ailing…
Bread and TulipsBread and Tulips (2000) Recommended
Dir. Silvio Soldini
Feat. Licia Maglietta, Bruno Ganz, Marina Massironi
When 40–something housewife Licia Maglietta is deserted by her family during vacation, she seizes on a chance to roll the romantic dice once…
ChocolatChocolat (2000) Recommended
Dir. Lasse Hallstrom
Feat. Juliette Binoche, Alfred Molina, Lena Olin
Light and fluffy ‘food–comedy’ of international mien in which, after a shaky start, Juliette Binoche gets into the heart of an crusty…
Closer You Get, TheCloser You Get, The (2000)
Dir. Aileen Ritchie
Feat. Ian Hart, Sean McGinley
This 'Trans–Atlantic' production has a bunch of Irish bachelors trying to lure Miami women back to their village for marriage, but come to…
Coupling (TV Series)Coupling (TV Series) (2000) Recommended
Dir. Martin Dennis
Feat. Jack Davenport, Gina Bellman, Sarah Alexander
A battle–of–the–sexes comedy series centering around six thirtysomethings, this British "Friends" enjoys a similar group dynamic…
Family Man, TheFamily Man, The (2000)
Dir. Brett Ratner
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Tea Leoni
One Christmas Eve, a Wall Street bachelor (Nicolas Cage) is given a chance to see how different it might have been if he'd married his sweetheart and…
Golden Bowl, TheGolden Bowl, The (2000)
Dir. James Ivory
Feat. Nick Nolte, Uma Thurman, Kate Beckinsale
Ambitious adaptation of Henry James’ most complex novel, Merchant–Ivory recruiting Nick Nolte, Uma Thurman, Kate Beckinsale and Jeremy…
GravitationGravitation (2000)
Soapy J–pop anime serial charting the opposite–attract courtship of an aspiring musician and the hard–headed novelist he falls for.
High FidelityHigh Fidelity (2000) Recommended
Dir. Stephen Frears
Feat. John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Jack Black
American adaptation of Nick Hornby's beloved English novel about pop music obsession and the vagaries of romance loses surprisingly little in the…
HopelessHopeless (2000) Aro Favourite
Dir. Stephen Hickey
Feat. Philip Pinner, Scott Wills, Adam Gardiner
Charming enough to have inspired a 26–episode TV series, this rookie Kiwi comedy boasts a genuine low–budget verve, a charismatic cast of…
In the Mood for LoveIn the Mood for Love (2000) Recommended
Dir. Wong Kar-Wai
Feat. Tony Leung (Chiu-wai), Maggie Cheung
As in DAYS OF BEING WILD, dir. Wong Kar–Wai portrays the languor of a 1960s Hong Kong in which two neighbours discover their respective spouses…
InnocenceInnocence (2000) Recommended
Dir. Paul Cox
Feat. Julia Blake, Charles Tingwell
Touching and acclaimed tale of renewed love between two old–flames Julia Blake and Charles Tingwell. Rare in its wise, un–judgemental…
Keeping the FaithKeeping the Faith (2000)
Dir. Edward Norton
Feat. Jenna Elfman, Edward Norton, Ben Stiller
The directing debut of actor Edward Norton, this is a relaxed and genial love–triangle comedy, the twist being that Big Apple executive Jenna…
Last ResortLast Resort (2000) Recommended
Dir. Pawel Pawlikowski
Feat. Paddy Considine, Dina Korzun, Artiom Strelnikov
A Russian woman and her 12–year–old son arrive in London where her English ‘fiancé’ has failed to show and she finds herself…
LoserLoser (2000)
Dir. Amy Heckerling
Feat. Jason Biggs, Mena Suvari, Greg Kinnear
AMERICAN PIE's Jason Biggs and Mena Suvari lend appeal and chemistry to this straightforward geek–gets–girl film from genre veteran, Amy…
Love and BasketballLove and Basketball (2000)
Dir. Gina Prince-Bythewood
Feat. Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Debbi Morgan
Engaging romantic drama about two next–door neighbours in Los Angeles who each pursue their basketball careers before eventually falling for…
Love and SexLove and Sex (2000)
Dir. Valerie Brieman
Feat. Famke Janssen, Jon Favreau
Sharp–tongued comedy with Famke Janssen and Jon Favreau generating a little chemistry as two hapless–romantics who can’t reconcile…
Luzhin Defence, TheLuzhin Defence, The (2000)
Dir. Marleen Gorris
Feat. John Turturro, Emily Watson
Combining the intricacies of the chessboard with manoeuvres of the heart, this Nabakov adaptation opens its game at a chess tournament in 1920s…
Maybe BabyMaybe Baby (2000)
Dir. Ben Elton
Feat. Hugh Laurie, Joely Richardson, Rowan Atkinson
Brit comic whizz–kid Ben Elton has a crack at the directing whip, adapting his semi–autobiographical novel about infertility;…
Me You ThemMe You Them (Eu Tu Eles) (2000) Recommended
Dir. Andrucha Waddington
Feat. Regina Case, Lima Duarte, Stenio Garcia
Set in the arid hinterlands of Brazil, this serio–comic study of rural polyandry has Regina Case (Brazil’s Oprah Winfrey) hitch up three…
Miss CongenialityMiss Congeniality (2000)
Dir. Donald Petrie
Feat. Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt
Sandra Bullock plays the tomboy as an ‘ugly duckling’ cop, who must infiltrate a beauty contest and inadvertently reveal the swan…
Most Fertile Man in Ireland, TheMost Fertile Man in Ireland, The (2000)
Dir. Dudi Appleton
Feat. Kris Marshall, Kathy Kiera Clarke, Bronagh Gallagher
Kris Marshall is the Irishman with the high sperm–count, who is recruited by Catholics and Protestants alike to boost their numbers.…
Next Best Thing, TheNext Best Thing, The (2000)
Dir. John Schlesinger
Feat. Madonna, Rupert Everett
'Who will be the father of my child?' comedy, with Madonna tempted to settle for gay housemate Rupert Everett. Diverting and reasonably topical, the…
Price of Milk, ThePrice of Milk, The (2000) Recommended
Dir. Harry Sinclair
Feat. Danielle Cormack, Karl Urban, Willa O'Neill
For young–marrieds Danielle Cormack and Karl Urban, the cost of farming their 117 cows is a strange exile in the NZ backblocks... Milking…
Return to MeReturn to Me (2000)
Dir. Bonnie Hunt
Feat. David Duchovny, Minnie Driver, Robert Loggia
Daffy togetherness for David Duchovny and Minnie Driver, who meet by chance in a New York eatery, and are eased into romance by well–wishing…
Sally Hemings - An American Scandal (Mini Series)Sally Hemings - An American Scandal (Mini Series) (2000)
Dir. Charles Haid
Feat. Sam Neill, Carmen Ejogo
Provocative mini–series telling the allegedly true story of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson's thirty–eight year affair with…
Save the Last DanceSave the Last Dance (2000)
Dir. Thomas Carter
Feat. Julia Stiles, Sean Patrick Thomas
Unhappy with her move from mid–west to a black area of Chicago, Julia Stiles seeks dance–stage salvation. Her saviour arrives in the form…
SongcatcherSongcatcher (2000) Recommended
Dir. Maggie Greenwald
Feat. Janet McTeer, Aidan Quinn, Taj Mahal
In the dappled, secluded backwoods of 1900s Appalachia, music scholar Janet McTeer makes the exciting discovery of a set of unknown Scots–Irish…
Southern ComfortSouthern Comfort (2000) Recommended
Dir. Kate Davis
A fascinating and compassionate portrait of two transsexuals – a craggy cowboy (born a woman) and a vivacious siren (born a man) – who…
Wedding Planner, TheWedding Planner, The (2000)
Dir. Adam Shankman
Feat. Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey
Love and wedding plans come into conflict, with Jennifer Lopez having to plan the nuptials of Matthew McConaughey, with whom she’s just fallen…
What Women WantWhat Women Want (2000)
Dir. Nancy Meyers
Feat. Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt
‘Freak accident’–comedy in which ad–man Mel Gibson finds himself hearing the intimate thoughts of women everywhere (and their…
Anna and the KingAnna and the King (1999)
Dir. Andy Tennant
Feat. Jodie Foster, Chow Yun-Fat
English governess Jodie Foster governs the King of Siam's (Chow–Yun Fat) children in another version of the true–story that formed the…
At First SightAt First Sight (1999)
Dir. Irwin Winkler
Feat. Val Kilmer, Mira Sorvino
Blind massage–therapist Val Kilmer regains his sight and discovers himself paired with Mira Sorvino, in this above–average yarn that…
Bachelor, The (1999)
Dir. Gary Sinyor
Feat. Chris O'Donnell, Renee Zellweger
Remake of Buster Keaton's romantic comedy Seven Chances in which commitment–phobe Chris O'Donnell must tie the knot by his looming 30th…
Bossa NovaBossa Nova (1999)
Dir. Bruno Barreto
Feat. Amy Irving
Enjoyable date–movie that replenishes its conventional tale of middle–aged romance with lashings of Bossa Nova music and…
Bumblebee Flies Anyway, TheBumblebee Flies Anyway, The (1999)
Dir. Martin Duffy
Feat. Elijah Wood, Janeane Garofalo, Rachael Leigh Cook
Romantic coming–of–age drama of a teen suffering from amnesia attempting to piece his life back together with the help of his fellow…
Cool Dry Place, A (1999)
Dir. John N. Smith
Feat. Vince Vaughn, Monica Potter, Joey Lauren Adams
Hot–shot lawyer Vince Vaughn is dumped by wife Monica Potter, and moves with his young son to a small town to restart his life. So begins a…
Earthly Possessions (1999)
Dir. James Lapine
Feat. Susan Sarandon, Stephen Dorff
Bored housewife Susan Sarandon, who is planning to leave her husband, gets mixed up in a bank robbery instigated by Stephen Dorff and becomes his…
East / WestEast / West (Est / Ouest) (1999) Recommended
Dir. Regis Wargnier
Feat. Sandrine Bonnaire, Oleg Menshikov, Sergei Bodrov Jr
A 'woman's picture' in the proudest sense of the term, this lush historical melodrama from the dir. of INDOCHINE again finds a French woman in a…
End of the Affair, TheEnd of the Affair, The (1999)
Dir. Neil Jordan
Feat. Ralph Fiennes, Julianne Moore, Stephen Rea
Graham Greene's most personal novel is a supremely cynical, thorny affirmation of religious faith, a quality that Ralph Fiennes embodies in a…
EntrapmentEntrapment (1999)
Dir. Jon Amiel
Feat. Sean Connery, Catherine Zeta-Jones
Veteran cat burglar Sean Connery meets his match in insurance investigator Catherine Zeta–Jones in this glossy fusion of international heist…
Forces of NatureForces of Nature (1999)
Dir. Bronwen Hughes
Feat. Ben Affleck, Sandra Bullock
Cutesy–pie screwball romance with wedding–bound hunk Ben Affleck enduring savage weather and travel catastrophes while saddled with kooky…
Girl on the Bridge, TheGirl on the Bridge, The (1999)
Dir. Patrice Leconte
Feat. Daniel Auteuil, Vanessa Paradis
This glossy slice of modern 'poetic realism' has an attractive visual component but its arch–Romanticism won't be everyone's glass of Chablis.…
Gloomy SundayGloomy Sunday (Ein Lied Von Liebe Und Tod) (1999) Aro Favourite
Dir. Rolf Schubel
Feat. Joachim Krol, Erika Marozsan, Ben Becker
Captivating drama which pivots around the apocryphal origins of the classic melancholy song 'Gloomy Sunday' in pre–WW2 Budapest. An amiably…
Gravitation: Lyrics of LoveGravitation: Lyrics of Love (1999)
Dir. Shinichiro Watanabe
Prequel to the cult anime series GRAVITATION that sees the lead singer of 'Bad Luck' at a crossroads in his professional and personal life with album…
Great Gatsby, TheGreat Gatsby, The (1999)
Dir. Robert Markowitz
Feat. Mira Sorvino, Paul Rudd, Toby Stephens
Competent adaptation that stays close to Fitzgerald's "Great American Novel" about a mysterious millionaire who determines to win back his flighty…
Harmonium in my Memory, TheHarmonium in my Memory, The (1999)
Dir. Young-jae Lee
Feat. Do-yeon Chun, Min-hie Kim, Byung-hun Lee
Sweet, soft–spoken melodrama of jittery first love, recalling the innocent love triangle that forms between a handsome, fresh–faced…
Just the TicketJust the Ticket (1999)
Dir. Richard Wenk
Feat. Andie MacDowell, Andy Garcia
One for Andie MacDowell and Andy Garcia fans this, a popcorn–y comedy which sees the ill–matched duo strive for harmony by scalping…
LimboLimbo (1999) Aro Favourite
Dir. John Sayles
Feat. David Strathairn, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
John Sayles, the doyen of American independents, succeeds all Johnny–Come–Lately's with an arresting, multi–layered fable that…
Looking for AlibrandiLooking for Alibrandi (1999)
Dir. Kate Woods
Feat. Pia Miranda, Greta Scacchi, Anthony LaPaglia
Refreshing rites of passage tale from Australia, based by screenwriter Melina Marchetta's on her bestselling novel. In mixing a which guy is best…
Love Letter, TheLove Letter, The (1999)
Dir. Peter Ho-Sun Chan
Feat. Kate Capshaw, Tom Selleck, Ellen DeGeneres
Whimsical in the best sense, with an anonymous love–letter spreading romantic hopes and light comedy around a small–town populated by…
Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married (TV Series)Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married (TV Series) (1999)
Dir. Brian Grant
Feat. Gerard Butler
Romantic drama based on the top selling chick lit novel by Marian Keyes following the life and loves of a twenty–something living in London.…
Message in a BottleMessage in a Bottle (1999)
Dir. Luis Mandoki
Feat. Robin Wright, Kevin Costner
Troubled divorcee Robin Wright Penn discovers a bottled letter from a bereaved widower (Kevin Costner) to his late wife, and is moved enough to seek…
Notting HillNotting Hill (1999) Recommended
Dir. Roger Michell
Feat. Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts, Rhys Ifans
Divorced book merchant Hugh Grant falls in love with a customer who happens to be the world's most famous movie star (Julia Roberts, yes, essentially…
OneginOnegin (1999)
Dir. Martha Fiennes
Feat. Ralph Fiennes, Liv Tyler
The classic, passionate Russian poem by Pushkin is lavished with whole–hearted sympathy in this adaptation, the dir.'s brother Ralph Fiennes…
Playing by Heart (1999)
Dir. Willard Carroll
Feat. Sean Connery, Gena Rowlands, Gillian Anderson
Ambitious multi–character film along the lines of SHORT CUTS, likewise set in the varying social strata of Los Angeles, but infused with…
Pornographic Affair, APornographic Affair, A (An Affair Of Love) (1999)
Dir. Frederic Fonteyne
Feat. Nathalie Baye, Sergi Lopez
A decidedly unpornographic meditation upon the mutability of human desires and emotions, with Nathalie Baye and Sergi Lopez as a nameless couple who…
Random HeartsRandom Hearts (1999)
Dir. Sydney Pollack
Feat. Kristin Scott Thomas, Harrison Ford
Both widowed by the same plane–crash, Kristen Scott Thomas and Harrison Ford put the pieces together and discover their respective spouses were…
Runaway BrideRunaway Bride (1999)
Dir. Garry Marshall
Feat. Richard Gere, Julia Roberts
New York journo Richard Gere seeks a scoop on small–town gal Julia Roberts, whose altar–deserting reputation is worthy of headlines,…
This Year's LoveThis Year's Love (1999)
Dir. David Kane
Feat. Kathy Burke, Jennifer Ehle, Ian Hart
Set amongst the romantic roundelays of 6 thirty–somethings who reside in London's bohemian Camden Town, this comedy has a quirky streak, some…
Thomas Crown Affair, TheThomas Crown Affair, The (1999)
Dir. John McTiernan
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Rene Russo
Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo spruce up the 1968 romantic thriller as respective millionaire art thief and insurance investigator magnetised against…
Three to TangoThree to Tango (1999)
Dir. Damon Santostefano
Feat. Matthew Perry, Neve Campbell, Dylan McDermott
An urban comedy of deception whose quality varies between its mildly idiotic plot and some effective casting, in the form of Matthew Perry (TV's…
AfterglowAfterglow (1998)
Dir. Alan Rudolph
Feat. Nick Nolte, Julie Christie, Lara Flynn Boyle
At times precious but ultimately wise drama of multiple adulteries sees disjointed couple Nick Nolte (plumber) and Julie Christie (ex–horror…
Alice Et MartinAlice Et Martin (1998)
Dir. Andre Techine
Feat. Juliette Binoche, Carmen Maura, Mathieu Amalric
A maladjusted young drifter (Alexis Loret) has success as a Paris fashion model and a torrid love affair with his half–brother's…
Among GiantsAmong Giants (1998)
Dir. Sam Miller
Feat. Pete Postlethwaite, Rachel Griffiths
Quirky, lowkey romance from the writer of FULL MONTY, follows the travails of a group of daredevil labourers who paint high–voltage…
An Autumn TaleAn Autumn Tale (1998) Recommended
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Marie Riviere, Beatrice Romand, Alain Libolt
Completing his suite of films based on the four seasons, dir. Rohmer provides another mellow, seemingly unplotted comedy, in which Rhone valley…
BasilBasil (1998)
Dir. Radha Bharadwaj
Feat. Jared Leto, Christian Slater, Derek Jacobi
Novel–based Victorian–era romance starring a veritable feast of eye candy in the form of Leto, Slater and Forlani as the beautiful young…
BesiegedBesieged (1998)
Dir. Bernardo Bertolucci
Feat. Thandiwe Newton, David Thewlis
Returning to a 'chamber–piece' setting reminiscent of LAST TANGO IN PARIS, dir. Bertolucci unfolds an enigmatic relationship in a Rome…
Chinese Box (1998)
Dir. Wayne Wang
Feat. Jeremy Irons, Gong Li, Maggie Cheung
Set in Hong Kong just prior to the British handover to China, this follows the last dissatisfied days of dying journalist Jeremy Irons as he pads the…
City of AngelsCity of Angels (1998)
Dir. Brad Silberling
Feat. Meg Ryan, Nicolas Cage
Hollywood resurrects Wim Wenders' classic WINGS OF DESIRE as a syrupy romantic vehicle for eligible everywoman Meg Ryan. A leaden, fatally miscast…
Dear ClaudiaDear Claudia (1998)
Dir. Chris Cudlipp
Feat. Aleksandra Vujcic, Bryan Brown
Interesting premise has rural flying–postie Bryan Brown and hitchhiker Aleksandra Vujcic (BROKEN ENGLISH) plane–wrecked in remote parts,…
Destiny of Her Own, A (Dangerous Beauty) (1998)
Dir. Marshall Herskovitz
Feat. Catherine McCormack, Rufus Sewell
Historical romance that profits from a sensuous 16th century Venetian setting, as the low–prospect Catherine McCormack opts for the tradeoffs…
Dreaming of Joseph LeesDreaming of Joseph Lees (1998)
Dir. Eric Styles
Feat. Samantha Morton, Rupert Graves, Lee Ross
Moderately adventurous psycho–drama set in late 1950s Somerset has the young Samantha Morton (UNDER THE SKIN) leading a vivid fantasy life with…
Far from the Madding CrowdFar from the Madding Crowd (1998)
Dir. Nicholas Renton
Feat. Paloma Baeza, Nigel Terry, Nathaniel Parker
Handsome production of Thomas Hardy's moody classic, which follows the life an impulsive, independent woman who ensnares – and almost destroys…
Frenchman's CreekFrenchman's Creek (1998)
Dir. Ferninand Fairfax
Feat. Tara Fitzgerald, Anthony Delon, Tim Dutton
Rollicking, handsome adaptation that deviates somewhat from Daphne Du Maurier's classic tale of the love affair between an impulsive English lady and…
Governess, The (1998)
Dir. Sandra Goldbacher
Feat. Minnie Driver, Tom Wilkinson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers
In possibly her most challenging role to date, Minnie Driver dons Victorian costume as a subversively intelligent Jewess who goes into service for a…
Great ExpectationsGreat Expectations (1998)
Dir. Alfonso Cuaron
Feat. Ethan Hawke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Bancroft
Bold revamp of the Charles Dickens classic traces the inter–twining fortunes of Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow, orphans linked via a murky…
Home FriesHome Fries (1998)
Dir. Dean Parisot
Feat. Drew Barrymore, Luke Wilson
Drew Barrymore continues to style herself as a wise yet perky cutsie–pie, here as a pregnant Burger–Matic waitress dodging the vindictive…
Hope FloatsHope Floats (1998)
Dir. Forest Whittaker
Feat. Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick Jnr., Gena Rowlands
It's back to the hometown for former prom–queen Sandra Bullock, jilted by her husband and best friend on a live TV talkshow. Here she heals the…
Horse Whisperer, TheHorse Whisperer, The (1998)
Dir. Robert Redford
Feat. Robert Redford, Kristin Scott Thomas, Scarlett Johansson
A modern–day 'horse opera' saddles up with Robert Redford both directing and starring in the title role of an appropriately handsome version of…
How Stella Got Her Groove BackHow Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
Dir. Kevin Sullivan
Feat. Angela Bassett, Whoopi Goldberg
Career–women again undergo the midlife crisis, with all its romantic miscalculations in another adaptation from the pen of Terry McMillan…
If OnlyIf Only (Twice Upon Yesterday) (1998)
Dir. Maria Ripoll
Feat. Douglas Henshall, Elizabeth McGovern, Penelope Cruz
Young lovers undergoing a relationship crisis get to relive the 'break–up' day all over again, thanks to a dose of SLIDING DOORS–style…
Legend of 1900, TheLegend of 1900, The (1998)
Dir. Giuseppe Tornatore
Feat. Tim Roth, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Bill Nunn
A beautiful and completely impossible tale about a musician (Tim Roth) whose life is defined by the luxury ocean liner on which he has grown up –…
Life Is BeautifulLife Is Beautiful (La vita e bella) (1998)
Dir. Roberto Benigni
Feat. Roberto Benigni
Winner of both Best Foreign Film and Best Actor Oscars (a first for an actor speaking a foreign tongue) as well as the top prize at Cannes, Roberto…
Love And RageLove And Rage (1998)
Dir. Cathal Black
Feat. Greta Scacchi, Daniel Craig, Stephen Dillane
Tantalising Irish melodrama starring Greta Scacchi as an English aristocrat who hires Daniel Craig as manager for her sumptuous estate and ends up…
Love Etc.Love Etc. (1998)
Dir. Marion Vernoux
Feat. Charlotte Gainsbourg, Charles Berling, Yvan Attal
Depicts an infernal love–triangle between three friends – taken from the novel ‘Talking It Over’ by Julian Barnes. Charming comedy…
Lovers of the Arctic CircleLovers of the Arctic Circle (1998)
Dir. Julio Medem
Feat. Najwa Nimri, Fele Martinez, Nancho Novo
Artful but humourless slice of 'magic realism' that follows the near–metaphysical long–term relationship between two childhood…
My Name Is JoeMy Name Is Joe (1998) Aro Favourite
Dir. Ken Loach
Feat. Peter Mullan, Louise Goodall
Dir. Ken Loach revisits his mainstay – the not–working–class of urban Britain, this time extending further north to the slums of…
Never EverNever Ever (Circle of Passion) (1998)
Dir. Charles Finch
Feat. Sandrine Bonnaire, Jane March, Charles Finch
Mediocre, if elegantly framed, this drama has an American couple (Finch and March) move to Paris and diverging into romance (with Sandrine Bonnaire)…
Next Stop, WonderlandNext Stop, Wonderland (1998) Aro Favourite
Dir. Brad Anderson
Feat. Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Hope Davis (DAYTRIPPERS) utterly captivates as a jilted blonde indisposed to the dating scene, who finds little sign of Mr. Right in the long queue…
No Looking BackNo Looking Back (1998)
Dir. Edward Burns
Feat. Lauren Holly, Jon Bon Jovi, Edward Burns
Dir. Ed Burns (BROTHERS MCMULLEN) again provides a mellow, if lukewarm comedy of romance and muted expectations set among a group of…
Object of My Affection, TheObject of My Affection, The (1998)
Dir. Nicholas Hytner
Feat. Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd
Another misfired kickstart to the Jennifer Aniston big screen career – the girl has comic talent, so why does she waste her time playing…
Occasional Coarse LanguageOccasional Coarse Language (1998) Aro Favourite
Dir. Brad Hayward
Feat. Sara Browne
Taking cheeky inspiration from women's magazine culture, this hilarious Oz comedy flies on a ticket of enthused charm, homespun wit and Sara Browne…
Oscar and LucindaOscar and Lucinda (1998)
Dir. Gillian Armstrong
Feat. Ralph Fiennes, Cate Blanchett, Ciaran Hinds
The Booker Prize–winning novel, by Australian literary wunderkind Peter Carey, is spun out into a sunlit daydream of unlikely personages and…
Out of SightOut of Sight (1998) Aro Favourite
Dir. Steven Soderbergh
Feat. George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Ving Rhames
Neatly complementing JACKIE BROWN, novelist Elmore Leonard is adapted here in purely cinematic terms by the director of SEX, LIES & VIDEOTAPE. An…
Paperback HeroPaperback Hero (1998) Recommended
Dir. Anthony J Bowman
Feat. Hugh Jackman, Claudia Karvan
Truckdriver Hugh Jackman pens a bestselling romance but is loathe to reveal his talent to his Outback mates, and gets Claudia Karvan to stand in for…
Red CornerRed Corner (1998)
Dir. Jon Avnet
Feat. Richard Gere, Ling Bai, Bradley Whitford
Corporate globetrotter Richard Gere becomes a murder–suspect during a trade visit to China, then lands further afoul when he escapes while on…
Shakespeare in LoveShakespeare in Love (1998) Aro Favourite
Dir. John Madden
Feat. Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Judi Dench
Shakespeare's art imitates life according to this gloriously fanciful, Oscar–winning tragicomedy, as the Bard himself (Joseph Fiennes), stuck…
She's All ThatShe's All That (1998)
Dir. Robert Iscove
Feat. Freddie Prinze Jnr., Anna Paquin
Charisma of rising star Freddie Prinze Jnr. (a less affected Keanu Reeves) relieves some of the predictability of this high–school variation of…
Six Days Seven NightsSix Days Seven Nights (1998)
Dir. Ivan Reitman
Feat. Harrison Ford, Anne Heche
Harrison Ford and Anne Heche fully embrace the conventions of the romantic comedy–adventure as the mis–matched couple who are thrown…
Strange PlanetStrange Planet (1998)
Dir. Emma-Kate Croghan
Feat. Claudia Karvan, Hugo Weaving, Naomi Watts
Three girl–friends and three guy–friends collide by chance for New Years Eve in a remote beach–house, mixing–n–matching…
Those Who Love Me Can Take the TrainThose Who Love Me Can Take the Train (1998) Recommended
Dir. Patrice Chereau
Feat. Pascal Greggory, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Charles Berling
Friends and associates of a deceased painter make a procession, via train, to the artist’s burial in this superb French drama. A highly nuanced…
Very Thought of You, TheVery Thought of You, The (Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence) (1998)
Dir. Nick Hamm
Feat. Monica Potter, Joseph Fiennes, Rufus Sewell
A trifle thin but amusing entry into the British romantic comedy stakes, with American gal Monica Potter giving a trio of London unlikely lads the…
Waking the DeadWaking the Dead (1998)
Dir. Keith Gordon
Feat. Billy Crudup, Jennifer Connelly
A curious, intriguing drama in which congressional candidate Billy Crudup is haunted by a woman (Jennifer Connelly) from his past, who he thought had…
Wedding Singer, TheWedding Singer, The (1998) Recommended
Dir. Frank Coraci
Feat. Drew Barrymore, Adam Sandler
Slightly premature 80s nostalgia comedy, though the benefit of hindsight makes amends on much of the genuine article (PRETTY IN PINK et al). This…
What Dreams May ComeWhat Dreams May Come (1998)
Dir. Vincent Ward
Feat. Robin Williams, Annabella Sciorra, Cuba Jr. Gooding
Visually extravagant dive into the afterlife, courtesy of New Zealander Vincent Ward, applying his classically–educated eye to a…
Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights (1998)
Dir. David Skynner
Feat. Robert Cavanah, Orla Brady, Peter Davison
Faithful adaptation of Emily Bronte's classic Gothic romance of the Yorkshire moors, flavoured by the Irish casting of Robert Cavanah and Orla Brady.
You've Got MailYou've Got Mail (1998)
Dir. Nora Ephron
Feat. Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan
The lovable personnel of SLEEPLESS IN SEATLE: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan and director Nora Ephron, regroup for this 'emotional sequel', with the medium of…
Addicted to LoveAddicted to Love (1997)
Dir. Griffin Dunne
Feat. Meg Ryan, Matthew Broderick
Acting serial monogamist Meg Ryan couples this time with Matthew Broderick for romantic revenge on their respective ex–partners who've become…
As Good As It GetsAs Good As It Gets (1997) Recommended
Dir. James L. Brooks
Feat. Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear
Obsessive–compulsive Jack Nicholson has his fear and loathing neutered by the straight–shooting solo–Mum waitress, Helen Hunt, in…
Beautician and the Beast, TheBeautician and the Beast, The (1997)
Dir. Ken Kwapis
Feat. Fran Drescher, Timothy Dalton
Figure–hugging, pink and frothy big screen vehicle for Fran 'The Nanny' Drescher. She's a hairdresser from Queens sent to work for a Slavic…
Chasing AmyChasing Amy (1997) Recommended
Dir. Kevin Smith
Feat. Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee
Can a lesbian learn to love someone from the opposite sex? – is but one of the sticky questions proffered in this bittersweet arthouse hit.…
Gadjo DiloGadjo Dilo (1997)
Dir. Tony Gatlif
Feat. Romain Duris, Rona Harther, Izidor Serban
Re–casting a spotlight onto the poor and downtrodden yet spiritually rich gypsy culture, film–maker/musician Toni Gatlif grafts a…
Jane Eyre (1997)
Dir. Robert Young
Feat. Samantha Morton, Ciaran Hinds, Deborah Findlay
Suitably gothic retelling of Charlotte Brontë's classic tale of a Yorkshire orphan who becomes a governess and falls for the brooding lord of the…
Kitchen (1997)
Dir. Yim Ho
Feat. Jordan Chan, Yasuko Tomita
Treading the same grungy Hong Kong streets as the films of Wong Kar–Wai, this adaptation of a novel by Banana Yoshimoto concerns a love affair…
Life Less Ordinary, ALife Less Ordinary, A (1997)
Dir. Danny Boyle
Feat. Ewan McGregor, Cameron Diaz, Holly Hunter
Round three for the creators of SHALLOW GRAVE and TRAINSPOTTING this time takes Ewan McGregor Stateside for a screwball comic–fantasy embroided…
Marius et JeannetteMarius et Jeannette (1997) Recommended
Dir. Robert Guediguian
Feat. Ariane Ascaride, Gerard Meylan
A laidback yet buoyant slice–of–ordinary–life set on the low–rent side of Marseille, where two wounded fortysomethings strike…
Matchmaker, TheMatchmaker, The (1997) Recommended
Dir. Mark Joffe
Feat. Janeane Garofalo, David O'Hara, Milo O'Shea
Political aide Janeane Garofalo is sent to an Irish coastal village to find or contrive some cosy, voter–friendly heritage for her senatorial…
Merry War, AMerry War, A (Keep the Aspidistra Flying) (1997)
Dir. Robert Bierman
Feat. Richard E. Grant, Helena Bonham Carter
A literate, aware version of George Orwell's early comic novel set in a stagnating 1930s Britain. Richard E Grant plays Orwell's self–parody of…
Mill On the FlossMill On the Floss (1997)
Dir. Graham Theakston
Feat. Emily Watson, Bernard Hill
The incandescent Emily Watson justifies this Masterpiece Theatre version of George Eliot's Victorian novel (considerably simplified), bringing some…
Mrs. DallowayMrs. Dalloway (1997)
Dir. Marleen Gorris
Feat. Vanessa Redgrave, Natascha McElhone, Rupert Graves
Light adaptation of Virginia Woolf's 20s novel about a serene society lady in late–life crisis, reflecting on her choices some thirty years…
My Best Friend's WeddingMy Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
Dir. P.J. Hogan
Feat. Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz
Comeback hit for Julia Roberts, weds the usual romantic–comic routine with some nice dabs of self–mockery. Julia decides she wants to…
One Fine DayOne Fine Day (1997)
Dir. Michael Hoffman
Feat. George Clooney, Michelle Pfeiffer
Busy divorcees George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer, both get saddled with their respective kids on a particularly hectic career day, but still find…
Picture PerfectPicture Perfect (1997)
Dir. Glenn Gordon Caron
Feat. Jennifer Anniston, Kevin Bacon
'Friends' star Jennifer Aniston steps up to the big screen plate as an ambitious ad–woman who pretends to be married to a stranger to impress…
RebeccaRebecca (1997)
Dir. Jim O'Brien
Feat. Charles Dance, Diana Rigg, Emilia Fox
Late–90s British televisation of the classic Daphne Du Maurier gothic romance, with Charles Dance as the widowed aristocrat whose remarriage to…
Shooting FishShooting Fish (1997)
Dir. Stefan Schwartz
Feat. Dan Futterman, Stuart Townsend, Kate Beckinsale
Smarmy, contrived romantic comedy with anarchic pretensions and loads o' pop music for the kids, desperately shoots for mainstream success ala 'Four…
Sliding DoorsSliding Doors (1997) Recommended
Dir. Peter Howitt
Feat. Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah
The high concept works for this Four Weddings–ish romantic comedy, sustained by a delightful star turn from Gwyneth Paltrow. …
That Old Feeling (1997)
Dir. Carl Reiner
Feat. Bette Midler, Dennis Farina
Divorced parents Bette Midler and Dennis Farina get it on at their daughter's wedding after 15 years of hating each other. Romantic farce borrows…
TravellerTraveller (1997)
Dir. Jack N. Green
Feat. Bill Paxton, Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Margulies
'One–last–score' movie in which a young man, desperate to be accepted by a clan of Irish grifters teams up with a veteran con who wants…
Trojan WarTrojan War (1997)
Dir. George Huang
Feat. Will Friedle, Jennifer Love Hewitt
Comic misadventures beset a young turk who scours the town in search of a condom in order to consummate with the ready–and–willing girl…
Wings of the Dove, TheWings of the Dove, The (1997) Recommended
Dir. Iain Softley
Feat. Helena Bonham Carter, Linus Roache, Charlotte Rampling
Helena Bonham–Carter, back in costume, shines in this adaptation of the Henry James novel, playing a 19th century gentlewoman on the…
WintersleepersWintersleepers (1997) Recommended
Dir. Tom Tykwer
Feat. Ulrich Matthes, Marie-lou Sellem, Floriane Daniel
The paths of five people on the German skifield of Berchtesgaden intersect following a car accident, resulting in a precise, chilly thriller from RUN…
'Til There Was You'Til There Was You (1996)
Dir. Scott Winant
Feat. Jeanne Tripplehorn, Dylan McDermott, Sarah Jessica Parker
Jeanne Tripplehorn, Dylan McDermott and Sarah Jessica Parker add zip to the pretty–faces–find–true–love genre. Jennifer…
A Summer's TaleA Summer's Tale (1996) Recommended
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Melvil Poupaud, Amanda Langlet
Once more exploring the fickleness of love, dir. Rohmer involves holidaying student Melvil Poupard in a love–quadrangle of romantic options. In…
Anna KareninaAnna Karenina (1996)
Dir. Bernard Rose
Feat. Sophie Marceau, James Fox, Sean Bean
Glitzy version of Tolstoy's novel has a great cast mingling and canoodling in the corridors of the 19th century Russian aristocracy. Lavish period…
Autumn SunAutumn Sun (Sol de otoño) (1996)
Dir. Eduardo Mignogna
Feat. Frederico Luppi, Norma Aleandro
Argentine drama following a Jewish woman who pretends to be in a relationship with a Jewish man from Uruguay (Frederico Luppi, CRONOS) to appease her…
Bed of RosesBed of Roses (1996)
Dir. Michael Goldberg
Feat. Christian Slater, Mary Stuart Masterson
Christian Slater treads a fine line between perfect partner and stalker in obsessive pursuit of the heart of Mary Stuart Masterson. If you swoon at…
Couch in New York, ACouch in New York, A (1996)
Dir. Chantal Akerman
Feat. Juliette Binoche, William Hurt, Richard Jenkins
Belgian auteur Chantal Akerman directs this Stateside curiosity, with Juliette Binoche as a Parisian dancer who swaps apartments with a New York…
EmmaEmma (Jane Austen's Emma) (1996)
Dir. Diarmuid Lawrence
Feat. Kate Beckinsale, Dominic Rowan, Mark Strong
Released the same year as the fanfared Gwyneth Paltrow version, this modest made–for–TV version of Jane Austen's matchmaker rom–com…
English Patient, TheEnglish Patient, The (1996)
Dir. Anthony Minghella
Feat. Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Juliette Binoche
The unsurprising Oscar sweeper of '97 – a shoe–in considering they left out no ingredient – epic length, exotic locales, period…
Entertaining AngelsEntertaining Angels (1996)
Dir. Michael Ray Rhodes
Feat. Moira Kelly, Martin Sheen
Stirring biopic of American champion of the poor Dorothy Day (played with passion by Moira Kelly), who rose from obscurity in 1920s New York to…
Fever PitchFever Pitch (1996)
Dir. David Evans
Feat. Colin Firth
That most evergreen of English obsessions, footy, is here given a long, loving and belated tribute from a lifetime fan, adapting Nick Hornby's…
FireFire (1996) Recommended
Dir. Deepa Mehta
Feat. Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das
Blazing melodrama defiantly targets Indian sexual hypocrisy and tradition, not to mention trangressing 'Bollywood' taboo, in portraying two women…
Garden of Redemption (1996)
Dir. Thomas Donnelly
Feat. Anthony LaPaglia, Embeth Davidtz
A saga of challenged faith and endurance set in Nazi–occupied Italy, where the village priest assists with the local resistance while besotted…
GuantanameraGuantanamera (1996)
Dir. Tomas Gutierrez Alea, Juan Carlos Tabio
Feat. Carlos Cruz, Mirta Ibarra, Jorge Perugorria
A quirky mix of low–speed road movie and romantic comedy following the unsteady progress of a funeral procession across the length of Cuba…
Hotel De LoveHotel De Love (1996)
Dir. Craig Rosenberg
Feat. Simon Bossell, Aden Young, Saffron Burrows
Two brothers vying for the same woman are among the farcical romantic complications that entangle at a kitsch honeymoon resort. The first–time…
How to Make an American QuiltHow to Make an American Quilt (1996)
Dir. Jocelyn Moorhouse
Feat. Winona Ryder, Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn
Pleasurable, star–domed female–stitching movie has Winona Ryder sorting out her personal foibles with an ear for the mixed–fortuned…
If Lucy FellIf Lucy Fell (1996)
Dir. Eric Schaeffer
Feat. Eric Schaeffer, Sarah Jessica Parker, Elle MacPherson
Room–mates Eric Schaeffer and Sarah Jessica Parker vow to find true love before they turn 30 or end it all off the side of the Brooklyn Bridge.…
Jake's WomenJake's Women (1996)
Alan Alda heads an all–star cast in Neil Simon’s romantic comedy about a writer who seeks solace from the real and imagined women in his…
Jane Austen Collection, TheJane Austen Collection, The (1996-2007)
Feat. Kate Beckinsale, Billie Piper, Samantha Morton
Collection of three of Austen's greatest stories; Emma, Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park, brought to life by prestigious British casts. Emma…
Jane EyreJane Eyre (1996)
Dir. Franco Zeffirelli
Feat. Charlotte Gainsbourg, Anna Paquin, William Hurt
Zeffirelli's version of Charlotte Bronte's gothic romance, filmed in appropriately murky hues, preserves the sombre integrity of the novel. Charlotte…
JudeJude (1996)
Dir. Michael Winterbottom
Feat. Christopher Eccleston, Kate Winslet, Liam Cunningham
Christopher Eccleston excels in the title role of a common man in relentless pursuit of a higher education and the forbidden love of his cousin (Kate…
KissedKissed (1996) Recommended
Dir. Lynne Stopkewich
Feat. Molly Parker, Peter Outerbridge
A woman develops an unusual fascination with dead rodents that becomes a desire for embalming humans and blossoms into full–blown, ahem,…
Love and Other CatastrophesLove and Other Catastrophes (1996)
Dir. Emma-Kate Croghan
Feat. Frances O’Connor, Alice Garner, Radha Mitchell
The indie success story of '96 was made by 23–year–old Croghan on a shoestring with her Melbourne film school buddies. Love is a…
Love JonesLove Jones (1996) Recommended
Dir. Theodore Witcher
Feat. Larenz Tate, Nia Long, Isaiah Washington
Far removed from the over–familiar ghettos, this all–black ensemble instead frequent the smoky cool bars of Chicago, where they drink…
Marvin's RoomMarvin's Room (1996)
Dir. Jerry Zaks
Feat. Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro
The cast contribute their customary greatness to this poignant drama about family ties, responsibilities, transpiring over the slow passing of the…
Mirror Has Two Faces, TheMirror Has Two Faces, The (1996) Recommended
Dir. Barbra Streisand
Feat. Barbra Streisand, Jeff Bridges
Frumpy college prof Barbra Streisand pains to keep her platonic vows in an 'ideal' no–sex marriage to fellow academic Jeff Bridges. Babs'…
Month by the Lake, AMonth by the Lake, A (1996) Recommended
Dir. John Irvin
Feat. Vanessa Redgrave, Edward Fox, Uma Thurman
The second H.E. Bates adaptation of 1996 (after FEAST OF JULY) is a lush autumnal romance set on the shores of Italy's Lake Como. Vanessa Redgrave…
Nelly and Mr. AnaudNelly and Mr. Anaud (1996)
Dir. Claude Sautet
Feat. Emmanuelle Beart, Michel Serrault
Emmanuelle Beart gets caught up in a May–to–December romance with Michel Serrault in another elegant and subtle drama from the director…
Pallbearer, ThePallbearer, The (1996)
Dir. Matt Reeves
Feat. Gwyneth Paltrow, David Schwimmer
Reunited with high–school crush Gwyneth Paltrow, mommies boy David Schwimmer gets invited to be pallbearer and speechmaker at the funeral of…
Portrait of a LadyPortrait of a Lady (1996) Recommended
Dir. Jane Campion
Feat. Nicole Kidman, John Malkovich
Unfairly roasted by many critics, our Jane's adaptation of Henry James' novel dares to offer more than romance in fancy dress, but instead a complex,…
Reef, TheReef, The (Passion's Way) (1996)
Dir. Robert Allan Ackerman
Feat. Timothy Dalton, Sela Ward, Leslie Caron
Unrequited love is the theme of this adaptation from Edith Wharton, as young lovers Timothy Dalton and Sela Ward are repeatedly separated by…
SabrinaSabrina (1996)
Dir. Sydney Pollack
Feat. Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond
Remake of the Hepburn–Bogart classic, the story of the chauffer's daughter who falls for the 'other' guy is tailored for a new generation,…
She's the OneShe's the One (1996)
Dir. Edward Burns
Feat. Edward Burns, Mike McGlone, Jennifer Aniston
Two of the Brothers' McMullen reconvene for Ed Burns' follow–up to his surprise indie hit. Pretty much round two of sibling…
Temptress MoonTemptress Moon (1996)
Dir. Chen Kaige
Feat. Gong Li, Leslie Cheung
Chen Kaige elevates the sumptuous Chinese epoch of FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE with this visually rapturous, though far less coherent saga of epic…
TierraTierra (Earth) (1996)
Dir. Julio Medem
Feat. Carmelo Gómez, Emma Suarez, Karra Elejalde
Intimate portrait of Angel (Gomez), an exterminator who travels to a remote wine–making town to rid them of a plague of woodlice, and gradually…
Tin CupTin Cup (1996)
Dir. Ron Shelton
Feat. Kevin Costner, Rene Russo
Kevin Costner reteams with the sports–obsessed director of BULL DURHAM for this engaging romantic comedy, this time set on the fairways of the…
To Have and to HoldTo Have and to Hold (1996)
Dir. John Hillcoat
Feat. Tcheky Karyo, Rachel Griffiths, Steve Jacobs
The director of GHOSTS OF THE CIVIL DEAD takes an unexpected turn into full blown romantic melodrama. The plot's twists and turns take place in the…
Tromeo and JulietTromeo and Juliet (1996)
Dir. Lloyd Kaufman
Feat. Jane Jansen, Will Keenan, Valentine Miele
Tromatized version of 'Romeo and Juliet' resets the world's most famous love story in contemporary Manhattan, with body piercings, kinky sex and…
Up Close and PersonalUp Close and Personal (1996)
Dir. Jon Avnet
Feat. Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert Redford
Small–town weather girl Michelle Pfeiffer ascends to ambitious journalist and finally star TV reporter under the auspice of boss and lover…
Walking and TalkingWalking and Talking (1996) Recommended
Dir. Nicole Holofcener
Feat. Catherine Keener, Anne Heche, Liev Schreiber
A sort of femme flipside to 'Swingers', two women – one single, one about to be married – work out their romantic hangups in original and…
When the Cat's AwayWhen the Cat's Away (1996)
Dir. Cedric Klapisch
Feat. Garance Clavel, Zinedine Soualem
A movie for cat lovers and young romantics alike, this Latino–tinged, funky, yet alluringly modest French film follows the dowdy–cute…
Whole Wide World, TheWhole Wide World, The (1996)
Dir. Dan Ireland
Feat. Vincent D'Onofrio, Renee Zellweger
Biopic based on a romantic memoir of pulp fantasy writer Robert E. Howard, creator of CONAN THE BARBARIAN and RED SONJA. A beefed–up Vincent…
All Things FairAll Things Fair (1995)
Dir. Bo Widerberg
Feat. Johan Widerberg, Marika Lagercrantz
The late Bo Widerberg's swansong records a bittersweet memoir of his love affair with a teacher 22 years his senior. The casting of his young son in…
Angels and InsectsAngels and Insects (1995) Recommended
Dir. Philip Haas
Feat. Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas, Patsy Kensit
A splendid dissection of class mores in pre–Victorian England, thematically reminiscent of Greenaway, but minus his cold cynicism. Rich in…
Before SunriseBefore Sunrise (1995) Recommended
Dir. Richard Linklater
Feat. Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
Young tourists American Ethan Hawke and French Julie Delpy, meet by chance on a train in Europe and spend the following twelve hours…
Beyond the CloudsBeyond the Clouds (Al di là delle nuvole) (1995)
Dir. Michelangelo Antonioni
Feat. Fanny Ardant, Chiara Caselli, Irene Jacob
Michelangelo Antonioni's final film weaves together four stories of discontented love in his characteristic cinematic style. Featuring a huge…
Bridges of Madison CountyBridges of Madison County (1995) Recommended
Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Meryl Streep, Clint Eastwood
Meryl Streep's exceptional talent finds a worthy vessel in a repressed housewife whose passions become enflamed by a nomadic photographer (Clint…
Brothers Mcmullen, TheBrothers Mcmullen, The (1995)
Dir. Edward Burns
Feat. Edward Burns
Filmed on weekends over two years at his family home, Ed Burns' DIY romantic comedy went on to win the Grand Prize at the 1995 Sundance Festival.…
Catherine Cookson Collection (TV Mini-series) Catherine Cookson Collection (TV Mini-series) (1995-2000)
Feat. Nigel Havers, Clare Higgins, Emily Mortimer
Various collections of the prolific Catherine Cookson's mini–series adapted from her widely read novels. Vol. 1 contains: The Cinder Path,…
Circle of FriendsCircle of Friends (1995) Recommended
Dir. Pat O'Connor
Feat. Minnie Driver, Chris O'Donnell
Catholicism and blossoming sexuality come into conflict when ugly–duckling Minnie Driver goes gooey over preppie Chris O'Donnell and chooses to…
Don Juan DeMarcoDon Juan DeMarco (1995) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jeremy Leven
Feat. Johnny Depp, Marlon Brando, Faye Dunaway
A delightful, dreamy romantic drama and wry comic fantasy rolled into one that has Johnny Depp perfectly cast as a misfit who believes he is the…
Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain, TheEnglishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain, The (1995)
Dir. Christopher Monger
Feat. Hugh Grant, Tara Fitzgerald, Colm Meaney
In 1917, much ado ensues at a Welsh village. When the local hill falls just short of qualifying for the official map, the locals set about building…
Forget ParisForget Paris (1995)
Dir. Billy Crystal
Feat. Billy Crystal, Debra Winger
Billy Crystal hogs this romantic comedy (which also wrote and directed) from co–star Debra Winger in recognising the inherent dilemmas in…
French KissFrench Kiss (1995)
Dir. Lawrence Kasdan
Feat. Kevin Kline, Meg Ryan, Jean Reno
Kevin Kline does a faultless Gerard Depardieu imitation as a petty vagabond and Meg Ryan imitates Meg Ryan as a jilted American who wants her…
French Woman, AFrench Woman, A (Une Femme Francaise) (1995)
Dir. Regis Wargnier
Feat. Emmanuelle Beart, Daniel Auteuil
Emmanuelle Beart stars in this period tale of idyllic romance compromised by the reality of war. The director of INDOCHINE again embraces the…
I.Q.I.Q. (1995)
Dir. Fred Schepisi
Feat. Walter Matthau, Meg Ryan, Tim Robbins
Walter Matthau, playing Einstein, (yes Albert!), matchmakes niece Meg Ryan and mechanic Tim Robbins together in 1950s Princeton University. Teases…
Jefferson in ParisJefferson in Paris (1995)
Dir. James Ivory
Feat. Nick Nolte, Greta Scacchi, Thandiwe Newton
Thomas Jefferson's sabbatical in revolutionary Paris with Nick Nolte in the central role. Merchant Ivory's period detail is of course faultless, but…
Mad LoveMad Love (1995)
Dir. Antonia Bird
Feat. Chris O'Donnell, Drew Barrymore
An apple–pie American boy (Chris O'Donnell) hightails it with free–spirit wild child Drew Barrymore, an ex–hospital patient who is…
Miami RhapsodyMiami Rhapsody (1995)
Dir. David Frankel
Feat. Sarah Jessica Parker, Antonio Banderas, Mia Farrow
Sarah Jessica Parker brings her cutesy appeal to the predicament of a young woman disillusioned yet preoccupied with modern marriage. Woody Allen's…
Moonlight and ValentinoMoonlight and Valentino (1995)
Dir. David Anspaugh
Feat. Whoopi Goldberg, Kathleen Turner, Gwyneth Paltrow
Whoopi Goldberg, Kathleen Turner and Gwyneth Paltrow gather to console Elizabeth Perkins on the tragic death of her hubby. Enter house–painting…
Nina Takes a LoverNina Takes a Lover (1995)
Dir. Alan Jacobs
Feat. Laura San Giancomo, Paul Rhys, Michael O'Keefe
Married sales girl Laura San Giancomo makes illicit park–side rendezvous with a British photographer (Paul Rhys). Naturalistic take on the…
PersuasionPersuasion (1995) Recommended
Dir. Roger Michell
Feat. Amanda Root, Ciaran Hinds, Susan Fleetwood
This spirited run–through of Jane Austen's final novel boasts an impressive theatrical pedigree. Distinguished out of the recent crop with…
Pride and Prejudice (TV Series)Pride and Prejudice (TV Series) (1995) Aro Favourite
Dir. Simon Langton
Feat. Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle
Jane Austen connoisseurs shan't be disappointed with this terrifically popular BBC version of her consummate novel about romantic intrigues between…
Rendezvous in ParisRendezvous in Paris (1995)
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Clara Bellar, Mathias Mégard, Antoine Basler
A delicately poised triptych framed around three lighthearted tales of philandering men and women. Minor, though quintessential Rohmer dalliance…
Run of the Country, TheRun of the Country, The (1995)
Dir. Peter Yates
Feat. Albert Finney, Matt Keeslar, Victoria Smurfit
Stirring Irish drama in the tradition of 'My Left Foot', aided by the magnetic presence of Albert Finney. Finney's son breaks out of the confines of…
Sense and SensibilitySense and Sensibility (1995) Recommended
Dir. Ang Lee
Feat. Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman
It all started here – The Jane Austen Revival, in a witty and engaging take on this classic tale of two sisters, one practical (Emma Thompson),…
Stealing BeautyStealing Beauty (1995) Recommended
Dir. Bernardo Bertolucci
Feat. Liv Tyler, Jeremy Irons
Bertolucci is at home on the range of rural Tuscany for his most accessible and fanciful outing. Much like every character in the film, its hard…
SugartimeSugartime (1995)
Dir. John N. Smith
Feat. John Turturro, Mary-Louise Parker, Elias Koteas
Charts the infamous, real–life romance between Chicago mobster Sam Giancana (John Turturro) and whitebread songstress Phyllis McGuire…
Truth About Cats and DogsTruth About Cats and Dogs (1995)
Dir. Michael Lehmann
Feat. Janeane Garofalo, Ben Chaplin, Uma Thurman
Cyrano De Bergerac is reworked for the girls in this highly digestible romantic fable. Fresh faces Janeanne Garofalo and Brit hunk Ben Chaplin…
While You Were SleepingWhile You Were Sleeping (1995)
Dir. Jon Turteltaub
Feat. Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher
Lonely girl Sandra Bullock comes to the aid of a romanticised stranger after he is mugged, murmurs that she was going to 'marry him', and so is taken…
AngieAngie (1994)
Dir. Martha Coolidge
Feat. Geena Davis, Stephen Rea
Geena Davis brings real authenticity to her role as an expectant mother who, after meeting flamboyant Irishman Stephen Rea, discovers there's is more…
Belle EpoqueBelle Epoque (1994) Recommended
Dir. Fernando Trueba
Feat. Penelope Cruz, Jorge Sanz
Oscar–winning comedy set in thirties Spain will have you grinning from ear to ear as its young army deserter finds the ultimate sanctuary at…
F.T.W.F.T.W. (Last Ride, The) (1994)
Dir. Michael Karbelnikoff
Feat. Mickey Rourke, Lori Singer
Ex–con rodeo rider Mickey Rourke takes wounded bird Lori Singer under his wing in this brooding ballad of the mid–west. Evocative score…
For Love or MoneyFor Love or Money (Concierge, The) (1994)
Dir. Barry Sonnenfeld
Feat. Michael J. Fox, Gabrielle Anwar, Anthony Higgins
Fox attempts to rekindle the secret of his success as a shrewd bell–hop with aspirations to run his own hotel and win his dream–girl. Few…
Il PostinoIl Postino (Postman, The) (1994) Recommended
Dir. Michael Radford
Feat. Massimo Troisi, Philippe Noiret
The biggest international foreign language hit since LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE stars the late Massimo Troisi as a simple postie who learns the value…
It Could Happen to YouIt Could Happen to You (1994)
Dir. Andrew Bergman
Feat. Bridget Fonda, Nicolas Cage, Rosie Perez
Romantic confection based on a remarkable true story of an honest cop who tips a waitress with a half a lottery ticket that happens to hit the…
Love AffairLove Affair (1994)
Dir. Glenn Gordon Caron
Feat. Warren Beatty, Annette Bening
A remake of AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER that retains its sense of old fashioned slush. Warren Beatty and real wife Annette Bening play the smitten…
Only YouOnly You (1994)
Dir. Norman Jewison
Feat. Robert Downey Jnr., Marisa Tomei
Roberty Downey Jnr. plays an infatuated man who assumes a false identity to win the affections of star–crossed lover Marisa Tomei. The pair's…
Reality BitesReality Bites (1994)
Dir. Ben Stiller
Feat. Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, Ben Stiller
This 'Gen X' movie works as romantic comedy but falls short of its mandate to be a mouthpiece for contemporary youth. Redeemed by the…
Rector's Wife, The (Mini-Series)Rector's Wife, The (Mini-Series) (1994)
Dir. Giles Foster
Feat. Lindsay Duncan, Miles Anderson, Pam Ferris
The wife of a kind but dull preacher is scorned by her conservative community when she takes a job at the grocery store one town over. Based on…
Solitaire for TwoSolitaire for Two (1994)
Dir. Gary Sinyor
Feat. Mark Frankel, Amanda Pays, Jason Isaacs
Attractive single Amanda Pays has the ability to read minds, but her 'gift' proves something of a set–back in the romantic stakes with any…
SpeechlessSpeechless (1994)
Dir. Ron Underwood
Feat. Michael Keaton, Geena Davis
Michael Keaton and Geena Davis fall in luurve, oblivious to fact that they are speech writers working for opposite political parties. American…
ThreesomeThreesome (1994) Recommended
Dir. Andrew Fleming
Feat. Lara Flynn Boyle, Stephen Baldwin, Josh Charles
Despite its prurient title, there is much more meat and maturity in this this 'Gen–X' romantic sandwich than the higher profile REALITY BITES.…
Tom and Viv (1994)
Dir. Brian Gilbert
Feat. Willem Dafoe, Miranda Richardson
A moving exploration of the intense yet painful relationship between Nobel prize–winning poet T.S. Eliot (Willem Dafoe) and his lovably…
Age of Innocence, TheAge of Innocence, The (1993)
Dir. Martin Scorsese
Feat. Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder
Scorsese's adaptation of the novel by Edith Wharton is a extravagant period costumer that makes Merchant–Ivory look downright paltry. Stellar…
Bodies Rest and MotionBodies Rest and Motion (1993) Recommended
Dir. Michael Steinberg
Feat. Tim Roth, Bridget Fonda, Phoebe Cates
Suburban aimlessness underlies this entertaining, stylish 'gen–X' romancer with an appealing twentysomething quartet.
Especially On a SundayEspecially On a Sunday (1993)
Dir. Giuseppe Tornatore, Giuseppe Bertolucci, Marco Tul
Feat. Jean-Hugues Anglade, Patricia Arquette, Nicoletta Braschi
Three stories of love and loss from the pen of Tonino Guerra brought to screen life by three directing talents. Sublime fare in the finest European…
Ethan FromeEthan Frome (1993)
Dir. John Madden
Feat. Liam Neeson, Patricia Arquette
Liam Neeson and Patricia Arquette are master and housekeeper who fall in love after he suffers years of emotional estrangement from his wife.…
Four Weddings and a FuneralFour Weddings and a Funeral (1993) Aro Favourite
Dir. Mike Newell
Feat. Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, John Hannah
Hugh Grant plays a loveable bachelor who is forever celebrating the romantic union of his friends, but is dreadfully reluctant to take the plunge…
Groundhog DayGroundhog Day (1993) Aro Favourite
Dir. Harold Ramis
Feat. Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott
Bill Murray is perfectly cast as a cranky TV weatherman who gets stranded in a tin–pot town, where he wakes every day in the same day, over and…
Heartbreak Kid, TheHeartbreak Kid, The (1993)
Dir. Michael Jenkins
Feat. Alex Dimitriades
Alex Dimitriades plays a hunky college student who becomes romantically entangled with his 22–year–old teacher. Sensitively drawn…
Like Water for ChocolateLike Water for Chocolate (1993) Recommended
Dir. Alfonso Arau
Feat. Marco Leonardi, Lumi Cavazos, Regina Torne
Certifiable foreign–language block–buster blends the irresisistible ingrediants of primal female desire with old–fashioned…
Mr. JonesMr. Jones (1993)
Dir. Mike Figgis
Feat. Richard Gere, Lena Olin
Richard Gere earnestly acts the method as an impulsive–depressive who gets keen on spunky therapist Lena Olin. Its whimsical flourishes work…
Mr. WonderfulMr. Wonderful (1993)
Dir. Anthony Minghella
Feat. Matt Dillon, Annabella Sciorra, William Hurt
The writer/director of TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY directs for the American market, and though a sweet enough romantic confection it lacks the genuine…
Much Ado About NothingMuch Ado About Nothing (1993) Recommended
Dir. Kenneth Branagh
Feat. Kenneth Branagh, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves
Kenneth Branagh plunders the Bard again and pulls off a rare breed of romantic escapism. Here he somehow modifies the traditional text for an…
Night We Never Met, TheNight We Never Met, The (1993)
Dir. Warren Leight
Feat. Matthew Broderick, Annabella Sciorra, Brooke Smith
Matthew Broderick enters into a time–share arrangement with two others for set days during the week. Gradually he comes to fall in love with…
Ocean WavesOcean Waves (1993) Recommended
Dir. Tomomi Mochizuki
A sweet, sentimental tale of unrequited teen romance as seen in flashback through the eyes of a man attending his high school reunion forms the basis…
Piano, ThePiano, The (1993) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jane Campion
Feat. Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Anna Paquin
A romantic masterpiece set in pioneering New Zealand worthy of its reputation and phenomenal success. Worth a second glance for the cast's impeccable…
Prelude to a KissPrelude to a Kiss (1993)
Dir. Norman Rene
Feat. Alec Baldwin, Meg Ryan
A storybook romance for love–birds Alec Baldwin and Meg Ryan takes on body–swapping proportions after Meg is kissed on their wedding day…
Salt On Our Skin (1993)
Dir. Andrew Birkin
Feat. Greta Scacchi, Vincent D'Onofrio
Greta Scacchi and Vincent D'Onofrio duet in this lush, erotically charged (Eu)romance as lovers who are wrong for each other, but happen to sizzle in…
Sleepless in SeattleSleepless in Seattle (1993) Recommended
Dir. Nora Ephron
Feat. Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Bill Pullman
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan consummate a romance over 3000 miles via a soapy talk–back show. The two leads and a witty, old–fashioned script…
Thing Called Love, TheThing Called Love, The (1993)
Dir. Peter Bogdanovich
Feat. River Phoenix, Samantha Mathis, Dermot Mulroney
River Phoenix's final film in which, sadly, his fatal affliction is plainly evident. Set in Nashville, he aspires to country–rock stardom but…
Three of HeartsThree of Hearts (1993)
Dir. Yurek Bogayevicz
Feat. Kelly Lynch, William Baldwin, Sherilyn Fenn
In an effort to win back her lesbian lover, Kelly Lynch employs the services of male escort Billy Baldwin. Sherilyn Fenn proves she's worth winning…
Traps (1993)
Dir. Pauline Chan
Feat. Saskia Reeves, Jacqueline McKenzie
An English journalistic couple travel to pre–war South Vietnam to rejuvenate their floundering marriage, but falter on the shifting ground of a…
True RomanceTrue Romance (1993) Recommended
Dir. Tony Scott
Feat. Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Gary Oldman
Precocious, ultra–violent black comedy from the pen of Tarantino in which comic–book–nerd Christian Slater transforms into…
Wide Sargasso SeaWide Sargasso Sea (1993)
Dir. John Duigan
Feat. Karina Lombard, Rachel Ward, Michael York
Polished screen adaptation of Jean Rhys' novel of erotic obsession between a English aristocrat and a Island beauty in 19th Century Jamaica.
Absent Without LeaveAbsent Without Leave (1992)
Dir. John Laing
Feat. Craig McLauchlan
Craig McLauchlan from Neighbours stars as a love–struck newly–wed on the run from the army during WW2. Slight nostalgia with lots of…
Adam BedeAdam Bede (1992)
Dir. Giles Foster
Feat. Iain Glen, Patsy Kensit, James Wilby
BBC adaptation of George Eliot's passionate tale of love and betrayal, set in 1799 rural England. Tells the story of a pretty dairy maid seduced from…
Benny and JoonBenny and Joon (1992)
Dir. Jeremiah Chechik
Feat. Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn
Another quirky outing in American suburbia with Depp a Chaplin–esque loner who befriends Masterson, the 'mental' sister of an…
Bodyguard, TheBodyguard, The (1992)
Dir. Mick Jackson
Feat. Whitney Houston, Kevin Costner
A perfect exercise in Hollywood cliche that rises above the ordinary thanks to Whitney Houston in a commendable acting debut and Kevin Costner as the…
BoomerangBoomerang (1992)
Dir. Reginald Hudlin
Feat. Eddie Murphy, Robin Givens, Halle Berry
Sparkling Eddie Murphy vehicle in which he sends up his own womanising image. He gets a dollop of his own medicine when he falls for…
Conte D'hiverConte D'hiver (A Winter's Tale) (1992)
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Charlotte Very, Frederic Van Den Driessche
A whirlwind romance ends abruptly for a young woman when she accidentally gives her lover a wrong address. Four years pass and she remains possessed…
Honeymoon in VegasHoneymoon in Vegas (1992)
Dir. Andrew Bergman
Feat. Nicolas Cage, James Caan
Likeable loser Nicolas Cage tries to win back the bride–to–be he lost for the weekend to smarmy card–shark James Caan. Dynamic…
HousesitterHousesitter (1992)
Dir. Frank Oz
Feat. Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn
Steve Martin is sub–par here as an architect whose new dream house is not a home when his girlfriend refuses to marry him. Enter Goldie Hawn as…
Howards EndHowards End (1992) Recommended
Dir. James Ivory
Feat. Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter
Merchant/Ivory's E.M. Forster adaptation is so exquisite it pales their previous efforts. Forster's usual themes of class injustice and emotional…
La Vie De BohemeLa Vie De Boheme (1992) Recommended
Dir. Aki Kaurismaki
Feat. Matti Pellonpaa, Evelyne Didi, Andre Wilms
An achingly deadpan treatment of the book that served as the basis for Puccini's opera. Ironically romantic portrait of deadbeat, impoverished…
Last Days of Chez Nous, TheLast Days of Chez Nous, The (1992)
Dir. Gillian Armstrong
Feat. Kerry Fox
Kerry Fox seduces the French husband of her sister who's away trying to resolve her relationship with her father. Like SWEETIE, it's beautifully…
Love Potion No. 9Love Potion No. 9 (1992)
Dir. Dale Launer
Feat. Sandra Bullock, Tate Donovan, Dale Midkiff
Hokey rom–com following a lonely biochemist who discovers a "love potion" that can cause those around him to be hopelessly attracted to him.
Lover, TheLover, The (1992)
Dir. Jean-Jacques Annaud
Feat. Jane March, Tony Leung (Kar-fai)
Exotic adaptation of Marguerite Duras' autobiographical novel charting an illicit affair between a 15–year–old French school–girl…
Mississippi MasalaMississippi Masala (1992) Recommended
Dir. Mira Nair
Feat. Denzel Washington, Roshan Seth, Sarita Choudhury
A poignant gem about a tabooed romance between a beautiful Indian girl and a black carpet cleaner (Denzel Washington) in the deep South.
Playboys, ThePlayboys, The (1992)
Dir. Gillies MacKinnon
Feat. Robin Wright, Aidan Quinn, Albert Finney
Robin Wright and travelling player Aidan Quinn attempt to consummate their passions in the face of religion, geography and Albert Finney's drunkard…
SinglesSingles (1992)
Dir. Cameron Crowe
Feat. Bridget Fonda, Matt Dillon, Campbell Scott
Despite the grungy soundtrack and the Seattle setting, this ain't a gritty depiction of long–hairs trying to put their anarchic stamp on the…
Stan and George's New LifeStan and George's New Life (1992)
Dir. Brian McKenzie
Feat. Paul Chubb
Life begins at 40 forty for under–achiever Stan who finally cuts the apron strings, gets a new job and finds a soul mate. A poignant story of…
Station, The (1992)
Dir. Sergio Rubini
Feat. Sergio Rubini, Margherita Buy, Ennio Fantastichini
Beguiling film about a disillusioned society woman who becomes drawn to a humble station–master while waiting for the first available train.
Untamed HeartUntamed Heart (1992)
Dir. Tony Bill
Feat. Christian Slater, Marisa Tomei
A fairy–tale romance kindles between a perky waitress and a kitchen–hand with a special condition. Does wonders for Christian Slater's…
A Heart in WinterA Heart in Winter (Un Coeur en Hiver) (1991)
Dir. Claude Sautet
Feat. Emmanuelle Beart, Andre Dussollier
Impeccable romantic tragedy examines a love triangle between a virtuoso violinist, her violin–making boyfriend and his emotionally crippled…
Amants Du Pont Neuf, LesAmants Du Pont Neuf, Les (1991) Recommended
Dir. Leos Carax
Feat. Juliette Binoche, Denis Lavant
Extravagant production breathes fire into this unusual epic love story of two young Paris street punks. Through the ebbs and the flows, Carax adjusts…
American FriendsAmerican Friends (1991)
Dir. Tristram Powell
Feat. Michael Palin, Connie Booth, Trini Alvarado
Subdued yet engaging period drama with Ex–Monty Pythoner Michael Palin, but expect few laughs from him as a scrupulous Oxford tutor whose vow…
Bridge, TheBridge, The (1991)
Dir. Sydney MacCartney
Feat. Saskia Reeves, David O'Hara, Joss Ackland
A moving–canvas period drama about a romantic liaison between a married mother (Saskia Reeves) and a impressionist painter. Over–familiar…
Days of Being WildDays of Being Wild (1991)
Dir. Wong Kar-Wai
Feat. Leslie Cheung
An excellent example of the other side of Hong Kong movie–making. Set in 1960, Leslie Cheung plays a disillusioned, spoiled youth who…
Doc Hollywood (1991)
Dir. Michael Caton-Jones
Feat. Michael J. Fox, Julie Warner, David Ogden Stiers
Star vehicle for Michael J Fox, playing a plastic–surgeon en–route to L.A. who has a car–wreck in South Carolina and ends up…
DogfightDogfight (1991) Aro Favourite
Dir. Nancy Savoca
Feat. River Phoenix, Lili Taylor
Satisfying romantic comedy about a U.S. marine who surrenders his machismo for one night to have an unlikely and sensitive affair with an 'ugly…
Dying YoungDying Young (1991)
Dir. Joel Schumacher
Feat. Julia Roberts, Campbell Scott, Vincent D'Onofrio
Chuckle as stilettoed ignoramus Julia Roberts nurtures a rich and handsome cancer patient with whom she falls in lurve.
Frankie and JohnnyFrankie and Johnny (1991)
Dir. Garry Marshall
Feat. Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer
Humble fairy tale about a rocky relationship between hamburger cook and waitress. A dolled down Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer star in this…
Hairdresser's Husband, TheHairdresser's Husband, The (1991)
Dir. Patrice Leconte
Feat. Jean Rochefort, Anna Galiena
Everything you may love or loathe about French movies is taken to an (intentional?) extreme in this whimsical venture into the one–track mind…
He Said, She SaidHe Said, She Said (1991)
Dir. Ken Kwapis, Marisa Silver
Feat. Kevin Bacon, Elizabeth Perkins, Nathan Lane
Romantic comedy that plays out the relationship between rival journalists twice – once from each perspective. The conservative male and liberal…
L.A. StoryL.A. Story (1991)
Dir. Mick Jackson
Feat. Steve Martin, Richard E. Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker
On form Steve Martin vehicle from his own script, a witty and romantic satire of life in L.A. He unashamedly pokes fun at the city's obsession with…
Lunatics: A Love StoryLunatics: A Love Story (1991)
Dir. Josh Becker
Feat. Ted Raimi, Deborah Foreman, Bruce Campbell
A Sam Raimi–produced twisted rom–com with brother Ted Raimi as a paranoid, aspiring poet who, after an accidental phone conversation with…
MediterraneoMediterraneo (1991)
Dir. Gabriele Salvatores
Feat. Claudio Bigagli, Diego Abatanthono, Giuseppe Cederna
Oscar–winning tale of eight Italian soldiers who find themselves stranded on a remote Greek isle during WW2. An affecting and surprising…
Only the LonelyOnly the Lonely (1991)
Dir. Chris Columbus
Feat. John Candy, Maureen O'Hara, Ally Sheedy
John Candy's nice guy 38–year–old cop has his romantic life hampered by his outspoken mother. Maureen O'Hara's first screen role in 20…
Prince of Tides, ThePrince of Tides, The (1991)
Dir. Barbra Streisand
Feat. Barbra Streisand, Nick Nolte
Babs directs herself in self–adoring but skillful fashion as the genteel psychiatrist of Pat Conroy's classy novel. Nick Nolte plays her…
Big Steal, TheBig Steal, The (1990) Recommended
Dir. Nadia Tass
Feat. Ben Mendelsohn, Claudia Karvan
Romantic romp from the makers of MALCOLM, possesses the charm and wit that made that film memorable. Teenager Ben Mendelsohn wins a date with the…
Bird On a WireBird On a Wire (1990)
Dir. John Badham
Feat. Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn, David Carradine
Mel Gibson plays a protected witness who is wanted by some nasty crooks for putting them behind bars.
Close My EyesClose My Eyes (1990)
Dir. Stephen Poliakoff
Feat. Saskia Reeves, Clive Owen, Alan Rickman
This admirably probes the notion of a love affair between a long–separated brother and sister. Saskia Reeves and Clive Owen entwine in the…
Come See the ParadiseCome See the Paradise (1990)
Dir. Alan Parker
Feat. Dennis Quaid
An epic romance about a hot–headed unionist whose love affair with a Japanese American is torn apart when the state interns 100,000 Japanese…
Cyrano De BergeracCyrano De Bergerac (1990) Recommended
Dir. Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Anne Brochet, Vincent Perez
Rostand's classic play filmed in its native tongue, with the man born to play the poet with the outsized hooter, Gerard Depardieu. Little expense has…
GhostGhost (1990) Recommended
Dir. Jerry Zucker
Feat. Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, Whoopi Goldberg
Technically brilliant amalgam of fantasy, thriller, comedy and love story is entertainment Hollywood wish they could make more often.
Golden BraidGolden Braid (1990)
Dir. Paul Cox
Feat. Chris Haywood, Gosia Dobrowolska
Off–beat tale of a clock–maker who finds he can't commit to a relationship because he's in love with a girl from the past whose sole…
Green CardGreen Card (1990) Recommended
Dir. Peter Weir
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Andie MacDowell
English language debut for Gerard Depardieu as a French musician who enters into a marriage–of–convenience with a stranger (Andie…
HavanaHavana (1990)
Dir. Sydney Pollack
Feat. Robert Redford, Lena Olin
A gracefully ageing Robert Redford seeks his fortune on the verge of the Cuban revolution, while romantic entanglement with Lena Olin has political…
Joe Versus The VolcanoJoe Versus The Volcano (1990)
Dir. John Patrick Shanley
Feat. Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Lloyd Bridges
Finding he has only six months to live, Tom Hanks is strangely offered megabucks to jump into a vat of hot lava for the sake of ancient gods.
Julia Has Two Lovers (1990)
Dir. Bashar Shbib
Feat. Daphna Kastner, David Duchovny
A simple wrong number turns into a marathon phone conversation and 'relationship' between a doubtful bride–to–be (Daphna Kastner) and a…
Miracle, TheMiracle, The (1990)
Dir. Neil Jordan
Feat. Beverly D'Angelo, Donal McCann, Lorraine Pilkington
Pre–CRYING GAME labour of love for Neil Jordan is a romantic Irish yarn about a teenager who unwittingly falls in love with his estranged…
Mo' Better BluesMo' Better Blues (1990) Recommended
Dir. Spike Lee
Feat. Denzel Washington
This male flipside to Lee's SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT sees talented musician caught between two women and his passion for jazz. A cinematic feast for the…
Pretty WomanPretty Woman (1990)
Dir. Garry Marshall
Feat. Julia Roberts, Richard Gere
Julia Roberts was catapulted to stardom in this fairy–tale romance about a call–girl who is swept up by Richard Gere, a millionaire…
RevengeRevenge (1990)
Dir. Tony Scott
Feat. Kevin Costner, Anthony Quinn, Madeleine Stowe
Pulpy action thriller from director Tony Scott (TOP GUN) about a U.S. Navy aviator (Kevin Costner) who falls in love with the wife of Mexican crime…
Stanley and IrisStanley and Iris (1990)
Dir. Martin Ritt
Feat. Jane Fonda, Robert De Niro, Swoosie Kurtz
Adapted from the novel 'Union Street' by Pat Barker, and transposed to the USA, this concerns a grieving widow (Fonda) who teaches a…
Truly, Madly, DeeplyTruly, Madly, Deeply (1990) Aro Favourite
Dir. Anthony Minghella
Feat. Juliet Stevenson, Alan Rickman, Bill Paterson
Charming story of a grief–stricken widow who discovers the ghost of old luvvy resurrected in her living room. Many have fallen truly, madly and…
White PalaceWhite Palace (1990) Recommended
Dir. Luis Mandoki
Feat. James Spader, Susan Sarandon
An uptight yuppie unwittingly falls in love with a 43–year–old hamburger waitress. James Spader and Susan Sarandon are perfectly…
AlwaysAlways (1989)
Dir. Steven Spielberg
Feat. Richard Dreyfuss, John Goodman, Holly Hunter
Heartwarming fantasy about a deceased pilot whose spirit returns to help his best friend pursue the same career and lady.
CousinsCousins (1989)
Dir. Joel Schumacher
Feat. Ted Danson, Isabella Rossellini, Sean Young
Superior remake of COUSIN COUSINE with Danson and Rossellini pretending to be lovers to avenge their unfaithful partners.
Delinquents, TheDelinquents, The (1989)
Dir. Chris Thomson
Feat. Kylie Minogue, Charlie Schlatter, Bruno Lawrence
Minogue graduated from her TV soap–opera days with this attempt at a serious period drama, with her and Schlatter playing lovestruck teen…
Eversmile, New JerseyEversmile, New Jersey (1989)
Dir. Carlos Sorin
Feat. Daniel Day-Lewis, Mirjana Jokovic
Oddball dramedy with Daniel Day–Lewis taking on the role of a dentist travelling by motorbike through South America to provide locals with free…
Her AlibiHer Alibi (1989)
Dir. Bruce Beresford
Feat. Tom Selleck, Paulina Porizkova, William (actor) Daniels
Clunky rom–com about a novelist who falls in love with a beautiful murder suspect that lazily rests on the charms of its moustachioed leading…
MetropolitanMetropolitan (1989) Recommended
Dir. Whit Stillman
Feat. Carolyn Farina, Edward Clements, Chris Eigeman
Sundance–winning arthouse hit focuses on the disappearing Manhattan debutante scene. An unknown ensemble play upper–class adolescents who…
Miracle MileMiracle Mile (1989) Recommended
Dir. Steve DeJarnatt
Feat. Anthony Edwards, Mare Winningham, John Agar
Anthony Edwards has 60 minutes in which to contemplate a phone call that claims to be the instigation of an imminent nuclear assault. A good crack at…
Old GringoOld Gringo (1989)
Dir. Luis Puenzo
Feat. Jane Fonda, Gregory Peck, Jimmy Smits
Western following an American school teacher (Jane Fonda) who is captured by soldiers of Pancho Villa's army while working in Mexico in 1913, and…
Romuald et JulietteRomuald et Juliette (1989) Aro Favourite
Dir. Coline Serreau
Feat. Daniel Auteuil, Firmine Richard, Pierre Vernier
French comedy at its very best contrasts the lives of a yoghurt company director and a black mother–of–five cleaning lady who through…
Say AnythingSay Anything (1989) Recommended
Dir. Cameron Crowe
Feat. John Cusack, Ione Skye, John Mahoney
Fresh light is cast on the East–end boy meets West–end girl scenario. Satisfying teen fare.
Tall Guy, TheTall Guy, The (1989)
Dir. Mel Smith
Feat. Jeff Goldblum, Rowan Atkinson, Emma Thompson
Jeff Goldblum plays an American actor in England who faces successive crises with obnoxious employer Rowan Atkinson and love interest Emma Thompson.
True LoveTrue Love (1989)
Dir. Nancy Savoca
Feat. Annabella Sciorra, Ron Eldard
A raw yet keenly observed slice–of–Italian–life in the Bronx. Annabella Sciorra plays a bride–to–be whose plans to tie…
ValmontValmont (1989)
Dir. Milos Forman
Feat. Colin Firth, Annette Bening, Meg Tilly
Baroque Milos Forman variation on the classic tale of ‘Dangerous Liaisons’, with Annette Bening and Colin Firth tangling tonsils, and more, as…
Biloxi BluesBiloxi Blues (1988)
Dir. Mike Nichols
Feat. Matthew Broderick, Christopher Walken
Famed scriptwriter Neil Simon (THE GOODBYE GIRL) here gives a semi–autobiographical account of his experiences in boot–camp during WW2,…
Bull DurhamBull Durham (1988)
Dir. Ron Shelton
Feat. Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins
Costner and Sarandon star in this much–admired romantic baseball comedy.
Crossing DelanceyCrossing Delancey (1988)
Dir. Joan Micklin Silver
Feat. Amy Irving, Peter Riegert
Liberal New Yorker Amy Irving juggles her passion for literature around two (in)eligible bachelors – a handsome academic and a humble pickle…
Echoes (TV Mini-series)Echoes (TV Mini-series) (1988)
Dir. Barbara Rennie
Feat. Siobhan Garahy, Robert Hines, Geraldine James
Set in Ireland in the 1950's, this picturesque romance traces the life of a small town girl whose dreams of escape come true when she wins a…
Fresh HorsesFresh Horses (1988)
Dir. David Anspaugh
Feat. Andrew McCarthy, Molly Ringwald
Blue–blood collegian Andrew McCarthy falls for the wrong–side–of–the–tracks and underage Molly Ringwald. Earnest love…
MasqueradeMasquerade (1988)
Dir. Bob Swaim
Feat. Rob Lowe, Meg Tilly, Kim Cattrall
Smooth sailor Rob Lowe charms the pants off Hampton heiress Meg Tilly, but is more concerned with whats in her pockets. Also features a young Kim…
Mystic PizzaMystic Pizza (1988) Recommended
Dir. Donald Petrie
Feat. Julia Roberts, Lili Taylor, Annabeth Gish
Julia Roberts' star quality shines in this, her debut film, contrasting the love–lives of three pizza waitresses in a town called Mystic.…
Some GirlsSome Girls (1988)
Dir. Mike Hoffman
Feat. Patrick Dempsey, Jennifer Connelly, Sheila Kelley
An odd and moving little film in which a college student travels to Quebec to visit his girlfriend – and her eccentric family, and is thrust…
Stealing HomeStealing Home (1988)
Dir. Steven Kampmann
Feat. Mark Harmon, Blair Brown, Jonathan Silverman
Coming–of–age romantic drama about a washed up baseball player (Mark Harmon) who finds out his childhood love (Jodie Foster) has…
Switching ChannelsSwitching Channels (1988)
Dir. Ted Kotcheff
Feat. Kathleen Turner, Burt Reynolds, Christopher Reeve
Newsroom comedy about a chief at a cable TV station who tries to prevent his ex–wife and anchorwoman from marrying another man by assigning her…
Unbearable Lightness of Being, TheUnbearable Lightness of Being, The (1988) Recommended
Dir. Philip Kaufman
Feat. Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche, Stellan Skarsgard
In war–torn Czechoslovakia 1968, a young doctor is caught between two lovers and the political struggle of his homeland. Daniel Day–Lewis…
84 Charing Cross Road84 Charing Cross Road (1987)
Dir. David Jones
Feat. Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins
Book–loving New Yorker Anne Bancroft corresponds with London bookseller Anthony Hopkins in the decades following WWII, leading to some platonic…
Beauty and the Beast (TV Series)Beauty and the Beast (TV Series) (1987)
Feat. Linda Hamilton, Ron Perlman
Distinctively 80s drama series is a twist on the classic tale, where 'Beast' (Perlman) is a noble–man living in New York's hidden underworld of…
Big Easy, TheBig Easy, The (1987) Recommended
Dir. Jim McBride
Feat. Ellen Barkin, Dennis Quaid
Highly enjoyable detective romp with Ellen Barkin and Dennis Quaid providing steamy moments both in and out of bed. A terrific cajun music score…
Dark EyesDark Eyes (1987)
Dir. Nikita Mikhalkov
Feat. Marcello Mastroianni
The Soviet director ventures to Italy for this exquisite Chekhovian romantic tragedy in which Marcello Mastroianni abandons rationale for the allure…
Dorothy L. Sayers Mysteries (TV Series)Dorothy L. Sayers Mysteries (TV Series) (Strong Poison, Have His Carcase, Gaudy Night) (1987)
Feat. Harriet Walter, Edward Petherbridge, Richard Morant
A series of BBC TV adaptations of three novels by Dorothy L. Sayers that follow the aristocratic sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey's romance with the crime…
Lonely Passion of Judith HearneLonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987)
Dir. Jack Clayton
Feat. Maggie Smith, Bob Hoskins
An anguished spinster pins romantic hopes on a sweet–talking business man who has other intentions. Melancholy fare, remarkably acted by Maggie…
MoonstruckMoonstruck (1987) Aro Favourite
Dir. Norman Jewison
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Cher, Danny Aiello
Superb comic drama rivals the best of Woody Allen through vignettes of family life in New York's Italian district, and the cast have never been…
Room Upstairs, TheRoom Upstairs, The (1987)
Dir. Stuart Margolin
Feat. Stockard Channing, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sam Waterston
The life of a lonely and isolated woman is transformed when she turns her childhood home into a boarding house filled with eclectic characters.
RoxanneRoxanne (1987)
Dir. Fred Schepisi
Feat. Steve Martin, Daryl Hannah
Steve Martin's splendid update of Cyrano de Bergerac casts him as a fire chief burdened with an enormous nose. Daryl Hannah is the object of his…
Some Kind of WonderfulSome Kind of Wonderful (1987) Recommended
Dir. Howard Deutch
Feat. Mary Stuart Masterson, Eric Stoltz, Lea Thompson
Some wonderful romantic angst from John Hughes' pen, with Mary Stuart Masterson in love with Eric Stoltz in love with Lea Thompson.
Someone to Love (1987)
Dir. Henry Jaglom
Feat. Orson Welles
Typically loose and naturalistic drama from independent stalwart Henry Jaglom, who pretty much plays himself – a jaded divorcee filmmaker in search…
Someone to Watch Over MeSomeone to Watch Over Me (1987) Recommended
Dir. Ridley Scott
Feat. Tom Berenger, Mimi Rogers, Lorraine Bracco
East–side married cop Tom Berenger finds his fidelity in serious disrepair when he is hired to protect a rich and glamorous witness. Romantic…
Summer SchoolSummer School (1987)
Dir. Carl Reiner
Feat. Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley, Robin Thomas
Goofy 80's High School comedy starring Mark Harman as a gym teacher with big vacation plans who reluctantly agrees to teach a summer English class…
Woo Woo Kid, TheWoo Woo Kid, The (In the Mood) (1987)
Dir. Phil Alden Robinson
Feat. Patrick Dempsey, Beverly D'Angelo, Talia Balsam
Dreamboat Patrick Dempsey woos two older women as a 15–year–old casanova in this affable romantic comedy of an adolescent who has a gift…
About Last NightAbout Last Night (1986)
Dir. Edward Zwick
Feat. Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, James Belushi
Hollywood adaptation of David Mamet's play "Sexual Perversity in Chicago".
Arriving TuesdayArriving Tuesday (1986)
Dir. Richard Riddiford
Feat. Judy McIntosh, Peter Hayden
An estranged couple try to rekindle their romance by taking a holiday which only seems to make matters worse. A poignant love story.
Betty BlueBetty Blue (1986) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jean-Jacques Beineix
Feat. Beatrice Dalle, Jean-Hugues Anglade
Beatrice Dalle stars as the ultra crazy and ultra sexy Betty in this lusty, over–the–top drama as only the French aspire to create.…
Children of a Lesser GodChildren of a Lesser God (1986)
Dir. Randa Haines
Feat. William Hurt, Marlee Matlin, Piper Laurie
Powerful drama in which teacher–for–the–deaf William Hurt falls in love with Marlee Matlin.
Hannah and Her SistersHannah and Her Sisters (1986) Recommended
Dir. Woody Allen
Feat. Woody Allen, Michael Caine, Dianne Wiest
Spot–on romantic comedy from Woody Allen, aligning another witty and perceptive script with a stellar cast.
Legal EaglesLegal Eagles (1986)
Dir. Ivan Reitman
Feat. Robert Redford, Debra Winger, Daryl Hannah
Light rom–com thriller set in New York's art world with Winger and Redford as feuding attorneys.
Man and A Woman: 20 Years Later, AMan and A Woman: 20 Years Later, A (1986)
Dir. Claude Lelouch
Feat. Anouk Aimee, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Richard Berry
Worthy follow–up to Lelouch's seminal 60's romantic drama benefits from appealing performances by it's two leads.
Mauvais SangMauvais Sang (The Night Is Young) (1986)
Dir. Leos Carax
Feat. Michel Piccoli, Denis Lavant, Juliette Binoche
A street–punk joins a gang of hoods intent on stealing a top–secret serum, but complications prevail. Romantic thriller contains…
MeloMelo (1986)
Dir. Alain Resnais
Feat. Sabine Azema, Fanny Ardant, Pierre Arditi
New Wave dir. Resnais explores unusually restrained, linear territory in this bittersweet melodrama centered around a love triangle between longtime…
Off BeatOff Beat (1986)
Dir. Michael Dinner
Feat. Judge Reinhold, Meg Tilly, Harvey Keitel
Comedy about a likeable librarian who impersonates a police officer at a charity function as a favour to a friend, but then finds himself in the…
Shadows in ParadiseShadows in Paradise (Varjoja paratiisissa) (1986) Recommended
Dir. Aki Kaurismaki
Feat. Matti Pellonpaa, Kati Outinen, Sakari Kuosmanen
The first film in Kaurismäki's Proletariat Trilogy follows a lonely garbage collector who finds romance with a check–out clerk (Kaurismäki…
Sherman's MarchSherman's March (1986) Aro Favourite
Dir. Ross McElwee
A wonderfully oddball chronicle of the disastrous and wacky lovelife and times of the film–maker. Intending to make a historical doco, he veers…
Soul ManSoul Man (1986)
Dir. Steve Miner
Feat. C. Thomas Howell, Rae Dawn Chong, Arye Gross
A privileged white student disguises himself as a black man in order to win a Harvard Law School scholarship, in this disappointing "blackface"…
TampopoTampopo (1986) Recommended
Dir. Juzo Itami
Feat. Tsutomu Yamazaki, Nobuko Miyamoto, Ken Watanabe
A crazy, satirical comedy in which heroine Tampopo and her cronies strive to create the perfect noodle. A wonderful movie full of hilarious madness…
Top GunTop Gun (1986) Recommended
Dir. Tony Scott
Feat. Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer
Star–making film for Cruise, who goes through all the right motions to get millions of bums on seats. The routine plot is overcome by the…
Travelling NorthTravelling North (1986)
Dir. Carl Schultz
Feat. Leo McKern, Julia Blake
Screen adaptation of David Williamson's play about a cantankerous retiree who finds love at last, but then discovers his imminent mortality.
Bride, TheBride, The (1985)
Dir. Franc Roddam
Feat. Sting, Jennifer Beals, Anthony Higgins
Infamous 'career moment' for all involved, this ambitious remake of BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN has plenty of staggering gothic visuals, but fails to…
Coca Cola Kid, TheCoca Cola Kid, The (1985)
Dir. Dusan Makavejev
Feat. Eric Roberts, Greta Scacchi, Bill Kerr
Quirky Aussie comedy about a Coca Cola marketing guru (Roberts) who visits a small town in the Australian outback to try and sell his product, only…
Coming ThroughComing Through (1985)
Dir. Peter Barber-Fleming
Feat. Kenneth Branagh, Helen Mirren, Alison Steadman
D.H. Lawrence's love affair with the married Frieda Von Richthofen is entwined with the life of a man in the present day who is obsessed with the…
Crazy for YouCrazy for You (Vision Quest) (1985)
Dir. Harold Becker
Feat. Matthew Modine, Linda Fiorentino
A high school wrestler in Spokane, Washington has trouble focusing on his training regimen when a worldly drifter takes up temporary residence at his…
CreatorCreator (1985)
Dir. Ivan Passer
Feat. Peter O'Toole, Mariel Hemingway, Vincent Spano
A charmingly absurd sci–fi rom–com from the 1980's starring Peter O'Toole as a madcap scientist who applies his eccentric methodology to…
Desperately Seeking SusanDesperately Seeking Susan (1985) Aro Favourite
Dir. Susan Seidelman
Feat. Rosanna Arquette, Madonna, Aidan Quinn
Rosanna Arquette and Madonna shine in this spunky and spirited New York comedy/murder mystery – up there with the best of John Hughes' popular…
Me and the Girls / Bon Voyage / Mr. and Mrs. EdgehillMe and the Girls / Bon Voyage / Mr. and Mrs. Edgehill (The Noel Coward Collection - Disc 6) (1985)
Dir. Jack Gold, Gavin Millar
Feat. Tom Courtenay, Robert Glenister, Nigel Havers
– Me and the Girls (85') Touching drama centred on a terminally ill gay man reminiscing on his past life performing and managing a dance…
MischiefMischief (1985)
Dir. Mel Damski
Feat. Catherine Mary Stewart, Kelly Preston, Chris Nash
Nostalgic teen comedy set in 50's Ohio, where an introverted teen attempts to win the love of the school heart throb, while his extroverted friend…
Moonlighting (TV Series)Moonlighting (TV Series) (1985)
Dir. Robert Butler
Feat. Bruce Willis, Cybill Shepherd
The softly ironic, comedy–romance TV–series that made Bruce Willis a star, and almost revived Cybill Shepherd, set around a Private…
PolicePolice (1985) Recommended
Dir. Maurice Pialat
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Sophie Marceau, Richard Anconina
Brilliantly idiosyncratic crime thriller co–written by French auteurs Maurice Pialat (who also directs) and Catherine Breillat (A MA SOEUR!),…
Prizzi's HonorPrizzi's Honor (1985)
Dir. John Huston
Feat. Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, Anjelica Huston
Jack Nicholson plays a Mafia hitman, embroiled in some ripely comic and sexy intrigues.
Purple Rose of CairoPurple Rose of Cairo (1985) Aro Favourite
Dir. Woody Allen
Feat. Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, Danny Aiello
Exceptional comic fantasy about a depression–era housewife (Mia Farrow) whose solace in the movies blossoms into a romance with a screen…
Room with a View, ARoom with a View, A (1985)
Dir. James Ivory
Feat. Helena Bonham Carter, Daniel Day-Lewis, Denholm Elliott
One of the better Merchant–Ivorys, this light–toned adaptation of E. M. Forster's novel sets an array of well–to–do English…
St. Elmo's FireSt. Elmo's Fire (1985)
Dir. Joel Schumacher
Feat. Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy
The definitive 'Brat Pack' movie – seven graduates find the big wide world and the urge to pair off has consequences on their friendship as a…
Summer LoversSummer Lovers (1985)
Dir. Randal Kleiser
Feat. Peter Gallagher, Daryl Hannah, Valerie Quennessen
Daffy drama set on a Greek isle with Gallagher and Hannah as a holidaying couple, trouble ensues when Gallagher meets a sexy archaeologist.
Sure Thing, The (1985)
Dir. Rob Reiner
Feat. John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Tim Robbins
Early John Cusack film puts an agreeable spin on the plot of IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT, where he and female–nemesis Daphne Zuniga uncomfortably…
Trouble in MindTrouble in Mind (1985)
Dir. Alan Rudolph
Feat. Kris Kristofferson, Keith Caradine, Lori Singer
Fans of the obscure should enjoy this rollicking film noir. Set in the near future, an ex–convict returns to his favourite cafe to rekindle a…
A Year of the Quiet SunA Year of the Quiet Sun (1984) Recommended
Dir. Krzysztof Zanussi
Feat. Maja Komorowska, Scott Wilson
Realistic and poignant drama that depicts the tentative yet soulful romance that blooms between a Polish woman and an American soldier who is…
Among the CindersAmong the Cinders (1984)
Dir. Rolf Haedrich
Feat. Paul O'Shea, Derek Hardwick, Yvonne Lawley
A tender chronicle of a 16–year–old's rite–of–passage who finds first love with an older woman embittered by her experience…
Choose MeChoose Me (1984) Recommended
Dir. Alan Rudolph
Feat. Genevieve Bujold, Keith Carradine, Lesley-Anne Down
A sultry, out–of–the–ordinary comedy/drama centred around a luminous late–night L.A. bar, this cemented Robert Altman protege…
Falling in LoveFalling in Love (1984)
Dir. Ulu Grosbard
Feat. Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep
Star–combination of Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep, as train–commuters having an affair which puts a wee glow back into their fairly…
Far Pavilions, The (TV Mini-series)Far Pavilions, The (TV Mini-series) (1984)
Dir. Peter Duffell
Feat. Ben Cross, Amy Irving, Christopher Lee
Lavish period drama based on the epic book by novelist M.M. Kaye, centered around the romance between a young English officer and a beautiful Indian…
Full Moon in ParisFull Moon in Paris (1984)
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Pascale Ogier, Fabrice Luchini, Christian Vadim
From Rohmer's 'Comedies and Proverbs' series, wit and subtlety is derived from the simplest of plots. This time a headstrong woman's plans backfire…
Purple HeartsPurple Hearts (1984)
Dir. Sidney J Furie
Feat. Ken Wahl, Cheryl Ladd, R. Lee Ermey
Vietnam War set romance with Wahl and Ladd as love struck medics.
Purple RainPurple Rain (1984) Recommended
Dir. Albert Magnoli
Feat. Prince
The project that would elevate His Purpleness to superstar status is a silly yet enjoyable drama about love, lust and ambition. The plot merely…
SplashSplash (1984)
Dir. Ron Howard
Feat. Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah
Winning comic fantasy with Tom Hanks falling for mermaid Daryl Hannah.
StarmanStarman (1984)
Dir. John Carpenter
Feat. Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith
Jeff Bridges plays an alien trying to recover his spaceship on Earth with the help of young widow Karen Allen. Entertaining fantasy–drama.
All The Rivers Run (TV Mini-series)All The Rivers Run (TV Mini-series) (1983)
Dir. George Miller
Feat. Sigrid Thornton, John Waters
Soppy, though fondly remembered Australian turn of the century mini–series following 'Philadelphia' (Thornton), a young English refugee…
Baby, It's YouBaby, It's You (1983)
Dir. John Sayles
Feat. Rosanna Arquette, Vincent Spano
High–school sweethearts Rosanna Arquette and Vincent Spano undergo the trials of the late 60s counter–culture America. Characters and…
First Name: CarmenFirst Name: Carmen (Prenom Carmen) (1983)
Dir. Jean-Luc Godard
Feat. Maruschka Detmers, Jacques Bonnaffe
Late Godard standout is a markedly nostalgic throwback to his New Wavy years, combining an ad hoc terrorist, ill–fated romance, a…
High Road To China High Road To China (1983)
Dir. Brian G. Hutton
Feat. Tom Selleck, Bess Armstrong
A biplane pilot is saddled with a spoiled industrialist's daughter as she searches for her missing father through Asia, entangling them in a struggle…
Hong Kong 1941Hong Kong 1941 (Dang doi lai ming) (1983)
Dir. Po-Chi Leong
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat, Alex Man, Kien Shih
One of Chow Yun–Fat's early classics, this portrays the disturbing invasion of Hong Kong by the Japanese in 1941, which disrupts the dreams and…
Independence DayIndependence Day (1983)
Dir. Robert Mandel
Feat. Kathleen Quinlan
Kathleen Quinlan yearns to leave her hometown and fulfil her dreams as a photographer, but is unable to come unstuck from her boyfriend.
Jamaica Inn (Mini Series)Jamaica Inn (Mini Series) (1983)
Dir. Lawrence Gordon Clark
Feat. Jane Seymour, Patrick McGoohan, Trevor Eve
Life Is A Bed Of RosesLife Is A Bed Of Roses (1983)
Dir. Alain Resnais
Feat. Ruggero Raimondi, Fanny Ardant, Geraldine Chaplin
Ambitious fantastical oddity from dir. Resnais was made as a tribute to era–defining French directors Melies, L'Herbier and Rohmer, weaving…
Moon in the GutterMoon in the Gutter (1983)
Dir. Jean-Jacques Beineix
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Nastassja Kinski, Victoria Abril
Dockworker Gerard Depardieu befriends Nastassja Kinski as he hunts for the killer of his sister. Pompous or excellent? Watch and decide for yourself.…
Two of a KindTwo of a Kind (1983)
Dir. John Herzfeld
Feat. John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Charles Durning
God (voiced by Gene Hackman) is so disappointed with mankind he prepares a second Flood, but is persuaded by angels to bet on the reformation of two…
Valley GirlValley Girl (1983) Aro Favourite
Dir. Martha Coolidge
Feat. Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, Elizabeth Daily
One of the coolest teen flicks of the early 80s exults a first starring role for Nicolas Cage as a Hollywood punk who crashes a suburban party and…
A Good MarriageA Good Marriage (Le Beau Marriage) (1982)
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Beatrice Romand, Andre Dussollier, Féodor Atkine
An art history student is growing tired of being the mistress of a married painter, then meets a handsome and wealthy younger man whom she vows to…
An Officer and a GentlemanAn Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
Dir. Taylor Hackford
Feat. Richard Gere, Debra Winger, Louis Jr. Gossett
Irresistible formula romance between prospective army officer Richard Gere and Debra Winger.
DivaDiva (1982) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jean-Jacques Beineix
Feat. Frederic Andrei, Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez, Richard Bohringer
Stylish romantic thriller in which an opera–intoxicated youth bootlegs a concert of an unrecorded opera star which leads to trouble with shady…
Heat and DustHeat and Dust (1982)
Dir. James Ivory
Feat. Julie Christie, Greta Scacchi
Sophisticated soap opera follows the escapades of two Englishwomen, two generations apart, who both succumb to the seductive mysticism of India.
I Ought to Be in PicturesI Ought to Be in Pictures (1982)
Dir. Herbert Ross
Feat. Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret
A Hollywood writer whose career is in freefall has his life made even more complicated when his estranged daughter turns up at his door demanding a…
P'Tang Yang KipperbangP'Tang Yang Kipperbang (1982)
Dir. Michael Apted
Feat. John Albasiny, Abigail Cruttenden
A cricket–obsessed 14–year–old courts the girl of his dreams, only for painful shyness and the terror of playing opposite her in…
All Night LongAll Night Long (1981)
Dir. Jean-Claude Tramont
Feat. Gene Hackman, Barbra Streisand, Dennis Quaid
Gene Hackman escapes the druggery of family life by shacking up with nutty Barbra Streisand in this uneven screwball comedy. Totally erratic,…
All's Well That Ends WellAll's Well That Ends Well (1981)
Dir. Elijah Moshinsky
Feat. Ian Charleson, Angela Down, Sir Michael Hordern
Adaptation of the Shakespeare play about a low–born daughter of a doctor who falls in love with the son of a countess, and attempts to cure the…
ArthurArthur (1981)
Dir. Steve Gordon
Feat. Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli
Dudley, as likeable millionaire drunk, falls in love with Liza.
Atlantic City, USAAtlantic City, USA (1981) Recommended
Dir. Louis Malle
Feat. Burt Lancaster, Susan Sarandon
An ageing petty crook finds a new self–respect with a struggling casino worker. Subtly drawn yet satisfying character study, expertly played by…
Aviator's Wife, TheAviator's Wife, The (La femme de l'aviateur) (1981)
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Philippe Marlaud, Marie Riviere
A young student is devastated when he finds that his girlfriend is cheating on him. In order to find out why she did it, he decides to spy on her and…
Continental DivideContinental Divide (1981)
Dir. Michael Apted
Feat. John Belushi, Blair Brown, Allen Garfield
Neglected Belushi outing is a gentle comedy with a hard–nosed journalist falling for an eagle researcher high in the mountains of Colorado.
Endless LoveEndless Love (1981)
Dir. Franco Zeffirelli
Feat. Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields is the saving grace of this fiasco made of Scott Spencer's acclaimed novel about an obsessive teenage romance.
Fine Romance, A (TV Series)Fine Romance, A (TV Series) (1981-1984)
Feat. Judi Dench, Michael Williams
Dame Judi Dench stars opposite her real–life husband, Michael Williams, in this touching Britcom about middle–aged romance between two…
French Lieutenant's Woman, TheFrench Lieutenant's Woman, The (1981)
Dir. Karel Reisz
Feat. Meryl Streep, Jeremy Irons
Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons star in an elegant portrayal of secretive affairs and social strictures. Screenplay by Harold Pinter.
Green IceGreen Ice (1981)
Dir. Ernest Day
Feat. Ryan O'Neal, Anne Archer, Omar Sharif
Cheesy, outlandish heist romance finds Ryan O'Neal embroiled in the high–stakes world of emerald smuggling. Omar Sharif is good value as an…
HoodwinkHoodwink (1981)
Dir. Claude Whatham
Feat. John Hargreaves, Judy Davis, Geoffrey Rush
Devious bank robber Hargreaves eludes the law by pretending to be blind in this low–key Aussie caper–romance. Geoffrey Rush’s first…
Lonely HeartsLonely Hearts (1981) Recommended
Dir. Paul Cox
Feat. Wendy Hughes, Norman Kaye, Jon Finlayson
An off–beat gem about an awkward agency–linked romance between a middle–aged piano tuner and a shy office clerk.
Sense and SensibilitySense and Sensibility (1981)
Dir. Rodney Bennett
Feat. Irene Richards, Tracey Childs, Diana Fairfax
Two sisters search for love, happiness and a way out of financial strife. From Jane Austen's novel, this was filmed by the BBC on location in Dorset…
Woman Next Door, TheWoman Next Door, The (1981)
Dir. Francois Truffaut
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Fanny Ardant
Emotional chaos ensues for a happily married man when his old flame, now also married, becomes his immediate neighbour. Taut, intimate melodrama…
Last Metro, TheLast Metro, The (1980)
Dir. Francois Truffaut
Feat. Catherine Deneuve, Gerard Depardieu
Elegant war story in occupied France, Catherine Deneuve struggles to keep her Jewish husband's theatre operating while concealing his whereabouts.
Somewhere in Time Somewhere in Time (1980)
Dir. Jeannot Szwarc
Feat. Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, Christopher Plummer
Fantastical love story stars Reeve as a successful playwright who becomes obsessed with a woman he believes he is destined to be with, even if it…
1010 (1979)
Dir. Blake Edwards
Feat. Dudley Moore, Bo Derek, Julie Andrews
The cuddly charms of Dudley Moore lift this light comedy out of the saccharine. Moore plays a successful composer falling in love with gorgeous Bo…
Chapter TwoChapter Two (1979)
Dir. Robert Moore
Feat. James Caan, Marsha Mason, Valerie Harper
Neil SImon's hit play is competently adapted for the big screen. James Caan in a rare romantic role plays a man recently widowed who falls for a…
Chilly Scenes of WinterChilly Scenes of Winter (Head Over Heels) (1979) Recommended
Dir. Joan Micklin Silver
Feat. John Heard, Mary Beth Hurt, Peter Riegert
A celebrated early rom–com from writer–director Joan Micklin Silver (CROSSING DELANCEY) with a likable John Heard playing a hopeless…
Days of HeavenDays of Heaven (1979) Aro Favourite
Dir. Terrence Malick
Feat. Sam Shepard, Richard Gere, Brooke Adams
The mid–western wheat–fields provide a magnificent backdrop for this poignant tale of two disparate bachelors who vie for the same woman.…
JunoonJunoon (1979)
Dir. Shyam Benegal
Feat. Shashi Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah
Indian drama set during the 1857 War of Independence, where a feudal chieftain falls for an Anglo–Indian woman and encounters bitter opposition…
Lady OscarLady Oscar (1979)
Dir. Jacques Demy
Feat. Catriona MacColl, Barry Stokes
Jacques Demy's English–language romantic period drama based on the Japanese manga 'The Rose of Versailles' that tells the story of Lady Oscar,…
Little Romance, ALittle Romance, A (1979)
Dir. George Roy Hill
Feat. Laurence Olivier, Anna Massey, Arthur Hill
Sweet minor comedy in which aged charmer Olivier persuades two teenage lovers – American boy, French girl – to run off together.…
ManhattanManhattan (1979) Aro Favourite
Dir. Woody Allen
Feat. Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Mariel Hemingway
This classy introspective comedy from Woody Allen tributes his beloved city while his neurotic alter–ego searches for romantic and intellectual…
Perfect Couple, APerfect Couple, A (1979)
Dir. Robert Altman
Feat. Paul Dooley, Marta Heflin
A low–key romantic comedy for Robert Altman that revels in its delightfully mismatched pair: Helfin, a wannabe rock star, and Dooley, a…
Starting OverStarting Over (1979) Aro Favourite
Dir. Alan J. Pakula
Feat. Burt Reynolds, Jill Clayburgh, Candice Bergen
James L. Brooks scripted this classic breakup comedy with Burt Reynolds and Jill Clayburgh (fresh off AN UNMARRIED WOMAN) as divorcees trying to get…
Two Worlds of Jennie Logan, TheTwo Worlds of Jennie Logan, The (1979)
Dir. Frank De Felitta
Feat. Lindsay Wagner, Marc Singer, Linda Gray
An enchanting made–for–television drama starring Lindsay Wagner as Jennie Logan, a woman finds an antique dress in her attic that…
Classic Bronte Collection, The (TV Series) Classic Bronte Collection, The (TV Series) (1978-1996)
Dir. Julian Amyes, Mike Barker
Feat. Timothy Dalton, Zelah Clarke, Tara Fitzgerald
Five–disc box–set containing three BBC television drama productions from the pen of the Bronte sisters. – Jane Eyre (83')…
Four Feathers, TheFour Feathers, The (1978)
Dir. Don Sharp
Feat. Jane Seymour, Beau Bridges, Robert Powell
Fine costume drama, based on A E W Mason's classic tale of a British officer charged with cowardice, who regains his honour and his love, during an…
House CallsHouse Calls (1978)
Dir. Howard Zieff
Feat. Walter Matthau, Glenda Jackson, Art Carney
Matthau plays a recent widower who attempts to make up for all the fidelity by womanizing he much as he can, before Glenda Jackson comes along and…
Langrishe, Go DownLangrishe, Go Down (1978)
Dir. David Jones
Feat. Judi Dench, Jeremy Irons, Harold Pinter
Teledrama about a steamy affair in 1930s Dublin between a lonely spinster (Dench) and a parasitic intellectual (Irons), on her family's…
Lillie (TV Mini-Series)Lillie (TV Mini-Series) (1978)
Dir. Tony Wharmby, Christopher Hodson, John Gorrie
Feat. Francesca Annis, Catherine Feller, Anton Rodgers
Fascinating costume drama about the life and loves of scandalous British actress Lillie Langtry, who's numerous admirers included the Prince Of Wales…
Mill on the Floss, TheMill on the Floss, The (1978)
Dir. Ronald Wilson
Feat. Pippa Guard, Christopher Blake, Anton Lessor
Loosely based on George Eliot's own childhood, this bleak tale of fueding families and thwarted love is adequately told in this eight part BBC…
Oliver's StoryOliver's Story (1978)
Dir. John Korty
Feat. Ryan O'Neal, Candice Bergen, Nicola Pagett
Ryan O'Neal returns as Oliver Barrett IV in this tender sequel to LOVE STORY.
Same Time Next YearSame Time Next Year (1978) Recommended
Dir. Robert Mulligan
Feat. Alan Alda, Ellen Burstyn
Genteel yet immensely likeable two–hander based on Bernard Slade's Broadway play with Alda and Burstyn as an adulterous couple who share one…
Annie HallAnnie Hall (1977) Aro Favourite
Dir. Woody Allen
Feat. Woody Allen, Diane Keaton
The 'hall'mark of Woody Allen's career – it won him an Oscar for Best Picture and made him a household name. It's a hilarious send–up of…
Bobby DeerfieldBobby Deerfield (1977)
Dir. Sydney Pollack
Feat. Al Pacino, Marthe Keller, Anny Duperey
Solid, if overlong and overly sincere, drama about an American racing car driver (Pacino) who falls in love with a dying heiress. Not exactly…
Love Boat, The (TV Series)Love Boat, The (TV Series) (1977-1986) Aro Favourite
Feat. Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, Lauren Tewes
As infectious and appealing as its theme song, this Aaron Spelling–produced mega–hit offered cruisy relaxation and sunny escapism for…
Love For Lydia (TV Series)Love For Lydia (TV Series) (1977)
Dir. Tony Wharmby, Christopher Hodson
Feat. Mel Martin, Jeremy Irons, Christopher Blake
Adapted from the H.E. Bates' book, this scrumptious Masterpiece Theatre series details the exploits of the beautiful but vapid Lydia and the four men…
Man Who Loved Women, TheMan Who Loved Women, The (1977)
Dir. Francois Truffaut
Feat. Charles Denner, Leslie Caron, Brigitte Fossey
Charles Denner plays a dedicated skirt–chaser, who falls in love with women so constantly he is brought to the point of…
New York, New YorkNew York, New York (1977)
Dir. Martin Scorsese
Feat. Robert De Niro, Liza Minnelli
This imaginative yet famously abrasive tribute to the Hollywood musicals of the 1940s focuses on the tumultuous relationship between a saxophonist…
RoselandRoseland (1977)
Dir. James Ivory
Feat. Teresa Wright, Lou Jacobi, Geraldine Chaplin
Three separate but interlocking stories set in New York's famed dance palace, about people trying to essentially, 'find the right dance partner'.…
Semi-ToughSemi-Tough (1977)
Dir. Michael Ritchie
Feat. Burt Reynolds, Kris Kristofferson, Jill Clayburgh
A running back and wide receiver scrimmage over the adorable Jill Clayburgh in this loose–lipped satire of professional sport by way of the…
Break Of DayBreak Of Day (1976)
Dir. Ken Hannam
Feat. Andrew MacFarlane
Quiet Australian drama focused on a young soldier's struggle to adjust to his previous life after returning home post–WW1, and his pursuit of…
Robin and MarianRobin and Marian (1976) Recommended
Dir. Richard Lester
Feat. Sean Connery, Audrey Hepburn, Robert Shaw
Hearty adventurism envisions Robin Hood as an aging 40–something, who upon returning from the Crusades, rekindles his rivalry with the Sheriff…
Silver StreakSilver Streak (1976) Recommended
Dir. Arthur Hiller
Feat. Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor, Jill Clayburgh
Considered the first and best pairing of Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, this is an unusual yet relaxed mix of comedy, romance, action thriller and…
Love Among the RuinsLove Among the Ruins (1975)
Dir. George Cukor
Feat. Laurence Olivier, Katharine Hepburn, Colin Blakely
Nicely polished period TV–movie, with barrister Olivier defending aging beauty Hepburn, who is being sued by a gigolo for 'abandonment'. Of…
Story Of Adele H.,TheStory Of Adele H.,The (1975)
Dir. Francois Truffaut
Feat. Isabelle Adjani, Bruce Robinson, Sylvia Marriott
A towering performance by Isabelle Adjani anchors this moody, but somewhat turgid romance. Based on the diaries of Victor Hugo's daughter that…
Brief EncounterBrief Encounter (1974)
Dir. Alan Bridges
Feat. Richard Burton, Sophia Loren, Jack Hedley
The BBC revisit David Lean's classic unrequited romance, with Richard Burton and Sophia Loren excellent as would–be lovers who meet on a train…
Love in the RainLove in the Rain (Un amour de pluie) (1974)
Dir. Jean-Claude Brialy
Feat. Romy Schneider, Nino Castelnuovo, Suzanne Flon
More pomp and circumstance from Romy Schneider, here playing a well–to–do French woman indulging in various love affairs while holidaying…
Romance With a Double BassRomance With a Double Bass (1974)
Dir. Robert Young
Feat. John Cleese, Connie Booth, Graham Crowden
Real–life couple John Cleese and Connie Booth are at their best in this charming comic romance based on the short story by Anton Chekov.…
Tamarind Seed, TheTamarind Seed, The (1974)
Dir. Blake Edwards
Feat. Julie Andrews, Omar Sharif, Anthony Quayle
Languid romantic thriller plays out against the backdrop of the Cold War looming. Andrews plays a British civil servant on holiday in the Caribbean…
BreezyBreezy (1973)
Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. William Holden, Kay Lenz
Early, overlooked love affair from screen hard man Clint Eastwood, directing elder statesman William Holden as an aging recent divorcee who strikes…
Fear Eats the SoulFear Eats the Soul (1973)
Dir. Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Feat. Brigitte Mira, El Hedi ben Salem
A sort of remake of Douglas Sirk's older woman–younger man melodrama "All That Heaven Allows", with added plot weirds countered by typical…
Way We Were, TheWay We Were, The (1973) Recommended
Dir. Sydney Pollack
Feat. Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand
A rich–kid aspiring novelist and a political activist go through the pleasure and pain of courtship and marriage through three decades.…
Butterflies Are FreeButterflies Are Free (1972)
Dir. Milton Katselas
Feat. Goldie Hawn, Edward Jr. Albert, Eileen Heckart
Early Goldie Hawn vehicle adapts Leonard Gershe's Broadway play, in which Hawn's blind neighbour falls in love with her.
Cesar & RosalieCesar & Rosalie (1972)
Dir. Claude Sautet
Feat. Yves Montand, Romy Schneider, Sami Frey
French romantic drama with Yves Montand and Sami Frey playing contrasting romantic rivals to divorced single mum Romy Schneider. Montand is a coarse…
Play It Again, SamPlay It Again, Sam (1972) Aro Favourite
Dir. Herbert Ross
Feat. Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts
Probably Woody Allen's funniest film is this tale of a nerdish film critic who is aided by the ghost of Bogart to find love after his wife divorces…
Touch of Class, ATouch of Class, A (1972) Recommended
Dir. Melvin Frank
Feat. George Segal, Glenda Jackson, Paul Sorvino
George Segal and Glenda Jackson (in an Oscar–winning performance) strike up the right chemistry in this British romantic comedy in which their…
We Won't Grow Old TogetherWe Won't Grow Old Together (Nous Ne Vieillirons Pas Ensemble) (1972) Recommended
Dir. Maurice Pialat
Feat. Marlène Jobert, Jean Yanne, Christine Fabréga
A uniquely disquieting film covering the dissolution of an affair between an aged filmmaker and a much younger secretary, based on French director…
CasanovaCasanova (1971)
Dir. Mark Cullingham, John Glenister
Feat. Frank Finlay, Norman Rossington
Adventurous Dennis Potter biopic of libertine Casanova, concerned chiefly with his imprisonment and escape from Venice, though not forgetting to shed…
Death in VeniceDeath in Venice (1971)
Dir. Luchino Visconti
Feat. Dirk Bogarde
Dirk Bogarde plays a gay composer whose unspoken obssesion with a young boy detains him in Venice during a cholera epidemic. This soft–focus,…
FriendsFriends (1971)
Dir. Lewis Gilbert
Feat. Sean Bury, Anicee Alvina
Sentimental, page–turning romance blossoms an enternal love between two idealistic French teens head over heels. Hit soundtrack by Elton John…
Love StoryLove Story (1971)
Dir. Arthur Hiller
Feat. Ali MacGraw, Ryan O'Neal, Ray Milland
Romance on a New England campus between Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal. A huge hit. Oscar–winning theme–tune by Francis Lai.
Max and the JunkmenMax and the Junkmen (Max Et Les Ferrailleurs) (1971)
Dir. Claude Sautet
Feat. Romy Schneider
French crime drama set in the noir shaded streets of Paris follows a frustrated detective getting tangled up in a love triangle after commissioning a…
Minnie and MoskowitzMinnie and Moskowitz (1971)
Dir. John Cassavetes
Feat. Seymour Cassel, Gena Rowlands, John Cassavetes
John Cassavetes' most accessible film is an unlikely romance between a museum curator and a parking attendant set over four days and nights.…
PersuasionPersuasion (1971)
Dir. Howard Baker
Feat. Ann Firbank, Richard Vernon, Bryan Marshall
Circumspect heroine Anne Elliot has the opportunity to rekindle a long–abandoned love–affair, in this BBC adaption of Jane Austen's final…
They Might Be GiantsThey Might Be Giants (1971)
Dir. Anthony Harvey
Feat. George C. Scott, Joanne Woodward, Jack Gilford
A delightfully goofy comic mystery starring George C. Scott as a psychiatric patient who is convinced he is Sherlock Holmes at a Manhattan hospital…
Two English GirlsTwo English Girls (Anne and Muriel) (1971) Recommended
Dir. Francois Truffaut
Feat. Jean-Pierre Leaud, Kika Markham, Stacey Tendeter
A French writer encounters the delicate dilemma of falling in love with both English sisters at a Welsh coastal cottage. Tantalising romance is…
A Swedish Love StoryA Swedish Love Story (1970) Recommended
Dir. Roy Andersson
Feat. Ann-Sofie Kylin, Rolf Sohlman
The debut feature film from director Roy Andersson (YOU, THE LIVING) is an unforgettably beautiful coming–of–age tale inspired by the…
Jane EyreJane Eyre (1970)
Dir. Delbert Mann
Feat. George C. Scott, Susannah York, Ian Bannen
Susannah York and George C. Scott headline this fine adaptation of the Bronte classic.
Ryan's DaughterRyan's Daughter (1970)
Dir. David Lean
Feat. Robert Mitchum, Sarah Miles
The love triangle is given a sweeping, old–fashioned spin by David Lean, set on the rugged Irish coast during WW1.
There's A Girl In My SoupThere's A Girl In My Soup (1970)
Dir. Roy Boulting
Feat. Peter Sellers, Goldie Hawn, Diana Dors
Romantic comedy set around the unpredictable frission between a ladykilling TV personality (Sellers) and a kooky young thing (Hawn). A bit…
Walk in the Spring Rain, AWalk in the Spring Rain, A (1970)
Dir. Guy Green
Feat. Ingrid Bergman, Anthony Hopkins
Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Hopkins conduct an illicit affair in their middle age. Romantic slush best enjoyed as unintentional comedy.
Katzelmacher Katzelmacher (1969)
Dir. Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Feat. Hanna Schygulla
Daring Fassbinder drama focused on a group of Munich friends indulging in the banality of their ordered lives until the arrival of a Greek immigrant…
Model ShopModel Shop (1969) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jacques Demy
Feat. Anouk Aimee, Gary Lockwood, Alexandra Hay
A mesmerizing, shamefully neglected stateside film from French New Wave director Jacques Demy that follows an aimless, unemployed architect who ends…
WinningWinning (1969)
Dir. James Goldstone
Feat. Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Robert Wagner
Paul Newman challenges for Joanne Woodward on and off the track in this high–speed racing melodrama, shot spectacularly amongst the competitive…
Bandolero! Bandolero! (1968)
Dir. Andrew V. McLaglen
Feat. James Stewart, Dean Martin, Raquel Welch
Number three in James Stewart's Western repertoire centred on two brawling brothers who must find a way to work together to avoid the death sentence…
Five Card StudFive Card Stud (1968)
Dir. Henry Hathaway
Feat. Dean Martin, Robert Mitchum, Inger Stevens
Western set in small–town Colorado where players from an ill–fated game of poker start to go missing, and murder is suspected. From the…
Girl on a MotorcycleGirl on a Motorcycle (1968) Recommended
Dir. Jack Cardiff
Feat. Marianne Faithful, Alain Delon
Straight out of the late 60s ethos of freedom, rebellion, psychedelics and women’s liberation, a leather–clad Marianne Faithful speeds away…
La ChamadeLa Chamade (Heartbeat) (1968)
Dir. Alain Cavalier
Feat. Catherine Deneuve, Michel Piccoli
Catherine Deneuve flitters between youthful passion and the comfort of an older, wealthy lover in this elegant menage a trios, lessened only by an…
MayerlingMayerling (1968)
Dir. Terence Young
Feat. Omar Sharif, Catherine Deneuve, James Mason
Austrian Crown–Prince Omar Sharif neglects the business of running the 19th Century Hapsburg empire, to have a secretive and ill–fated…
Midsummer Night's Dream, AMidsummer Night's Dream, A (1968)
Dir. Sir Peter Hall
Feat. Helen Mirren, David Warner, Diana Rigg
The Royal Shakespeare Company's film production of one of Shakespeare's most hilarious and witty plays, featuring a strong ensemble cast.
Thomas Crown Affair, TheThomas Crown Affair, The (1968) Recommended
Dir. Norman Jewison
Feat. Steve McQueen, Faye Dunaway
Split–screen pyrotechnics accord this 60s–chic pastiche of exotic crime thriller and steamy romance. Steve McQueen is the…
What's So Bad About Feeling Good?What's So Bad About Feeling Good? (1968)
Dir. George Seaton
Feat. George Peppard, Mary Tyler Moore, Don Stroud
A hip, literally infectious comedy centred around a cynical former advertising executive living a Beatnik–Bohemian life in a New York loft. The…
Barefoot in the ParkBarefoot in the Park (1967)
Dir. Gene Saks
Feat. Robert Redford, Jane Fonda
Newlyweds Robert Redford and Jane Fonda make their bed in a five–story walk up apartment. Neil Simon pens out the funnies for the dynamic star…
Bobo, TheBobo, The (1967)
Dir. Robert Parrish
Feat. Peter Sellers, Britt Ekland, Rossano Brazzi
Sellers chews up the scenery as 'Juan', a singing bullfighter who finally books a job with a famous theatre director on the proviso that he can…
Countess from Hong Kong, TheCountess from Hong Kong, The (1967)
Dir. Charles Chaplin
Feat. Marlon Brando, Sophia Loren, Syd Chaplin
None too distinguished final film for dir. Chaplin is set aboard a cruise ship, on which US diplomat Brando finds a stowaway Russian countess…
Far from the Madding CrowdFar from the Madding Crowd (1967) Recommended
Dir. John Schlesinger
Feat. Julie Christie, Peter Finch, Terence Stamp
Pastoral, moody epic set in 18th Century England follows the romantic intrigues of an independent woman farmer with three men. Photography by Nic…
Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights (1967)
Dir. Peter Sasdy
Feat. Ian McShane, Angela Scoular
This BBC adaptation of Emily Bronte's gothic romance was one of only a handful that were able to cover the entire novel by virtue of the miniseries…
Young Girls of Rochefort, TheYoung Girls of Rochefort, The (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort) (1967) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jacques Demy
Feat. Catherine Deneuve, Francois Dorleac, Gene Kelly
The carrot of love is dangled in Jacques Demy's positively radiant follow–up to UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG: an unbridled, colour–saturated…
Glass Bottom Boat, TheGlass Bottom Boat, The (1966)
Dir. Frank Tashlin
Feat. Doris Day, Rod Taylor, Dom DeLuise
Completely transparent comedy of the fluffy 60s variety, with Doris Day, pursued by Rod Taylor and mistaken for a Soviet spy.
How to Steal a MillionHow to Steal a Million (1966)
Dir. William Wyler
Feat. Audrey Hepburn, Peter O'Toole, Eli Wallach
A top cast lifts this romantically–inclined suspense caper, wherein Hepburn must steal a forged sculpture belonging to her own family before it…
Man and a Woman, AMan and a Woman, A (1966) Recommended
Dir. Claude Lelouch
Feat. Anouk Aimee, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Pierre Barouh
Classic love story is one of the most popular foreign films of all time. Intelligent, sensitive script is ignited with exotic locations and Francis…
They're a Weird MobThey're a Weird Mob (1966)
Dir. Michael Powell
Feat. Walter Chiari, Chips Rafferty, Clare Dunne
Classic, even nostalgic Aussie text of nationhood, from the bestselling (hoax) novel 'Down Under' by John O'Grady, in which the fair dinkum 'lucky…
Two for the RoadTwo for the Road (1966) Recommended
Dir. Stanley Donen
Feat. Audrey Hepburn, Albert Finney
Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney play a married couple who reflect on their twelve year marriage while driving through France in a sports car with…
Walk, Don't RunWalk, Don't Run (1966)
Dir. Charles Walters
Feat. Cary Grant
During the Tokyo Olympics, an American athlete shares an apartment with an amorous distraction and a wealthy businessman. Breezy comedy marks Cary…
Boeing, BoeingBoeing, Boeing (1965)
Dir. John Rich
Feat. Tony Curtis, Jerry Lewis, Thelma Ritter
Comedy with Tony Curtis playing a philanderer who is secretly engaged to three different air stewardesses, and Jerry Lewis as the surprise house…
Doctor ZhivagoDoctor Zhivago (1965) Recommended
Dir. David Lean
Feat. Geraldine Chaplin, Julie Christie, Omar Sharif
Omar Sharif plays the Russian doctor exiled for writing poetry during WW1, and separated from his only love. Complex, beautifully conceived epic will…
Marriage on the RocksMarriage on the Rocks (1965)
Dir. Jack Donohue
Feat. Frank Sinatra, Deborah Kerr, Dean Martin
Romantic comedy pairing Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, about a businessman's wife who ends up divorcing him and marrying his best friend through a…
RaptureRapture (1965) Recommended
Dir. John Guillermin
Feat. Melvyn Douglas, Patricia Gozzi, Dean Stockwell
Drama based on the 1954 novel "Rapture in My Rags" about a lonely teenage girl living with her widower father, who develops an attraction to an…
CharadeCharade (1964) Recommended
Dir. Stanley Donen
Feat. Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn
Excellently scripted Hitchcock–style thriller crosses the romantic with the macabre.
Father GooseFather Goose (1964)
Dir. Ralph Nelson
Feat. Cary Grant, Leslie Caron, Trevor Howard
Wartime situational comedy with Cary Grant in his penultimate role as an uncouth South Sea beachcomber who becomes a coast watcher for the Allies,…
Le BonheurLe Bonheur (Happiness) (1964) Aro Favourite
Dir. Agnes Varda
Feat. Jean-Claude Drouot, Claire Drouot, Marie-France Boyer
Agnes Varda's sly subversion of romantic norms courted controversy with its frank depiction of the infidelity of a happily married man and the…
Umbrellas of Cherbourg, TheUmbrellas of Cherbourg, The (1964) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jacques Demy
Feat. Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo
Gorgeous French musical with Catherine Deneuve, in her acting debut, one of its many pleasures. A bittersweet romantic story is allied to a lush…
A New Kind of LoveA New Kind of Love (1963)
Dir. Melville Shavelson
Feat. Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Thelma Ritter
Husband–and–wife team Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward star in this Paris–set rom–com about a womanizing reporter and a…
Householder, TheHouseholder, The (1963)
Dir. James Ivory
Feat. Shashi Kapoor, Leela Naidu, Durga Khote
A young Indian newlywed is ill–prepared for marriage to his charming but independent wife and seeks advice from his tyrannical mother, a…
Irma La DouceIrma La Douce (1963)
Dir. Billy Wilder
Feat. Jack Lemmon, Shirley Maclaine, Tura Satana
On patrol in the red–light district of Paris, gendarme Jack Lemmon pines after whore–with–a–heart–of–gold Shirley…
Move Over, DarlingMove Over, Darling (1963)
Dir. Michael Gordon
Feat. Doris Day, James Garner
Originally intended for Marilyn Monroe as 'Something's Got to Give', Doris Day and James Garner instead appear in this comedy about a long…
Who's Minding the Store?Who's Minding the Store? (1963)
Dir. Frank Tashlin
Feat. Jerry Lewis, Jill St. John, Agnes Moorehead
Energetic rom–com with Jerry Lewis playing a clumsy and socially inept dog–walker who is engaged to the heiress of a department store…
That Touch of MinkThat Touch of Mink (1962)
Dir. Delbert Mann
Feat. Doris Day, Cary Grant
Pure–hearted country girl Doris Day becomes a romantic target for rich playboy Cary Grant, after his Rolls splashes her with mud. Other,…
Two For The SeesawTwo For The Seesaw (1962)
Dir. Robert Wise
Feat. Robert Mitchum, Shirley Maclaine, Edmon Ryan
'Odd couple' comedy set in NYC, where a Nebraskan lawyer (Mitchum) moves to start life anew and hits the romantic playground in the company of kooky…
Breakfast at Tiffany'sBreakfast at Tiffany's (1961) Recommended
Dir. Blake Edwards
Feat. Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal
Audrey Hepburn is just lovely as an uptown Manhattan socialite who proves a major distraction for her writer neighbour. A chic, carefree frolic based…
By Love PossessedBy Love Possessed (1961)
Dir. John Sturges
Feat. Lana Turner, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Jason Robards Jr.
Junky drama set in picture perfect New England town centres on the insipid lives and loves of its inhabitants. Sub–Sirkian melodrama has its…
Come SeptemberCome September (1961)
Dir. Robert Mulligan
Feat. Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Bobby Darin
Racy romp with Rock on the Riviera as a businessman habitually harangued on holiday when all he wants is to lavish the luscious Lollobrigida.
FannyFanny (1961)
Dir. Joshua Logan
Feat. Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier, Charles Boyer
Adored melodrama set in Marseilles, starring Leslie Caron as the titular character who falls in love with a young sailor (Buchholz) but must grapple…
Goodbye AgainGoodbye Again (Aimez-Vous Brahms) (1961)
Dir. Anatole Litvak
Feat. Ingrid Bergman, Yves Montand, Anthony Perkins
Elegant love triangle has Bergman falling in love with dashing young Anthony Perkins much to her philandering husband's chagrin. Overly familiar…
Jules and JimJules and Jim (Jules et Jim) (1961) Recommended
Dir. Francois Truffaut
Feat. Jeanne Moreau, Oskar Werner, Henri Serre
Jeanne Moreau stars in this famous New Wave melodrama caught up in the spirit of its swinging times. A twenty–year love triangle, lightening…
Last Sunset, TheLast Sunset, The (1961)
Dir. Robert Aldrich
Feat. Kirk Douglas, Rock Hudson, Dorothy Malone
Melodramatic Western set against the backdrop of the Texas/Mexico border stars Kirk Douglas as a fugitive hounded by Rock Hudson's sheriff, only to…
Lover Come BackLover Come Back (1961)
Dir. Delbert Mann
Feat. Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Tony Randall
Doris Day and Rock Hudson spar away as rival ad–execs – Day is the ethical virgin, Hudson the unscrupulous lady–killer, while Tony…
Paris BluesParis Blues (1961)
Dir. Martin Ritt
Feat. Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier, Joanne Woodward
Undernourished romantic drama has Newman and Poitier as Jazz musicians on holiday in Paris forced to decide whether to stay or return to the U.S. for…
Roman Spring of Mrs. StoneRoman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961)
Dir. Jose Quintero
Feat. Vivien Leigh, Warren Beatty, Coral Browne
Middle–aged actress in crisis, Vivien Leigh, finds sexual fulfillment at the hands of the gigolos of Rome, chiefly Warren Beatty's.…
Second Time Around, The Second Time Around, The (1961)
Dir. Vincent Sherman
Feat. Debbie Reynolds, Steve Forrest, Andy Griffith
Debbie Reynolds stars as a feisty widow who becomes sheriff of a wild Arizona town, where a gambler and a rancher vie for her affections.
Splendour in the GrassSplendour in the Grass (1961)
Dir. Elia Kazan
Feat. Natalie Wood, Warren Beatty, Pat Hingle
Smitten teens work up considerable sexual frenzy when their respective families won't let them be together. Appropriately, it's the lurid scenes…
Bells are RingingBells are Ringing (1960)
Dir. Vincente Minnelli
Feat. Judy Holliday, Dean Martin, Fred Clark
Winning musical rom–com from Vincente Minnelli (MEET ME IN ST LOUIS), with Judy Holliday playing a fictionalised version of real–life…
Breath of Scandal, ABreath of Scandal, A (1960)
Dir. Michael Curtiz
Feat. Sophia Loren, Maurice Chevalier, Angela Lansbury
Soufflé–light romance tuned to the love streams of Vienna, with a regal Sophia Loren courted by handsome American John Gavin. Sweet,…
Grass Is Greener, TheGrass Is Greener, The (1960)
Dir. Stanley Donen
Feat. Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum
The wife of an English Earl falls in love with an American millionaire tourist. Songs by Noel Coward.
Heller in Pink TightsHeller in Pink Tights (1960)
Dir. George Cukor
Feat. Sophia Loren, Anthony Quinn
Dysfunctional stagecoach high jinx with Anthony Quinn and Sophia Loren fleeing with a theatre company into the American's heartland. While lush as a…
It Started in NaplesIt Started in Naples (1960) Recommended
Dir. Melville Shavelson
Feat. Clark Gable, Sophia Loren, Vittorio De Sica
Winning combination of Gable and Loren guided by director Shavelson (HOUSEBOAT) team up again for this romantic comedy drama set in Naples following…
Les Bonnes FemmesLes Bonnes Femmes (1960)
Dir. Claude Chabrol
Feat. Bernadette Lafont, Clotilde Joano, Stephane Audran
An early comedy from French new wave director Claude Chabrol (LE BOUCHER), following four single Parisian women as they encounter the romantic…
LolaLola (1960)
Dir. Jacques Demy
Feat. Anouk Aimee, Marc Michel
Irresistible 'New Wave' confection breezily spins its romantic tale around the alluring presence of Anouk Aimee, here a cheery cabaret–dancer…
Sons and LoversSons and Lovers (1960)
Dir. Jack Cardiff
Feat. Dean Stockwell, Trevor Howard, Dame Wendy Hiller
Richly photographed rendition of D.H. Lawrence's classic novel, in which the son of a coal–miner (Stockwell) struggles to find his path in the…
Strangers When We MeetStrangers When We Meet (1960)
Dir. Richard Quine
Feat. Kirk Douglas, Kim Novak, Ernie Kovacs
Romantic drama adapted by Evan Hunter from his novel of the same name, about two married neighbours who have an affair. Kirk Douglas plays the…
Tall Story (1960)
Dir. Joshua Logan
Feat. Jane Fonda, Anthony Perkins
A young Jane Fonda makes her screen debut in this candy–coated comedy as a bubbly co–ed with romantic yearnings for basketballer Anthony…
Where the Boys AreWhere the Boys Are (1960)
Dir. Henry Levin
Feat. Dolores Hart, George Hamilton, Yvette Mimieux
Fairly 'swingin' sixties beach romp with Hart, Hamilton and a cast of bright young co–eds on Spring Break vacation at Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.…
Wild RiverWild River (1960)
Dir. Elia Kazan
Feat. Montgomery Clift, Lee Remick, Jo Van Fleet
Romantic drama focused around an Authority agent (played with controlled complexity by Montgomery Clift) who meets with resistance and a fair share…
World of Suzie Wong, TheWorld of Suzie Wong, The (1960)
Dir. Richard Quine
Feat. William Holden, Nancy Kwan
Aspiring artist William Holden courts the Chinese prostitute of the title (Nancy Kwan) in 1950s Hong Kong. Lukewarm dramatically, but with some…
Black OrpheusBlack Orpheus (1959) Recommended
Dir. Marcel Camus
Feat. Breno Mello, Marpessa Dawn, Lourdes De Oliveira
Get caught up in the rhythms and colour of Rio De Janiero at Carnival time for an exotic, utterly unique spin on the Greek legend of doomed lovers…
Hiroshima Mon AmourHiroshima Mon Amour (1959)
Dir. Alain Resnais
Feat. Emmanuelle Riva, Eiji Okada
Romance between a French actress and a Japanese architect rekindles their traumatic wartime experiences. The twin threads of despair and sensual love…
Pillow TalkPillow Talk (1959) Aro Favourite
Dir. Michael Anderson
Feat. Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Tony Randall
Party–line adversaries Rock Hudson and Doris Day conduct a hilarious romance of deception in this imaginative sex comedy. With Rock as the…
Samurai SagaSamurai Saga (Aru kengo no shogai) (1959)
Dir. Hiroshi Inagaki
Feat. Toshiro Mifune, Yoko Tsukasa
Feudal Japanese retelling of Rostand's 'Cyrano de Bergerac', with the charismatic Toshiro Mifune as the shogun–poet with a…
Summer Place, ASummer Place, A (1959)
Dir. Delmer Daves
Feat. Dorothy McGuire, Sandra Dee, Troy Donahue
Lush melodrama set on a remote isle with the two couples of different generations trapped in romantic asides and anxieties.
A Time to Love and a Time to DieA Time to Love and a Time to Die (1958)
Dir. Douglas Sirk
Feat. John Gavin, Jock Mahoney, Don DeFore
Bittersweet WWII melodrama finds Douglas Sirk at his gravest; John Gavin plays a returning German solider who falls in love under the shadow of war.…
Barbarian and the Geisha, TheBarbarian and the Geisha, The (1958)
Dir. John Huston
Feat. John Wayne, Sam Jaffe, Eiko Ando
Uncharacteristic John Wayne vehicle has the big lug play an ambassador to Japan following the US intervention in 1863. Eiko Ando plays the titular…
Bell, Book and CandleBell, Book and Candle (1958)
Dir. Richard Quine
Feat. James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon
Enchanting romantic comedy adapted from the Broadway play stars Kim Novak as a witch who casts a spell on her neighbour, played by James Stewart.
Carve Her Name With PrideCarve Her Name With Pride (1958)
Dir. Lewis Gilbert
Feat. Virginia McKenna, Paul Scofield, Jack Warner
Brit war–time romance centred on a lady living in London during WW2 who marries and has a child with a French soldier. Upon hearing of his…
ChristineChristine (1958)
Dir. Pierre Gaspard-Huit
Feat. Romy Schneider, Alain Delon, Micheline Presle
Vienna set classic love triangle between an unfaithful man, his current love interest (played by darling French actress Romy Schneider) and an…
Desire Under the ElmsDesire Under the Elms (1958)
Dir. Delbert Mann
Feat. Sophia Loren, Anthony Perkins, Burl Ives
Anthony Perkins and Sophia Loren requite their love over a heated land dispute in this mild star vehicle for the then–wildly popular Loren.…
HouseboatHouseboat (1958) Recommended
Dir. Melville Shavelson
Feat. Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Martha Hyer
Fortunes change for widower and father–of–three Cary Grant when he takes up residence on a floating home, and employs Sophia Loren as his…
IndiscreetIndiscreet (1958) Recommended
Dir. Stanley Donen
Feat. Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman
Snappy comedy in which sophisticates Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman indulge in a whirlwind romance that cools off smartly when she finds his claim of…
Key, TheKey, The (1958)
Dir. Carol Reed
Feat. William Holden, Sophia Loren, Trevor Howard
Captivating WW2 drama set around a Londonite lady (played with restrained elegance by Sophia Loren) whose liaisons with war sea captains over the…
Matchmaker, TheMatchmaker, The (1958)
Dir. Joseph Anthony
Feat. Shirley Booth, Anthony Perkins, Shirley Maclaine
Farcical adaptation of the Broadway play about a meddling madam who prides herself on playing cupid to the young folk around town until one day…
Teacher's PetTeacher's Pet (1958)
Dir. George Seaton
Feat. Clark Gable, Doris Day, Gig Young
Self–taught newspaper–man Clark Gable is cynical about journalism school, but becomes enchanted with a teacher (Doris Day) and decides to…
An Affair to RememberAn Affair to Remember (1957)
Dir. Leo McCarey
Feat. Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr
Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr meet and decide they're engaged to the wrong people, but their future liaison proves kind of awkward if not dangerous.
Cranes are Flying, TheCranes are Flying, The (Letyat Zhuravli) (1957) Recommended
Dir. Mikhail Kalatozov
Feat. Tatyana Samojlova, Aleksei Batalov, Vasili Merkuryev
A Russian classic which conveys homefront anxieties during WW2 for a young bride whose original fiance has gone to the front. Pursued by his…
Designing WomanDesigning Woman (1957)
Dir. Vincente Minnelli
Feat. Gregory Peck, Lauren Bacall, Dolores Gray
A sportswriter and a fashion–designer marry after a whirlwind romance, and discover they have little in common in this diverting rom–com…
InterludeInterlude (1957)
Dir. Douglas Sirk
Feat. June Allyson, Rossano Brazzi, Marianne Koch
June Allyson falls for the charms of a married European conductor while being courted by a Munich doctor. One of Sirk's weaker melodramas, this was…
Kiss Them For MeKiss Them For Me (1957)
Dir. Stanley Donen
Feat. Cary Grant, Jayne Mansfield, Leif Erickson
Very very silly war comedy with Grant and his navy buddies fighting for their right to spend their shore leave as they see fit, which inevitably…
Love in the AfternoonLove in the Afternoon (1957) Recommended
Dir. Billy Wilder
Feat. Gary Cooper, Audrey Hepburn, Maurice Chevalier
Dark horse Audrey Hepburn classic sees dir. Billy Wilder riff Ernst Lubitsch by way of Gary Cooper and Maurice Chevalier (a wall fixture of…
Raintree CountyRaintree County (1957)
Dir. Edward Dmytryk
Feat. Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift, Eva Marie Saint
Civil War set romance has Montgomery Clift as a schoolteacher whojoins the Union Army as they march into Georgia in the hope of finding his estranged…
SayonaraSayonara (1957)
Dir. Joshua Logan, Marlon Brando
Feat. Patricia Owens, Ricardo Montalban, Martha Scott
An effective, well–acted version of James Michener's novel set during the Korean War, in which ace pilot Brando inconveniently falls in love…
Sissi - The Fateful Years of an EmpressSissi - The Fateful Years of an Empress (1957)
Dir. Ernst Marischka
Feat. Romy Schneider
Concluding film in the Sissi trilogy ends on a somber note with Romy Schneider struggling with Viennese court life as she moves towards a tragic end.
Tammy and the BachelorTammy and the Bachelor (1957)
Dir. Joseph Pevney
Feat. Debbie Reynolds, Leslie Nielsen, Walter Brennan
Debbie Reynolds shines in this classic rom–com about an unsophisticated woman from backwoods Mississippi who falls in love with a wealthy pilot…
Until They SailUntil They Sail (1957) Recommended
Dir. Robert Wise
Feat. Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine, Paul Newman
1950s Christchurch is the novelty star of this MGM prestige picture set entirely in Canterbury, New Zealand, with landmarks such as the Christchurch…
Wide Blue Road, TheWide Blue Road, The (La grande strada azzurra) (1957)
Dir. Gillo Pontecorvo
Feat. Yves Montand, Alida Valli, Francisco Rabal
Italian neorealist melodrama drama which marks the feature debut of Gillo Pontecorvo (THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS). Set on a small rugged island off the…
BacklashBacklash (1956)
Dir. John Sturges
Feat. Richard Widmark, Donna Reed, William Campbell
Richard Widmark and Donna Reed play the tough–talkin', rootin–tootin leads in this gritty horse opera, as they both seek vengeance for…
Elena and Her MenElena and Her Men (Paris Does Strange Things) (1956)
Dir. Jean Renoir
Feat. Ingrid Bergman, Jean Marais, Mel Ferrer
Ingrid Bergman plays a Polish princess torn between marrying for love, or wealth, in this slinky, sweet–natured comic romance. Mel Ferrer, Jean…
Forever Darling (1956)
Dir. Alexander Hall
Feat. Lucille Ball, James Mason, Desi Arnaz
The unique talents of Lucille Ball is the strongest aspect of this 'dysfunctional marriage' comedy, starring James Mason as her Guardian Angel. Ball…
Her Bridal NightHer Bridal Night (Mariée est trop belle, La) (1956)
Dir. Pierre Gaspard-Huit
Feat. Brigitte Bardot, Micheline Presle, Louis Jourdan
Light comedy dating from Brigette Bardot's early years in which she plays a country girl who gets 'discovered' by the Parisian fashion industry and…
Naughty GirlNaughty Girl (Cette Sacree Gamine) (1956)
Dir. Michel Boisrond
Feat. Brigitte Bardot, Francoise Fabian
A con–artist father leaves his devious minx of a daughter in the hands of a performer who discovers the girl is bent on disrupting his life the…
Sissi - The Young EmpressSissi - The Young Empress (1956)
Dir. Ernst Marischka
Feat. Romy Schneider
Royal life is not quite the bed of roses for Princess Sissi, now married to her beloved Franz but under the constant gaze of her meddling…
All That Heaven AllowsAll That Heaven Allows (1955) Aro Favourite
Dir. Douglas Sirk
Feat. Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson, Agnes Moorehead
Middle–aged widow Jane Wyman fights for the respect of her family and upscale community when she conducts an affair with her ‘gardener’…
Grandes Manoeuvres, LesGrandes Manoeuvres, Les (1955)
Dir. Rene Clair
Feat. Michele Morgan, Gerard Philipe, Brigitte Bardot
Sophisticated French fare is a battle of the sexes between a notorious womanizer, and the divorcee he’s convinced he’ll be able to seduce and…
Love is a Many-Splendoured ThingLove is a Many-Splendoured Thing (1955)
Dir. Henry King
Feat. William Holden, Jennifer Jones
Romantic splendour set in Hong Kong at the time of the Korean war about a married US war correspondent who embarks on a forbidden love affair.
My Sister EileenMy Sister Eileen (1955)
Dir. Richard Quine
Feat. Jack Lemmon, Janet Leigh
Charming if not modest retread of the "brains vs. beauty" dilemma sees on–screen sisters Janet Leigh and Betty Garrett jostle for the affection…
One DesireOne Desire (1955)
Dir. Jerry Hopper
Feat. Anne Baxter, Rock Hudson, Julie Adams
Old–fashioned romantic melodrama set in the early 1900's, following the fate of a star–crosses Oklahoma gambler–casino dealer and a…
SissiSissi (1955) Recommended
Dir. Ernst Marischka
Feat. Romy Schneider
Regal saga finds 16–year–old princess Sissi fall in love with husband–to–be Franz Josef in the first of an ongoing series of…
Smiles of a Summer NightSmiles of a Summer Night (Sommarnattens Leende) (1955) Recommended
Dir. Ingmar Bergman
Feat. Ulla Jacobsson, Eva Dahlbeck, Harriet Andersson
An enjoyable, ultimately serious comedy of deception set among the Swedish gentry of the early 20th century who are engaged in a poetic dance of…
SummertimeSummertime (Summer Madness) (1955) Recommended
Dir. David Lean
Feat. Katharine Hepburn, Rossano Brazzi, Isa Miranda
Katharine Hepburn, middle–aged spinster, flees to Venice on vacation, only for the romance of the city – and a dark, handsome Italian catch…
To Paris with LoveTo Paris with Love (1955)
Dir. Robert Hamer
Feat. Alec Guinness, Odile Versois, Vernon Gray
Widowed aristocrat Guinness takes his estranged son to Paris where romantic entanglements await. Tepid romantic comedy fails to rise to the standard…
3 Coins in the Fountain3 Coins in the Fountain (Three Coins in the Fountain) (1954)
Dir. Jean Negulesco
Feat. Clifton Webb, Dorothy McGuire, Jean Peters
Likeable, but modest classic in which three women throw coins into the Fountain of Trevi in Rome, to try their romantic luck. Great tourist locales…
Beachcomber, TheBeachcomber, The (1954)
Dir. Muriel Box
Feat. Glynis Johns, Robert Newton, Donald Sinden
Entertaining and deeply silly romantic yarn with prim missionary Johns falling for slovenly Newton as they team up to fight a cholera outbreak on a…
Elephant WalkElephant Walk (1954)
Dir. William Dieterle
Feat. Elizabeth Taylor, Dana Andrews, Peter Finch
Love–triangle melodrama set on Ceylon tea plantation is a tad overblown, with thunder stolen from the good cast by a climactic elephant…
End of the Affair, TheEnd of the Affair, The (1954)
Dir. Edward Dmytryk
Feat. Deborah Kerr, Van Johnson, John Mills
Original screen adaptation of Graham Greene’s tale of unrequited wartime love, with Deborah Kerr and Van Johnson entangled in a brief but illicit…
It Should Happen to YouIt Should Happen to You (1954)
Dir. George Cukor
Feat. Judy Holliday, Jack Lemmon
Aspiring model Judy Holliday gets the kind of attention she hadn't bargained for when she advertises herself on a giant billboard. Jack Lemmon's…
SabrinaSabrina (1954)
Dir. Billy Wilder
Feat. Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, William Holden
Cinderella–ish comic yarn with a dream cast and director. Audrey Hepburn plays a humble chauffeur's daughter who wins the affections of noble…
SensoSenso (1954) Recommended
Dir. Luchino Visconti
Feat. Alida Valli, Farley Granger, Christian Marquand
A period love story set in the tumultuous 1860's in Italy, when it was occupied by invading Austrians. Dir. Visconti turns his eye on a love…
Victoria in DoverVictoria in Dover (The Story of Vickie) (1954)
Dir. Ernst Marischka
Feat. Romy Schneider, Adrian Hoven
A prequel of sorts to the SISSI trilogy lovingly details the formative romance between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Romy Schneider features…
Young at HeartYoung at Heart (1954)
Dir. Gordon Douglas
Feat. Frank Sinatra, Doris Day
Slick musical with Frank Sinatra wooing Doris Day, while trying to make it as a singer.
Gate of HellGate of Hell (Jigokumon) (1953)
Dir. Teinosuke Kinugasa
Feat. Machiko Kyo, Kazuo Hasegawa, Isao Yamagata
Tragic story of unrequited love set during the Heiji Rebellion in 1159, where a samurai warrior falls in love with a married…
Indiscretion of an American WifeIndiscretion of an American Wife (1953)
Dir. Vittorio De Sica
Feat. Jennifer Jones, Montgomery Clift
Little–seen melodrama with Jennifer Jones and Montgomery Clift as lovers, together for one last fling. An Italian–American…
Madame De...Madame De... (Earrings Of Madame De..., The) (1953) Recommended
Dir. Max Ophuls
Feat. Danielle Darrieux, Vittorio De Sica, Charles Boyer
Widely considered one of the dir.'s peak achievements, this gracefully and ironically traces a doomed menage–a–trois in 18th century…
Moon is Blue, TheMoon is Blue, The (1953)
Dir. Otto Preminger
Feat. William Holden, Maggie McNamara, David Niven
Bright, bristling romantic comedy centered on the courtship of a blithe and carefree commercials actress (McNamara) by the smooth–as–silk…
Roman HolidayRoman Holiday (1953) Aro Favourite
Dir. William Wyler
Feat. Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck
Audrey Hepburn's Oscar–winning and breakthrough performance is her princess who abandons regal responsibilities while abroad to run off with…
Story of Three Loves, TheStory of Three Loves, The (1953)
Dir. Vincente Minnelli, Gottfried Reinhardt
Feat. Pier Angeli, Ethel Barrymore, Leslie Caron
Romantic anthology film telling three separate stories in flashbacks experienced by three characters on board the same ocean liner. "The Jealous…
Casque d'OrCasque d'Or (Golden Marie) (1952)
Dir. Jacques Becker
Feat. Simone Signoret, Serge Reggiani, Claude Dauphin
A gangster’s moll falls in love with a reformed criminal, igniting underworld violence, in this lush, overwhelming tragi–romance set in Paris…
Quiet Man, TheQuiet Man, The (1952)
Dir. John Ford
Feat. John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara
Ex–boxer John Wayne retires to his Irish homeland in search of tranquillity and maybe the hand of Maureen O'Hara. This romantic comedy was a…
African Queen, TheAfrican Queen, The (1951) Recommended
Dir. John Huston
Feat. Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn
A magnificent combination of comedy, character and adventure with odd companions Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn trying to survive each other…
Astonished Heart, TheAstonished Heart, The (1950)
Dir. Terence Fisher, Antony Damborough
Feat. Sir Noel Coward, Celia Johnson, Margaret Leighton
Noel Coward stars in this adaptation of his play; a drawing–room melodrama about a married psychiatrist who unhappily succumbs to the wiles of…
Gone to EarthGone to Earth (1950) Recommended
Dir. Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Feat. Jennifer Jones, David Farrar, Cyril Cusack
Marvellous Technicolor evocation of the rustic Welsh border–country, set around Jennifer Jones’ entry into the world of passionate desire and…
La RondeLa Ronde (1950) Recommended
Dir. Max Ophuls
Feat. Anton Walbrook, Simone Signoret, Serge Reggiani
A witty chronicle of circular love–affairs and seductions in 19th century Vienna. Lavish sets and extravagent spiralling camerawork complement…
Adam's RibAdam's Rib (1949) Recommended
Dir. George Cukor
Feat. Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn
A bittersweet battle of the sexes in which married lawyers find themselves on opposite sides of an attempted murder case. High–brow romp was…
In the Good Old SummertimeIn the Good Old Summertime (1949)
Dir. Robert Z. Leonard
Feat. Judy Garland, Van Johnson, S.Z. Sakall
Judy Garland and Van Johnson star in this musical adaptation of the 1940 film, The Shop Around the Corner, with the locale changed from 1930s…
My Dear Secretary My Dear Secretary (1949)
Dir. Charles Martin
Feat. Kirk Douglas, Laraine Day
Underrated comedy concerning an aspiring young writer (Laraine Day) hired as the new secretary for a top author (Kirk Douglas) who is bitterly…
OrpheusOrpheus (Orphee) (1949) Recommended
Dir. Jean Cocteau
Feat. Jean Marais, Maria Casares, Marie Dea
Cocteau's surrealist retelling of the classical tragedy stars Jean Marais as Orphee, the writer who retrieves his wife Eurydice from the dead. A…
Passionate Friends, ThePassionate Friends, The (1949) Recommended
Dir. David Lean
Feat. Ann Todd, Trevor Howard, Claude Rains
A wistful Ann Todd divides her loyalty between a secure, older husband (Rains) and a free–spirited toff (Howard) in this rich, unrequited…
We Were StrangersWe Were Strangers (1949)
Dir. John Huston
Feat. Jennifer Jones, John Garfield, Pedro Armendariz
Adventure drama with Jennifer Jones playing a woman who joins the Cuban Underground and helps devise a plot to bring down the country's corrupt…
Letter from an Unknown WomanLetter from an Unknown Woman (1948) Recommended
Dir. Max Ophuls
Feat. Joan Fontaine, Louis Jourdan
Joan Fontaine waxes regretfully in a letter to her object of infatuation, a womanizing concert pianist (dishy Louis Jourdan) in late 19th Century…
Portrait of JenniePortrait of Jennie (1948)
Dir. William Dieterle
Feat. Joseph Cotton, Jennifer Jones, Ethel Barrymore
An exquisite flight of fantasy, in which starving–artist Joseph Cotton is visited upon by an otherworldly Jennifer Jones. Dazzling photography…
Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer, TheBachelor and the Bobby Soxer, The (1947)
Dir. Irving Reis
Feat. Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Shirley Temple
Playboy bachelor Cary Grant is ordered by Judge Myrna Loy to escort her teenage sister (Shirley Temple), so that the ‘bobby–soxer’ might…
Daisy KenyonDaisy Kenyon (1947)
Dir. Otto Preminger
Feat. Joan Crawford, Dana Andrews, Henry Fonda
Joan Crawford gives one of her greatest performances in this surprisingly compelling soap opera, finding herself torn between Fonda and Andrews.…
Golden EarringsGolden Earrings (1947)
Dir. Mitchell Leisen
Feat. Marlene Dietrich, Ray Milland, Murvyn Vye
Romantic spy film set the eve of World War II in which Ray Milland plays an English officer on an espionage mission in Nazi Germany to recover a…
Anna and the King of SiamAnna and the King of Siam (1946)
Dir. John Cromwell
Feat. Irene Dunne, Rex Harrison, Linda Darnell
The first version of the true story of an English governess (Dunne) who in the 1860s journeyed to South East Asia to look after the King of Siam's 62…
Brief EncounterBrief Encounter (1946) Recommended
Dir. David Lean
Feat. Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Cyril Raymond
Controlled rendering of Noel Coward's touching story about a romance that evolves between two happily married strangers. This much loved British…
It Rains On Our LoveIt Rains On Our Love (1946)
Dir. Ingmar Bergman
Feat. Barbro Kollberg, Birger Malmsten
Bergman experiments with this awkward combination of romance and misery, in which a couple's happiness is dogged by their criminal and vagrant past.…
Man I Love, TheMan I Love, The (1946)
Dir. Raoul Walsh
Feat. Ida Lupino, Robert Alda, Bruce Bennett
Romantic drama about a New York lounge singer who becomes homesick and decides to visit her siblings on the West Coast, where she unexpectedly falls…
NotoriousNotorious (1946) Aro Favourite
Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Feat. Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant
Sexy, suspenseful romantic thriller with Ingrid Bergman at her most radiant as an American spy who unwittingly falls in love with her contact, Cary…
Clock, TheClock, The (1945)
Dir. Vincente Minnelli
Feat. Judy Garland, Robert Walker, James Gleason
Judy Garland's first dramatic role (in which she did not sing) reunites her with director (and future husband) Vincente Minnelli from MEET ME IN ST.…
I Know Where I'm Going!I Know Where I'm Going! (1945) Recommended
Dir. Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Feat. Dame Wendy Hiller, Roger Livesey, George Carney
A headstrong Wendy Hiller seeks marriage and wealth on the Scottish Hebrides, but is sidetracked by true romance. The powerful landscapes and lyrical…
Frenchman's CreekFrenchman's Creek (1944)
Dir. Mitchell Leisen
Feat. Joan Fontaine, Arturo de Córdova, Basil Rathbone
A faithful adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's novel about an aristocratic English woman who falls in love with a French pirate during the reign of…
Love StoryLove Story (A Lady Surrenders) (1944)
Dir. Leslie Arliss
Feat. Margaret Lockwood, Stewart Granger, Patricia Roc
Classy tearjerker with dying pianist Lockwood falling in love with blind pilot Granger. Treacly but satisfying with the two leads performances…
Tall in the SaddleTall in the Saddle (1944)
Dir. Edwin L. Marin
Feat. John Wayne, Ella Raines, Ward Bond
An action–packed John Wayne Oater in which he plays a tough, quiet cowboy who arrives at an Arizona town to find his boss has been murdered and…
To Have and Have NotTo Have and Have Not (1944) Recommended
Dir. Howard Hawks
Feat. Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart
In the upper–bracket of Bogart films, this first time match–up with Lauren Bacall still sets the screen alight. Adapted from the…
Uncertain GloryUncertain Glory (1944)
Dir. Raoul Walsh
Feat. Errol Flynn, Paul Lukas, Lucile Watson
Wartime romance with Flynn playing French criminal Jean Picard who vows to make the ultimate sacrifice, only to fall in love.
Flemish Farm, TheFlemish Farm, The (1943)
Dir. Jeffrey Dell
Feat. Clive Brook, Clifford Evans, Jane Baxter
Low budget WW2 aviation drama focused on a regiment of Belgian pilots who use a Flemish farm as an airstrip with one of the injured men becoming…
More the Merrier, TheMore the Merrier, The (1943)
Dir. George Stevens
Feat. Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea, Charles Coburn
Winning romantic comedy with a peerless Jean Arthur allowing two men to share her apartment, one of whom she falls in love with.
Presenting Lily MarsPresenting Lily Mars (1943)
Dir. Norman Taurog
Feat. Judy Garland, Van Heflin, Fay Bainter
MGM Musical comedy starring Judy Garland in an early grown–up role as the titular small–town girl who heads to Broadway but struggles to…
CasablancaCasablanca (1942) Aro Favourite
Dir. Michael Curtiz
Feat. Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman
The role that immortalised Bogart is that of Rick, the laconic cafe–owner who assists old flame Ingrid Bergman to escape the Nazis with her…
Eternel Retour, L' (1942)
Dir. Jean Delannoy
Feat. Jean Marais, Madeleine Sologney, Yvonne de Bray
(Love Eternal) A contemporary take on the legend of Tristan and Isolde, lovers united after death. Jean Cocteau's script is realised with the…
Major and the Minor, TheMajor and the Minor, The (1942) Recommended
Dir. Billy Wilder
Feat. Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland, Rita Johnson
Billy Wilder’s first film is a dexterous screwball gem: the delectable Ginger Rogers plays a spunky woman posing as a child so she can afford a…
Now, VoyagerNow, Voyager (1942) Recommended
Dir. Irving Rapper
Feat. Bette Davis, Claude Rains, Paul Henreid
Compelling story of unrequited passion with Bette Davis radiant as the repressed spinster turned elegant socialite who falls in love with a married…
Ball of FireBall of Fire (1941)
Feat. Barbara Stanwyck, Gary Cooper, Dana Andrews
Screwball comedy with Gary Cooper playing a professor working hard on a new encyclopedia with his colleagues, who meets a nightclub performer…
Blood and SandBlood and Sand (1941)
Dir. Rouben Mamoulian
Feat. Tyrone Power, Rita Hayworth
Steamy romantic tragedy with Tyrone Power as an accomplished but naive matador whose bull–ring heroics take a back–seat for brazen Rita…
Bride Came C.O.D., TheBride Came C.O.D., The (1941)
Dir. William Keighley
Feat. James Cagney, Bette Davis, Stuart Erwin
Slapstick rom–com with Cagney as cash–strapped charter pilot who is hired to kidnap a tycoon's daughter to prevent her marrying a vapid…
Devil and Miss Jones, The (1941)
Dir. Sam Wood
Feat. Charles Coburn, Jean Arthur
Tycoon Charles Coburn goes undercover to investigate union activities, and instead falls for shopgirl Jean Arthur. Well–regarded social comedy.
Lady Eve, TheLady Eve, The (1941) Aro Favourite
Dir. Preston Sturges
Feat. Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, Charles Coburn
One of the greatest Hollywood screwball comedies ever, this begins with naïve zoologist Henry Fonda (“Snakes are my life”) falling in love with…
LydiaLydia (Illusions) (1941)
Dir. Julien Duvivier
Feat. Merle Oberon, Joseph Cotton, Alan Marshall
Dreamy, melancholic melodrama follows the life and numerous loves of a society gal (Oberron) in New England over thirty odd years. Dir. Duvivier…
Moon Over Miami (1941)
Dir. Walter Lang
Feat. Betty Grable, Don Ameche, Robert Cummings
One of Betty Grable's better musical outings, it's a bright and breezy story of two sisters who attempt to ensnare a pair of Miami millionaires when…
Mr. & Mrs. SmithMr. & Mrs. Smith (1941)
Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Feat. Carole Lombard, Robert Montgomery, Gene Raymond
An interesting departure for Alfred Hitchcock, this airy screwball comedy follows a happily married couple in New York who are shocked to learn that…
Strawberry BlondeStrawberry Blonde (1941)
Dir. Raoul Walsh
Feat. James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland, Rita Hayworth
Winning 40's rom–com based on the play "One Sunday Afternoon" by James Hagan. Set in 1890's New York City, with James Cagney playing a…
That Hamilton WomanThat Hamilton Woman (1941)
Dir. Alexander Korda
Feat. Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh
Star–chemistry between Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh ignites this portrayal of the infamous romance between Lord Horatio Nelson and Emma…
Down Argentine WayDown Argentine Way (1940)
Dir. Irving Cummings
Feat. Carmen Miranda, Betty Grable, Don Ameche
A horse mad New Yorker falls for a wealthy Argentine rancher in this fluffy technicolor musical, but is hampered by the longstanding feud between…
Philadelphia Story, ThePhiladelphia Story, The (1940) Recommended
Dir. George Cukor
Feat. Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Stewart
A second marriage for a stuffy heiress is threatened by scandal. A witty, sparkling romantic farce with golden trio – Katharine Hepburn, Cary…
Pride and PrejudicePride and Prejudice (1940) Recommended
Dir. Robert Z. Leonard
Feat. Laurence Olivier, Greer Garson
Jane Austen's splendid comedy of manners is brought to the screen for the first time, with wit and subtlety firmly in tact.
RebeccaRebecca (1940) Recommended
Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Feat. Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders
A masterful gothic romance about a nobleman's second wife who becomes haunted by the image of his beloved first. Hitchcock's first American film was…
Remember the NightRemember the Night (1940) Recommended
Dir. Mitchell Leisen
Feat. Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Beulah Bondi
Preston Sturges scripted this forgotten yuletide gem, about an assistant D.A. (MacMurray) who, feeling sorry for a glamorous jewel thief (Stanwyck),…
Seven SinnersSeven Sinners (1940)
Dir. Tay Garnett
Feat. Marlene Dietrich, John Wayne, Albert Dekker
Tropical romance ensues for Marlene Dietrich's quick–witted, sultry saloon singer whose bad behaviour washes her up at the Seven Sinners Cafe,…
Shop Around the Corner, TheShop Around the Corner, The (1940) Aro Favourite
Dir. Ernst Lubitsch
Feat. James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, Frank Morgan
One for the pantheon of romantic–comedy this, directed by the illustrious Ernst Lubitsch (of the famed 'Lubitsch touch') and excelling in its…
Waterloo BridgeWaterloo Bridge (1940) Aro Favourite
Dir. Mervyn LeRoy
Feat. Vivien Leigh, Robert Taylor
Vivien Leigh's follow–up performance to GONE WITH THE WIND is cited as her favourite. It's a sumptuous romantic tragedy about war–torn…
Eternally YoursEternally Yours (1939)
Dir. Tay Garnett
Feat. Loretta Young, David Niven, Broderick Crawford
A woman leaves stability and a wealthy fiancée behind to travel the globe as a magician's assistant after she is swept off her feet. However 'The…
Gone with the WindGone with the Wind (1939) Recommended
Dir. Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Sam Wood
Feat. Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland
One of the greatest examples of story–telling on film, this maintains one's firm interest for nearly four hours with its romantic story, strong…
IntermezzoIntermezzo (1939)
Dir. Gregory Ratoff
Feat. Leslie Howard, Ingrid Bergman, John Halliday
Sweetly sentimental love story sees unhappily married violinist Leslie Howard fall for his protegee Ingrid Bergman.
Jour Se Leve, LeJour Se Leve, Le (Daybreak) (1939) Recommended
Dir. Marcel Carne
Feat. Jean Gabin, Arletty
A renowned example of 'poetic realism', Jean Gabin gives another consummate performance as a doomed anti–hero. His tragic story is told in…
MidnightMidnight (1939) Recommended
Dir. Mitchell Leisen
Feat. Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, John Barrymore
Vintage romantic comedy, with a glamorous Claudette Colbert stranded in Paris and chased by two potential suitors: a modest taxi driver who's really…
NinotchkaNinotchka (1939)
Dir. Ernst Lubitsch
Feat. Greta Garbo, Melvyn Douglas, Ina Claire
“Garbo laughs!” proclaimed the ads for this sparkling romantic comedy, a first for its legendary star, Greta Garbo. She plays a Soviet agent who…
Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights (1939) Recommended
Dir. William Wyler
Feat. Laurence Olivier, Merle Oberon
Emily Bronte's passionate romantic classic is immortalised in celluloid with Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon unforgettable as doomed lovers Kathy…
Alexander's Ragtime BandAlexander's Ragtime Band (1938) Recommended
Dir. Henry King
Feat. Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche
Irving Berlin contributes over two dozen songs as well as the screenplay for this rousing story of the history of (white) jazz music from ragtime to…
Algiers Algiers (1938)
Dir. John Cromwell
Feat. Hedy Lamarr, Charles Boyer, Sigrid Gurie
Remake of a PEPE LE MOKO, in which a dashing jewel thief who has been hiding out for two years in the mysterious, murky Casbah, falls madly in love…
Bank HolidayBank Holiday (Three on a Weekend) (1938)
Dir. Carol Reed
Feat. Margaret Lockwood, John Lodge, Hugh Williams
Minor drama with nurse Lockwood heading to the seaside for an illicit weekend only to have her enjoyment tempered by her job.
Hurricane, TheHurricane, The (1938)
Dir. John Ford
Feat. Dorothy Lamour, Jon Hall
A doomed South Seas romance between islander natives, provides the melodramatic prelude to an awesome special f/x typhoon. Vintage Hollywood…
Love Finds Andy HardyLove Finds Andy Hardy (1938)
Dir. George B. Seitz
Feat. Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Judy Garland
Mickey Rooney stars in this early teenage rom–com as a ruddy–faced youth who becomes entangled with three different girls (Garland,…
Made for Each OtherMade for Each Other (1938)
Dir. John Cromwell
Feat. James Stewart, Carole Lombard
Couple James Stewart and Carole Lombard test their marriage vows through a patch of misfortune in this finely acted soap.
AngelAngel (1937)
Dir. Ernst Lubitsch
Feat. Marlene Dietrich, Herbert Marshall, Melvyn Douglas
Love triangle between a distracted husband, a neglected wife and an ardent suitor set amid the rigid social norms of the…
CamilleCamille (1937)
Dir. George Cukor
Feat. Greta Garbo, Robert Taylor, Lionel Barrymore
One of Greta Garbo’s finest roles, playing the courtesan heroine of Alexandre Dumas’ potboiler, navigating the treacheries of the French…
Damsel in Distress, ADamsel in Distress, A (1937)
Dir. George Stevens
Feat. Fred Astaire, George Burns, Joan Fontaine
A wealthy American entertainer (Astaire) must win the heart of a lovely English lady (Fontaine). His efforts to woo are drastically hindered by her…
Knight Without ArmourKnight Without Armour (1937)
Dir. Jacques Feyder
Feat. Marlene Dietrich, Robert Donat, Herbert Lomas
Visually sumptuous tale of Russian Countess Marlene Dietrich fleeing the 1917 Revolution with the help of Robert Donat. Dir. Feyder made his name as…
Maytime (1937)
Dir. Robert Z. Leonard
Feat. Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, John Barrymore
Love affair between opera soprano and two–bit singer in Paris. An exemplary Jeanette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy musical.
DesireDesire (1936)
Dir. Frank Borzage
Feat. Marlene Dietrich, Gary Cooper
Cooper and Dietrich make a spellbinding duo in this highly entertaining tale of an automotive engineer bound for a holiday in Spain who becomes…
Garden of Allah (1936)
Dir. Richard Boleslawski
Feat. Marlene Dietrich
Disaffected socialite Marlene Dietrich journeys to the Sahara looking for meaning in her life, and finds unexpected romance. Rather…
Klondike AnnieKlondike Annie (1936)
Dir. Raoul Walsh
Feat. Mae West, Victor McLaglen
Star–centric comedy based on the play by Mae West with the steamy starlet taking the lead role as a club entertainer dabbling in romantic…
Swing TimeSwing Time (1936) Recommended
Dir. George Stevens
Feat. Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers
A fine example of Fred and Ginger's magical screen partnership, their sixth together, weaving the music of Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, into…
Trail of the Lonesome Pine, TheTrail of the Lonesome Pine, The (1936) Recommended
Dir. Henry Hathaway
Feat. Fred MacMurray, Sylvia Sidney, Henry Fonda
This pioneering colour film is an engaging old–fashioned Western tale of loyalty, family and romance set against an age–old feud between…
Crusades, TheCrusades, The (1935)
Dir. Cecil B. DeMille
Feat. Loretta Young, Henry Wilcoxon
Hollywood Heavyweight Cecil B. DeMille Directs this overblown spectacle that differs vastly from it's grisly historical origins.
Devil Is A Woman, TheDevil Is A Woman, The (1935)
Dir. Josef von Sternberg
Feat. Marlene Dietrich, Lionel Atwill, Cesar Romero
Set during Carnival in turn on the century Seville where a temptress comes between a young revolutionary and his old friend.
My Man GodfreyMy Man Godfrey (1935) Aro Favourite
Dir. Gregory La Cava
Feat. Carole Lombard, William Powell, Gail Patrick
Breathlessly nit–witty comedy from the screwball era with society dame Carole Lombard plucking William Powell out of skid–row for a…
She Married Her Boss (1935)
Dir. Gregory La Cava
Feat. Claudette Colbert
Pleasant romantic comedy stars Claudette Colbert, who just may regret her marital decision.
L'AtalanteL'Atalante (1934)
Dir. Jean Vigo
Feat. Michel Simon, Jean Daste
A recently restored master work from the French film archive combines lyrical romance with inspired touches of fantasy.
Of Human BondageOf Human Bondage (1934)
Dir. John Cromwell
Feat. Bette Davis, Leslie Howard
The film which propelled Bette Davis to stardom, with her vivid personification of a coy, but slutty Cockney waitress who becomes the object of…
I'm No AngelI'm No Angel (1933) Recommended
Dir. Wesley Ruggles
Feat. Mae West, Cary Grant
Man–eater and circus performer Mae West digs for gold, settling on (and suing!) the loaded Cary Grant, only to fall in love for…
LiebeleiLiebelei (1933)
Dir. Max Ophuls
Feat. Arthur Schnitzler
An early work from the German maestro of the tracking shot, whose tale of doomed romance between a young soldier and fraulein (taken from a play by…
Bird of ParadiseBird of Paradise (1932)
Dir. King Vidor
Feat. Dolores Del Rio, Joel McCrea, John Halliday
Erotic adventure drama about a sailor who falls in love with a woman from an unnamed Pacific island where the film is set. Plenty of colonialist…
Love Me TonightLove Me Tonight (1932) Recommended
Dir. Rouben Mamoulian
Feat. Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald, Myrna Loy
Charismatic tailor Maurice Chevalier makes beautiful music with princess Jeanette MacDonald in this splendiferous romance, one of the great musicals…
Red DustRed Dust (1932)
Dir. Victor Fleming
Feat. Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, Mary Astor
Steamy pre–code drama that captures Jean Harlow at her tough, raunchy best, playing a Saigon hooker who's competing with Mary Astor for the…
Smilin' Through (1932)
Dir. Sidney Franklin
Feat. Norma Shearer, Fredric March, Leslie Howard
Winning tear–jerker with Norma Shearer and Fredric March in dual roles as two sets of unrequited lovers caught in a blood feud.
Le MillionLe Million (1931) Aro Favourite
Dir. Rene Clair
Feat. Annabella, Rene Lefevre, Louis Allibert
An early French musical, so delightful it was to inspire the likes of the Marx Brothers and Charlie Chaplin and even the American Musical as a…
Eternal LoveEternal Love (1929)
Dir. Ernst Lubitsch
Feat. John Barrymore, Camilla Horn
Made during the last days of the silent era, the legendary Ernst Lubitsch directs John Barrymore and Camilla Horn as two lovers living in the Swiss…
Show PeopleShow People (1928) Recommended
Dir. King Vidor
Feat. Marion Davies, William Haines, Dell Henderson
A satire of Hollywood life in the last of the silent years, this rom–com from director King Vidor (THE FOUNTAINHEAD) has Marion Davies playing…
Street AngelStreet Angel (1928)
Dir. Frank Borzage
Feat. Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell
Janet Gaynor radiates as a streetwalker whose love for an Italian painter is jeopardized by her past brushes with the law. As with 7th HEAVEN, dir.…
7th Heaven7th Heaven (Seventh Heaven) (1927) Aro Favourite
Dir. Frank Borzage
Feat. Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell
Eternal lovers Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell endure spiritual turmoil and the ravages of war in this beautiful silent era classic, remarkable for…
Merry Widow, TheMerry Widow, The (1925)
Dir. Erich von Stroheim
Feat. Mae Murray, John Gilbert, Tully Marshall
Silent romantic comedy about a prince who falls in love with a dancer and commoner (Mae Murray) but after the marriage is forbidden she goes on to…
VarietyVariety (1925) Aro Favourite
Dir. E.A. Dupont
Feat. Emil Jannings, Lya de Putti
A cautionary fable of romantic treachery set in the since–vanished vaudeville world, lent depth through its sophisticated visual style. Emil…
Beyond the RocksBeyond the Rocks (1922)
Dir. Sam Wood
Feat. Rudolph Valentino, Gloria Swanson, Edythe Chapman
Silent–era romantic drama that was considered a lost film until a nitrate print was discovered in the Netherlands in 2003 and restored to…
Way Down EastWay Down East (1920)
Dir. D.W. Griffith
Feat. Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess
A prototypical Hollywood melodrama, detailing the innocence, corruption and eventual fate of Lillian Gish in 19th century America. Expertly…
True Heart SusieTrue Heart Susie (1919)
Dir. D.W. Griffith
Feat. Lillian Gish, Robert Harron, Clarine Seymour
Lillian Gish plays an innocent and big–hearted country girl who sacrifices everything for the clueless minister that breaks her heart. A…

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