Boy Meets Girl, Boy Meets Boy, Girl Meets Girl
The 90s really smashed the rom-com genre out the park but, as it turns out, boy + girl, boy + boy or girl+ girl = great film, whatever the decade, whatever the gender. We all know, #LoveWins. Go and get your heart warmed by this lot.
True Romance – 1993
Who’s loved up?
Christian Slater as the loveable comic book nerd Clarence, and Patricia Arquette as the prostitute, Alabama, who falls immediately in love with him when they first meet. After breaking the news to her pimp, Clarence ends up killing him and grabbing a bag of coke instead of her clothes – happens to the best of us.
Best quote?
“And all I could think was, you’re so cool!’
Standout track?
Hans Zimmer’s ‘You’re So Cool’ has to be the best here.
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Who’s loved up?
First it’s Bridget (Renee Zellweger, supposedly fat) and her sexy boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), however it all goes tits up when it turns out he’s a total bastard so she goes for Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) instead, because he likes her just the way she is.
Best quote?
“Thank you, Daniel, that it very good to know. But if staying here means working within ten yards of you, frankly, I’d rather have a job wiping Saddam Hussein’s arse.”
Standout track?
Chaka Khan’s ‘I’m Every Woman’ and ‘Out of Reach’ by Gabrielle are just two examples from what is a pretty strong noughties soundtrack. It does, however, feature one of history’s worst covers in the form of Geri Halliwell’s ‘It’s Raining Men’, though, so there is that…
Brokeback Mountain (2006)
Who’s loved up?
Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Ennis (Heath Ledger), two 19-year-old sheep-tenders who share a deep love of the land, double denim and each other. Their love affair spans across the years despite the pair both marrying women and having children but their occasional visits to Brokeback Mountain, disguised as fishing trips, give them the excuse to reunite under the stars, dreaming of what could have been.
Best quote?
“I wish I knew how to quit you.”
Standout track?
This film has the perfect whisky-soaked western soundtrack with perfect original songs but Teddy Thompson and Rufus Wainwright’s ‘King of the Road’ tops it for us.
The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant (1972)
Who’s loved up?
The world-famous fashion designer, Petra (Margit Carstensen) who is infatuated with new young model, Karin. When Karin breaks up with her, the shit hits the fan and Petra goes all intense.
Best quote?
“My heart is sore as if it had been stabbed.”
Standout track?
This film’s music is definitely eclectic but Alfredo’s ‘Un di felice’ from La Traviata is both symbolic and beautiful.
Groundhog Day (1993)
Who’s loved up?
Nobody, at the start. Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is a reluctant weatherman who’s been sent to Pennsylvania to cover the annual Groundhog Day report with his producer Rita (Andie MacDowell). He finds himself stuck in a time loop where he goes over and over the same day again and again. He finds himself stuck in a time loop where he goes over and over the same day again and again. He finds himself stuck in a – oh alright. After indulging in a bit of hedonism, suicide and crime, he begins to realise what an arsehole he actually is and falls in love with Rita which, ultimately, releases him from the shit that is his repeated day.
Best quote?
“Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn’t one today” Special mention to Ned Ryerson too; “Ned Ryerson, got the shingles real bad, almost didn’t graduate? … Needlenose Ned? Ned the Head? … Ned Ryerson. I dated your sister Mary Pat a couple of times until you told me not to anymore?” Bing!
Standout track?
‘I Got You Babe’ by Sonny and Cher. Without a doubt.
Notting Hill (1999)
Who’s loved up?
Hugh Grant as the bumbling Brit, Will Thacker and Julia Roberts’ Hollywood star, Anna Scott. They meet in Will’s book shop and begin dating when she needs somewhere to hide out after a nude photo is leaked to the press. We’ve all been there, babes.
Best quote?
“Just going to the kitchen to get some food, then I’m going to tell you a story that’ll make your balls shrink to the size of raisins.” Oh and something about being a girl standing in front of a boy.
Standout soundtrack?
Ronan Keating’s ‘When You Say Nothing At All’ was the official song but we think ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ by Bill Withers and ‘She’ by Elvis Costello are the real winners here.
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Who’s loved up?
Sonny (Al Pacino) who loves Leon (Chris Sarandon) so much that he’s willing to rob an actual bank to fund Leon’s sex change. He gets dumped though, so that’s the thanks he gets.
Best quote?
“I mean, how do they expect you to get uncrazy if you’re asleep all the time?”
Standout track?
There are just three songs played throughout the film and they’re all brilliant; ‘Easy Livin’’ by Uriah Heep, ‘Stay with Me’ by Faces and ‘Amoreena’ by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
Beautiful Thing (1996)
Who’s loved up?
Working-class south London schoolboys, Jamie (Glen Berry) and Ste (Scott Neal) who live next to each other and try to avoid falling in love to no avail. Turns out that what they thought was going to be a very complicated relationship was far less so than the difficulties the characters surrounding them were facing.
Best quote?
“BALLS, Mr Bennett!”
Standout track?
The film is mainly soundtracked by Mama Cass. ‘Dream a Little Dream Of Me’ is a favourite.
Amélie (2001)
Who’s loved up?
It’s Paris, so basically everyone. Whimsical but shy Amélie (Audrey Tatou) decides to change the lives of those around her for the better as a way to deal with her own loneliness, however, upon meeting the quirky Nino, she begins to find her own happiness too.
Best quote?
This goes to the homeless man who rejects Amélie’s money: “Sorry madam, I don’t work on Sundays.”
Standout track?
This soundtrack was composed almost entirely by Yann Tiersen, the best of which is probably ‘J’y suis jamais allé’ because it’s beautiful and so bloody French.
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Who’s loved up?
Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks as Kathleen Kelly and Joe Fox. The pair are obvious enemies as Joe’s huge corporate bookshop threatens to close Kathleen’s tiny, boutique one. They each, coincidentally, get involved with a bit of anonymous online chat, unaware that they’re speaking to each other, and begin to fall madly in love.
Best quote?
“How about coffee, drinks, dinner, a movie… for as long as we both shall live?” Though Joe’s kid uncle repeatedly saying “F-O-X” is all kinds of adorable.
Standout track?
Harry Nilsson’s ‘The Puppy Song’ is a pretty jolly opener but ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’ by Stevie Wonder is a clear classic.
Maurice (1987)
Who’s loved up?
Two Cambridge students, Maurice (James Wilby) and Clive (Hugh Grant) whose love affair gets increasingly complicated as each of them leaves uni. Clive marries a woman and goes into politics whereas Maurice refuses to hide his feelings and gets into a dangerous affair with a gamekeeper (Rupert Graves).
Best quote?
“I’m an unspeakable of the Oscar Wilde sort.”
Standout track?
This soundtrack is entirely composed by Richard Robbins and each song is nothing short of brilliant, ‘At the Pianola’, in particular.
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
Who’s loved up?
Well Lucy (Sandra Bullock) is in a bit of a loveless relationship for most of the film because Peter (Peter Gallagher), the object of her affection, is in a coma and only knew her as some chick from the train station anyway, but, when she visits him in the hospital, his whole family conclude that she’s his secret fiance… Lucy ends up spending a lot of time with Peter’s brother, Jack (Bill Pullman) and the pair soon realise that they’re made for each other.
Best quote?
It’s probably Joe Jr, whose love for Lucy remains unrequited; “Okay Lucy, it’s either me or him!” Lucy: “Him.” Joe Jr: “You don’t have to answer right away.”
Standout track?
There’s a fair share of Christmas music in this one but for non-festive tunes, Natalie Cole’s ‘This Will Be’ is the best song here.
Annie Hall (1977)
Who’s loved up?
Annie (Diane Keaton) and Alvy (Woody Allen), though they’re broken up for a huge percentage of the film. This is a messy love story, showing their break up in all its scattered glory. Side note: Annie gives some serious fashion goals in boyfriend jeans and fedoras.
Best quote?
“Don’t knock masturbation; it’s sex with someone I love.”
Standout track?
There’s one hell of a Christmas medley in here but Diane Keaton’s rendition of ‘It Had to Be You’ is a winner.
Blue is the Warmest Colour (2013)
Who’s loved up?
Adèle (Adèle Exarchopoulos) and Emma (Léa Seydoux), two students who meet, fall in love and have all the sex. There’s a lot of sex. Like, a lot. The film skips forward through the years to show the pair still in love, living together and, Adèle in particular, working through her struggle to relax with her own sexuality.
Best quote?
“I have infinite tenderness for you, and I will my whole life…”
Standout track?
It’s all quite techno-punk vibes but ‘I Follow Rivers’ by Lykke Li tops the bill.
Special Mentions to…
William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet because Baz Luhrman’s 90s take on this old tale of young love gives us the feels every time.
When Harry Met Sally because we’ll have what she’s having.
Up because flying your actual house with thousands of balloons just to fulfil your dead wife’s wishes is romantic AF.
Titanic because we’d actually never let go, Jack.
