Prepare your Snuggies! With all of this snow piled up and Valentine's Day tomorrow, it's a perfect day to curl up on the couch and catch up with your Celtic romantic side...
Some favorites (in no particular order) that we've been able to find online, if you have any to add, please contribute in the comments. Enjoy!
Available for streaming on Netflix.com:
Ondine – A fisherman's life is transformed when he catches a beautiful and mysterious woman in his nets. As he falls helplessly in love, his daughter comes to believe that the woman is a magical creature. Starring Colin Farrell.
The Decoy Bride – When the world's media descend on the remote Scottish island where a Hollywood actress is attempting to get married, a local girl is hired as a decoy bride to put the paparazzi off the scent. Starring David Tennant and Kelly Mcdonald.
Tonight You're Mine – Shot over the course of five days at Scotland's annual T in the Park music festival, this unconventional romance centers on a pair of bickering rockers who are handcuffed together; 24 hours later, they're falling in love. Starring Natalie Tena (Tonks from Harry Potter series) and Luke Treadaway.
Love Actually – This ensemble comedy is a charming treatise on romance, telling 10 intertwining London love stories, leading up to a climax on Christmas Eve. Starring Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Jude Law and Cameron Diaz.
Far and Away – Two 19th-century Irish immigrants journey to the United States for very different reasons, finding love amid the hardships they endure. Starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
Available on Amazon Instant Video to either rent or free streaming with an Amazon Prime Membership:
Most of Amazon Instant Video offerings have the trailer attached in site, but YouTube links have also been provided.
The Quiet Man (For rent) – A tired American ex-boxer returns to his native hamlet in Ireland to win the hand of a spirited young woman. He is confronted by strict local customs and the woman's belligerent brother. Set in the verdant Irish countryside, this lively film has beautiful scenery, brilliant repartee, and local charm. Starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.
Once (Free with Prime Membership) – Once is the inspirational tale of two kindred spirits who find each other on the bustling streets of Dublin. One is a street musician who lacks the confidence to perform his own songs. Starring Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.
About Time (For Rent) – From the director of Love Actually comes this heartwarming comedy about love and time travel starring Rachel McAdams that critics are calling "definitely one to watch over and over again." Starring Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams.
P.S. I Love You (For Rent) – A young widow discovers that her late husband has left her 10 messages intended to help ease her pain and start a new life. Starring Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler.
Leap Year (For Rent) – When Anna's (Amy Adams) four-year anniversary to her boyfriend passes without an engagement ring, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Inspired by an Irish tradition that allows women to propose to men on Leap Day, Anna follows Jeremy (Adam Scott) to Dublin to propose to him. But after landing on the wrong side of Ireland, she must enlist the help of the handsome and carefree local Declan (Matthew Goode) to get her across the country. Along the way, they discover that the road to love can take you to very unexpected places.
The O'Briens (Free with Prime Membership) – Two years after the death of his wife, an Irish Father summons home his two Sons & Daughter, causing all to fear the worst, but he is not the only one with a secret...
Across the Universe (For Rent) – Across the Universe, from director Julie Taymor, is a revolutionary rock musical that re-imagines America in the turbulent late-1960s, a time when battle lines were being drawn at home and abroad. With a cameo by Bono, Across the Universe is "the kind of movie you watch again, like listening to a favorite album."(Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES) Starring Evan Rachel Wood and Jim Sturgess.
The Holiday (For Rent) – From writer/director Nancy Meyers comes a romantic comedy about two women on opposite sides of the globe who swap houses only to discover that a change of address can really change their lives.
Braveheart (For Rent) – William Wallace, a scottish highlander, unites the 13th Century Scots in their battle to overthrow English rule. Starring Mel Gibson.
Rob Roy (For Rent) – Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange battle evil landowners among the breathtaking landscapes of the majestic Scottish Highlands in this riveting adventure of courage, love and uncompromising honor. Starring Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange.
Tristian and Isolde (For Rent) – A loyal knight unites the fractious English against the oppressive Irish, but is deeply conflicted after the woman he loves is compelled to marry his beloved King. Starring James Franco and Sophia Myles.
Atonement – Nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, this stunning epic love story stars Keira Knightley and James McAvoy and is hailed by critics as "a ravishing romance." Fledgling writer Briony Tallis, as a 13-year old, irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit. Based on the British romance novel by Ian McEwan.
Others that you may have in your collection, but that are not available easily online:
The Matchmaker –
When election campaigner Marcy Tizard arrives in Ballinagra Ireland to track down the ancestral roots of U.S. Senator John McGlory, romance is the last thing on her mind. But this otherwise sleepy village is in the middle of its annual matchmaking festival, and the locals have money on it that she'll be fixed up in no time. Starring Janeane Garofalo.
Circle of Friends – Circle Of Friends' is set in 1950's Ireland. The movie focuses on Benny Hogan and her best friend, Eve Malone. The story centers around Benny and Eve as they enter student life at University College, Dublin. Here Benny and Eve reunite with their childhood friend, the ice-cool Nan Mahon, the 'college belle'. They also encounter the handsome and charming Jack Foley, whom Benny quickly falls for. Starring Chris O'Donnell, Minnie Driver and Geraldine O'Rawe
The Boys and Girl from County Clare – (Available on a YouTube subscription channel) – It's the 60's and The Liverpool Sound tops the charts in every country except Ireland, where traditional Irish music reigns supreme.Can an upstart Irish band from Liverpool, led by Jimmy McMahon win the All Ireland Music Championship for the first time in history? Jimmy's estranged older brother, John Joe and his feisty local band are determined to win the trophy for the third year in a row. Meanwhile, County Clare's star fiddler, Anne falls in love with Teddy, Liverpool's star flute player. They are Ireland's answer to Romeo and Juliet. Star-crossed lovers, feuding brothers, narrow-minded parents and rebellious children -- all brought together by their love of music. Against a backdrop of amber-lit pubs, narrow streets and sandy shores, the visuals keep pace with the toe-tapping soundtrack and reflect the honour and traditions at state in the competitions.
In America – An Irish immigrant family adjusts to life in the United States. Starring Paddy Considine and Samantha Morton.
