Last night, we lost one of the great filmmakers of my generation. Though not as well-known now as she was in the late 80's or early 90's, Nora Ephron made simple movies that were honest, funny, and touching.
I remember growing up with her films "When Harry Met Sally..." (1989), "My Blue Heaven" (1990) and "Sleepless In Seattle" (1993). While other kids were fussing over Jim Carrey and "Star Wars", I was watching these movies. Okay, so it was mainly due to my mother being obsessed with these movies and never varying them for weeks at a time, but it doesn't matter.
"When Harry Met Sally..." and "Sleepless In Seattle" are two timeless movies about relationships in the modern age, are still hailed today as the best romantic comedies out there.
Also making such movies as "Michael" (1996), "Mixed Nuts" (1994), "Hanging Up" (2000), and her final movie "Julie & Julia" (2009), Nora Ephron showed a different side, providing honest looks at family, religion, our own obsessions and simply how crazy life can get.
As a writer and director, Nora Ephron showed us the world, not only how she saw it, but as it truly is -- how beautifully screwed up it can be and how it's somehow perfect the way it is. Her movies were never about the stories, but about people and being human. How neurotic we all are at our core, but how wonderful we are at the same time just by being who we are.
Nora Ephron will truly be missed as a filmmaker, and will more than likely never be replaced.
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