Top 5 Romances

Brodie Fanns!

One thing people don't realize about your old pal Brodie, is that I have a soft spot. A nice, tender heart. Granted that's encased inside the cold, sarcastic heart of steel everyone knows... but it's still there. And I love a good love story just as much as the next person. So I present you with this... My Top 5 Love Stories (no... Love Story is not on the list)...

5) It Happened One Night
In Frank Capra's pitch perfect It Happened One Night, Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert (no relation to Stephen) is the first screwball comedy, and one of the top road comedies, but above it all, it's a romance. The mismatched duo on the road, one a spoiled heiress fed up with her silver spoon, the other a dashing out of work reporter, having found the story that may put him on the map. They teach each other about life and love and all that. Sure, 74 years later, it's a cliche. But in 1934, it's brilliant and heartwarming. Look at it in context, and you'll see that it's one of the finest love stories ever told.



4) The Princess Bride
This made a previous appearance on my "Top 5 Comedies", but you know what, because of that comedy it also works as a glorious love story. Who knew that such an outrageously hilarious tale could also be one of the most beautiful love stories. And it starred Peter Falk! Not as the love birds, that honour went to Cary Elwes and Robin Wright (before she added the Penn). There's something Disney-esque and romantic to their love, but it calls back to a time when Disney was good. I know the clip I chose is the marriage to the evil prince, but it's such a good scene, and the interspersed scenes of Westley trying to get to his beloved Buttercup, despite the fact that he had just been "nearly dead" earlier that day, is all the proof you need to know the two were meant for each other.




3) Say Anything...
Cameron Crowe's directorial debut is a painful reminder of the heartbreak that comes along with true love, but a joyous reminder that if it's meant to be, it will persevere. Thanks to John Cusack's performance as Lloyd Dobbler, the film gave hope and inspiration to "nice guys" everywhere. What clip do you think I chose? The boom-box scene, that's right. Why? It's perfect.




2) Love Actually
So, I'm one of the few straight guys I know who actually loves this movie (no pun intended), so I'm in somewhat of a minority here. But, it's such beautiful film because it shows multiple relationships, multiple facets to a relationship, all the bullshit that one goes through for someone they love, it's just magnificent. And it's a Christmas film to boot. This was my favourite story line, between Jamie and Aurelia (Colin Firth and Lucia Moniz). It's a bit choppy, because they cut out scenes involving other characters. But the important part is intact. It's so beautiful that they learned each other's language, and it's even better that they completely butcher it. But you can't help but love it. All the stories are great, but this one is by far the best.



1) Casablanca
What can be said about Casablanca in 2008 that hasn't been said in the past 66 years? Nothing really. Tis an beautiful film about love lost and love redeemed. It shows that true love never dies, even if she's with another guy. You see Rick's (Bogart at his finest) torment over having Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman, at HER finest) walk back into his life, giving us the classic line "of all the gin joints in all the world." And is there any more perfect song than "As Time Goes By"? I think not.



There it is. My top 5 love stories. Shed a tear.

- Brodie Mann!