Sometimes the best date nights never get out the front door.

You light a few candles. Make a dynamite meal. Serve a nice bottle of red.  And pop something in the DVD. I can help with that part. (For the rest of it, you’re on your own.)

Here are my top 10 favorite romantic movies of all time:

“Cinema Paradiso” (1988) — This Italian classic is a coming-of-age story about a boy who befriends the village projectionist, who teaches him about life and love. No film has ever captured such a bittersweet nostalgia as powerfully as “Cinema Paradiso.”

“When Harry Met Sally” (1989) — Sure, you remember the “I’ll have what she’s having” scene. But the moment that gets me is when Harry (Billy Crystal) tells Sally (Meg Ryan) that when you discover the person you want to spend the rest of your life with “you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”  

“Love, Actually” (2003) — Hollywood keeps trying (without success) to repeat this formula, mixing little vignettes into a cute romantic melange. This is a rare collection of interwoven stories that becomes much more effective than the sum of its parts.

“Truly, Madly, Deeply” (1990) — Britain’s version of “Ghost.” Juliet Stevenson stars as a woman whose grief over the death of her boyfriend (Alan Rickman) becomes such a powerful, longing obsession that it brings him back from beyond. It’s funny, romantic and surprisingly poignant.

“Wings of Desire” (1987) — Although I also like the American remake (“City of Angels”), there’s something much more affecting and lyrical about this Wim Wenders fantasy about an angel who trades his wings for the love of a circus acrobat.

“A Little Romance” (1979)  — A George Roy Hill classic about an adolescent boy (Thelonious Bernard) and girl (Diane Lane — yes, that Diane Lane), who follow a  pickpocket (Laurence Olivier) on a cross country adventure through France and Italy. They believe that if they kiss under Venice’s Bridge of Sighs in a gondola at sunset, they’ll love one-another forever.

“Crazy, Stupid, Love” (2011) — Although the previews make this look like just another silly Steve Carell vehicle, it’s actually a potent romantic ensemble piece that has a few important things to say about love, womanizing, obsession and The Gap’s place in modern fashions.

“Casablanca” (1942) — The fundamental things apply, as time goes by, and this film is so well written that it still holds up, still puts a lump in my throat, all these decades later. Sure, in today’s light it has its misogynistic, patronizing moments (you’ll have to think for the both of us, Rick, because I’m just a confused little girl). Still, the idea that a song can evoke such pain and longing keeps “Casablanca” as affecting as ever.

“The Graduate” (1967) — I’m a sucker for grand, heroic, romantic gestures, and they don’t come any grander than Dustin Hoffman’s race to rescue his love from the clutches of the wrong guy.

“Princess Bride” (1987) — Who says a movie can’t be silly and romantic? Cary Elwes stars as a stable boy who turns swashbuckling pirate to rescue his kidnapped Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright.)

Photo by