“Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards.” ― Vladimir Nabokov
Here comes the most sentimental season—where feelings are amplified in many ways: The Rainy Season. It finally returns here, in Indonesia (especially in my town), after some few months full of dry, blistering tropical heat; it comes back right in month of November—to make good resemblances to Guns N’ Roses’ titular hit.
While it’s raining outside, almost the whole day, there’s nothing much I can do outside (for the last 2 weeks of this month). Therefore, I devote this month-end to some randomly-picked decent lite romantic dramas, to celebrate those amplified feelings.
I picked 7 (lucky number for me) dramas to watch. And, as soon as I watch them, I’ll review them and present them in this blog. So, here’s my selections (click the picture to see the review) for these rainy days:
01. BEGIN AGAIN (2014)
Dir: John Carney Casts: Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightley
How can’t I resist from Begin Again‘s playful melody? John Carney (director of Once) directs Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley to portray a record-label executive and a talented songwriter/singer who meet in such a troubled time in their life. The result is: a lite drama that sings it own story so hard and sweet, that I can’t ‘no sing’ with them. And… the soundtrack album is simply one of my personal favorite in 2014!
02. WHAT IF (2014)
Dir: Michael Dowse Casts: Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan
When Harry Potter meets Ruby Sparks, he suddenly turns into a muggle… ’cause her dream girl already has a boyfriend and they can never be anything but just friend. It’s great to see how Radcliffe portrays a totally no one, even a loser; but his chemistry with Kazan amplifies the banality of the story.
03. SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED (2012)
Dir: Colin Trevorrow Casts: Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass
Time travel in a rom-com, perhaps, seems absurd, but if it works in dramas like Run Lola Run or The Lake House, then why isn’t it working in the Jurassic World‘s director’s directorial debut? Whether the time travel is real or it’s only a metaphor, it doesn’t matter, as long as it’s sweet and deep.
04. ENOUGH SAID (2013)
Dir: Nicole Holofcener Casts: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini
The former mob leader in The Sopranos, the late James Gandolfini crafts a sympathetic divorce dating relationship with Julia Louis-Dreyfus in this Nicole Holofcener’s feature. For couples in their 40-50s, dating might not be as easy as it is for teenagers; being single parents heading midlife crisis needs something more than sympathy, that’s why it is lovely.
05. SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD (2012)
Dir: Lorene Scafaria Casts: Steve Carell, Keira Knightley
What’s the worst part of apocalypse? Indeed, to foreknowledge it. This movie tries to depicts how the depressed society cope up with that issue—as represented by Steve Carell and Keira Knightley. With apocalypse theme, it highlights a bittersweet story about acceptance—accepting each other as well as the worst thing to come.
06. THAT AWKWARD MOMENT (2014)
Dir: Tom Gormican Casts: Zac Efron, Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan
In an era where almost every dating movie focuses on women, That Awkward Moment makes an awkward moment with a rom-com with testosterone. With its making-breaking promise between its future frat pack casts, Zac Efron with duo rising stars, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan, this movie is romantic in the nature of rom-com, but mostly, bromantic in the nature of brom-com.
07. PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE (2002)
Dir: Paul Thomas Anderson Casts: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson
Punch-Drunk Love is a rom-com, too; even if it’s being too stylized with that arthouse, avant-garde, or you-name-it taste. It even lists Adam Sandler in a goody-goody romance with Emily Watson. Well, there are few things happen, but too many details explain the rest. Isn’t that perfect for a finale?
After-post: So, my list is, like I said, lite but personally enjoyable ’cause that’s what it takes to amplify the feelings via movies. Hit the comment button for anything!
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