Encore! Part 1: A Plea To Go To The Movies.
I hear people — women — complain all the time about the lack of Romantic Movies. ”Where are they?” some of us lament. Hollywood once had a stock of them on hand. Nowadays, all I seem to see are dorky guys getting the gorgeous girl. ( I like geeks. Geeks are smart. I‘m a big fan of CHUCK — Monday NBC 7/8 CDT) 
BUT the MOVIES? Where are the gorgeous (smart?) guys worthy of these girls? Seth Rogen is NOT my idea of romantic hero. I’ve reared sons and, while Seth’s funny, I wouldn’t want to be his mother, let alone his girlfriend! OKAY, Laura, where are you going with this?
It’s a plea to go to the movies. Specifically go see DUPLICITY.
IT’S A GROWN-UP, SEXY, ROMANTIC SUSPENSE. It’s also got enough twists and turns to keep you guessing while you watch the main couple wrangle for one upsmanship! The PROBLEM: It’s only doing so-so at the box office. 
Now, according a new article in the New York Times,the demand for romance is higher now than in years. Romance readers are the reason Recession Fuel’s Readers’ Escapist Urges: Two excerpts:
“…Harlequin Enterprises, the queen of the romance world, reported that fourth-quarter earnings were up 32 percent over the same period a year earlier…”
“...While sales of adult fiction overall were basically flat last year, according to Nielsen Bookscan, which tracks about 70 percent of retail sales, the romance category was up 7 percent after holding fairly steady for the previous four years”
So, here’s the pitch: If you like Alpha Males and Smart Sexy Women who are their equals, for the price of a paperback, you could be in the company of Clive Owen and Julia Roberts for two hours of romantic suspense and escapades. And you won’t need to park your sensitive stomach or sensitiblities (No dismembered people or torture just great twisty suspense) at the popcorn stand. Not bad.
DUPLICITY
Think Gary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Harrison Ford, Denzel Washington, or Daniel Craig as romantic leads where the guy’s in love but not sure ‘in love’ is a smart thing for a smart man to be. Now add Clive Owen. Seriously. 
A. O. Scott of the New York Times say’s, “…“Duplicity” is superior entertainment, the most elegantly pleasurable movie of its kind to come around in a very long time.”
I say it’s sexy, smart, it’s got one of my favorite actors, Clive Owen, what’s not to like?
Da Muse gives it three kisses and a wink!
April 13th, 2009 at 10:44 am
OK, Laura, I love Chuck! I’m so glad to find someone else who actually even knows there’s a show called “Chuck” on because when I run around trying to tell someone about Scott Bakula being both Chuck’s dad AND Orion…I get blank looks. I think Casey has a littl alpha to him. Duplicity does look great, too, so I’ll have to check it out.
And I was glad to see a little clarification on your workshop this weekend. I hope to see you there!
April 13th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Love the post, Laura. I am a big fan of Chuck, also. I really want to see Duplicity,also, but don’t get to the movies as much as I used to. Closest theatre is over 25 miles from me, which doesn’t make it easy to jump in the car and go to a movie on a whim. But I will make the effort for this one.
April 20th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Hi Cheryl! You know I’m so nutzy I forgot to mention “Chuck” when I saw you. Oh well, we have tonight, at 7 on NBC! Hope you enjoyed the workshop!
April 21st, 2009 at 7:02 am
Oh, man! Now you commented on my blog, too. I feel like I’ve had a brush with greatness! Seriously. I tried to be all cool and act normal on Sunday, but I’m mostly dork, particularly with published writers. I really did enjoy the workshop and I’m looking forward to reading Love on the Line.
May 18th, 2010 at 10:48 am
I would have to say that Daniel Craig is the best James Bond of all times.,’`