EPISODE 30: Witches, Send Good Things to Neal

PROMPTS: Lunar, Electricity, 30

This week on Curated by Chance, Neal and Lauren celebrate their 30th episode with two cinematic classics—one romantic, one groundbreaking.

Lauren takes a deep dive into Moonstruck (1987), the beloved romantic comedy starring Cher and Nicolas Cage. From its theatrical dialogue to its fairy tale-like storytelling, she explores what makes this film such a timeless classic. She also discusses the film’s Italian-American identity, Cher’s Oscar-winning performance, and why this movie is secretly one of the best-written rom-coms of all time. Plus, Lauren shares why Moonstruck is a personal favorite (and her dad’s favorite, too).

Neal takes us back to the early days of cinema with A Trip to the Moon (1902), the legendary silent film by Georges Méliès. He explains how Méliès, a magician turned filmmaker, pioneered special effects, cinematic storytelling, and even matte painting. From the iconic moon face with a rocket in its eye to the film’s hand-painted frames, Neal breaks down why this film remains a foundational piece of movie history.