Moonstruck

Moonstruck is an American romantic comedy, debuted in 1987, directed by  Norman Jewison, and written by John Patrick Shanley. It stars Cher, Nicolas Cage, Danny Aiello, Vincent Gardenia, and Olympia Dukakis.

The film was released into theaters on December 16, 1987 in New York City, and then nationally on December 18, 1987.  This film received many popular reviews from film critics, and went on the gross a whopping $91, 640, 528 at the North American box office, making it the fifth highest-grossing film of that year. 

Moonstruck was nominated for six Oscars at the 60th Academy Awards, winning for Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress.

Loretta Castorini, Cher, a widowed Brooklyn bookkeeper in her late 30s whose husband died several years earlier in a bus accident, decides that it's time to get married again. So she accepts the proposal of a nice, middle-aged fellow named Johnny Cammareri. Johnny Cammareri is not spoken well, quite afraid of life, and obviously not a perfect match for Loretta.  Loretta is convinced her first marriage was cursed because she and her husband had gotten married at City Hall; this time, she's determined to do things right and have a real wedding with everything (hopefully paid for by her father, as is customary for the father of the bride to do). She admits to her mother, Rose, that she's not really in love with Johnny. (To which Rose replies: "Good. When you love them, they drive you crazy, 'cause they know they can." Rose speaks from rueful experience; she suspects, with good reason, that her husband, Cosmo, is cheating on her.) Loretta is convinced that marrying Johnny is the safe and sure thing to do, she just wants a normal life. Until she meets his estranged younger brother Ronny, who tends the ovens in a neighborhood bakery. Loretta discovers that in startling contrast to the pleasant, mild-mannered Johnny, Ronny is moody and passionate; what follow are complications worthy of a comic opera.

Ronny Cammareri: I'm in love with you. 

Loretta Castorini: (slaps him twice) Snap out of it! 

This movie, to me, is a classic.  I couldn't imagine growing up without this movie!  The love story is my favorite; it is witty, hilarious, romantic, and full of relatable family scandal.  Cher and Nicolas Cage fall in love in a very passionate and very Italian inspired movie.  The movie itself is a less dramatic version of an opera, which they attend and complete the spell of their love.  They decide to get married, and it is the reality of a true love story. 

I would definitely recommend this movie to everyone and anyone. This love story is way more relatable, I think, to most people and their love stories.  Not everything works out as planned, and this story portrays that in a realistic and witty way.  There is so much scandal in love, and this movie also illustrates that fact.  Also, family is a heavy factor in your life, and if you are a certain nationality, sometimes even more so.  In conclusion, below, I have what is one of my favorite quotes of the movie: 

Ronny Cammareri: Loretta, I love you. Not like they told you love is, and I didn't know this either, but love don't make things nice - it ruins everything. It breaks your heart. It makes things a mess. We aren't here to make things perfect. The snowflakes are perfect. The stars are perfect. Not us. Not us! We are here to ruin ourselves and to break our hearts and love the wrong people and *die*. The storybooks are *bullshit*. Now I want you to come upstairs with me and *get* in my bed!

ABC Guilty Pleasure

Kerry Washington is one of the most beautiful and graceful actresses in today's world of film and TV.  And she is becoming quite the powerhouse.  Her previous film credits include Ray, The Fantastic Four, and The Last King of Scotland, and most recently Django Unchained.  Washington starred in Quentin Tarantino's latest Oscar winning screenplay as Broomhilda, the wife of Jamie Foxx.  (Note: this is the 2nd time she is playing the wife of Jamie Foxx) This isn't the only big development in her career, she currently stars on the ABC drama Scandal.

Scandal stars Washington as Olivia Pope, a crisis management expert to the President of the United States, as well as other political figures.  The show, created by Shonda Rhimes, is a very popular ABC prime-time soap opera that airs on Thursday nights from 10-11pm.  Shonda Rhimes has created many other popular ABC dramas including the smash hit Grey's Anatomy and it's very popular spin off Private Practice.  The political-thriller focuses on Olivia Pope who is loosely based off Judy Smith, the former administration press aide to George Bush.  Smith also serves as a co-executive producer.

The show is a very guilty pleasure of mine, and it must be to others as well, it scores pretty well in the ratings usually gaining an audience of around 7 - 8 million viewers an episode. (Most of those viweres are not in the 18-49 demographic)  The show is critiqued for it's soapy concepts and plot twists, but it is still a fun time and Washington's performance is beautiful and won an Image award for her performance as a leading actress.  The show really heats up when Washington's characters plot develops into a love triangle with none other than the President of the United States.  Although it might not be ABC's smartest drama or have the following of Grey's Anatomy or LOST, I think this show is one to watch for as it continues it's second season.  And Kerry Washington is definitely one to watch for at the award shows.