Here we have an interesting film from 1998 that I had never heard of until I started asking people what their favorite break-up movies were. Sliding Doors was suggested and I gave it a shot. A little over a month later here it is at #10 on my top ten break up films and it makes it here more for its invention and success in pulling off what would seem to be an impossible task.
The film follows Gwyneth Paltrow’s character in two scenarios. The first one has her catching the train home to find her boyfriend cheating, the second has her missing the train and returning home clueless. Both scenarios play out over the course of the film quite well and seeing how this is a “break-up” movie list I am sure you can guess how one scenario plays out, but there is much more to this little flick that really is worth the watch.
I actually think Swingers is much better than a lot of the films on this list, but the actual break-up is more of a catalyst to the rest of the film as opposed to the entire subject of the film. However, the break-up is a large enough part of the story that it definitely warrants a placement. Swingers is not only great for its story and comedy, it is one of the most quotable films you will ever watch. One of my personal favorites has a lot to do with the screen grab above, “I’m gonna make Gretzky’s head bleed for super fan 99 over here.” Classic. Gotta love EA’s NHL for the Sega Genesis.
Here is a great break-up film and one of two Kevin Smith films that manages to make the list. Unfortunately this classic, Ben Affleck falls for a lesbian and gets her, film falls short because Joey Lauren Adams is better off for bit roles as opposed to leading roles. She is amazingly cute and as much as I am sure so many out there hate her high voice I absolutely adore it, her acting just isn’t quite up to snuff. She is cute as hell in this flick and it has a lot of laughs. Chasing Amy is worthy of a collection addition and certainly one of the best break-up films.
High Fidelity is a good film, but as I toured the Net and saw other folks listing off good break-up films I think they automatically give this one high marks just because it is all about break-ups. High Fidelity is a lot of fun, and it is quite interesting to see such a young Catherine Zeta-Jones and I swear to God, Iben Hjejle looks so much like Robin Wright-Penn they may as well be twins, but I don’t think it is worth a #1 spot where many would probably place it.
What’s that? The Coen brothers’ film about a guy who hires an assassin to kill his wife is being considered a break-up movie? Damn straight! Break-ups don’t get any worse than when assassins get involved! On top of that, when that wife has pretty much called it quits on said husband and delivers the death blow to the man pouch I would say it pretty much qualifies, and Blood Simple is top notch.
