Netflix Picks: Romance Without Pants

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Yo, we're feeling hella emotional today--not in a bad way or a vulnerable way, just in a way that requires us to watch some romantic dramas. Rom-coms are good for lifting your spirits, but if you want to see real connections forged in the fires of passionate sex, you need to check the rom-droms. Here are two of our favorites!

1. Flannel Pajamas: The title may sound all cozy and sweet, but the movie itself is not. Julianne Nicholson--whom you may remember from "Boardwalk Empire"--falls in love with Justin Kirk and vice-versa, and though the beginning of their relationship is all butterfly kisses and endless snuggle sessions, the accumulation of little annoyances soon threatens to tear them apart. For example, here are some issues taken from the IMDb synopsis: "Stuart is glib and generous, Nicole is shy and forthright. He doesn't like her best friend; she tires of his brother's antics. She wants children sooner. He's a poor listener, she broods. Both have divorced parents, and their families complicate their lives." Sounds obnoxious, right? That's love for you. The first half of the movie contains some awesome nudity from Julianne, including simulated cunnilingus, full frontal, and playing in the bathtub. Look for it at 15:00, 21:00, 24:00, 27:00, 32:00, and 47:00.

2. The Names of Love: Sara Forestier plays Baya Benmahmoud, a left-wing activist and free-spirited young woman who loves nothing more than healthy political discourse, especially with people she considers her adversaries. However, her method of persuasion has little to do with words; she sleeps with right-wing folks in order to convince them that her views are correct. It works for the most part, until she meets a man named Arthur Martin (played by Jacques Gamblin). His name makes Baya think he's a fascist, and so she tries to convert him (wink wink, nudge nudge, etc.) but it doesn't work the way she plans. Arthur is in fact already a socialist and a big fan of Lionel Jospin, and so Baya ends up falling in love. All in all, this has a bit more of comedy than it does drama, but the earnestness with which Baya conquers men and the passion for political justice contained in these interactions give the film a nice serious edge. And then, of course, there's Sara Forestier spending the whole dang movie naked, looking like a goddess, making us wish we had right-wing values in our hearts. Look for her at 34:30, 35:30, 36:00, 37:00, 49:00, and 1:31:22.

[At top: Sara Forestier spends most of the time naked in "The Names of Love" (movies.netflix.com)]