I can’t let February the 14th pass without some acknowledgement on my part, so here it is: one of the coolest, warmest, hottest romantic exchanges I can think of in any movie. Scott Frank’s writing is conversational poetry here, Anne V. Coates’s editing shapes all the politics of lovemaking into a single scene, and George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez, both as beautiful and as human as they’ve ever been on screen, define chemistry. I love this scene. I love this movie. Happy Valentine’s Day.
What screen romances do it for you?
Comments
29 responses to ““Or once.””
Anne V. Coates and Sarah Flack should have won Oscars for their collaborations with Soderbergh … some of the best editing around (Out of Sight and The Limey)
quite possibly my favorite scene from any film. so well done
You forgot the great score by David Holmes. The music took this scene into another level, complementing the non-lineal editing, the great writing and the undeniable chemistry between the two leads.
I thought after this movie that Lopez had a long movie career ahead of her. And now she’s on American Idol alas, though still charming.
I need to see this film.
I love this scene and this film too! It’s the best performance Jennifer Lopez has ever given. This and ‘Selena’ were her breakout roles, and I wish she’d do quality screen work again.
Bra. Vo.
Incidentally, this will be on Blu-ray March 1 in the States.
I was listening to the soundtrack yesterday. It’s perfect. Probably my favourite film of the 90s.
Oh, I haven’t seen this movie in ages. Ithink it’s definitely due for a rewatch.
Another great one has to be Before Sunset: Baby, you are gonna miss that plane.
I love it! Boy, it’s been more than twelve years? I’m so old!
I really wish JLo would do more movies and rom coms. She’s really good at it.
Any of the Nora Ephron canons would do it for me. Of those, You Got Mail has to be the best one.
And the British version of Nora Ephron…Richard Curtis. I saw “Notting Hill” recently and it reminded me how awesome Hugh Grant be. The best line from that movie…”…just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”
Yeah, I said Nora Ephron canon.
“What screen romances do it for you?”
As of late, the one that comes to my mind first: “Adventureland”
Strangers on a Train
Beautiful Thing
Badlands
Jules & Jim
The Lady Eve
A Place in the Sun
and the Ang Lee flicks
That reconnection between Owen and Moore in Children of Men is great, if not tragic because of what follows afterward.
Anything by Bruno Dumont. Nothing says Valentine’s Day like some good field-rutting outside a marginal, post-industrial town.
Paul Outlaw – Strangers on a Train, The Lady Eve and the Ang Lee flicks seconded!
Now you’re making me want to pop in my copy of the flick. Lovely scene. Rare chemistry.
still think this is Soderbergh’s best work
very very VERY good film (and book, for that matter).
I’m always affected during the late stages of ‘Titanic’, as well as ‘Brokeback’. Both sound so incredbly, incredibly cliched, but there you go.
I haven’t seen “Out of Sight” for years. Good film, as far as I remember. And I usually can’t stand Jennifer Lopez at all.
My favourite screen romance? Probably “Before Sunrise”, “Before Sunset”… And ESOTSM of course.
Echo ChrisG. Loved those tender moments between Joel and Clementine.
My favorite romantic scene in film is probably the proposal scene in Love Actually between Colin Firth and “Beautiful Aurelia”.
Soderbergh was on fire between 1998 and 2001. The Limey is one of my favorite films of all-time, along with Out of Sight.
I’m really looking forward to Haywire and Contagion this year.
Guy, you & I are not always in agreement, but I fully support your love for this great film. It never got the Oscar love it deserved ( some nominations, but no wins) , nor did this movie reach the classic status it deserves .
Also, this film is one of the all-time sexiest films , and one of the most wickedly funny movies. The acting, editing, cinematography, directing , and the writing are absolutely breathtaking- just seamless on every level. Steven Soderbergh & Jennifer Lopez has never been better with this wonderful movie. This is the first film when I started to respect George Clooney . George & Jennifer have to do another film together, chemistry this great is a rarity.
P.S. Sandra Bullock desperately wanted the Jennifer Lopez role, but she refused to audition with George Clooney because A-lister Bullock felt she was above auditioning . What a missed opportunity !
Much love for posting this scene, Guy. It really is a classic.
Anytime someone doubts that Jennifer Lopez has ever made a good flick (which happens pretty often), I point to Out of Sight. The argument ends.
Danny King, “Adventurland” is fantastic, the whole fireworks scene with “Don’t Dream It’s Over” in the background and the subsequent scene in Em’s house is amazing, it immediatelly reminded me of my first girlfriend and all the emotions I felt during that time.
A bit late, but my favorite love scene is from Punch-Drunk Love, from when Barry and Lina leave the restaurant to that long run through the maze of hallways. And that kiss. And their silhouetted kiss in Hawaii. And all the harmonium scenes.
Pretty much the whole film.
“Another great one has to be Before Sunset: Baby, you are gonna miss that plane.”
I second that. Probably the best and most satisfying ending ever.
Also, Lost in Translation.
And the ice rink scene in King Kong. So beautiful.