Team Cinemaholic
Romantic movies are bread and butter of Hollywood. Every year countless romantic movies release, but hardly a few of them make any impression. Sometimes, a film despite being good fails to generate excitement among audiences. This article is about those little know romantic movies that didn’t make much impression at the time of their release. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t watchable. Check for yourself this list of really good underrated love movies.
9. Before We Go
A woman misses the 1:30 train from New York to Boston and a street musician spends the night trying to help her make it back home before her husband does. Throughout the night they learn a lot about one another and eventually find a romance. ‘Before We Go’ has its flaws — primarily that Chris Evans, the director-cum-actor, tries to stuff a lot for a film that’s just one night long — but it has its charming moments too. Overall, you will enjoy the film if you like the Before trilogy.
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8. Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong
Outside a bar Ruby, an American children’s toy designer temporarily in Hong Kong, meets an American expat Josh, who offers to walk her to her destination. As they walk and talk they find a connection sparking between them. A walk and talk romance set in the beautiful city of Hong Kong, the film asks the question: what happens when you meet the right person at the wrong time? Clearly inspired from ‘Before Sunrise’, ‘Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong’ may not be as good, but is enjoyable one-time watch.
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7. Never Let Me Go (2010)
As children, Ruth, Kathy and Tommy spent their childhood at an English boarding school. As they grow into young adults, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other.
“Never Let Me Go” is one of those films that is going to stay with you for a long time. It is a drama with a good romance and a touch of sci-fi. Besides a beautiful cinematography, it has a thought-provoking and extremely moving story. Also, it counts with wonderful performances by Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley, and Carey Mulligan.
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6. Southside With You
‘Southside With You’ tells the story of Michelle Robinson’s first date with Barack Obama. It is 1989 and Michelle is preparing to meet Barack Obama, who is doing his internship in the same law firm as Michelle . Michelle goes on to the date thinking (or at least pretending) that it is not a date, while clearly Barack has only one thing in mind: to court Michelle. During the day that they spend with each other, they visit the Art Institute of Chicago, go to a community center, view a screening of Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, and finally, have their first kiss outside an ice cream parlor.
While the subject of their conversations range from personal to socio-political, it never stops being intellectually engaging. The reason Before series of films work is the reason also why ‘Southside With You’ works: the conversations between the characters are always interesting and revealing.
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5. Take This Waltz
While on a plane, Margot meets Daniel, a handsome stranger. A taxi ride back home causes Daniel and Margot to realize that they are neighbors and Margot admits she’s married. During that summer, Margot is no longer sure if she’s happy in her marriage.
Director Sarah Polley, with the help of actors Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen, created an impressive romantic comedy. With an unexpected ending, the director clearly wanted to create something that would feel real and human. And she sure did that. It is a character-driven film, a study of emotion and people, that works nicely.
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4. The Lake House
Hugely underrated and unnecessarily criticized, ‘The Lake House’ is a tender romantic tale that also highlights importance of simple but effective communication. A lonely doctor who once occupied an unusual lakeside home begins exchanging love letters with its newest resident, a frustrated architect. When they discover that they’re actually living two years apart, they try to unravel the mystery behind their extraordinary romance before it’s too late.
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3. Last Night
The film centers on Joanna and Michael Reed, a successful and happy couple. They are moving along in their lives together until Joanna meets Laura, the stunningly beautiful colleague whom Michael never mentioned. While Michael is away with Laura on a business trip, Joanna runs into an old but never quite forgotten love, Alex. As the night progresses and temptation increases, each must confront who they really are. ‘Last Night’ is beautiful in the way it explores the dynamics of relationships: old and new. It asks you tough moral questions that have no clear or easy answers. Is cheating only physical? Or is it emotional as well? It is a film that doesn’t have a plot but just conversations. That might have irked critics.
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2. I am Love
To witness how a film grows under your skin as you watch it unfold, you will have to give ‘I am Love’ a try. What begins as innocuous family drama, turns into a sordid passionate romance. There comes a moment somewhere in the middle of the film, which despite being predictable, will hit you like ton of bricks just due to the sheer manner in which it’s been portrayed onscreen. Revealing anything about the story would be dampener for those who go on to see it, therefore to keep it short, the film is about a wealthy lady seeking freedom from her insipid family duties, which arrives in the form of passionate love affair. The film’s ability to keep you guessing, and its tremendous visual style will bowl you over.
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1. Certified Copy
James Miller has just written a book on the value of a copy versus the original work of art. At a book reading, a woman gives him her address, and the next day they meet and take a country-side drive to a local Italian village. Here, they discuss various works of art found in the town, and also the nature of their relationship — which gets both more revealed and concealed as the day progresses.
‘Certified Copy’ is easily one of the most original and interesting films I have ever seen. The idea that it is based upon is endlessly fascinating. In life, we are slaves to our desires and circumstances, in effect, mostly trying to be someone else. We create a perception of reality around us that may or may not exist. But does that mean we cease to be original? Or are we just certified copy of the person we want to be. This whole idea of us not being our true selves is beautifully captured through conversations in the film.
