Girls' Night In

Being (almost) the only single girl among my friends, I find there are times when I am the odd one out when it comes to weekend plans.  I want to go out.  They have other commitments.  Or are spending a night in with their significant other.  It can get a little frustrating at times--and I do sometimes feel caught in this awful cycle.  How will I meet anyone if all I ever do is have "girls nights" or feel left out because I am the "third wheel"? 

It's not that I bemoan my single status.  As my mom and many friends have pointed out, I could be in a relationship today if I wanted. But the fact is, I'm confident and happy by myself.  And I get bored with so many guys... I'm just not willing to enter a relationship unless it's really something.  So in the meantime, until I find a good solution, I feel I am spending too many nights at home (but in reality, I'm probably not. I'm just being neurotic/over-sensitive. I do that.).

So here is my list of great Girls' Night movies--even if you're just by yourself with a glass of wine (or three).

1. Love and Other Disasters -- Great fashion, gorgeous guy.  I've already told you all about this one.

2. Dangerous Liasions -- Early Michelle Pfeiffer, Glenn Close, John Milkovich, Uma Thurman, Keanu Reeves... So many stars in this great movie! A woman in power, deceit, sex and costumes I just drool over.  This is a movie I like so much, I bought it.  

3. Lady Chatterley -- There are many versions of this story, but this 2006 French version is my favorite. I rented it on Netflix and them bought it the day after.  As my friends will tell you, I don't shy away from risque movies.  So if you're faint of heart, move right along.  But this sensual movie is wonderful.  It tells the story of Lady Chatterley as she breaks free from her life and has an affair with the groundskeeper.  The scenery is georgeous and always makes me feel like I need to get "back to nature."  As French films sometimes do, it moves slow at times( think: slow, long shot of trees in autumn).  But there's even something sexy about that...

4. Persuasion --  Sense and Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice get all the glory, but this lesser-known Jane Austen film is just as good.  Some say this particular novel was the one that most closely mirrored Austen's own life.  A single woman in her 30s (the scandal!!) reunites with the man she loves, but rejected years ago because of family complaints, and realizes it's not too late for her after all.

5. He's Just Not That Into You -- I actually enjoy watching this movie after breaking up.  In a weird way it keeps me grounded.  That and I really identify with the optimistic protagonist who never truly gives up.

6. Love and Sex -- Love Famke Janssen.  Love Jon Favreau.  My favorite "relationship" movie ever.  It is at once realistic and idealistic; touching and hilarious.  If you're curious how I think about or operate in relationships: this movie explains a lot.  And I did actually do the "cheese sandwich" thing with a guy once (only it was "roast beef sandwich."  Don't ask.).

7. Sex and Lucia --  I loaned this to a friend once.  I think she fell asleep... and the guy she watched it with just described it as "weird."   But if you like foreign, intellectual, erotic films, this is a good one.  Lucia is a woman whose boyfriend just committed suicide (we see their relationship in flashback).  She runs off to a remote isle on a vacation and rediscovers herself.  For some reason, I really connected with it.  If you're going to watch it, make sure it's the unrated version.  Not for cheap thrills, but because there are amazing, touching scenes (that are important to plot) left out of the "rated" version.

8. I'm With Lucy -- The film starts on Lucy's wedding day.  She's getting married to a man she was set up on a blind date with.  The rest of the film goes back through the dates/relationships with these 5 blind dates--making it a bit of a romantic whodunit.   Each relationship is different and probably something you've experienced: the great guy who's just too nice (and you're a little too drunk), the guy only good for one thing (guess what that is), the "good on paper guy" (who turns out to be a real jerk), the guy who's just a big child, and the real thing.  Though I haven't experienced the last one yet, I have experienced many others.  It's cute and relatable.  That's why I like it. 

I feel like I should do 10, because that's a nice round number.  But then I'd be lying... these 8 are the only ones I really recommend--that I can remember right now--I'll probably post this and then say "oh!  That movie is so perfect, how could I have forgotten about it??" 

Which ones do you think should be added to the list?