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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 29 augusT 2017
Book Review: How Nora Ephron’s

comedies rebooted the rom-com

By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL
Associated Press
Did writer and director
Nora Ephron really save the
romantic comedy? Are the
three movies detailed here
— “When Harry Met Sally
...,” ‘’Sleepless in Seattle”
and “You’ve Got Mail” —
really iconic?
Are we really going to nit-
pick about this?
Let’s not, especially if you
In this combination photo, music producer Jack Antonoff ap- are a fan of Ephron, her
pears at the MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 27, 2017, left, and films or romantic comedies
Taylor Swift attends the Vanity Fair Fair Oscar Party in Beverly in general. Reading au-
Hills, Calif. on Feb. 28, 2016. thor Erin Carlson’s book “I’ll
Associated Press Have What She’s Having” is
Antonoff staying mum as satisfying as finding out

what goes into a favorite
about Taylor Swift’s dessert — and then having
another slice.
target in new song That’s what romantic com-
edies are — guilty delights
that are good but not nec-
By NICOLE EVATT, produced three songs on essarily good for you. Like a
Associated Press her “1989” album, which treat that takes your mind
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — earned him a Grammy; off eating your vegetables,
Look at what you won’t he co-wrote Swift and a romantic comedy allows This cover image released by Hachette shows, “I’ll Have What
make him do: Producer Zayn’s hit song, “I Don’t you 90 minutes or so to pre- She’s Having: How Nora Ephron’s Three Iconic Films Saved the
Jack Antonoff is keeping Wanna Live Forever”; and tend that finding the right Romantic Comedy,” by erin Carlson.
quiet about who Taylor he shared a Golden Globe mate will actually work out Associated Press
Swift is singing about in her nomination with Swift for in the end.
new song. her 2013 track, “Sweeter A journalist and author Sally reunited. Directed by family of Ephron — she died
Antonoff co-wrote and than Fiction.” turned filmmaker, Ephron Rob Reiner and starring Billy in 2012 at age 71 — help
co-produced “Look What “I love working with her,” took the eat-your-vege- Crystal and Megan Ryan, Carlson provide a witty,
You Made Me Do,” Swift’s 33-year-old Antonoff said tables approach with her Ephron’s first rom-com ef- spirited take on cinematic
upbeat new song that is ru- of Swift. “It’s funny, I grew first two screenplays, “Silk- fort was a surprise hit. dream teams at work.
mored to be about Kanye up just only writing my own wood” (1983) with Meryl Ephron both wrote and di- For inspiration Ephron
West. Some even felt the songs and having bands ... Streep and “Heartburn” rected “Sleepless in Seat- tapped her own experi-
song’s lyrics referenced for- (but) between Taylor and (1986) with Streep and tle” (1993), a funnier if more ences and likes and dis-
mer friend Katy Perry. Lorde and Carly Rae (Jep- Jack Nicholson. Most mov- fantastical story with an likes, even those of others,
When asked who Swift is re- sen), iegoers weren’t that keen even happier ending. Ryan and listened and observed
ferring to, Antonoff told The I’ve gotten to work with so on well-made dramas was back, too, this time with like a good journalist. An-
Associated Press: “That’s many brilliant artists lately, about a possibly murdered Tom Hanks and a special other bit of advice from her
for her to tell you.” and it means a lot.” nuclear plant worker or a appearance by the Empire mom: “Everything is copy.”
“Look What You Made Me Hit songs Antonoff has woman married to a phi- State Building. All were re- Case in point: The best-re-
Do” quickly set two records worked on include Sara landerer. warded with an even fatter membered scene in “When
after its release last week: Bareilles’ “Brave,” Lorde’s Ephron’s mother was a box office. Good judgment Harry Met Sally ...” takes
The song has the most “Green Light” and Rachel screenwriter herself back in prevailed and a “Sleep- place when Sally proves to
streams in a single day Platten’s “Stand By You.” the day, and she often ad- less” sequel wasn’t seriously Harry that women can fake
on Spotify with 10,129,087 “You learn a lot from the vised her daughter to take pursued, but “You’ve Got an orgasm, mimicking one
plays, and its lyric video people you work with,” he a sad story and “turn it into Mail” (1998) was the closest in a restaurant. Producer
was viewed more than 19 said. a funny story.” Ephron took thing to box-office heaven, Andrew Scheinman’s girl-
million times on its first day. With the band fun., An- that advice at just the right reuniting Ephron, Ryan friend’s sister suggested the
The official video debuted tonoff won the song of the time. In the mid-1980s, ac- and Hanks with moviego- subject, Ephron and Reiner
Sunday at the MTV Video year and best new artist cording to Carlson, the ro- ers’ money. Carlson offers endorsed it, and it was Ry-
Music Awards. Grammys. In June, he re- mantic comedy was ready the deepest of dives into an’s idea for Sally to act it
Antonoff, who is the guitar- leased Bleachers’ sopho- to move out of the ups and behind-the-scenes mov- out. Crystal suggested the
ist in the band fun. and has more album, “Gone Now.” downs and unhappy end- ie machinations to sup- location and came up with
a one-man band called Swift’s new album, “repu- ings showcased in such port her view that Ephron the topper: An older Jew-
Bleachers, has worked with tation,” will drop on Nov. “reality-rooted romances” and those with whom she ish woman says, “I’ll have
Swift numerous times. He 10.q as “Annie Hall” (1977) and worked redefined the ro- what she’s having.” Keep-
“Broadcast News” (1987). mantic comedy, making it ing it all in the family, Reiner
A story about friends who “wry, knowing and urbane hired his mother to deliver
break up because they’ve but with an unabashed the line.
become lovers, “When idealistic streak as well.” Ephron’s own mom might
Harry Met Sally ...” (1989) Recollections from Ryan, have put it this way: It
turned into a happy one Hanks, Reiner and scores takes a village to make a
by ending with Harry and of colleagues, friends and movie.q