Top picks, one at a time
La La Land
A romance film whose relationship does the work — La La Land earns its emotional payoff through structure, not music cues.
La La Land (2016) is a United States of America comedy film, directed by Damien Chazelle, running 129 minutes. Mia, an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian, a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart. Stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Critical reception: IMDb 8.0/10, Rotten Tomatoes 91%, Metacritic 94/100. Tagline: "Here's to the fools who dream.." This guide covers the plot, full cast, ending, and where to watch.
Lost in Translation
A romance film whose relationship does the work — Lost in Translation earns its emotional payoff through structure, not music cues.
Lost in Translation (2003) is a United Kingdom drama film, directed by Sofia Coppola, running 102 minutes. Two lost souls visiting Tokyo -- the young, neglected wife of a photographer and a washed-up movie star shooting a TV commercial -- find an odd solace and pensive freedom to be real in each other's company, away from their lives in America. Stars Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. Critical reception: IMDb 7.7/10, Rotten Tomatoes 95%, Metacritic 91/100. Tagline: "Everyone wants to be found.." This guide covers the plot, full cast, ending, and where to watch.
Poor Things
A romance film whose relationship does the work — Poor Things earns its emotional payoff through structure, not music cues.
Poor Things (2023) is a Ireland science fiction film, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, running 141 minutes. Brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, a young woman runs off with a lawyer on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, she grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation. Stars Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo. Critical reception: IMDb 7.7/10, Rotten Tomatoes 92%, Metacritic 88/100. Tagline: "She’s nothing like you’ve ever seen.." This guide covers the plot, full cast, ending, and where to watch.
Much Ado About Nothing
A romance film whose relationship does the work — Much Ado About Nothing earns its emotional payoff through structure, not music cues.
Much Ado About Nothing (1993) is a United Kingdom drama film, directed by Kenneth Branagh, running 111 minutes. In this Shakespearean farce, Hero and her groom-to-be, Claudio, team up with Claudio's commanding officer, Don Pedro, the week before their wedding to hatch a matchmaking scheme. Their targets are sharp-witted duo Benedick and Beatrice -- a tough task indeed, considering their corresponding distaste for love and each other. Stars Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh. Critical reception: IMDb 7.3/10, Rotten Tomatoes 90%, Metacritic 80/100. Tagline: "Romance. Mischief. Seduction. Revenge. Remarkable.." This guide covers the plot, full cast, ending, and where to watch.
