1. For awhile there, I was thinking CFC and I might break up. It wasn't that I didn't love it (her? If this blog had a gender, I think we all know it would be a girl) but I just wasn't making the time to post and I was starting to feel like maybe we were moving in different directions. It wouldn't be a bad breakup . . . I would just be honest about my feelings and CFC would understand. Like in You've Got Mail where Kathleen and Frank realize they don't love each other and she lets him move on to find that tv host who says "Thank Your ladies and gentlemen."
2. I hate football, but I love football season. Its not that I think athletic obsession is stupid . . . don't talk to me during any E! live red carpet event, or during a 6 hour long Oscar broadcast and I will gladly respect your right to yell at the tv screen and fall into a deep depression when your team doesn't win. But there's something so carefree about weekends where everyone you know cares about a score or a play or quarterback and you can sip your tea and eat cheese and crackers and watch An American in Paris for the third time this month.
Well there's always an exception. Watching Tim Riggins shake that sweaty hair out of his football helmet beats Gershwin and goat cheese any day. 3. The moment holiday candy appears in stores I must buy a piece and eat it immediately. Don't ask why, this is just the rule.
That means I'm usually scarfing down a marshmallow pumpkin, a dark chocolate santa, a coconut cream heart . . . a peanut butter filled George Washington? Nevermind, I think that's from a Stefon weekend update.
4. Obviously CFC and I are staying together. CFC isn't my Frank or my Walter. CFC is my Tom Hanks- we're meant to be.
It's a sad day for fans of film, chick flicks, witty musings and the pairing of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks- Nora Ephron passed away at the age of 71 after a battle with leukemia. She was incredibly talented and inspired so many great filmmakers and writers- including this (not so great) blog.
It was this article about romantic comedies that inspired me to write about movies in the first place. This scene that still makes me tear up no matter how many times I watch it. And this movie, my very favorite of all time, that encouraged me to see my best guy friend in a different light and, as Harry and Sally say "and then we fell in love."
This winter, I counted down my favorite Nora movies each Tuesday.
I was reminded of this after catching the last 20 minutes of Cast Away at the beach this week. It's an exhausting movie, but is this part not the most romantic scene in movie history??
Unlike Chuck Noland, I am sad to leave the sun and sand behind as I return from vacation. But just as tells Kelly, " You have to go home."
Here we are in our last installment of "Tuesdays with Nora." I realize that it is actually two weeks late, but I didn't think anyone was waiting on the edge of their seat and, just like Joe Fox (F.O.X.) and Kathleen Kelly in You've Got Mail, we can take our time.
I saw this movie when it was released when I was in 8th grade. I remember liking it, but not really connecting to it until later on in my high school years. I thought this was because I was older and wiser, but let's face it- a relationship built on flirty online exchanges? When I was in high school I basically lived and died by the conversations I had on AIM (AOL Instant Messenger for you oldies or babies.) Although I actually knew these people in real life and didn't exchange witty, proud, stubborn remarks in a Mr. Darcy/Elizabeth Bennett situation.
These days, I love everything about You've Got Mail. Sadly this is the last movie Meg Ryan really looked cute in before she got her new face and I think this is the first (maybe only time) we got to see Tom Hanks as a really confident, but still very charming, rom-com leading man. In Splash or Sleepless in Seattle, Tom is precious but adorably nervous or bumbling. As Joe Fox he perfectly plays the second of half the movie so Kathleen is in love with him AND NY152.
Let's talk about Kathleen Kelly for a moment. I love that in this movie she not only falls in love, but loses her job, learns to speak her mind and stays classy and adorable the entire time. I want to have lunch with Sally Albright and work with Annie Reed but most of all I want to receive emails from Kathleen. She writes, "sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave?" Oh for heaven's sake, I've felt like that a million times. As with every great Nora movie I want to shout at the screen " Yes! I know what exactly you mean!"
This movie has one of my favorite endings of any romantic comedy, ever. When Joe walks up the path in Riverside Park and Somewhere Over the Rainbow is playing and Kathleen sees him but doesn't quite understand . . . until she does, and then she starts to cry. "Don't cry Shopgirl" says Joe. But I cry! Every damn time. In fact sometimes I'm all ready to go out and I realize You've Got Mail is on. And I have to wait to the end of the movie. And I have to completely redo my mascara. I can't help it. I love happy endings.
This is the only movie we've talked about that Nora co-wrote with her sister, Delia. And like any great collaboration I think its brings together some of the best parts of our previous Tuesdays. You've Got Mail is about a woman who learns to lead a different life but stay true to herself. Its about two people who hate each other but finally become friends and then, at the very end, fall in love. "So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around?" types Shopgirl to NY152. Well, so much of what I see reminds me of something I saw in a Nora Ephron movie. And I think that's wonderful on a Tuesday. . . or any day at all.
Here are 14 reasons why you should watch Sleepless in Seattle on February 14. Or any Tuesday. Or everyday.
1. Nora directed and wrote the screenplay. Her voice also makes a cameo as the voice of "Disappointed In Denver" on Marcia Fieldstone's radio show.
2. Annie Reed's gorgeous hair. My first memory of this movie - I was 9 when it was released- is my mom trying to style my hair into thick braids and twisty ponytails. Apparently, I've aspired to look like a movie character for quite some time.
3. Bill Pullman as Annie's dorky, sweet, allergy stricken fiance, Walter. You know immediately that they're not meant for each other. I love that scene where she says
"Becky, I'm madly in love with Walter. He did the craziest thing the other night.What was that? Oh, it was so funny. We were hysterical. What was that? "
I once had a friend who talked about her boyfriend that way. I knew they were doomed.
4. Barbara Garrick as Victoria. She's so darn pushy and that damn laugh. How about when Annie sees Sam give his sister a big hug and thinks he's happy with Victoria?! Oh, I'm in such despair everytime I see it.
5. Tell me what was so special about your wife?
Well, how long is your program? Well, it was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together... and I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home... only to no home I'd ever known... I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew. It was like... magic.
6. The million little things that mean Sam and Annie are meant to be this time around. She responds in unison with Sam as they listen to Dr. Marcia. He sees her in the airport and wants to follow her. She peels an apple in one, long curly strip just like his late wife. You just know they're meant for each other.
7. Rosie O'Donnell as Annie's bff and coworker, Becky. What can I say, I love best friends who you work with.
8. Rob Reiner as Sam's bff (do guys say bff? shall I say buddy?) and coworker. Mostly, for this: exchange:
What is "tiramisu"? You'll find out. Well, what is it? You'll see! Some woman is gonna want me to do it to her and I'm not gonna know what it is!
9. The soundtrack is perfection! Especially Joe Cocker's version of Bye Bye Blackbird- the song Jonah's mom used to sing to him as a lullaby.
10. This movie is a love letter to romantic movies and the epitome of a CFC philosophy. Without the example set by Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, we wouldn't be hoping, wishing, praying for Annie and Sam to find each other on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day.
11. This scene might possibly be the best scene in the entire movie. This is what happens to me when I describe about any Nora Epfron movie, most Rachel McAdams movies, the Royal Wedding, and the occasional Justin Timberlake performance.
12. Meg Ryan as Annie Reed. Pretty, classy, a drinker of tea, and a woman who asks to be introduced to Jonah's teddy bear upon meeting him. She deserves to find the one and we know who it is! 13. It's Sam Baldwin of course! Still mourning his late wife, amusingly cynical about love but adorably nervous about dating again. A a great dad who needs to find love again but might miss out on his perfect match.
14. The last scene. You've waited the entire movie to see Sam and Annie meet and now they're leaving! Wait, what?!? How can this happen?
But then. . . "Shall we?" asks Sam. He reaches for Annie's hand. She takes it.Magic.
Hey, you know what was fun? Counting down the 5 Romantic Comedies of Christmas. January flew by but I'd like to do something similar in February. In honor of Valentine's Day, I've decided we're going to recognize the queen of romantic comedies- Nora Ephron.
Nora is a film director, producer, screenwriter, novelist, playwright, journalist, author, and blogger. (Via Wikipedia, but should be common knowledge here on CFC.) She's also friends with Reeg! Most importantly, Nora has brought us some of the most memorable, charming, and romantic romantic comedies over the past few decades.
Each Tuesday in February, I'll be recognizing a Nora Ephron movie. You'll learn a few fun facts about Nora's role in the production and read about the moments that make me laugh, cry, and totally swoon. ( I love you Tom Hanks.)
Get ready to brave the February chill with some heart warming chick flicks! (And maybe a few chic style notes too)
PS If you want to review CFC's Christmas countdown . . .
The Golden Globes are on Sunday! Do you know what that means? It's awards season people!!!
For me, awards season is the equivalent of the super bowl, the final four, the NBA playoffs, the. . . hockey. . . games? Sorry, my big moments in sports knowledge ends there. Oh! The world series! Just remembered. I only know that because I believe Fever Pitch is one of the most underrated romantic comedies of the past 10 years.
Okay so awards season. Awards shows are a triple threat. First, the red carpet which I might argue is the best part. It's like watching a beauty pageant but starring all of your favorite celebrities. I'm one of those people who really loved every cliche high school experience, especially prom. Walking the Oscars red carpet has to be the culmination of every amazing prom daydream you ever had plus television cameras AND George Clooney. And minus the awful dance moves that haunt you 10 years later. I like to sit on my couch and watch all of the red carpet coverage while texting my mom, searching people.com for the latest picture updates, and yelling out "Hi Sandra!" "Oh she looks great!" "Omg no Helena Bonham Carter. No!" "Awww Ryan Gosling brought his moooommm!" It. is. awesome.
Next, the awards shows productions which are always a bit. . . odd, no? Obviously the organization of such a huge telecast has to be a daunting task but it always seems like things are a bad joke or faulty teleprompter away from falling apart. Considering these shows are built around awarding forms of entertainment, it seems like they should be able to "get it together." Side note: every since watching the original "Shit Girls Say" about a month ago, I have become glaringly aware of how often in conversation I demand that a third party "gets it together." Anyways, if awkward moments aren't your cup of tea, there's always a couple of cheap laughs, usually from presenters who are witty/charming enough to go off script. (I'm looking at you Tom Hanks.)
And of course, the awards! I think awards (especially for films) can be polarizing because they rarely recognize the movies that were box office hits. I think many times people find themselves tuning into the Oscars only to say " I've never even HEARD of that movie!!!" As a lover of all things pop culture, and a writer of a blog devoted to romantic comedies, I certainly understand this. However, I like to think that I have a basic knowledge of what films are worth awarding, and worth paying for a ticket at the movie theater. And we'll talk about that later. I suppose the most riveting, emotional part of the evening (besides the non-existent Jen and Angelina showdown that In Touch has reported for the past 7 years) is seeing a genuinely grateful actor (sometimes director, I'm not looking at you James Cameron) accept an award with grace, eloquent words, and a few tears. It seems to be everyone's dream to win an acting award (maybe just me?) and I wish we had more acceptance speeches in our lives. I would gladly accept an award for returning emails in timely manner or a posting an amusing facebook status with all of the self deprecating humor and adorable british expressions of Kate Winslet.
