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Film Favourites | Girls' Night In

With the colder weather coming in now I don't know about you, but I've been opting to stay in a lot more these days. There's just something super satisfying about being wrapped up warm and cosy inside when it's cold and rainy outside, for me anyway. As such I've been really enjoying snuggling up with some of my favourite chick flicks this month so I'd thought I'd give you a little breakdown of some of my favourite ever girly films!

1// About Time (2013)











Basically 'About Time' is just my favourite film ever, I could literally watch it over and over again forever and never ever get bored, I just love it so much. The plot simply follows the life of one somewhat nerdy socially awkward guy who on his 21st birthday discovers that he, like all of the men in his family for generations, has been gifted with the supernatural ability to travel back in time to any point within his own life. Of course though, his only real concern when he discovers this bizarre family secret is how he can use it to nab himself a girlfriend.

Among the many things I adore about this movie, namely its lovely quintessential "Britishness" and the fact it stars Bill Nighy (aka my favourite human being), I think my favourite thing of all is how beautifully life-affirming this film is. Its fundamental message of appreciating each and every day is a testament to the beauty of living that never fails to reduce me to a blubbering wreck by the time the credits start rolling.


2// 500 Days of Summer (2009)








Everyone's favourite "anti-love story", '500 Days of Summer' has basically become a modern cult classic. It's "a story of boy meets girl" we are told, as professional greeting card writer, Tom Hansen's life is changed forever when he falls head over heels for the enigmatic, free-spirited new girl in the office, Summer Finn. 


I think a lot of this film's popularity, aside from the fact that Summer is just that one cold fictional movie bitch that everyone just wants to be (I mean, I know I do), is due to how this story of lost, or rather, unrequited love is so universally easy to relate to.  Moving but still quirky and light-hearted, if you fancy something a bit different from your conventional romcom, I would give this film a go. It's like a breath of fresh air!

3// Silver Linings Playbook (2012)







In this film you've got Pat (played by Bradley Cooper), a former high school teacher who's just recently been released from a mental institution after attacking a man he finds with his cheating, and now estranged wife. Amidst his attempts to win his wife back and reassure her that he's back on the right path he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), who has become a sex addict in the light of her own husband's recent, untimely death. In exchange for her helping him to win back his wife, Pat agrees to be Tiffany's partner in an upcoming dance competition.

One of my favourite things about this movie is how messed up and confused the two main character's lives are- or rather how "messed up" they have been dubbed by the rest of society, I would argue- yet this is a story of triumph. I don't know if I've ever seen a film positively addresses the social stigma surrounding mental illness the way this film does, and for that this film makes me very happy indeed. There's also the fact that it's hilarious, featuring two excellent performances from Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper.

4// Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)




I think this is probably one of my favourite concepts for a movie ever. I feel like, for anyone who's been through a bad breakup, you've probably been able to relate to the feeling of just wishing you could erase that person from your memory at one time or another. In this film, after discovering that his girlfriend has undergone a procedure to erase all memory of him after a breakup, Joel Barish decides to also have the procedure done so that he too can move on. However, as all the memories of their time together are destroyed one by one, he realises that perhaps he has in fact made a terrible mistake.

I watched this for the first time quite shortly after a breakup when I was younger and it gave me serious serious feels. It's a beautiful film and really well made.

5// Like Crazy (2011)




Anna is an English international student studying in the USA when she meets Jacob in one of her classes. After she writes him a letter confessing that she has feelings for him, the two begin an intense, whirlwind relationship that quickly becomes very complicated when Anna ends up overstaying her student visa, ultimately leading to her not being allowed back into the country on returning from a trip to visit her parents back home. The film then follows the ups and downs of their turbulent long-distance relationship over the course of a few years. 

It's not exactly a very light, fluffy watch but I just find films like this that examine people's relationships so fascinating. Plus, it's so candid and romantic and I love love love Felicity Jones.

6// Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)




This film centres around Holly Golightly, played by Audrey Hepburn. From the outside she appears to be a beautiful and sophisticated New York socialite who spends her days living lavishly from her tiny city apartment, hosting wild parties full of eccentric guests. However, when a mysterious young man moves into her apartment building, her strong and confident façade begins to unravel and details of a complicated former life begin to come to light.

Holly Golightly as she is portrayed here is seriously one of my favourite fictional characters ever. Audrey Hepburn is just the absolute epitome of class and just brings so much humour and vulnerability to the role.


7// The Vow (2012)





After suffering a brain injury as the result of a car accident, Paige (Rachel McAdams) wakes up from a coma unable to remember her husband, Leo (Channing Tatum) or anything about their life together and instead believes she's still in love with her ex-fiancée. Despite this, however, Leo is determined to win Paige back and rebuild their marriage. 

I basically love any film with Rachel McAdams in it, I just think she picks really good movie roles, and this is no exception. It's just a super cute movie and Rachel and Channing seem to have really good on-screen chemistry together as well. Would definitely recommend if you haven't seen it already.

Have you seen any of these films? What did you think? What are some of your favourite girly movies?

Note: Apologies! I couldn't find the source for the '500 Days of Summer' gif set, if it's yours please let me know!

30 comments

  1. Haven't seen The Vow or Like Crazy, but the rest--yes! Love them.

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    1. Like Crazy is one of my all-time favourites, you might like it if you like the rest :) x

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  2. Breakfast at Tiffany's is such a classic! I love staying in on cold night and watching movies. This is such a cute post you put together! Love the gifs. :)

    http://www.skinnybelle.com/

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    1. Aw thank you! I know it really is, I love it so much :) x

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  3. Great picks! I haven't seen either About Time or The Vow, but I really want to. And I love all the others. :) Movie nights are perfect this time of the year!

    xx Mimmi, Muted Mornings

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    1. Aww you got to watch About Time!! It's amazing! xx

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  4. These are basically all of my favourite films! Amazing picks x

    Charlotte / coloursandcarousels

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  5. I was actually thinking of doing this kind of a post because romantic films/chick flicks are my absolute favourite genre! Having said that, I haven't actually watched three of these, although I have heard of them! Breakfast at Tiffany's is my absolute favourite classic. I'd also have to add The Holiday and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days to the list though as they are right at the top of my girly movies list. The Holiday kinda sucks if you've just come out of a relationship because it's almost too cute though!

    Imogen // imogenscribbles

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    1. Aw I also love The Holiday, I was going to save it in case I'd ever do a festive movie list. Yeah I wish life was the way it was in the Holiday :( How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is amazing too!! :) xx

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  6. I really love '500 Days of Summer' it's so different and real compared to other romantic comedies! I still need to see 'Like Crazy' and 'About Time'. Thanks for reminding me :) x

    Sinead | Dreaming Again

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  7. Such good film choices! I haven't seen a few of them but they sound brilliant so I know what my spare time is going to be filled with for the next few weeks haha.

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  8. That would be one hell of a great girls night in! I kind of like you sooooo much more for saying that About Time if your favourite movie - it's up there for me as well! I just love how it's about the simple things of life, it's wonderful. And Like Crazy kind of broke my heart though - I saw it after I started a relationship with a boy abroad and it just broke my heart. That said, relationship is still going strong one year later so it's all good :)

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    1. Yeah totally, right?! I love how it looks at all the little things that make life so good :) Aw well that's good to hear! It is pretty heart-breaking though x

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  9. Eternal Sunshine really is so beautiful, it's one of those films that has stayed with me <3 x

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    1. Oh completely, me too, it broke my heart! x

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  10. About time is one of the few romantic movies that I REALLY REALLY like! :D

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  11. Great choices, I loved Silver Linings Playbook.

    Bethan Likes

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  12. My favourite rom-com or girly film would have to be Bridget Jones' Diary. I love the two films in the series mainly because although there is plenty of romance, the British comedy always manages to put a funny spin on even the moments where I feel in other films, we'd supposed to be sympathetic to whichever female heroine is drinking away her sorrows. I think making it into a comedic opportunity (having her sing loudly to bad love songs) is much better, mainly because it's a situation a lot of people can relate to and see the funny side of how much of a loser someone suffering from a break-up can really become, in the best way. For me, it tackles the genre of rom-com properly, because unlike most it is actually funny throughout.

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    1. You know, I've never actually seen Bridget Jones (I know, don't judge me!) I've always been meaning to watch them, they're some of my mum's favourite films as well. Feel like I better do it very soon on your recommendation!! :) xx

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  13. Love so many of the movies on your list, Beth! Was so surprised that About Time had me weeping (very noisily) towards the end because I really didn't expect to be moved by it. Always going to be a fan of Richard Curtis' movies no matter what the general public might think - and I can't wait to get my Love Actually watch in this Christmas :) And Eternal Sunshine is such a joy to watch, it's so beautifully made. xx

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    1. Oh god, I know! The first time I watched it was complete emotional turmoil to the point where I didn't think I could sit through it again but the more I've watched it since the more I appreciate it. I actually feel like I get something new out of it every time :) xx

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  14. I love alllllll of these films! Thanks for reminding me :)

    Annadorabel | Annabel xx

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  15. I have watched a lot of movies in my time, but I haven't actually caught any of these. Definitely going to add them to my list.

    Sara Bloo xo
    bloonstuff.com

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  16. We have a very similar taste for films, I still haven't seen The Vow and Like Crazy but others are amazing. 500 days of Summer is one of my favorite films ever :)

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  17. I loved Like Crazy, so much that I went and bought it, which is rare. I still haven't seen Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I think I should since I see it all over tumblr! Haha.

    http://lacemountains.blogspot.com/

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Thank you so much for your comment! They mean a lot to me and I read every single one. Sometimes I can be poor at replying so if you need a faster response feel free to email me at beth_farrelly@live.co.uk or tweet me @alphabethblog

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