I've seen a lot of posts about Valentine's Day lately. Figured I'd write about one of my own.

Ten years ago, in 1999, I didn't have a date. I was already feeling alone because I was living and working in Minnesota and didn't know a soul other than my collegues at work. I decided I would hold an Anti-Valentine's Day celebration all by myself.

My first thought was to rent porn - the exact opposite of romantic movies. But that seemed too pathetic. Instead, I rented a couple of Guy Movies: The Untouchables and The Wild Bunch. I made myself a decent dinner and watched them back-to-back.

I had seen The Untouchables many years before, but I'd never seen The Wild Bunch. Both were good movies, but I had forgotten how good The Untouchables was. I especially loved the scene at Union Station in Chicago. Kevin Costner and Andy Garcia arrive at the station to find Al Capone's accountant before he can flee. Most directors would have them arrive at exactly the same time and then the shooting begins immediately. But not Brian De Palma. The heroes arrive several minutes early and De Palma makes the audience wait with them for the entire time. Elliot Ness (Costner) starts people-watching, and the audience gets wrapped up in the lives of other people waiting around, especially the woman trying to get the baby carriage up the stairs. And when the action starts, the woman and the baby are right in the center of it. It was an excellent technique to build up the dramatic tension.

 So enough about The Untouchables. The point of the story is that if you're spending Valentine's Day alone, you'll be happier if you do something that you enjoy doing alone, rather than sulking by yourself.

Or the point is that The Untouchables is a terrific movie. Take your pick.