A night at the movies is a staple of the modern dating scene and is considered a safe option for the first date.
Uncomfortable silences can be passed off as attempting to follow the plot and the dark of the cinema is ideal for some sneaky and consensual groping. But the supposed safety and ease of the cinema date can lead one to overlook its greatest challenge; choosing the right film. It may seem simple enough but too often what should be two hours of cinematic foreplay can turn into a mood killer for one or even both members of the party. So, in the interests of overcoming the movie selection challenge and fostering healthy relationships, a number of upcoming films have been divided into easy to use categories that when followed, should ensure romantic success. As long as you behave like a gentleman.
For the Lads
3:10 to Yuma (Sept. 7)
The western, once a staple of the Hollywood film industry has sadly become all but forgotten. But it will always remain the most male of genres, featuring such actors as Clint Eastwood, John Wayne and Gary Cooper. Based on the Elmore Leonard novel of the same name, 3:10 to Yuma is no exception, starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale as two hardened men of the west on opposite sides of the law and an inevitable collision course. Like all good westerns the viewer can expect plenty of whiskey, whores and six shooters. Cinematic bliss.
Death Sentence (Release date, August 31)
Starring Kevin Bacon and directed by James Wan of Saw fame, Death Sentence is a celebration of the American gun culture and a blatant rip off of Death Wish. There are a lot of pretenders to the crown but when it comes to dispatching street punks with extreme prejudice, Charlie Bronson is your man. God bless the Second Amendment.
For the Couples
Into the Wild (Release date, September 21)
Directed by Sean Penn, this film is based on the real life story of drifter Christopher McCandless, who made the brave decision to abandon the trappings of the modern world and live a hermit like existence traversing the wilds of the United States. With a talented cast this film looks both inspiring and dramatic.
Dedication (Release date, September 14)
In an attempt to display her acting chops, Mandy Moore has gone all dark and left field in this indie love story also starring Billy Crudup of Big Fish fame. A good romance flick that avoids the sugary and predictable approach of most Hollywood efforts is always good fare for a date movie.
2 Days in Paris (Release date, August 10)
Set in the cliched capital of romance, 2 Days in Paris is another film charting the ups and inevitable downs of love. Starring Adam Goldberg as the neurotic Woody Allen type character and Julie Delpy (who also directs) as his Gallic girlfriend, the Parisian setting and saucy accents guarantee date movie gold.
Darjeeling Limited (Release date, September 29)
Writer/director Wes Anderson has a talent for constantly coming up with some outlandish and brilliant stuff that betrays a prodigious imagination. Now Anderson returns to our screens with his fifth feature film, The Darjeeling Limited. The man with the most captivating nose in show business, Owen Wilson stars alongside Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman as a trio of brothers attempting to reconnect on a train trip through India after the death of their father. Never mind the fact that we are supposed to believe that blonde Wilson is related to Jewish nerd-hunks Brody and Schwartzman, simply lose yourself in the cinematic magic. Anderson is not about Ken Loach-esque realism, but eccentric characters, absurd dialogue and bizarre situations. Who needs plot when you have whimsy?
For the Ladies
Feast of Love (Release date, September 28)
Featuring a large ensemble cast including Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear and Radha Mitchell this film explores the intertwining stories of a number of characters who spend their days falling in and out of love.
Jane Austen Book Club (Release date, September 21)
Based on the book by chick lit author Karen Joy Fowler, this film follows the romantic fortunes of a group of women and one man in a book club dedicated to, you guessed it, Jane Austen. The movie will hope to capitalize on the success enjoyed by the book and attract its female readership into the cinema.
