西雅图不眠之夜

Unit13SleeplessinSeattle（西雅图不眠之夜）

tandingtheMovie

oundInformation

(1)自远古时期就居住在北美地区的印地安人，靠着打猎和捕鱼维生，在深山林野中过

着自给自足的部落生活，他们就是这儿的原住民，只不过他们的历史并没有记录在美国通史

里。西雅图的拓荒者们，尊重这群长久居住在艾略特湾(ElliottBay)一带的度瓦米许

(Duwamish)原住民族，就直接将这块移民地的新生地命名为酋长席尔斯(Sealth)的名字，这

中间因为一些口语误传，最后便成为Seattle，这就是西雅图市名的由来。

这里不是威尼斯，但处处可以见到蓝湖汪洋；这里不是赌城，却可以作着淘金的美梦；

这里不是巴黎香榭大道，那咖啡飘香浪漫的气氛却丝毫不减；这里正是美国西北最热闹的城

市─西雅图。

想到西雅图这个城市，除了浪漫，实在也找不出更适合的字眼来形容它。曾经因为电影

「西雅图夜未眠」而声名大噪的浪漫形象，并没有被当作是观光的号召，在市区也找不到相

关的产品或是电影海报的图像标志。但是，西雅图所散发出来的气息还是脱离不开浪漫的味

道，那是一股自然的呈现，没有经过媒体包装，也没有刻意炒作的商业文化。

(2)在美国好莱坞电影森林中，大制作大投入的影片是极卖座的，也因此数量最多。但

其中，也不凡一些非常纯情温柔的浪漫爱情片。这种影片更贴近生活，而且很能满足观众心

理需求，市场潜力十分巨大，《西雅图夜未眠》就在当年百部最卖座影片中名列第七。

《西雅图夜未眠》讲述的是一个丧妻的男子久久沉浸在痛苦中，在他的小儿子的帮助下

通过全国广播的谈心节目在茫茫人海中找到了自己的新的伴侣。这个故事十分浪漫，甚至有

距离现实的色彩，然而，贯穿影片中的那一股淡淡的哀愁，一丝浅浅的温柔，那无穷无尽的

爱意，却使观众能完全沉浸在影片所营造的气氛中，为主人公或悲或喜，当影片结尾父子两

人离开帝国大厦而安妮面对着寂静而空无一人的顶层，观众无一不被感动，为他们的错过

而伤感，但接着柳暗花明，儿子又带着父亲回来了，两个有缘人终于见了面，观众这才舒了

口气，可谓真是缘份啊。

在现实社会中，丧失配偶的人不在少数，离婚独居的更不在话下。因此，影片切中实际，

反映了一个丧妻男子生命中第二个春天的到来，这无疑能紧紧抓住观众的情感流动。虽然影

片中体现出了相当的幻想色彩，但观众依然愿意去相信它是真实的。主演汤姆·汉克斯将一

个中年丧妻而郁郁寡欢，对儿子充满爱意的成熟男子的性格角色展现得淋漓尽致。他仿佛在

过着自己的生活，而不是演戏。为此，他获得了观众们的一致赞誉。

is

SleeplessinSeattleisalovestory--astoryabouttwopeoplewhoclearlyaremeantforeach

other:ncethat

itementandsuspeninthemoviedependsonourknowing

thatthisisso,andeingtheevents,andmishaps,andmisunderstandings,thateventually

bringthemtogether.

thestart,sheisalreadysafelyengagedtoWalter,averysuitablehusbanddespitebeingallergicto

r,ievessheisin

lovewithWalter,butshehasanthatherengagementlacksmagic,mysteryand

destiny.

mermarriagewashappy,andheisstillmourninghiswifewhodied

iight-year-oldsonJonahmovefromChicagotorainy

nowshisfatherneedsa

wife,andheneedsamother.

Jonahtakesthefu'enstoaradiotalkshow

show,listenersareinvitedtotelephoneaprenterwho

listenerwhophonesintheshowwillreceiveimpartialand

n'e

identifiedbyasuitablepudonym,ebywhichSamisknown--Sleepless

inSeattle--givesthenametothemovie.

Jonahcajoleshisfathertotalktotheprenter,uctantlyatlustopensupand

ediate

conquenceisthatSam,tohimbarrassment,getsletters(forwardedfromthebroadcasting

company)fromwomenlookingforhusbandsfromalloverAmerica!Hehasindeedmetawoman,

butsinceshehasalaughthatremblesahyena'scall,thesondoesn'er

conquenceisthatAnniebecomesconvincedthatSamisherdestinyandsheiswillingtoriskher

accesstovarietyofdatabasonhercomputersothatshecangetthe

informationaboutSam(Thisisoneoftheearliestmoviesinwhichthepartplayedbyinformation

technologyiscrucial).r,sheromsback

disappointedlyaftersheesSamhugawomanandhisson,Jonah.

JonahreadsAnnie'sletterandbelievesthatsheistheonewhocanfillthevoidinhisfather's

ine'sDayinNewYorkon

atraditionalmeetingplaceandtimeforlovers--

ths

convincedthatSammustbetheretoo,refustoundertake

suchanabsurdquest.

Jonahhimlfmakesthelongjourney,knowingthatatthattimeandplacehewillmeetthe

nessfalls,the

distraughtfatherhurriestothebuildingandfindshisboy.

Meanwhile,

ellsWalterwhatshe

shebreaksofftheengagement.

Ofcour,fectmagiclove

makesthemtogether.

tsfromtheMovie

Excerpt1

（Feildstone'sphone-inprogramonNationalRadio——YouandYourEmotions.）

:Welcomebackto"YouandYourEmotions".I'Feildstone,

t,we're

talkingabout"WishesandDreams".What'syourwishthisChristmasEve?

ANNIE:What'syourwish?Mywishistommtheradiostation...

:Seattle,goahead.

JONAH:Hello,thisisJonah...

:Nolastnames,ndyoungerthanourusual

areyou?

JONAH:I'meight.

:Hey,howcomeyou'reupsolate?

JONAH:It'snotthatlateinSeattle.

:Oh,''syourChristmaswish,Jonah?

JONAH:It''heneedsanewwife.

:Youdon'tliketheonehehasnow?

JONAH:Hedoesn''stheproblem.

:Where'syourmom?

JONAH:Shedied.

:I'msosorrytohearthat.

ANNIE:Well,Icanbelievethis.

JONAH:I'vebeenprettysad,butIthinkmydad'swor.

:Haveyoutalkedtoyourdadaboutthis?

JONAH:No.

:Whynot?

JONAH:It'slikeitmakeshimsadder.

:Well,,isyourdadhomerightnow?

JONAH:Yeah.

:What'shedoing?Ishebusy?

JONAH:'soutonthedeck.

:Well,I'msurethatIcanhelp,butI'mgoingtoneedyoutohelpmehelphim.

ANNIE:Wretchedwoman!

:...sobringyourdadtothephone.

ANNIE:Hangup,Jonah!Don'tlistentoher!

JONAH:Noway!He'dkillme!

:Trustme,'tbeangrywhenherealizeshowconcernedyouareabout

him.

ANNIE:Wannabet?

JONAH:OK',butifIgetyelledat,I'mnevergoingtolistentoyourshowagain.

:ough.

JONAH:Dad!

SAM:Yeah?

JONAH:Thereissomeoneonthephoneforyou...HisnameisSam.

:'vejusttunedin,Fieldstoneandtonight'stopicis

"YourWishesandDreams"andwe'reonthelinenowwithsomeonefromSeattle.

SAM:Hello?

:Hello,FieldstoneonNetworkAmerica.

SAM:OK,whatareyoullingtonight?Themicrohibachisortheginsuknives?

:No,I'outoknowthat

yoursoncalledandheaskedmeforsomeadviceonhowyoumightfindanewwife.

SAM:Whoisthis?

:FieldstoneofNetworkAmericaandyouareontheair.

SAM:Youcalledtheradiostation?

:Sam,,Sam,areyouwithme?

SAM:Yeah,yes.

:Yoursonfeelsthatsinceyourwife'sdeath,you'vebeenveryveryunhappy

andhe'sgenuinelyworriedaboutyou.

SAM:Hey,here!'mnotgoingtogothroughthisalone.

:Ithinkit'ought

maybeyouandIcouldtalk,maybeitwouldmakeJonahfeelalittlebetter,Sam?

JONAH:Talktoher,doctor.

SAM:Ofwhat?Herfirstnamecouldbe"Doctor".

JONAH:Plea.

:Sam,Sam,it'shisChristmaswish.

SAM:OK.

:owthisisdifficult,buthowlongagodidyourwifedie?

SAM:Aboutayearandahalfago.

:Haveyouhadanyrelationshipssince?

SAM:No.

:No?Whynot?

SAM:Ah,Marcia,tone...

:.

SAM&.ANNIE:.

SAM:Idon'tmeantoberude...

:...andIdon'twanttoinvadeyourprivacy.

SAM&.ANNIE:Sureyoudo.

:Goon,Sam.I'?

SAM:Wehadprettytoughtimethereatfirst,butwe'redealingwithitandJonahandIwill

getalongjustfineagain,assoonasIbreakhisradio.

:Ihavenodoubtthatyou'w,youcantellalot

fromaperson'svoice.

SAM:Youcertainlycan.

:ButsomethingmustbemissingifJonahstillfeelsthatyou'reunderacloud.

Nowjustafewquestions:Areyousleepingatnight?

JONAH:Hedoesn'tsleepatall.

SAM:Howdoyouknowthat?

JONAH:Ilivehere,Dad.

SAM:Look,it',mywife,shereally...Imean,sheloved...shemade

'needsamother.

:CoulditbethatyouneedsomeonejustasmuchasJonahdoes?

ANNIE:Yes.

:Don''?Jonah?

Don''vejusttunedin,we'retalkingto"SleeplessinSeattle".Andwe'llberight

backafterthisbreak,withyourlistenerrespon.

SAM:Whatisshetalkingabout?

JONAH:Thisiswhenotherpeoplegettocallinanddumponwhatyousaid.

SAM:reallyfun,andhelpful.

:Let'stakeacallbeforewegetbackto"SleeplessinSeattle."Knoxville,

Tennese,you'me.

WOMAN:Yes,IwouldjustliketoknowwhereIcangetthisman'saddress.

:...Nextcaller,goahead.

:IftherewasonequestionIwasallowedtoask...

SAM:Oh,goahead.

:,doyou

thinkthere'ssomeoneouttherethatyoucouldloveasmuchasyourwife?

SAM:Well,'shardtoimagine.

:Whatareyougoingtodo?

SAM:Well,I'mgoingtogetoutofbed,everymorning,andbreatheinandoutalldaylong

andthenafterawhile,Iwon'thavetoremindmylftogetoutofbedinthemorningandbreathe

inandoutandthenafterawhile,Iwon'thavetothinkabouthowIhaditgreatandperfectfora

while.

:Sam,tellmewhatwassospecialaboutyourwife?

SAM:Howlongisyourprogram?milliontinylittlethings,andwhenyouadd

themallup,tthefirst

ikecominghome,sttakingher

hand,tohelpheroutofacar,ike...

SAM&.ANNIE:...magic.

:Well,folks,it'stimetowrapitup.I'FieldstoneinChicago,and

toallmylisteners,ou,"SleeplessinSeattle,"wehopeyou

willcallagainsoonandletusknowhowit'sgoing.

SAM:Oh,youcancountonit.

Excerpt2

（Annieconfidesinherbrother,Dennis,herdoubtsaboutwhethersheshouldmarryWalter.）

ANNIE:Well,IthinkI'mgoingcrazy,Dennis,happilymarried?

DENNIS:What?

ANNIE:Imean,whydidyougetmarried?Wasitalltrumpetsandfireworksand...

DENNIS:IgotmarriedbecauBetsysaidwehadtobreakuporgetmarried,sowegot

married.

ANNIE:Butwhenyoufirstmether,didyoubelievethatshewastheonlypersonforyou,that

insomemystical,cosmicway,itwasfated?

DENNIS:Annie,whenyouareattractedtosomeone,itjustmeansthatyoursubconsciousis

attractedtotheirsubconscious,wethinkofasfateisjusttwoneuros

knowingthey'reaperfectmatch.

ANNIE:Idon'ingallthefantasiesaboutsomemanIhavenever

evenmetwholivesinSeattle.

DENNIS:ItrainsninemonthsoftheyearinSeattle.

ANNIE:tIreallydon'twanttodois

endupalwayswonderingwhatmighthavehappenedandknowingIcouldhavedonesomething.

Whatdoyouthink?It'sjustcoldfeet,isn'tit?,

didn'tyou?

DENNIS:Yes,Idid.

ANNIE:Yes,ouverymuch,omuchbetterjusthavingblown

thisoff.

DENNIS:Anytime.

Excerpt3

Note:AnnieconfidesherdoubtstoherfriendBecky.

ANNIE:Nowthowerethedayswhenpeopleknewhowtobeinlove.

BECKY:You'reabasketca.

ANNIE:,distance,nothingcouldparatethembecautheyknewitwas

...

BECKY:...''ttobeinlovein

tome.

ANNIE:"DearSleeplessandSon,Ihaveneverwrittenaletterlikethisinmylife..."

BECKY:That'swhateverybodywritesatthebeginningofletterstostrangers.

ANNIE:nkIdon'tknowthat?

BECKY:WhataboutWalter?

ANNIE:,'nkyou

cantellbyjustlookingathim,butyoucan'dwritesomethinginthisaboutmagic.

BECKY:What?

ANNIE:Inevermeethim?WhatffthismanismydestinyandInever

meethim?

BECKY:meandRick.

ANNIE:"Iwanttomeetyou..."

BECKY:...onthetopofEmpireStateBuilding,Sunt,Valentine'sDay.

ANNIE:I'ueezeitin.I'llbeinNewYorkwithWalter{

BECKY:Doyouwanttohearaboutdestiny?IfIhadn'tmarriedMartin,Ineverwouldhave

boughtthehouwiththedeadtree,onaccountofwhich,Igotdivorced,onaccountofwhich,I

hitacarandmetRickwhilebuyinganeckbrace.

ANNIE:ertoldmeyougotdivorcedbecauofadeadtree.

BECKY:Thetreeman.

Excerpt4

（Samtalkswithfriendsabouthowlifeimitatesmovies.）

GREG'SWIFE:Yousawherintheairportandthenhere?

SAM:eird.

GREG:Youmeanlikeadejavuthing?

SAM:.

GREG:'sterrific.

SAM:Well,Imean,there'sreallyjusttheone.

JONAH:Victoria.

GREG'SWIFE:Youdon'tlikeVictoria.

JONAH:Shelaughslikeahyena.

GREG'SWIFE:Isthistrue?

SAM:No...sortof...,emabouttheradio

d.

JONAH:Dad.

SAM:masEvehephonesinoneofthoradiocall-inshowsand

tellsthemIneedanewwife.

GREG,SWIFE:'ssosweet.

SAM:Nowheisobsdwiththisonewomanwhowroteme.

GREG:Areyourious?

SAM:Yea,shewantstomeetmeatthetopoftheEmpireStateBuilding.

JONAH:OnValentine'sday.

GREG'SWIFE:It'slikethatmovie.

JONAH:Whatmovie?

GREG'SWIFE:"AnAffairtoRemember."Didyouevereit?Oh,antand

rrorKerr?

SAM&GREG:Kerr.

GREG'SWIFE:oingtomeethimatthetopoftheEmpireStateBuilding,onlyshe

aited,asraining,nsheistooproud

totellhimthatsheis...crippled,andhe'stooproudtofindoutwhyshedoesn'

twhy,but,oh,oh,it'ssoamazingwhenhecomestoeher

becauhedoesn'tevennoticethatshedoesn''

thinkthathe'sjustgoingtowalkoutthedoor,andneverknowwhyshe'sjustlyingthere,you

know,onthecouchwiththisblanketoverhershriveledlittlelegs...

JONAH:Areyoualright?

GREG:She'sfine.

GREG'SWIFE:Andsuddenly,oestothebedroomandhelooks

andhecomesoutandlooksatherandhekindofjust...andtheyknow,and...

SAM:That'sachick'smovie.

GREG:ndofapersonwouldwritetosomeonetheyheardonthe

radio?

SAM:Igotnumbersoflettersfromwomenalloverthecountry.

GREG:Desperatewomen.

GREG'SWIFE:Justbecaus6meoneislookingforaniceguywhodoesn'tmakethem

desperate.

GREG:Howabout"rapacious"and"love-starved"?

GREG'SWIFE:No.

GREG:Itiasiertobekilledbyaterroristthantofredahusbandaftertheageof40.

GREG'SWIFE:Thatisabsolutelyuntrue.

GREG:Right,honey,right.

SAM:I'mnotlookingforamall-orderbride,rmjustlookingforsomeoneIcanhavea

docentconversationwithoverdinnerwithouthavingitfallingdownintoweepytearsoversome

movie.

GREG:She'sveryemotional.

SAM:AlthoughIcriedattheendofTheDirtyDozen.

GREG:Well,whodidn't?

SAM:JimBrownisthrowingthehandgrenadesdowntheairshaftandRichardJaeckel

andLeeMarvinweresittingonthetopofthisarmoredpersonalcarrier,andthey'redresduplike

NazisandTriniL6pez...hebustedhisneckwhentheywereparachutingdownbehindNazilines.

RichardsJaeckelhadhisshinnyhelmetbecauhewastheMP.

GREG:,God!Ilovedthatmovie.

Excerpt5

（Waiter'ine'sDay.）

WALTER:Goahead.

ANNIE:No,yougo.

WALTER:OK,wellIwasjustgoingtosaythateversinceChristmas,you'vebeendifferent,

kindofdistracted,itfeelsasifyou'recomingbackfromwhereeveryouwere.

ANNIE:st...Ijustgot...'snormal,right?Imeandon't

youeverfeelnervousabout...youknow?

WALTER:What?

ANNIE:Forever.

WALTER:No.

ANNIE:Well,knowwhatIthink?

knowwhatitwas?Itwaslikekismet...butnot,

justcan'tkeephavingalltheadolescentfantasiesabouthowexcitingyourlifeisgoingtobe.

Don'thateme,butIlovethispattern.

WALTER:Youcouldn't.

ANNIE:Ido.

WALTER:Thisisjustlikemygrandmother'schina.

SALESWOMAN:HowmanyplatettingsshouldIputdown?

ANNIE&.WALTER:Ten.

WALTER:istoomany.

ANNIE:Walter!

WALTER:Itwasmymother'reallyfatfingers.

ANNIE:It''xactlywhatIwouldpickoutifIhadeveryringinthewhole

repeoplewhowouldlikearelationshiptobe

sarehighlyover-rated.

Excerpt6

（ThepartingwithWalter.）

WALTER:Oh,thingwrong?

WALTER:CanIgetyouadrink?

WALTER:Somechampagne.

ANNIE:Fine,fine.

WALTER:CanwehaveabottleofDom...dding.

ANNIE:tDomPerignon.

WALTER:Igotit.

WALTER:Beautifulview,isn'tit?

ANNIE:Walter,there'ssomethingIhavetotellyou.

WALTER:So,hecouldbeontopoftheEmpireStateBuildingnow.

ANNIE:No...Iguesshecouldbe...No,it',it''tdothis.

WALTER:Look,Annie,Iloveyou,butlet''twanttobesomeone

'geishard

enoughwithoutbringingsuchlowexpectationsintoit,isn'tit.'?

ANNIE:Walter,Idon'tderveyou.

WALTER:No,Iwouldn'tputitthatway,but,OK.

ANNIE:YouOK?

WALTER:Yeah.

ANNIE:Look!It'sasign.

WALTER:Whoneededasign?

ANNIE:Walter,Ihavetogo.

thebestanswertoeachofthequestionsthatfollow.

mentsofsurpriandsuspeninthismoviecomefrom

entureswhichthecharacterxperience

ficultyofknowinghowthestorywillend

rwesharethatJonahmaybelost

ficultiesinthewayofameetingbetweenAnnieandSam

,playedbyMegRyan,imployedas

onmodel

alist

antbanker

terprogrammer

ryistintwoplaces,importantbecau

eisintheWestandBaltimoreintheEastofNorthAmerica,veralhoursofflying

timeapart

eandBaltimorearecitiesinthesamepartofNorthAmerica,withinanhourofeach

otherbycar

oreandSeattlearesuburbsparatedbynomorethanhalfanhour'stravellingtime

oreandSeattleareconnectedonlybyradioandtelephone

alkshowoffers

ladviceondilemmasthatmaybesimilartothofacedbylisteners

iewsinwhichwell-knownpeoplediscussproblemstheyhaveencounteredinthepast

unityforlistenerstospeaktoqualifiedadvirsabouttheirproblems

sbybroadcasterstolisteners'letters

udonym"SleeplessinSeattle"is

iptionofSam'sstateofmindinthestory

identifyingSamwhileconcealinghisidentity

leofamovieknowntotheaudienceandknownalsotopeopleinthestory

lyrememberedtitleforthismovie,withnospecialmeaning

henamesofthefollowingpeopleinthestory.

o:

o'sson:

oine'sbest(girl)friend:

oine'sintendedhusband:

oine'sbrother:

anbeansweredbyusingashortphrafromExcerpt2

?

thetitleofthisprogramintheries?

gbeforethebeginningofthestorydidSam'swifedie?

'sthenameofSam'swife?

esSamthename"SleeplessinSeattle"?

wishherlisteners?

anbeansweredinawordorashortphra.

nnisagree?

ingtoBecky,thesortoflovethatAnnieislookingforistobefoundonlyinone

?

ingtoDennis,

isit?

sAnniestartherlettertoSam?

ndwhen?

etheirnames?

onsonExcerpt4.

anywomenwhohavewrittentohim,her

name?ShehasonecharacteristicthatJonahdoesn'it?

2.3mule'ine's

DayremindsGreg'thetitleofthemovie?

ethenamesofthetwoprincipalactorsofthemovie?

thetitleofthewarmoviethatbothSamandGreglikesomuch?

onsonExcerpt6.

hristmas,WalterhasnoticedachangeinAnnie,heustwoadjectivestodescribe

ethey?

didWaiter'sprentformerlybelong?

yplatettingsdotheyorder?

lterordersDomDelousie,Am'es

heintendtoorder?

niesays"Ican'tdothis,"whatdoesshemean?

ecommentinPARTIVandchoothebestanswertothequestionsbelow.

ereviewerfirstheardaboutthismovie,sheexpectedthatshewoulddislikeit

becauitsounded

tandvicious

entalandromantic

andridiculous

unlikelycoincidences

ectorofthemovieis

n

ks

hron

yKubrick

ieintendstoremindaudiencesof

ieromancesofthe'40sand'50s

iesmadeoftheSecondWorldWar

iesoftheoldsilentcinema

ousEalingComedies

timoreSunis

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rtisingagency

program

esufferingfrominsomniacannot

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y

eandplaceofthemeetingthatAnniesuggestsisstraightoutof

program

designedinthemainforafemaleaudiencearesometimescalled"weepies"

becau

eaboutdreadfulevents

iencesaretouchedbysympathywiththecharacters

iencesadmirethecourageofthecharacters

eabouteventsthatoccurineverydaylife

essinSeattleinjoyed

bywomen

bymen

ybymenandwomen

geraudiences

tary

ReviewoftheMovie

AtfirstIthoughtIwasn'tedoutsotreaclywithlotsoftalk

aboutlovebeing"fated"andhowwhenyoumetthefightpersonyoujustfeelthemagicandknow

it'sforever,etc.

ButthatwasbeforeIsawwhatIthinkNoraEphron--thedirector—no

ophisticated,verysavvy,1990shomagetothe

Hollywoodromancesofthe'40sand'ponthemwithnostalgia,Ephron

knowsyoucan'etoapproachit

obliquely;layswiththeconventionsofthe

oldromances,sheusthesoundtracktopokefunatthem,andsheevenhaverywomaninthe

filmquotingdialoguefromthatgreatexampleofthegenre,AnAffairtoRemember,startingCary

ooldfilms,thisonehasaconvolutedplotthatIdon't

wanttosummarize.

SufficetosaythatAnnie,areporterfortheBaltimoreSunandengagedtobemarried,hears

Samonenightonaradiotalkshowthathiight-year-oldsonhadcalledtoaskforhelpinfinding

anewwifeforhiswidoweddadsSinceSamlivesinSeattleandadmitstoinsomnia,theradio

psychologisttakingthecallsdubshim"SleeplessinSeattle".Anniefallsinlovewiththisman

she'sneveren.

Samisgettinglettersfromwould-bewivesbythearmloadandhe'sonlyinterestedin

,Jonah,whohatesthewoman

hisdadhasbegundating,tsabouttotryto

convincethemtomeet,asAnniehassuggestedinherletterstraightoutofAnAffairtoRemember,

ontheobrvationtoweroftheEmpireStateBuildingonValentine'?Whatdoyou

think.9Notonlythat,butthere'sagreatbigredvalentinelituponthesideofthebuilding.

Onthewaytothisinevitablehappyending,however,thereisajustlotoffunnystuff.I

starteddoingmoviereviewsbecausomanytimesIthoughtthatthemoviereviewers,

exclusivelymalesinthisneckofthewoods,justdidn'tgetitwhenitcametofilmswomenlikea

lot.

SoIwastupforasceneinwhichGreg'swifelaunchesintoanimpassionedandtearyplot

summaryofAnAffairtoRememberwhileherhusbandandSamsitthereutterlydumbfounded

eylaunchintotheir

owntip-roaringdiscussionofthefinepointsofsomebelovedwarfilmandshesitsthere,utterly

'tlaughedsohardata

'sasimilaroneearlierinthefilm:Annieandherbestfriendrattleoff

theTVcommercialsthatmakethemtearup,whiletwomalecolleaguesshaketheirheadsin

disbelief.

OneofthethingsItakeNoraEphrontobetryingtodowithSleeplessinSeattleistomakea

filmthatisneitherawoman'sfilmnoraman',

althoughthemainobjectsofherhomageare"weepies"orwomen'sfilms,atthesametimeshe

Samdealswithhisgriefandthenthe

trialsandtribulationsofhisre-enteringthedatinggameafter15yearsofbeingoutofcirculation.

Myhunchisthatshehassucceededinmakinganequalopportunityfilmforbothmenandwomen.

TheaudienceIsawitwithwasfairlyevenlydividedbetweenthexesandit'sthefirstfilmIhave

itwasagood

feelingtofindafilmthatdoesn'tinsultyourintelligence;thathasnox,violence,orbad

language;that'spopulatedwithpeopleyoulike;that'sfunny,andendsonalow-keybuthappy

note.