| You drive me crazy… but I adore you. |
When it comes to romance, the looks say it all. Don’t ya think? Whether it’s in animated film or not. We read romance in facial expressions. Sometimes it’s harder to capture the exact expression in a book, but that’s what we, writers, work to do.
I know many writers, including myself, that study movies, YouTube clips etc…poring over and over an expression an actor makes that portrays falling in love, admiration, flirtation, longing, desire, angst.
Here are a few pictures that capture an expression. No words needed (but I’ll probably give you some anyway) to convey what’s going on.
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What do you see in his face? Does he need to tell her
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| Whether you’re fan of Twilight or not, this facial expression he’s making is killer (ha pardon the pun or don’t). This is intense. Angst. And in context of the movie, a struggle in self-control on Edward’s part. |
| Ah! We all love Princess Bride, don’t we? Westly is about to leave. But this expression, it’s almost like he’s imprinting his promise to return, his loyal devotion and love to her. He. Will. Be. Back. And not Terminator style! |
| Here, Westly is back! It’s been forever and at this moment she knows it’s her farm boy and not the dread pirate Roberts. This expression conveys, “I came back. My love, my loyalty, my devotion has never wavered. And…I missed you.” |
| Okay, Matthew C. really knows how to express falling in love. I love the lips on lips smile. It expresses: You make me happy. Love is fun. Whimsical. And it’s about to crank up to something so much more. |
| Yeah, here he is again. Okay, so they fought. So they had a misunderstanding. It’s resolved. It’s a quiet expression, isn’t it? Full of apology. Hope. Even pleading a bit. And longing, as well as desire. We all know what happens next. Plus the sweat just adds to it, doesn’t it? |
| Paul Rudd in Clueless. Cher doesn’t realize he’s sneaking a peek at her. But check out those eyes. I want to be with her. She’s so out of my league. He’s almost willing her to see him, really see him, with that look. You’re beautiful. And more than the outside. |
| Again, he’s really looking at her. If she can’t see how he feels about her in those eyes, in that lopsided grin, she’s…well….clueless! Right? Right? |
| Good gravy, I adore the closed eye hug. This is Elijah and Hayley from the Originals. This says, you’re safe. You’re in my arms and I’ll never let anything ever happen to you. Flood of relief. You belong to me (in a non-Silence of the Lambs kind of way). It’s so intense, he has to close his eyes. |
| A favorite prince for me. What’s this say? I’m cute. Admit it. And I’m worming my way out of something. Ariel is smitten with him over his boyish flirting. It’s effortless to him. |
| Check out the same-ish look in Hugh Grant’s expression. This was Two Week’s Notice. He’s playful. Teasing. But behind that, look at the admiration, the desire, the…love he has for her. He’s every bit as smitten as Eric in the next picture below. |
| Here she’s working her charm, naive as it is, on him. Nothing else in the world is going on. Not dinner. Not the world. Nothing but her. He could stay right here like this forever. And she’s not even noticing. |
| We all love Mr. Darcy! Rain helps set this mood. Nothing like a hero with we hair matted to his forehead, dripping down his cheeks. This is I love you but…see the pain. The agony there. Not like Edward Cullen. Because it’s a different king of pain a different kind of control. |
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Something about the trapped expression. His jaw’s set. |
Tops for me is the relationship between Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts in "Notting Hill".
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2014/04/love-notes.html
Fun! So much truly lives in a look. Love this 🙂
Loved the post! Especially since it's what I'm working on right now, all those details, expressions, moments that make the scene come out of your head and appear on paper. My favorite part of writing! And I agree with Notting Hill. It's one of my most favorite movies, along with Hope Floats:)