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    Movies Are My Life

    The 10 most romantic movies: Flicks that will seduce any lover for Valentine's Day

    Joe Leydon
    Feb 8, 2013 | 7:04 am

    If you want something cinematic to share with your sweetie on Valentine’s Day, now’s the time to start seeking stuff that’s easily accessible for rental, purchase or downstreaming at various online and brick-and-mortar outlets. Here are 10 suggestions:

     

     

     

     Dark Victory (1939)

     

     THE STARS: Bette Davis, George Brent

     

     THE PITCH: Party-hearty socialite (Davis) falls for her dedicated doctor (Brent), then nobly send him off to a medical conference before she succumbs to Old Movie Disease.

     

     THE VERDICT: Often mocked — most famously, in a classic Carol Burnett Show sketch — but rarely equaled, this is the definitive romantic tearjerker, with Davis demonstrating what being a gloriously larger-than-life movie icon is all about. To be sure, it’s a little unsettling to see a future U.S. President (Ronald Reagan) providing comic relief as the heroine’s boozy best friend.

     

    But never mind: This is a textbook example of the glossy Hollywood product that rolled off Dream Factory assembly lines during the heyday of the studio era.

     

     

     

     An Affair to Remember (1957)

     

     THE STARS: Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr

     

     THE PITCH: When a notorious playboy (Grant) falls in love with a beautiful fellow passenger (Kerr) during an ocean-liner cruise, they agree to meet six months later atop the Empire State Building. But when she doesn’t show up, he assumes the worst. He shouldn’t.

     

     THE VERDICT: The late Nora Ephron loved this movie so much, she wrote and directed her own enduringly delightful Sleepless in Seattle more or less as a feature-length valentine to it. That might seem excessive, but only if you’ve never been caught under the original flick’s well-nigh irresistible spell.

     

     

     

     Casablanca (1942)

     

     THE STARS: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman

     

     THE PITCH: Cynical Rick Blaine (Bogart) turns out to be a soft-hearted romantic — and, even more amazingly, a selflessly gallant idealist — after his long-lost love (Bergman) drifts into his Casablanca gin-joint on the arm of her freedom-fighting husband (Paul Henreid).

     

     THE VERDICT: Casablanca belongs to that very special subgenre of love stories, the male-centric weepie. Indeed, it is the gold standard for all movies in which a lovestruck fellow does the right thing — i.e., gives up the woman he loves — for the greater good. Hint to guys: Slip this one into the VCR player, and then let her see you furtively wipe away a tear at the end.

     

    Trust me: That’ll be more effective than dousing yourself with gallons of Axe body wash.

     

     

     

     Dr. Zhivago (1965)

     

     THE STARS: Omar Sharif, Julie Christie

     

     THE PITCH: Two star-crossed lovers (Sharif, Christie) are repeatedly separated during the Russian Revolution and its aftermath. But whenever they’re together, there’s magic in the air.

     

     THE VERDICT: Director David Lean’s intimate epic achieves a potent emotional impact with a captivating love story set against a tumultuous historical backdrop. But what really seals the deal is the lush musical score by Maurice Jarre — especially his “Laura’s Theme,” the perfect soundtrack for warm embraces and lingering kisses even after the movie ends.

     

     

     

     When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

     

     THE STARS: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan

     

     THE PITCH: Two wisecracking New Yorkers (Crystal, Ryan) evolve from hostile antagonists into close confidants over a period of years — but are reluctant to admit that they just might be each other’s best chance for happily-ever-aftering.

     

     THE VERDICT: The “how to fake an organism” bit is so memorably, howlingly funny that many people forget how sharply observed and wisely insightful this movie is during its less broadly comical scenes. If you’re ready to tell a buddy that you want to be more than friends, this is the movie you want to show that special person.

     

     

     

     Love, Actually (2003)

     

     THE STARS: Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson (and many, many more)

     

     THE PITCH: An seriocomic crazy-quilt of sporadically overlapping love stories in and around London (and elsewhere) during an eventful Christmas season, with colorful characters ranging from a recently widowed stepfather (Neeson) who offers romantic advice to his lovestruck 11-year-old stepson to a newly elected, Tony Blairish prime minister (Grant) who’s conveniently unattached as he moves into No. 10 Downing Street.

     

     THE VERDICT: Screenwriter Richard Curtis (Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral) makes a smashing directorial debut with a hugely enjoyable comedy-drama that strikes a delicate balance between silliness and seriousness, sentiment and sardonic wit, even as it warns that not every love story ends in a lovely fashion.

     

     

     

     High Fidelity (2000)

     

     THE STARS: John Cusack, Jack Black

     

     THE PITCH: A blithely unambitious thirtysomething (Cusack) who runs a retro record store with a rowdy buddy (Black) hits the playback button to review his past affairs, hoping to find a way to reconnect with his estranged girlfriend (Iben Hjejle).

     

     THE VERDICT: The top five reasons why High Fidelity belongs on this list: (1) Cusack's fresh, fearless and ferociously funny lead performance; (2) a trenchantly witty and acutely insightful script co-written by Cusack; (3) surprising faithfulness to first-rate source material, an acclaimed novel by British author Nick Hornby; (4) cunningly graceful direction by Stephen Frears, who smoothly maneuvers through mood swings and tempo variegations without ever making a wrong move or sounding a false note; and (5) it’s got a great beat, and you can make out to it.

     

     

     

     The Notebook (2004)

     

     THE STARS: Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams

     

     THE PITCH: An elderly man (James Garner) tells a fellow nursing-home resident (Gena Rowlands) the story — a very personal story — of two young lovers (Gosling, McAdams) who overcome obstacles in the 1940s to be together.

     

     THE VERDICT: More ubiquitous on pay-TV and basic-cable during the past decade than Michael Caine and Gene Hackman were in multiplexes during the 1970s, this deeply affecting and highly addictive drama about the enduing power of love is The Borg of contemporary romantic classics: Resistance is futile.

     

     

     

     Weekend (2011)

     

     THE STARS: Tom Cullen, Chris New

     

     THE PITCH: After meeting cute and bedding down during a wild night in Nottingham, England, a lifeguard and an art-gallery employee warily consider whether their one-night stand will develop into something more substantial. And by the way: They’re gay.

     

     THE VERDICT: Will Russell (Cullen), an amiable introvert, and Glenn (New), a freewheeling libertine, be able to forge something like a commitment during the few days before Glenn’s extended trip to the United States? Not the most original of plot set-ups, I’ll grant you.

     

    But writer-director Andrew Haigh and his well-cast lead players work a kind of quiet magic, and transform the familiar into something urgent and compelling.

     

     

     

     Vertigo (1958)

     

     THE STARS: James Stewart, Kim Novak

     

     THE PITCH: After tragically losing the woman he loves, a former police detective (Stewart) tries to make lightning strike twice when he fortuitously meets her lookalike (Novak). Nothing good comes of this.

     

     THE VERDICT: Arguably the most perverse love story Alfred Hitchcock ever directed — yes, even kinkier than Notorious — this mesmerizingly disquieting drama is ideal Valentine’s Day entertainment for lovers who are heavily into domination, submission and roleplaying. No, seriously: This is, at heart, a study of sadomasochistic symbiosis, with the ex-cop single-mindedly struggling to re-create a “perfect” relationship, and the lookalike reluctantly agreeing to be stripped of all identity to please the man she loves.

    Casablanca, with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, belongs to that very special subgenre of love stories, the male-centric weepie.

    Casa Blanca, Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman
      
    Casa Blanca Blogspot
    Casablanca, with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, belongs to that very special subgenre of love stories, the male-centric weepie.
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    Here are the 15 best things to do in Houston this 4th of July weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Jul 2, 2025 | 6:30 pm
    Shell Freedom Over Texas
    Courtesy of Shell Freedom Over Texas
    The city has revealed the performers for its July 4 celebration.

    The 4th of July lands on a Friday this year, which means things will get especially patriotic this weekend.

    We’ve already listed all the fireworks celebrations and restaurant specials that’ll be popping off on Friday. (Don’t forget about the screenings of Independence Day at River Oaks Theatre, Rooftop Cinema Club and Marriott Marquis Houston.) But there are also other must-see events happening this weekend, including a LEGO convention, the second anniversary of a Third Ward eatery, the return of a Stanley Kubrick classic, and an outlaw music festival featuring Willie Freakin’ Nelson and Bob Freakin’ Dylan!

    Thursday, July 3

    Brick Rodeo
    Brick Rodeo is a family-friendly event that features hundreds of custom models and displays made from LEGO bricks. Creators from Texas and around the country will be available to talk about their creations. Fans who want to display their own creations, attend workshops, and participate in all the activities should purchase an All Access Pass. Families and individuals who want to spend a day viewing incredible custom creations, talking with builders, and shopping with vendors should purchase a public exhibition ticket. 9 am (8:30 am Friday-Sunday).

    City Place presents Young Audiences of Houston: Painting with Watercolor Pencils Art Workshop
    This free art workshop, hosted by Young Audiences of Houston teaching artist Judy Malone Stein, transforms City Place’s central waterfront plaza into a classical art studio with easels and other essential supplies. Participants are introduced to the medium of watercolor pencils and will learn basic color theory which includes the color wheel and primary and secondary colors, along with complimentary colors. They will also focus on creating compositions, using traditional visions (portraits, landscapes, still life) as their subject matter. 9:30 am.

    Improv Houston presents Dustin Ross
    Dustin Ross is a NAACP Image Award-winning host, writer, and producer. Fans of The Read podcast may know him as a longtime guest/friend to the show. These days, you can hear him on two pods: The Friend Zone, with co-hosts Hey Fran Hey and Assante; and Holding Court, with Eboni K. Williams. He has also hosted seasons of Bet on Black, REVOLT TV’s competition series, Bet On Black. As an on-air contributor, Ross has appeared on multiple platforms, including MTV, BET, Bravo TV, HBO, FUSE TV, GLAAD, Fox Soul, and more. 7:30 pm.

    Friday, July 4

    Freedom Over Texas
    With an average of 50,000 people in attendance, Freedom Over Texas has become Houston’s annual, signature July 4th celebration. The live, televised event will feature local, regional, and national entertainment, headlined by Ashley McBryde and Lee Brice, and will be capped off with a musically choreographed, “Texas-sized” fireworks finale. It also features a unique non-profit component, as the event will donate a percentage of food and beverage sales to the Houston Food Bank. 4 pm.

    Ensemble Theatre presents The Tap Dance Kid
    Over at The Ensemble Theatre, The Tap Dance Kid is about a 10-year-old African-American kid named Willie who doesn’t want to be a lawyer like his well-to-do strict father, and dreams of becoming a dancer like his talented Uncle Dipsey, an aspiring Broadway choreographer. The final production in the theater’s 2024-25 season, this musical is filled with imaginations of stardom that keep us tapping along. Through Sunday, July 27. 7:30 pm (2 and 7:30 pm Saturday; 3 pm Sunday).

    Dan Electro’s presents The Broken Spokes & Oliver Penn 4th of July Party
    Freedom, music, and a 4th of July Party will be going down at Dan Electros. The show will feature a performance from traditional Texas country band The Broken Spokes, a well-seasoned outfit that’s put in the time honing their craft in honky tonks across Texas,. Also performing will be Rhode Island-born, Houston-based country singer Oliver Penn, who has shared the stage with Charley Crockett, Shakey Graves, Randall King, The California Honeydrops, and Shinyribs. 9 pm.

    Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra presents Graveyard Shift: Attack the Block
    Guy Fawkes Night in London is a time for fireworks, fooling around, and an occasional surprise or two. But when vicious extraterrestrials decide to crash the hellraisers’ holiday, a time for making merry quickly turns scary. Writer-director Joe Cornish also ensures it’s frequently humorous as well. This frisky, vigorous 2011 spoof — propelled by an insistent electronic score by Steven Price & Basement Jaxx and a star-making lead turn from John Boyega — shows a similar sensibility in its breezy blending of goofiness and gruesomeness. 10 pm.

    Saturday, July 5

    Rado Market 2 Year Anniversary Celebration
    Chef Chris Williams’ market and cafe at the historic Eldorado Ballroom will celebrate its two-year anniversary with a celebration that’s free and open to the public. The event will include complimentary champagne during the first hour, food specials from chef Jaden Gaines, and live music from a DJ for the first two hours. Guests can also browse and shop from a curated lineup of local vendors offering various products for sale, including Posh Body, Ambrosia Nectar, 77 Stash, and Juxx. Patrons can also enter two raffles featuring Radiant Aura samples and other giveaways. Noon.


      
     
     
     
     
     
     
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    Winnie’s presents Labubu Face Tattoo Korean Corn Dog Karaoke Party
    Never has an event’s name been a more complete description of what’s happening at the Midtown sandwich shop/cocktail bar on Saturday. Artists from Rodeo Tiger will be tattooing Labubu, the must-have accessory that feels destined to become the Beanie Babies of 2025 ($25 minimum, $50 for both sides, and $100 for full face custom work). While you wait, snack on a Korean corn dog created by chef Jennifer Hoffman. Karaoke starts at 8 pm. 1 pm.

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Barry Lyndon
    This weekend, catch the 50th anniversary screening (in glorious 35mm!) of Stanley Kubrick’s lavish, Oscar-winning 1975 adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s 18th-century novel. Forced to leave Ireland after killing an English officer in a duel, young Redmond Barry (Ryan O’Neal) seeks his fortune as a soldier in Prussia, as a spy, and then as a gambler living among the elite of Europe. He changes his name and marries an aristocrat (Marisa Berenson) for her wealth, but will he finally gain the acceptance he seeks? 5 pm (2 pm Sunday).

    Kings Harbor Waterfront Village presents “Fireworks on the Pier”
    Looking for a post-4th of July throwdown this weekend? Kings Harbor Waterfront Village in Kingwood will have its annual “Fireworks on the Pier” celebration, a patriotic evening of family fun, live entertainment and a spectacular fireworks display. Festivities include family-friendly games like Connect Four, a balloon artist, face painting and bubble stations for kids. Local restaurants will be serving up a variety of delicious food and drink options throughout the evening. A dazzling fireworks show over the pier will begin around 10 pm. 7 pm.

    Movies at Miller: Wicked
    We know there is a lot of y’all who can’t wait for Wicked: For Good to drop in multiplexes this winter. Before that happens, head over to Miller Outdoor Theatre and revisit the Oscar-winning Broadway musical adaptation that set it all off. In the magical Land of Oz, Wicked covers the first act, following Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the future Wicked Witch of the West, and her friendship with Galinda (Ariana Grande), the future Glinda the Good Witch. The audience is encouraged to come in costume. 8:30 pm.

    Sunday, July 6

    Eldorado Ballroom presents Ball N’ Parlay
    Dubbed “A 1st Sunday Vibeout,” Ball N’ Parlay is a vibrant, Third Ward day party that’s going to be held outside the legendary Eldorado Ballroom. They’re really hyping this one up, calling it “the Sunday you’ve been waiting for, where music, community, and culture meet.” We’re just psyched that some of our favorite DJs will be doing live sets, including DJ Elevated, Maiya Papaya, Alist, and DJ Bloom. 3 pm.

    Outlaw Music Festival
    If you grew up going to Cactus Music and picking up the latest issue of No Depression, looking for the latest in outlaw country releases to scoop up, a fest full of iconic, guitar-strumming banditos will be making a stop at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion this weekend. The 10th anniversary tour of the Outlaw Music Festival will feature an unparalleled lineup of legends and superstars, including Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, and Tami Neilson. 4:05 pm.

    CONCACAF Gold Cup Final
    As of this writing, we don’t know who will be playing in the final match of the soccer championship known as the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, going down this weekend at NRG Stadium. What we do now is that the winners will be determined on Wednesday night, when the semifinal matchups – the USMNT vs. Guatemala and Mexico vs. Honduras – will take place. This also marks the first time the Gold Cup Final will be held in the state of Texas. 6 pm.

    Freedom Over Texas
      
    Courtesy of Freedom Over Texas
    The Freedom Over Texas celebration takes place on the Fourth of July.
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