As with other posts about my likes (e.g. favorite romantic tropes, some more), this is going to be an entirely subjective collection of movies. There are going to be plenty I left out, but between my terrible memory and my rewatching some films over and over again, there’s a limit to how many I can remember. And there are some that are very purposefully left out of here, but I don’t feel like getting into them.
So, in no particular order…
The Lost City. I love how it talks about romance, a genre often dismissed even if it’s the highest grossing in fiction (it’s only beat by self-help). I also like Daniel Radcliffe having fun, and Sandra Bullock’s glittery outfit is fabulous and I wish I had it, as well as a reason to wear it.
And talking about Sandra Bullock, The Proposal is also a top pick. Between her chemistry with Ryan Reynolds and just because of Betty White, there’s no way I couldn’t include it. It’s more publishing-adjacent, but still, Betty White.
Going back to fashion and actors who kill it, The Devil Wears Prada. I mean, the cast alone—Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker—is already enough, but throw in the fashion, the depiction of the industry, and the soundtrack, and it should be easy to see why it’s on the list.
And another one, although more focused on the writing side of things, is Little Women. I really like the 1994 version, but I especially love the 2019 one because of the scenes depicting Jo’s negotiating with the publisher. Plus, the montage at the end of the book being done is *chef’s kiss*. And her monologue hits a spot every time I watch it. And the soundtrack…Okay, now I want to rewatch both versions.
Last but not least, even if it’s more related to the commercial side of publishing, You’ve Got Mail. I mean, it’s Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, and “Over the Rainbow”, and Brinkley, and Nora Ephron, and…so many ands….Can you blame me? I know, The Shop Around the Corner closes, but it gives her the opportunity to follow new dreams, and, again, there’s a golden retriever. What more do you need?
