Valentine's Day: Romantic movies have never been my cup of tea

Witness

Romance has never been my favorite film genre.

I have never seen The Notebook and probably never will. It's not some masculine bull either, I just find sappiness exhausting.

Falling in love is fun but it's also awkward and films so rarely get that right.

The dramas usually just show us two gorgeous people staring into each other's eyes until one of them is stricken with (or later reveals they have) a debilitating illness.

And for me the comedies don't work much better because you know that these two people will eventually get together so there's almost always no suspense.

Moonstruck

That said, it is Valentine's Day, and I want to get into the spirit of it so here are a few love stories that I really like:

Annie Hall (1977): Say what you will about Woody Allen but he made for an endearing (if unlikely) romantic lead alongside best actress winner Diane Keaton in this hilarious and heartfelt comedy which remains his most popular and acclaimed film. Allen scored his one and only Oscar nomination for acting for his quintessential leading role.

The Bridges of Madison County (1995): It should have been terrible -- it was based on a weepy bestseller with a somewhat played out premise, drifter romances lonely housewife. But Clint Eastwood (who directed) and Meryl Streep (doing a flawless Italian accent) elevate the material to a more highbrow level. This is some of the most sensitive acting of Eastwood's career -- an overlooked gem.

Say Anything (1989): Cameron Crowe's films rarely hold up well for me (that goes for Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous too) but this one does. I've always argued that the famous boombox scene would be irredeemably creepy if it wasn't John Cusack, but hey, it is. A sweet and honest ode to awkward post-high school relationships.

Harold and Maude (1971): I wasn't feeling this one the first time I saw it. It was overwhelmed by hipster hype. But on second viewing I had a blast with it. This Cat Stevens-scored masterpiece made an unlikely love affair between an 80-year-old (Ruth Gordon) and a depressive young man (Bud Cort) plausible and poignant.

The Bridges of Madison County

Moonstruck (1987): There has always been plenty snark about the fact that Cher won an Oscar when so many more highbrow performers haven't but if you actually watch this movie it's hard to argue that she didn't deserve it. She's fantastic as a woman who comes into her own through the love of an exceedingly eccentric man (Nicolas Cage in one his best roles) who happens to be her fiance's brother!

Witness (1985): Sure, it's really a thriller but it's the doomed romance between Harrison Ford's city cop and Kelly McGillis' traditional Amish woman that haunts you when the movie is finished. Their love affair is so passionate and compelling, your heart aches because you know it can't last. An underrated classic.

Modern Romance (1980): Not really a traditional romantic film -- this brilliant dark comedy (a favorite of Stanley Kubrick) is genius vintage Albert Brooks. The comic actor-director-writer plays a neurotic guy who just can't get over his longtime girlfriend who he dumped. So painfully funny because it's so true.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008): Again, not an obviously romantic film but one of the few Apatow-produced movies that still charms me (Superbad and The 40-Year-Old Virgin being the others). I think to a certain extent it's because Jason Segal is such an earnest and appealing leading man -- and the premise of finding love while trying to get over a girlfriend is extremely accessible.

The Age of Innocence (1993): The ultimate unrequited love story -- which is a concept I am sadly, very familiar with. Martin Scorsese (my all-time favorite director) steps out of his comfort zone by making a period piece set in 1870s NYC. Daniel Day-Lewis and Michelle Pfeiffer give exquisite, sensual performances.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004): One of the best movies of the last 15 years remains fresh and original. It's the best Charlie Kaufman film because it has the most human streak in it. Despite its endlessly inventive plot (about memory erasure) I've never seen a film portray falling in and out of love more accurately.

Punch-Drunk Love (2002): Adam Sandler showed just how must talent he is squandering in this strange, but lovely, little movie about an uptight man with serious anger management issues who falls for an adorable and understanding woman (Emma Watson) who steps into his world. Kudos to the score which pays homage to Popeye.

Casablanca (1942): Speaking of classics, this legendary World War II film featuring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in their respective signature roles is beloved for a reason. This movie has all the elements -- romance, intrigue, heartbreak and wit. The movie is so quotable and iconic people usually overlook how touching the love affair between the leads actually is.

Bringing Up Baby (1938): The blueprint for all great romantic comedies. One of the fastest paced, silliest romps with a pitch perfect Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn running in circles around each other. It's impossible not to watch this movie and walk away without a smile on your face.

Roman Holiday (1953): One more late entry to this piece -- and in my defense I only saw it recently all the way through -- but I had to add it because it's such a whimsical yet totally pragmatic fairy tale with two of the most luminous leads (Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn) you will ever see.

Ok, so I lied, I guess I am a bit of a romantic after all.