Nora Ephron's 10 Most Memorable Movies and Moments

Ephron's clever little comedy 'My Blue Heaven' pairs up comedic darlings Steve Martin and Rick Moranis as a mobster and his FBI agent (respectively) trying to keep a low profile. Ephron was able to take Henry Hill — that's right, the same mobster from 'Goodfellas' — and loosely base a comedy around his life in a way that gave way to some really hilarious chemistry between Martin and Moranis. And it gave us this quotable gold: "I am the worst scenario of Thomas Jefferson's dream."

The unstoppable Meryl Streep AND Nora Ephron together? I believe that's what they call "movie magic" (in the biz!). The film 'Silkwood' is not a comedy, at all. It tells the harrowing tale of Karen Silkwood and her harrowing experience blowing the whistle on the company she worked for. Meryl's portrayal was strong and made stronger by Ephron's writing chops and courage to tell the story of such a heroic woman.

Another Meryl/Nora moment, this time with an autobiographical twist! Ephron's novel is a look at her own marriage to Carl Bernstein. The film's best moments came in the honest and sad emotions that come with realizing love cannot always conquer all. It's a hard look at two people who don't always come across as likable, but that's what makes the film so brilliant. Ephron's honesty — though sometimes a bit hard--shows real-life humanity and hardships. Read the novel if you haven't.

Positive messages from an unsuspecting source: Ephron's world takes a turn for fantasy in a tale of a pot-bellied and at times less-than-angelic archangel named 'Michael.' John Travolta joins the Ephron fold and takes on a role that finds him to be far more lighthearted and likeable than some of his other films. It may not be everyone's favorite, but personal memories attached to seeing this film keep it in the ranks. Any scene where an angel is dancing in a bar to "Chain of Fools" has some merits.

Has an actress ever so-wonderfully portrayed a beloved icon as well as Meryl played Julia Child? I'm not sure. In 'Julie and Julia,' Meryl is the shining star of yet another Ephron written-and-directed-by romp. Meryl's scenes were so flawlessly written and executed, it left some people wishing Ephron would write a film solely about Julia, starring Meryl. Anything is made better with a little butter. This film was Ephron gold.

'Mixed Nuts' is a romp, but with black humor. And it's screwball-meet-screwball when a young Adam Sandler made his way into Ephron's film. While a bit on the 'Billy Madison' side of things, his work in this film is totally aces. And of course, the thought of Steve Martin running a crisis hotline (during the holidays no less!) makes it a no-brainer as to why it was made. Who wouldn't want to see that?

Sure, it's not everyone's favorite, but there are some powerhouse actresses in this movie that features the great Walter Matthau's final role. Give me Diane Keaton in a power suit and I'm on board. The film touches on very dark, bitter subject matter and shows more of Ephron's brutally honest, human point of view.

If you don't watch this movie and cry at least twice, there might be something wrong with you. The love in this film causes me heartaches just thinking about it. Flawless. Most people (whether they admit it or not) would swoon at a not-so-chance encounter at the top of the Empire State Building at night. Hello romance; Tom Hanks is calling and Nora Ephron's got it all written down.

People may disagree, but the way that Ephron handles modern love and the hilarious they-hate-so-much-they-love each other romance of Joe and Kathleen was incredibly fresh, honest, and lovely at the time it came out. If you want to feel good and revel in the glorious cheese of romantic comedies — this is the best way to do it. Barkley!