For some, Valentine’s Day is a beautiful day devoted to your love for your significant other. For others, Valentine’s Day might as well be renamed Single Awareness Day. It is a popular tradition to watch romantic films on Valentine’s Day, but many have argued that it is not a good idea for single people to watch romantic films on Valentine’s Day because it will make them feel sad and depressed. To accommodate both sides of this argument, I have prepared a list of three underrated romantic films and three fantastic films from various genres that everyone should consider watching.
#1. “La La Land” (2016)
Genre: Musical/Romance/Drama
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, J.K. Simmons and John Legend
Plot: “A jazz pianist falls for an aspiring actress in Los Angeles.”
Please give this movie a chance if you do not like musicals. This is a powerful, sensational and dazzling film with a skilled cast, fantastic soundtrack and ingenious visuals. Gosling and Stone all knock it out of the park with their performances and Damien Chazelle perfectly creates a timeless story with this exquisite film.
#2. “A Scanner Darkly” (2006)
Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Winona Ryder, Woody Harrelson and Rory Cochrane
Plot: “An undercover cop begins to lose his identity after getting involved with a new drug.”
The cast of “A Scanner Darkly” is more than enough to get people to see it, but the unpredictability, different animation and suspenseful story of the film make it more than worth the watch. The director who brought you “Boyhood” (2014), “Dazed and Confused” (1993) and “Before Sunrise” (1995) presents audiences with a remarkable science-fiction thriller. I highly recommend this if you love suspenseful movies, any of the cast members and/or sci-fi.
#3. “Begin Again” (2009)
Genre: Romance/Drama
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightley, Adam Levine, James Corden, Hailee Steinfeld, Catherine Keener, Mos Def and Cee-Lo Green
Plot: “A disgraced music-business executive has a chance encounter with a young and talented singer who has moved to Manhattan.”
This is one of the best “feel-good” movies I have ever seen. It is not technically a musical, so if you are not a fan of films where people burst into song and dance, your fears should be subsided. The music is great, it has a positive vibe, the message is strong and the cast lineup is fantastic. What is not to love in “Begin Again”?
#4. “Midnight Special” (2016)
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Starring: Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, Sam Shepard and Jaeden Lieberher
Plot: “A father and son go out on the run, pursued by the government and a cult drawn to the child’s special abilities.”
This is a really underrated movie. Most people did not see this and all I can say is they really missed out. I am not a huge fan of Dunst or Shannon, but they are ridiculously good in “Midnight Special”. This movie takes unexpected twists, forces you to pay attention and constantly keeps you second-guessing. See this immediately if you have not done so already.
#5. “Lars and the Real Girl” (2007)
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer and Paul Schneider
Plot: “A delusional young man strikes up an unconventional relationship with a doll he finds on the Internet.”
This is one of those films that you contemplate shutting off due to how bizarre it is, but trust me when I say that if you give this movie a chance, you will not be disappointed. Gosling gives an unusual, different and emotional performance in this story that mixes with this film’s unique story and hilarious comedy beautifully. You are going to have doubts when you start watching this movie, but I promise that it is worth your time.
#6. “Sicario” (2015)
Genre: Crime/Action
Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Jon Bernthal and Victor Garber
Plot: “An idealistic FBI agent joins a government task force assigned with aiding the escalating war against drugs at the U.S.-Mexico border.”
The incredibly talented Denis Villeneuve follows the success of “Prisoners” (2013) and “Enemy” (2013) with another dark, gritty, unsettling and heart-pounding film. Del Toro, Brolin and Blunt all shine in “Sicario”, but it’s the realistic darkness of this film that makes it so fantastic. “Sicario” is perfect for anyone who hates romantic movies and wants to watch a dark, unsettling film.
Be sure to like and share this story and let VistaNow know what you will be watching on Valentine’s Day.
