If there is one thing Richard Curtis knows how to do really well, it is write some brilliant love stories with diverse and wonderful couples. Most film lovers will cite some of Curtis’ scripts as some of their favourites, and with these guys, it’s easy to understand why…
1. Mark and Juliet, Love Actually. (Andrew Lincoln and Keira Knightley)
Ok, well they were not really a couple, in fact, Juliet was married to Mark’s best friend Peter in Love Actually, but that didn’t stop Mark falling hopelessly in love with her. Despite the fact that declaring his love is without hope, Mark’s “wasted heart will love” her until the day he dies and so he must tell her. Is this the most romantic scene in a film? Most likely. What was most heartwarming about it? Not every love story finishes with that fairytale ending.
2. Tim and Mary, About Time. (Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams)
Curtis’ new film About Time will get a release in cinemas next week, we have seen it and trust us, it is a masterpiece. From the very moment the shy and awkward Tim played by the brilliant Domhnall Gleeson meets Mary, he knows that she is the one. Possessing the gift of time travel that has passed on to the male members of his family, Tim continues on his quest to make Mary a part of his life. Honestly, you need to see this film. It’s a modern classic. The film is in cinemas on September 4th.
3. Gareth and Matthew, Four Weddings and a Funeral (John Hannah and Simon Callow)
Although we are introduced to them separately and the main focus of the entire story is on Hugh Grant’s Charles, how much Gareth means to Matthew is made clear in arguably the saddest funeral speech we have ever head. Quoting W.H. Auden’s Stop All The Clocks, if you can get through this without crying, you have no heart.
4. William and Anna, Notting Hill (Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant)
It’s rare that you will find someone who has not seen the wonderful Notting Hill, even more rare if they didn’t like it. Notting Hill is just one of those films that will literally charm the pants off whoever watches it. William, a bookshop owner, accidentally runs into Anna Scott, one of the biggest film stars in the world and the pair, unexpectedly, fall in love. William, of course, messes up, but trying to contact Anna Scott is no mean feat.
5. Sam and Johanna, Love Actually (Olivia Olson and Thomas Brodie-Sangster)
Yes, we could have picked a lot of couples from this particular film but isn’t young love so sweet? Sam, following the death of his mother, falls for Johanna, a new girl at school. Believing she is “the one”, Sam goes out of his way to try to impress her by practicing for the drums in order to be her back-up band at the Christmas play. Remember that airport scene? Just totally adorable.
6. Charles and Carrie, Four Weddings and a Funeral (Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell)
Sure, the path to true love never runs smooth and no other film taught us this lesson like Four Weddings and a Funeral. Poor Charles had to witness Carrie, the love of his life, marry another man before they eventually declared their love for each other at the end. “Is it still raining?” Just a bit, love.
About Time is in cinemas on September 4th.
