With St. Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I thought it’d be fun to publish a few recommended date night movies for those of us who require quality over sap to make us sigh. As a lady who happily embraces her femininity, but HATES silly rom-coms that pander to pop-culture stereotypes of romance, I rarely stumble upon films that truly make my heart go pitter-pat. I know I’m not alone in this as my sisters of the nerderati require more than the formulaic status quo to be swept away. And romance should also include the other half of the equation, the masculine energy. You gotta have the ying and the yang for two people to be engaged in a romantic film regardless of the couple’s genders. It takes good composition, story, and character development as well as some sort of exceptional quality to the film for it to appeal to both. So, allow me to offer you a few editorials and arguments for fabulous date night films for those of us with more sophisticated (or just twisted) tastes. And let’s start with one of my most favorite films of all time: Michael Mann’s Last of the Mohicans
Apart from the achingly beautiful soundtrack which would put anybody in the mood for a night of epic lovemaking, this film boasts one of the most perfect definitions of a man in film history. Hawkeye or Nathaniel, played by the ridiculously talented Daniel Day Lewis represents said man, in every way. His counterpart, Cora Monro, portrayed by the porcelain goddess Madeleine Stowe, also holds weight as a woman we can all get behind. Their chemistry and interactions throughout the film display a love forged through true admiration, respect, and sizzling attraction. I’ll get into this more a little later. First allow me a bit of background and synopsis.
The movie takes place in 1757 and is based on the novel of the same name by James Fenimore Cooper, published in 1826. It’s a rich historical action/drama/romance taking place in The Seven Years War between France and England as they battle over the new territory that will someday become America. The main characters are quite culturally diverse, ranging from Native Americans of three different nations including the last two surviving Mohicans, English countrymen, French countrymen, and local settlers/militia. The main story revolves around three brave men, a Mohican chief, Chingachgook, his only son, Uncas, and his adopted white son, Hawkeye, who come upon two women, Cora and Alice Monro, and an English soldier, Duncan Hayworth, during a vicious Huron attack in the wilderness. They save the three helpless foreigners and agree to lead them to Fort William Henry and the ladies’ father, General Monro. Hot on their trails is Magua, a savage Huron on a mission of blood vengeance to kill the general’s daughters for the massacre of his family. The film is loaded with violent battle sequences and plenty of brutal tomahawk action, for those of you who want a nice adrenaline rush. Again, this isn’t your typical romance.
Daniel Day-Lewis is outstanding, but that’s no surprise, unless you’ve been living under a rock for twenty years. And what makes his Hawkeye stand out as the perfect suitor for any gal to fawn over is that despite the fact that he is a capable bad-ass of EPIC proportions, he is also full of kindness, affection, humor and compassion. In addition to the tangible chemistry between him and Cora, is the honest sense of love he has for his adopted family. He confers to his brother and father before making any decisions and trusts them implicitly. And he is not swayed by Cora’s beauty up front. He doesn’t save her because of her beauty or for any selfish reasons, but because it was the right thing to do. In fact, he keeps a firmly polite distance with her until one particular conversation, where her true grit and courage is revealed. Right then, as they lie hunkered in cover, having shared an honest and intimate chat, Hawkeye looks at her with new eyes while she unaware, stares out into the night. It’s subtle but powerful, and Hawkeye begins to see the strength and compassion of the woman he has stumbled upon. They hear the enemy, and she pulls out a hidden pistol she had hidden in her skirts. Instead of admonishing her for being a lady with a gun, he simply hands her some powder. This in this relative difference to how all the other men treat her in the film, is what makes the feminist in all of us nod in approval. Her character’s introduction to the movie is a scene where her male friend Duncan tries to convince her to let the men in her life dictate her future and “what is best for her.” And yet Hawkeye, with one simple gesture, offers her respect and acknowledgement of her own capabilities, something all the other men in the film, including her father, fail to do. Of course, their romance evolves into less subtle interactions, including the most scorching kiss of all time, preceded by lots of searing sexual tension. Seriously, men need to take a few notes from Hawkeye’s approach to Cora. He is direct, compassionate, and perceptive, pushing just enough to be masculine, without being disrespectful or bullish. Cora is depicted as a strong and equally perceptive woman, who is more than capable of rejecting Hawkeye’s confident advances, so her acceptance of his love is doubly delicious for those of us who hate simpering bullshit.
Adding even more romance to the film, is a secondary love story between Alice and Uncas. This one is less played out and happens subtly in the background, but is hammered home in the very tragic and poetic final act. Be ready to shed a few tears, and to snuggle close together in the end. This movie finishes with strong, heart-wrenching drama. I get a bit misty-eyed thinking about it.
The Last of the Mohicans is also a supreme date night film because it is in its entirety an epic masterpiece. Masterfully shot and written, it is timeless and thoroughly rewatchable. It’s been a part of my personal collection since I was first able to purchase it on VHS, and I often revisit it. Many films pale in its grandeur and execution, making it my first choice for a date night at home.
Thanks for reading,
The Diva Del Mar
