Five Unconventional Films to Watch on Valentine's Day
By no means am I a softie when it comes to love and romance. Sure, I'm like a real-life Ted Mosby, but I'm also a realist and hate when films end on a predictable note. Anybody that's been in a relationship knows they're not all butterflies and gum drops, and some of my favorite films are the ones that portray all forms of life in honest, realistic ways... no matter how painful they may be.
With that said, eschew the typical romance films for Valentine's Day and check out some films that skew our expectations of fictional relationships. To put you on the right path, I've created a list of 10 unconventional films to watch on Valentine's Day. Grab some wine, a blanket, your significant other, and prepare yourself for some heartbreaking, cynical takes on love - just as nature intended.
[Netflix Pix] Lars and the Real Girl
I'm taking over Netflix Pix duties from Alex this week because I felt very, very strongly about one of this week's new additions. In a week that was highlighted with Mean Girls, Amores Perros, Terminator, and a plethora of other high-quality films, one stands out from the rest on a personal level. As always, Netflix Pix is Ruby Hornet's pick of the litter from that week's latest updates. With the Weekly Netflix Fix posting on Thursdays, Netflix Pix will be moved to Fridays to accommodate the new series of posts, plus it'll give all of you a chance to check out some of the new offerings before we tell you what to watch this upcoming weekend. As is standard, Netflix Pix are based on US listings only, and selections can vary due to regional availability.
This week's Netflix Pix and winner of the "Real Dolls Are More Than Just Sex Dolls, Guys" award is 2007's Lars and the Real Girl. Ryan Gosling stars as the eponymous Lars Lindstrom, a 27 year old introvert living in his parents' garage in which his older brother Gus (Paul Schneider) and Karin (Emily Mortimer) reside in. Gus and Lars didn't have the best childhood growing up, with their Mother dying during Lars' birth and their Father battling depression their entire lives because of the incident. All of Lars' internalized grief culminates in one serious delusion: falling in love with a Real Doll named Bianca he ordered online. In an attempt to help Lars' mental illness, the entire community plays along with the ruse, taking Bianca in as if she were one of their own.
For some reason, Lars and the Real Girl was marketed and advertised as a Comedy, but anybody that's watched the film can tell you there aren't many laughs to be found. Honestly, what's funny about a mental illness? Nevertheless, Gosling was nominated for a Golden Globe for "Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy" and a Screen Actors Guild Award for "Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role" while the film itself was nominated for "Best Writing (Original Screenplay)" Oscar. It won't be for everyone, but it's an interesting take on the conventional Romance genre. Plus, if you're anything like me, it'll compel you to do more research on people who actually do fall in love with Real Dolls.
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