When Harry Met Sally

I’ll have what she’s having.

It’s New Years Eve. In film terms this means that it’s When Harry Met Sally time. I sat trying to think of another NYE affiliated film that comes close, but I was stumped. Do you know any?

Let’s be honest, no other rom com even comes close.

When Harry Met Sally is perfection. And screenwriter Nora Ephron is the ultimate goddess storyteller and master of dialogue, I’ll miss her forever. As stated here in Grantland, Ephron "isn’t interested in simply making Harry the player and Sally the goal; they share custody of their story." It has the New York backdrop, classic Jewish neuroses, finickity humour, an examination of friendships in the realest sense and it looks at men and women without shortchanging or elevating either.

It’s the kind of film you’ll be excited to show your daughter for the first time. How many other romcoms can you say that about?

I mean I’d lower the bar as far to say “is there any other rom com that doesn’t offend your entire being?”

That sweet, sweet summer of ’89 brought us both When Harry Met Sally and Do The Right Thing. And that’s why NYC is the place to be.

Also, style. Let’s do this.

We open on Meg Ryan as Sally aka Farrah Fawcett on full beam.

Except she's not. Because she's a sarcy lil twat. And it's brilliant.

She may swan around in those nice knit cardigans, well ironed pastel shirts and khaki shorts like a hoity toity camp leader but she's no waif. She's indignant and argumentative as hell. She's so much fun.

And this is how Sally and Harry first meet. Both graduating in Chicago and heading to New York, they're introduced via a mutual and share the drive. They also get on each others' last nerve.

Harry is young, cynical and boastful. He thinks he knows all there is to know. Sally is naive but strong minded, she's certain he doesn't really know all there is to know.

Spoiler alert: she's right.

So when they arrive in New York, Sally's Flippy Curl and Harry's Stained Hoodie say sayonara.
She's got a bumper sticker and a belt, and he's got a baseball bat and a laundry bag. They're just very different people.

Five years later and they bump into each other at the airport. This time Sally's look is more Secretarial Blowout. And she's found the only New Yorker whiter and blonder than her to go out with.

This photo below sums up 'Harry and Sally: The Early Years' pretty nicely. She's still in her journalistic daydream and he's like "oh hey girl want a lecture on sexual politics again"

We jump five years again and Sally has broken up with her Aryan Banker, but at least she's still into tweed and shoulder pads.

And she's discovered these magnificent glasses. And it's the start of the Meg Ryan In Turtleneck Golden Years. I know she's broken up with her boyfriend, but let's be real, she's winning. She's a legit  journalist and she's bezzies with Carrie Fisher.

She runs into Harry again. He's not a complete scruffbag now but he is getting divorced :(

This time they like each other. They're both starting fresh and need each others' perspectives and sense of humours. They also both wear great blazers now.

I miss this about film. We never get split screens of people in bed chatting on the landline any more, and we never will again.

I love this scene. It's the root of Woody Allen but filtered through shared experience. It's not one man's lone wankfest of his own problems, it's give and take. And it's pure Ephron.

*DRUMROLL FOR THE STYLE HIGHLIGHT*

It's this beauty. It was always going to be this beauty.

The hat, the blazer, the jumper, the trousers, the gloves, the boots. It's perfection. Add that to the autumnal trees and you've got yourself a movie promo poster.

Sally is Annie Hall, but she's Meg Ryan Annie Hall, if you know what I mean? I know what I mean.

I love Meg Ryan so much. When science people talk about when covalent bonds happen because two atoms of the same element form, I'm like "oh yeah, like when Nora Ephron and Meg Ryan met". Also known as perfection plus Sleepless in Seattle.

LOOK AT THIS JUMPER LIPSTICK COMBO

And now we've made it to the famous scene. Which don't get me wrong, is incredible, but that's the power of When Harry Met Sally; it's definitely not the funniest scene by a long way.

But it is hilarious. Billy Crystal's sad sack face in that check jumper is so good. And Meg Ryan committed 100%. And it's such a great contrast from one of the first scenes when Sally shouted about having had great sex in the road trip diner when she feels humiliated. No humiliation in sight now.

Also one of my favourite shirts in existence.

I love the double button and emblem.

So by now Harry and Sally are firm friends. They go to a New Years Eve party together.

And it's not awkward when the clock strikes midnight cuz they're just friends right?

Nah wait, it is awkward.

It's definitely awkward.

At least they both look like their best late 80's selves.

Why don't actresses ever get to wear huge winter coats anymore? That was a great time. Michelle Pfeiffer was also a pro at it.

THIS. This is my favourite When Harry Met Sally scene. The karaoke scene. They're both just being silly and larking about with hats in a department store, having a grand old time.

They find this new thing called a singing machine. They decide to sing. Because they're not monsters.

But bummer city because Harry's ex wife shows up and ruins the fun. The way Meg Ryan just carries on singing is comedy gold tho.

And then they argue and she's wearing the most Mom Jeans I've ever seen.

Harry and Sally are moving on. They agree to leave their exes behind and put themselves out there. Not with each other though :(

This pink dress is s'cute. What a great colour to go with such big hair.

The hair gets bigger. This is it's biggest moment and coupled with insane sobbing = hilarity ensues.

This is the face that Harry just can't resist. This is the face that leads to Harry and Sally having sex. I know. Unsurprisingly things get uncomfortable shortly after. The BFF to lovers course never runs smoothly. Our protagonists aren't speaking to each other.

Sally is the picture of "ergh fuck him". She goes wedding dress shopping with her pal Carrie Fisher but is really just down for snacking and bitching.

A lady in a suit saying IDGAF is my favourite thing.

Harry and Sally have to hang out at the wedding.

They argue. How you could argue with Meg Ryan when her shoulders are that big and keep a straight face are testament to the skills of Billy Crystal.

He's sorry. He calls her. A lot. He leaves very funny messages. He's very charming, that Harry.

But she ain't having it. She put herself out there and he let her down.

And I'm over here still feeling wistful for landlines.

But we all have to move on because it's New Years Eve again! Sally hates Harry and Harry is still grovelling. He's mopping around the New York streets when he realises that he's an idiot and he loves her. Because, duh.

So he runs to the party she's at to tell her.

She's like "You're pathetic and lonely and go away" for all of five seconds and then they snog.

YAY

YAY!

And now they join the rest of the couples on the sofa sharing their origin story. And what a beautiful story it is.

Look at these bloody cuties.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

This is the year you can do what you said you'd do in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

You can do it. I believe in you.

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal believe in you too.

This Week's Prizes

ANNIE CLARK

*New St Vincent video klaxon*
It's for Birth In Reverse and it's visually incredible.

JESSICA WILLIAMS

 

I am obsessed with this new Jessica Williams cover feature for Wired. I'm just straight up obsessed with Jessica Williams. She's one of my favourite social justice crusaders and her sarcy takedowns of catcallers are magnificent. Another one of my favourite things is a suit teaming red with pink. Both Rihanna and Taylor Schilling have gone for this look before and it always results in me cheering. And Williams is no exception, she looks stunning. 

FKA TWIGS

The number one ambassador for septum piercing is at it again. This photo for US Vogue is a masterpiece. I am perplexed by that collar and enamoured with this entire look. BANGLES AND TUDE. Winner.

REESE WITHERSPOON

I love Reese Witherspoon, she makes me feel safe and sunshiney and rom-comy in an "erm Legally Blonde is actually a great film I'll have you know!" kind of way. When she wears yellow she radiates like a pure sunbeam. She looks classy and casual and stylish and boots please.

ELISABETH MOSS

Zorro'ed is a new thing I just made up when I saw photos of Elisabeth Moss at the People's Choice Award. This person chooses Moss. Every damn time.

Mr Pointy

This is an ode to the pilot of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Now, don't take me for a rookie. I know the film came first, and I know the first pilot got thrown out, but this is it for me. This pilot was where my obsession with TV began, when I realised every other female character in every other show I had seen thus far had failed me, where grimey rock bars became my saviour before I even had a whiff of alcohol, and where a part of my soul fluttered over to America never to return. The 90's, man. Ugly menaces got staked and axed and crossbowed and punched and the wit hit even harder and my god... Angel. Just that face and that snark. I don't even know what my body would do if I ever saw David Boreanaz IRL because that spikey hair and velvet suit were it for me. I'd have to give my body over to science or something after that.

I didn't start watching Buffy in real time, I was seven in 1997 when it first aired, but I think I was probably ten when I first starting watching the reruns on BBC2. When Sarah Michelle Gellar kicking people in the face became my favourite thing in the world. And to this day, whenever I feel television is failing me, or the world is failing us all, I return to the Hellmouth. It is home. I am who I am because of Buffy, Willow and Xander. I am a composite of their personalities. And honestly, who better than those silly schmucks?

Now, I'm not saying that Buffy is perfect, but you know what, it's pretty fucking close. Let's delve into Sunnydale.

Buffy is starting at a new school. She's your classic eye-rolling valley girl but she's also this thing called a slayer. She's basically the number one protector of the human race from vampires. And it's vampires primarily, but every other demon also. Like she'd be slacking if she just did vampires. Good luck kid.

The principal is all "well you burned down the gym at your last school" and she's all "gimme a break buddy I gotta lotta shit on my plate rn"

You already know this thing is magic. It's coming of age AND supernatural. BTVS is basically John Hughes making A Gilmore Girls Hunger Games Nineties Special aka it covers all my needs and interests. PS amazing music.

The nineties were a golden age. A golden age of hiring 40 year olds as background extras for scenes in schools and shrugging, like yeah, seems legit. The Sunnydale High hallways were mainly home to men with 10am shadows, and women with the most age inappropriate pigtails you ever did see.

SMG always wore the cutest hair clips. She's a walking Claire's Accessories. And if you think anyone ever looked better in a mini skirt and leather knee high boots, I'd like to see your credentials please sir.

Next up there's Xander. He of floppy hair and goofy aside. I wanna squish his cheeks. I didn't fancy Xander the first time around (did I mention Angel?) but I really do these days.  He's just so funny and nervous. Plus he skateboards and helps you pick up your books when you drop them.

Any boy not allergic to books is okay in my books. I said books too many times. Xander basically locked eyes on our protagonist and immediately heard Joe Cocker's You Are So Beautiful echoing all around him. And you can hardly blame him.

Xander is our layman. He wears Vans trousers and layers under baggy shirts. He's our lovable doofus and comic relief. We love Xander.

Sidenote: who knew 2012 Lena Dunham was in the pilot of Buffy The Vampire Slayer?!

In the foreground there though, that's Cordelia. She's a dickhead, and she's brilliant. Her face is a permanent "ew, get away from me". She wears sheer all damn day and tortures everybody.

Especially Willow.

Willow is one of those future turnaround characters that were dressed up as an archetypal unpopular geek in the nineties, and are now seen as the best dressed person on the show. This outfit is a couple of undone buttons away from being The Coolest Girl At The Peckham Popup.

Teaming plaid and stripes and pastel like a pro. She has the strong sense of self to wear white tights in the California sun and oh yeah, the greatest Jansport backpack around. I miss those things.

The school librarian doubles as Buffy's Watcher. She fights demons and he teaches her how. And he reads a lot of books. His double life works out very well for him. He's called Giles.

He's British so he says "quite" and "damn" all the time and wears an impressive amount of tweed, naturally.

ENTER Angel:

I told you.

He's the brooding older guy (spoiler alert A LOT older) who drops by and talks in riddles about the dangers ahead. Upon reflection, if a guy stalked me into a dark alleyway and started talking about something called a Harvest... I'd call the police. But, you know, *points at his attractive face* *reminds you about Buffy's super strength*

Here's Willow again. This time as The Coolest Girl At The Islington Book Club. She may just have every borough of London covered, style wise. That cosy cardigan belonged to her grandmother and she found the floral collar dress when she went to New York over Christmas and discovered the most amazing Brooklyn Flea... probably.

I am of course joking because Willow Rosenberg predates all of these assumptions and is therefore an international treasure. We 20 somethings bow in her presence.

You hear that?

That's the sound of my brain synapses realising why I've loved white nail polish and plastic jewellery my entire life.

But what of the actually vampires? You know how Edward Cullen glitters? Kind of like how a small child would want to accessorise themselves for a role as a fairy princess in the school play?

This is Darla

She looks scary as fuck BECAUSE SHE'S A VAMPIRE. Note to all modern "vampire" things: you're supposed to be scared. A fair amount of hair and makeup is supposed to go into the costume. Not like a "did she spend an afternoon at the local craft fair" kind of effort, an "I can't look this person in the eye on set in case I shit myself" amount of effort.

I'm all in now, I'm rewatching Buffy The Vampire Slayer. This is just the beginning. Which is obvious, because it's the pilot. What I mean is that there's going to be a lot more of this on here.