Three best “love” scenes in cinema (in no particular order):
- The trunk scene in Out of Sight. George Clooney kidnaps Jennifer Lopez and they escape in the trunk of a car driven by Clooney’s companion. During the drive, and the ensuing conversation, sparks fly. Note Clooney’s hand as he ever so gently touches her arm, hip, and waist with his fingertips.
- Shaving scene from Phenomenon. John Travolta has finally reached his “quiet place” and is learning to deal with the strange new thoughts and lack of sleep. He decides to go speak at a local event so that people won’t be afraid of him. Kyra Sedgewick visits and gives him a haircut and a shave to help him prepare for his presentation. Note how she is continually brushing against him, touching his neck and back, and, at the end, presses her cheek to his.
- The Player. Tim Robbins is having sex with Greta Scacchi. On screen, Robert Altman (the director) chooses to show only their faces in front of a fireplace. Without showing any overt actions, strictly through great acting, dialogue, and facial expressions, you see their vulnerabilities and passion.
Notable mention:
- Pump Up the Volume. After finding out who Hard Harry is, Samantha Mathis waits for Christian Slater near school. As he nears, she moves and they start circling each other, smiling and glancing at one another. Their circling gets closer and closer until they kiss. This circling theme is repeated a couple of times in the movie, to great effect.
- Titanic. Leonardo DiCaprio drawing Kate Winslet wearing the necklace (and nothing else). Yes, it has become cliché and often mocked, but it was still a great scene, much better than the one in the car.
- Pottery scene in Ghost. Another cliché and oft-mocked scene, it was pretty big in its day.
None of my best “love” scenes involve anything overtly sexual (and most of them don’t even involve nudity). A good love scene is so much more than nudity and blatant actions. Wish more filmmakers would learn that lesson.
What is your top love scene in a movie? And what constitutes a good love scene in your mind?
I would have to say the scene in Sommersby... where Horace (aka Jack at that point) says to Laurel, "Tell me, in your heart, am I your husband?"
ReplyDeleteA great love scene has to be intense and pull from so many corners of existence - pain, happiness, joy, and sorrow. It's got to have substance rather than just meat. It also doesn't have to involve sex or sexuality. A fantastic love scene can be standing just about anywhere doing just about anything as long as there is that intensity and passion.
Old lady 1: Will you look at that?
ReplyDeleteOld lady 2: Tsk!
OL 1: You just can't go to the theatre without seeing THAT on the screen.
OL 2: It's disgraceful. What are they doing now?
Good times.
I need a moment, ROFL!!!
ReplyDelete- Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy professing their love for one another while "taking a turn", near the end of A&E's Pride and Prejudice.
- Love Actually, where Juliet (Keira Knightley) sees the videotape of herself, and when Mark (?) stands outside her door with the written placards.
- Ralph Feinnes and Kirsten Scott Thomas taking a bath together in The English Patient. Or any scene with them together in that movie, they tear up the screen. Juliette Binoche's scenes with Naveen Andrews are also tender, where he takes her to the old church and shows her the frescoes.