By Matthew Dougherty
What if the Oscars were solely based on love? For all of us hopeless romantics out there who drool over prince charmings like Ryan Gosling in the Notebook, this would be our kind of Oscars. We all love living vicariously through these glamourous celebrities and adore when they get swooped off their feet and fall madly in love both in real life and in romantic movies. After all, it gives us hope and encourages a little fantasy in our own lives! If only the Academy Awards were based on love, then our top 10 Oscar nominations would be:
1. Best Romantic Movie: Midnight in Paris
Woody Allen has an uncanny ability to reach staggeringly romantic depth within his films, which is surprising coming from someone with those glasses. His latest, Midnight in Paris reminds us of his mastery over film by depicting the struggle of staying true to your own desires while trying to combine your life with another’s, something every married couple can relate to. Owen Wilson’s journey into 1920s Paris is not only entertaining but it, proves that love can overcome any obstacle when shared with the right person.
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2. Best Couple Overall: George Valentin and Peppy Miller in The Artist
Jean Dujardin steals the show as the strong silent type in this old-school, black and white film. Jean and Berenice Bejo allow their affection to scream off of the screen in The Artist. With a film that depicts how important it is to have a partner that stands with you, supports you and sometimes even carries you through life, we’re shown that love is more than words — it’s an action.
3. Best Chemistry: Margaret and Denis Thatcher in The Iron Lady
There was never any question that Meryl Streep would be amazing as Margaret Thatcher, but who knew this biopic would focus much more on her relationship with Thatcher’s devoted husband Denis (Jim Broadbent)? With years of history backing this love story, Streep and Broadbent play off of each other with ease and create one of the most believable couples in cinematic history, which is fitting as their romance is based off of one of the truest romances to date.
4. Most Desirable Male: Billy Beane in Moneyball
Brad Pitt portrays the legendary and awe inspiring Billy Beane, who took the Oakland A’s from rags to riches, with determination and spark. By channeling his softer side, Pitt showcases the purest of all loves by beautifully capturing the special relationship between a father and his daughter. With conviction and a wit that will leave you hanging on Pitt’severy word, more women may just start tuning into MLB games this spring
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5. Most Desirable Female: Marilyn Monroe in My Week With Marilyn
We already know that Michelle Williams is absolutely adorable, but by donning the blondest of blondes and an infamous white dress, we learned that she is also a fantastic actress. Playing cultural icon Marilyn Monroe would be a daunting task for some, but Williams’ charm, beauty and ability to understand all sides of the human experience leaves us simply wanting more. She perfected the icon’s every mannerism, reminding us why the public fell so deeply in love with Monroe, while also giving us a window into the troubled star’s much darker world.
6. Best Kiss: Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
After ten years, seven movies, and plenty of awkwardly sweet moments, Ron and Hermione finally kissed before even defeating the villain, in this year’s Potter flick, Deathly Hallows Part 2. The Weasley/Granger kiss was so passionate (and overdue) it transcended the Potter industry, reaching the hearts of even the least enthusiastic fans. A moment that came to a head after a long history of platonic want is one we can all relate to, and one that left a little lip-shaped imprint on our hearts.
7. Most Heartbreaking Moment: Matt King says goodbye to his wife in The Descendants
George Clooney’s character, Matt King, in The Descendants has it rough. After his wife ends up in a coma from a boating accident, his relationship is thrown into the spotlight when he finds out that his wife was cheating on him. . Armed with loyal friends and two daughters who still need their mother, Clooney’s journey is both heartwarming and heart wrenching. The final good-byebetween King and his wife has our vote on the most heartbreaking, tear jerker moment. We laughed, we cried and we remembered why we want to marry George Clooney!
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8. Most Unexpected Couple: Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
There are so few reasons to suspect that Lisbeth Salander will get involved with Mikael in the beginning of David Fincher’s version of the Swedish bestseller. After all, he’s involved with someone else and Lisbeth is several years younger. But then, in an odd twist, Mikael receives a gunshot wound to the head and Lisbeth is there by his side to take care of him. She makes the the first sexual advance, resulting in a very peculiar love story. Mixing violence with love makes sense for this very dark, confused character. But, I can’t say we saw this ‘coupling’ coming. And unfortunately, when the film draws to an end we realize that neither did Mikael.
9. Cutest Kid Romance: Hugo and Isabelle in Hugo
It’s rare that a children’s film is able to capture the believability of that all too important “first love”, but Scorsese got it right in his first ever kiddy flick. Asa Butterfield and Chloe Grace Moretz are not only fun and adorable, but they show us the tender simplicity of youthful love, and who could ever tire of that?
10. Hardest to Watch Romance: Simin and Nader in A Separation
A jarring escape from the norm, this film depicts the uglier side of love with an Iranian couple desiring a divorce, but finding themselves unable to do so without government permission. With a daughter in the middle of their broken family and a mix of legal trouble, the two are forced to work together despite their desire to split. The tension, heartbreak and uncertainty felt by Simin and Nader is sometimes torturous to watch, but the truth behind it also makes the entire relationship beautiful.
So there you have it! What do you think of our picks? Any movies that got nominated for Oscars that we missed? Sound off below!
