I’m of the age that during my middle-school and high-school
years, the MTV Movie Awards were actually kind of enjoyable! And that was
really only because of the Best Kiss award, which—before it got swept up in
terrible “Twilight” hype—was pretty cute. I’m looking at you, Ryan Gosling and
Rachel McAdams. Look up that kiss on YouTube and try to tell me love isn’t
real!
Anyway, along the lines of great kisses, here’s a list of my
five favorites from film in 2013. I also included my least favorite kiss for
equality. And if you think you’ve got something better, sound off in the comments.
I’m always down for a little fighting to go with my loving.
BEST KISSES OF 2013
THE SPECTACULAR NOW
The first kiss between Sutter (Miles Teller) and Aimee
(Shailene Woodley) in “The Spectacular Now,” one of this year’s most underrated
movies. Before their love story gets too soaked in alcohol and Sutter’s own
self-sabotage, their first kiss—spontaneous, during an afternoon party in the
woods, pleasing Aimee while also catching her off-guard—sets the tone for what’s
to come, both the good and the bad.
AMERICAN HUSTLE
That vengeful, hate-filled kiss that Rosalyn (Jennifer
Lawrence) lays on her husband’s mistress, Sydney (Amy Adams), in a casino
bathroom in “American Hustle.” A million fan-fictions were born from that
angry, sloppy, lipstick-smearing smooch, which Rosalyn used as a way to psych
out Sydney. Mission accomplished.
SPRING BREAKERS
The three-way kiss between Brittany (Ashley Benson), Candy
(Vanessa Hudgens), and Alien (James Franco) as they swirl around the pool
together, celebrating their new life of hedonistic debauchery? That sums up “Spring
Breakers” in a nutshell: over-the-top, vaguely off-putting, but entrancing
nonetheless. Sure, you may want to turn away from the grossness of that
kiss—but you won’t.
THE GREAT GATSBY
You know what’s never explicit in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The
Great Gatsby”? That Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan have a sexual relationship.
You know what is rightfully clear in Baz Luhrmann’s version of “The Great
Gatsby”? That they do. There is something rotten and lustful and idealistic
running through the novel, and Luhrmann touches into it correctly by putting
Jay and Daisy in bed, rolling around in a passion that is built on utterly
false pretenses. Some book purists freaked out; I think the emotional truths,
though, win out.
PACIFIC RIM
OK, so Raleigh Beckett (Charlie Hunnam, drool) and Mako Mori
(Rinko Kikuchi) don’t actually kiss in “Pacific Rim.” But were there few scenes
more sexually charged this year than their sparring session, or more
heartwarming than their embrace at the end of the film after they saved the
world? Nope. For all who thought “Pacific Rim” was just a “Transformers” knockoff,
reevaluate your decisions. Nothing in any of the “Transformers” films was as
affecting as either of those moments.
WORST KISS OF 2013
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
That second kiss between Katniss and Gale in “The Hunger
Games: Catching Fire.” UM, THEY ONLY KISS ONCE IN THE BOOK, GUYS. WHY WOULD YOU
ADD A SECOND KISS? NOT COOL AND UNNECESSARY AND RUDE. (Uh, I may be Team
Peeta.)
