25 years ago, Titanic sailed into theaters smashing records. The film made history as it remained the highest-grossing movie of all time for over a decade until Avatar was released. The film remains in the fan’s hearts, but the frustration of Jack Dawson’s death remains.” Move over, Rose!” we have all yelled at the screen at least once, but could two have fit on the piece of wood?
Every year when Valentine’s Day rolls around, my favorite tradition is to rewatch all of the rom-coms near and dear to my heart. It fills my heart with joy just watching all these different people find love. Even with these unrealistic storylines and even more unrealistic expectations, I can’t help but root for these couples and their happiness. I just sit back, relax, and let my beloved movies wash over me. So here is my definitive list of the best rom-coms for this lovely season.
In the age of swiping left and right and awkward first dates, sometimes a need for something new arises. If you are tired of aimlessly swiping, ignoring red flags, or getting caught up in sexually awkward conversations, I invite you on a date: you, me, some other strangers, a screen barrier, and a set of questions. A night of blind dates, try to name a better way to spend your Monday night. Of course, you could stay home and continue swiping on the frat bro who keeps calling your body parts snacks or the girl who, in her bio, labels herself unvaccinated. Or, in a desperate attempt to escape the online dating world, you could come out and meet some really cool people at the ASLC.
Phantom Thread follows Reynolds Woodcock, a scrupulous, renowned dressmaker in 1950s post-war London, as he falls for his benevolent, yet resolute muse, Alma (Vicky Krieps), who becomes the only thing in his life that he cannot maintain control over.Paul Thomas Anderson can craft short memorable scenes in his filmography that encapsulate the quintessence of the entire emotion and tone of his films. Scenes that come to mind are the processing scene from his 2012 epic of the soul, The Master, or from 2021’s adolescent love story, Licorice Pizza, where the two lovers run towards each other as night falls, intercut with earlier moments of their running escapades. These scenes are usually pocket-sized pieces of the film, yet without them, those films would never be the same. The same principle applies to Phantom Thread.
