By Ah, Valentine's Day. It's a time for music and moonlight and love and romance... But before we 'face the music and dance', let's remember that it's not all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows in the wicked world of relationships.
If you're happily paired up with someone that you love and every Valentine's it's a slap-up meal, Moonpig card and a moonlit stroll with that special someone, we (grudgingly) wish you all the best. But if you dread February 14th because you're single, remember – not all couples are head over heels in love. Some duos actively hate each other. Here are our ten favourite unhappy big screen couples that should make you feel a bit better about the state of your love life...
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Michael Douglas & Kathleen Turner in 'The War of the Roses' (1989) – Oliver and Barbara Rose are the ultimate battling couple in this desperate war of attrition. They decide to get a divorce, but neither wants to leave the family homestead. Who can force the other one out first?
Peeved.... Angelina didn't take well to Brad's request for a sandwichBrad Pitt & Angelina Jolie in 'Mr & Mrs Smith (2007) – They seem fairly happy together, don't they? Oh no, hang on - they're not that happy... They appear to be shooting at each other. Oh.
Ryan Gosling & Michelle Williams in 'Blue Valentine' (2010) – So happy at the start of their relationship, so resentful at the end of it. ‘Blue Valentine’ paints a chilling and realistic portrait of the bitter end of a marriage. Realistic apart from the fact that most couples aren't nearly as pretty as Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.
Leonardo DiCaprio & Kate Winslet in 'Revolutionary Road' (2008) – Kate and Leo's first film together, the mega-blockbuster 'Titanic', was one of the great cinematic romances. But their second pairing was a little less lovey-dovey (but slightly less tragic at the end). Sam Mendes' frightfully miserable vision of a particularly loveless marriage is enough to make even the most hopeless romantic swear off affairs of the heart indefinitely.
Kevin Spacey & Annette Being in 'American Beauty' (1999) – The missus is a money-grabbing and materialistic type who starts an affair. The mister is an emotionally shut-down man who's given up on life and begins chasing a high school girl. He ends up dead.
Mid-life crisis.... Anette Benning and Kevin Spacey in 'American Beauty'Kevin Kline & Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio in 'Consenting Adults' (1992) – Next-door neighbour Kevin Spacey convinces the couple to 'swap' for the night with him and his wife. Not a good idea. The next thing you know it's all jealousy, suspicion, infidelity, murder and false imprisonment. Keep your keys out of the bowl, that's the lesson.
Woody Allen... The master of punching above his weightWoody Allen & Diane Keaton in 'Annie Hall' (1977) – Any relationship featuring the over-analytical and neurotic 'Woody Allen Character' is always going to struggle, isn't it? His romance with the very different Annie Hall was never destined to work out. As Woody says: “a relationship is like a shark, is has to constantly move forward or it dies... I think what we got on our hands is a dead shark”.
Tilda Swinton & John C Reilly in 'We Need to Talk about Kevin' (2011) – Had it not been for their first-born - the Kevin they needed to talk about - this couple would probably have been fine. Once the evil sprog came along though, things changed. Hubby went into denial about his seed's evil ways. Wifey went dead behind the eyes.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt & Zooey Deschanel in '(500) Days of Summer' (2009) – This quirky rom-com skips back and forth in time to tell the 500 day story of a young couple (Tom & Summer) and their relationship. It starts off nicely enough with long glances and stolen kisses, moves onto commitment issues and jealousy and is rounded off with a dumping, tears and Summer marrying someone else.
Man up... Cheer up mate, at least you're ridiculously good lookingJennifer Aniston & Jake Gyllenhaal in 'The Good Girl' (2002) – It's the classic story. Boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, girl falls pregnant, girl tries to get boy to eat poisoned blackberries, boy commits suicide...
The movie world is rammed full of miserable couples, though. Who else could've made the list? Do share your thoughts with us.
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