Writer and director Nora Ephron has passed away. Ephron was nominated for three Academy Awards for writing the Meryl Streep-Cher drama “Silkwood” and the romantic comedies “When Harry Met Sally” and “Sleepless in Seattle”. Both of those films starred Meg Ryan – “Sally” with Billy Crystal and “Sleepless” with Tom Hanks. Ephron’s scripts always featured strong female characters.
She also wrote and directed the 2005 underrated comedy “Bewitched”, an updated spin on the 60’s TV show. Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell starred as actors cast in a TV remake of “Bewitched”. It turns-out that, in real life, Kidman’s character is actually a witch. It’s a smart, unique and funny film that also co-starred Michael Caine, Shirley McLane and Steve Carell in a small role. “Bewitched” is the first Ephron film I saw and one of the few romantic comedies I’ve actually enjoyed.
Another great Ephron film was her last as writer/director – 2009’s “Julie & Julia”. Meryl Streep deserved the Oscar for her incredible portrayl of Julia Child, goes from knowing nothing about cooking to becoming the most famous cook of all-time. Amy Adams is also very good as a young wife and would-be writer/blogger who sets-out to make all of the dishes in Child’s first cookbook in one year. The two stories mix together nicely and the film is humorous and engaging, with perfect dialogue, an Ephron trademark. It was one of the best scripts and films of ’09.
Nora Ephron has long been a role model and hero to women looking to succeed behind the camera in Hollywood. She will certainly be missed. She was 71.