Happy Sad Confused - Zoe Kravitz

Episode Date: June 16, 2020

When the lockdown came for Zoe Kravitz it found her in the middle of the job of a lifetime in London. That's where Josh catches up with her on this episode as Zoe reflects on her love of "The American President" and what we can expect from her turn as Catwoman in "The Batman"! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Prepare your ears, humans. Happy, sad, confused begins now. Today on Happy, Said Confused, Zoe Kravitz on High Fidelity, The Batman, and her comfort movie, The American President. Hey guys, I'm Josh Horowitz, and welcome to another edition of Happy, Sad, Confused. We obviously took a little bit of a break for. what I hope are obvious reasons, what was already a tough world we were living in the last few months turned into that much more of a sad and complicated world in the last few weeks, thanks to the horrific death of George Floyd.

And thankfully, the public outcry, the worldwide outcry, really. to that injustice. It's been a crazy time to say the least. We're living through history. We were already living through history thanks to a once-in-a-generation pandemic. And now we're living through history in a different way in that we're seeing

hopefully a sea change here in the United States, if not the world, when it comes to accepting the racial injustice, the systemic injustice that is still very much a part of our society. You know, I'm like the rest of you guys. It's been, I've been vacillating between sadness and depression and hope. Hope is all we have right now. But it's more than hope.

It's action. And it's been heartening to see the action on the streets here in New York City and around the country and again, around the world. but also the action, yes, on social media, but more importantly, in terms of opening our pocketbooks where we can, if we're able to, and just shouting for change, necessary change. Certainly it's been a time of introspection for me, and I think hopefully all of you. And because of that, we took a little bit of a break on Happy Second Feud, it felt like a necessary break, a respectful break. And we are thankfully back with a new episode that I'm very proud of. But I do want to just also say that, like, again, like everybody else, I've been looking for ways to help in any way I can. And a lot of it's been about reading and listening and sort of taking stock of your own complicity.

And a lot of it's also figuring out the smaller or large ways that you can help. And as I said, if you're able to contribute via your pocketbook, and I know times, are tough for a lot of people. But if you are able to contribute to something like Black Lives Matter, go to blacklivesmatter.com. You know, I've contributed to the Turn Texas Blue campaign, which, you know, if we turn Texas to the Democrats in this coming election, it's a done deal for this president

to be out of there. And certainly it's not going to solve everything to get rid of Trump. But it is a necessary, an absolute imperative that this guy, this racist, this horrible man, leaves the office. And we can get back to trying to repair the systemic wounds in this country and the wounds that he has only exacerbated. And, you know, I know, I see on Twitter, I see some people that listen to me don't share my political views and that's fine. but you know this is this is life and death for a lot of people and this is life and death for the planet so um i'm not going to be polite i'm going to speak my mind um until i'm blue in the face

um if you disagree and you don't want to listen to the show godspeed good luck but um this is this is too important to be quiet so as i said you know if you can contribute go to black lives matter dot com, maybe turn Texas blue, ACLU, NRDC. There are so many causes out there fighting different sort of fights that are all sort of heading in the right direction. So, yeah, that's what I have to say about that. This episode, turning to somewhat whiter topics, this episode is with a great guest, someone that I'd wanted to talk to on Happy Second Feast for quite a while.

Zoe Kravitz is on the show today. She was speaking to me from London, where she has been holed up since the lockdown a few months back. She was in the middle of shooting The Batman. I know you're excited. You're as excited as I am, probably Matt Reeves Batman with Robert Pattinson and Paul Dano and Colin Farrell. And Zoe Kravitz says, Selena Kyle, Catwoman, couldn't be more stoked for this one. I should also mention this was taped before the... latest round of insanity and sadness. So, you know, there's not discussion in any overt ways

about what's been going on in this country the last few weeks. That being said, it's kind of a timely show in that Zoe chose to talk about the American president, which is one of my favorite movies and truly fits the bill as a comfort movie for myself. And I think it is appropriate in these times and inappropriate in an odd way in that it, it is a portrait of politics that can work, of idealism, of passion for causes, and just an idea of good people striving to make the United States a better place. And we've had some great people in the White House. We don't have one right now. But this is hopefully a reminder that good things are possible, even in politics, even in the sordid world of politics. So I really loved

talking to Zoe about this one. We share an absolute adoration of this movie, Rob Reiner's, the American president, starring Michael Douglas and Annette Benning, and we dive deep into this movie. We also talk a bit about high fidelity, which is currently on Hulu. If you haven't checked it out, Zoe stars in that reinterpretation of the Nick Hornby book and the film star in John Cusack, so you should check that out if you haven't already. And yes, we talk a bit about the Batman and her approach to Catwoman, which I know a lot of people listening to this podcast will be interested to hear. And she's always a great conversation. She's somebody that I've always enjoyed talking to, whether it's, I think I first met her on the set of Divergent. Was she in the

first Divergent? One of the Divergent movies, I met her on the set there, talked to her for Fantastic Beasts and other projects, and she's just a straight shooter, down to earth. a good egg, um, and obviously somebody with good taste. And I'm so excited that she's starring as Catwoman in The Batman. Um, this movie is going to just, is just going to be amazing. And I, I can't wait. Um, other things to mention, we are also going to be back very soon by the time you hear this. Actually, I think the next new episode of Comedy Central's stir crazy series that I host will be up. We have the great J.B. Smooth. He is hysterical. He is a wild man. Um, and that is an off the rails conversation in the best possible way. So we have some really, really fun guests coming up

on Sir Crazy on Comedy Central. So please do check that out. We also have the Teen Wolf Reunion on MTV that we taped, that we again delayed for obvious reasons. That's going to hopefully be coming out very soon. I think if you're a Teen Wolf fan, you're going to really, really dig that. All the major participants are back. It is a big love fest among that cast. So, yeah, Despite the sadness in the world and the frustrations in the world and the pandemic that is still a reality, and by the way, I know I opined about this on Twitter, guys, just wear your masks outside. Please do me a favor. If you come away with nothing else from this, is it that much of an imposition? I know we all want to take the masks off. I know we all want to hang with our friends and family. But this is real. You know, speaking as a New Yorker that saw. the worst of this and hopefully we are through the worst of this, saw literally a thousand people dying a day at a certain time here in New York. It felt like the end of days. It's getting

worse around the country in other places. It's thankfully better here, but we've seen it up close here, so hopefully we're being relatively smart, but even here in New York, I was out on the street the other day and I saw people without their masks and I wanted to turn into the grumpy old man screaming at them. I held my tongue, but I will not hold my tongue on my own podcast. Wear your frickin' masks. Okay, that's enough preaching for the day. Let's get into some fun conversation with Zoe Kravitz.

Remember to review, rate and subscribe to Happy Say I Confused. And more important, as I said, if you're able contribute to some good causes, let's turn Texas blue. Let's contribute to the ACLU. Let's go to Black Lives Matter.com, wherever you feel so inclined. and let's just strive to make the world a little bit of a better place tomorrow than it was today. I hope you guys enjoy this chat with Zoe Kravitz. Sadly, we've never had Zoe Kravitz on the proper happy say confused, but I'll take what I can get in these crazy times.

It's good to see you, good to see a familiar face. Yeah, likewise. It's good to see anything. Seriously, anything besides the walls in our respective homes. Anything with Trump's face. I'm like, I'm cool. We can dive deep into that, but that's a sad podcast. We want to go happy here. I was just talking to you. You're in England due to circumstance. You were in the middle

of this crazy, ginormous Batman movie, and this has necessitated where you're living for the time being. How has that informed sort of like your experience? You were telling me a little bit, but give me a sense of how you're doing it's been strange. I obviously have nothing to actually compare this to. It's not like the last time I was in quarantine. I was at home and that was better, but it's definitely just added a layer

to the whole thing. Just a, just going from being in the middle of a really intense job, very long hours, training all of that to nothing, which I know a lot of people can relate to just with any kind of job. And then yeah, being in a place that

doesn't feel like home, obviously we're supposed to be social distancing, but even just, you know, saying hi to people from a distance or whatever, you know, there's just been like me and my husband have been incredibly isolated. And so, yeah, it's been, it's been a little bit of a trip. And then like the funny, it's been really interesting, like the little things that bring us comfort, right? Like, you know, I've been, I was raised, you know, eating very healthy and I basically, you know, I'm not a full vegan, but I eat really well.

And there's been little things like my husband found in American store. No, an American store in... Just for the record, Zoe's not telling me. No, she's telling the dog. Oh, yeah, sorry. If you hear me saying anything like that,

that's my dog, who's being able to... No, Josh. No, bad question. Josh? No. No. And so he came in the house one day with Ritz Crackards and Aunt Jemima

you know, pancake me. mix and Pop-Tarts and Oreos. And it was so strange because that's something we never have, like junk foods is something we don't have in the house at home. And it brought us so much comfort. I get it. You can see these things that were my, it was bizarre.

It was really funny. I've had more Oreos in the last two months than I had in my previous 35 years. How do you Oreo? Regular Oreo, double stuff Oreo? This is a good question. We can dive deep. I mean, back in my youth, it was, I don't think they even, I remember like literally when Double Stuff came into existence and it was like, oh my God, they've cracked.

they've cracked the code. They figured it out. That was it. But I've discovered, and this may be controversial, I've been dabbling in the thin lemon Oreo. I love lemon. That's amazing. And the thin is just, it's like now in my old age, I don't need that much stuff. The stuff is like, I think the double stuff is too much. I think it's overkill. Because then when you, because I like to take, I like to take my Oreos apart. And then when you do the one side, it's too much, it's like all frosty. Right. I'd like to welcome our brand new sponsor to Happy, Happy, confused. Yeah, exactly.

We're like a moria. So we are talking about things that are comforting us in these times, and that's appropriate, given how I've kind of shifted the focus of my podcast recently. As I take a sip of wine, which has been something. I love it. I'm jealous. It's a little early here in New York, so I won't join you. Quarantine knows no time, man.

You're allowed. Don't tempt me. I need to be semi-coherent for this conversation. But we're talking comfort movies. I've been asking all my guests to pick a comfort movie. I got a list of a few from you. And I chose, I chose, I love that. And I chose the one that, I mean, all these are great picks,

but the one that I also agree with. Like, it's a huge comfort movie for me. But first, before we get to the one we're going to dive deep on, can we talk about the three you sent over? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I'll list the two alternates. How about that? Yes.

You mentioned First Wives Club and Friday. Yes. Both of which, and all three of these movies came, I would add, came out within about a year of each other. 95. Oh, that's interesting. I didn't even really think about that. So is there something to that?

You were pretty young then. Did you watch all these movies when you were that age? I watched them. Maybe not the year they came out, but they're the kinds of things that, you know, maybe my parents or friends of theirs were really into, so it's something that they would all watch, you know? So I think there's something about, you know,

there's something comforting about, you know, things you saw when you were younger, of course. Of course. Happier times. And, but I also think that the 90s was like a golden age of film. Yeah. And who introduced you to film when you were a kid? Like, who was the biggest influence?

Was someone in the family, a friend? Like, who introduced you? That's a good question. I mean, it's funny. My mom, who was incredibly strict about the things that I was allowed to watch, we didn't have TV, and we had a BCR, and so she was really strict about, you know, the things I was consuming. And so she would share with me things that she, A, thought was appropriate, but be a lot of things

that she grew up watching, you know, so. So it's probably my mother, you know. I, you know, and it was because we didn't, you know, didn't have television on in the house whenever, you know, I was allowed to watch something. It was something that she wanted to share with me and it was an event. You know, I remember like her pulling out like, you know, the Star Wars movies, you know, the original Star Wars films on a VHS tape

and watching, you know, yeah, there you go. I might have my shirt on. But just the things that, oh yeah, I forget people can see. It's all good. Um, but just, you know, things that she was excited to share. So probably my mother. And also, I mean, my father loves film as well. So, so of the, the two that we're not diving as deep on, any particular memories or things you want to mention about why Friday and First Lives Club, who are not necessarily usually mentioned in the same breath. I know. It's funny.

It was like, I'm very like vanilla and also at the same time. Um, I, Friday, I just think is, I think it's a, I think it's like a perfect movie. I really do. I think, especially, you know, in a world where there's this weird divide, I feel, between, like, quote-unquote black movies and everything else. And there's something really wonderful about seeing a movie made by black people, made for black people, that isn't gimmicky in any way, especially the first one. You know, I think there's, like, really beautiful moments and really great performances. I mean, Ice Cube is just incredible.

Chris Tucker's breakout role. And the thing I really like about a lot of 90s movies, too, is that they're really, there's, they're slice of life films, right? They're really, they're about characters and humanity. And so there's all these really tiny moments in Friday, you know, like he wakes up in the morning and nothing's going right. And, you know, his mom's making his big breakfast and she won't share it with him. And then he has, he's like, all right, I'll eat cereal.

there's no milk and she tells them to put water on it. It's just like, it's so funny. And I love stories about just like, I love that it happens in 24 hours. Yeah. I love that everything goes wrong. Launched so many careers. I think that was F. Gary's first directing effort.

Yeah, yeah. Everybody exploded off the screen on that one. And then something, so first watch clubs a bit different. Obviously, these are like seasoned veterans, but like when they kind of like came together, it was kind of like a dream team that we never, could have imagined at the time, I guess. I mean, I've always, I mean,

Bet Midler, Goldie Hawn, oh my God. Diane Keaton. Diane Keaton, thank you. Just talk to the godfather, too. I'm like, why am I for me? I mean, just, yeah, I mean, they're like the queens, right? Like, the ultimate queens and them coming together.

And Rob Reiner, I find his films to be incredibly comforting. but also it's like these comedies that don't feel and big comedies, you know, like big studio comedies that feel sophisticated at the same time, you know? So it's not like,

I mean, it can still have like gags and stuff and all, you know, but I still feel like there's a lot of heart, there's a lot of sophistication, the humor is intelligent. And I just think the three of them together are just magical. And it can go from a really strong dialogue-heavy scene at a dinner table and then go to something as crazy as them going down the window.

You know, it's just, but it works. It all works. And, yeah, I just, I love that story. A lot of the descriptors you just used can apply to the main event today. So let's talk about your main comfort movie we're going to talk about today. Why don't you introduce it? Tell us what your comfort movie is and why you chose it. The comfort movie we're going to talk about today.

is the American president. And I'm curious why, I'd like to know why you gravitated towards this choice from the list before we dive in. Sure. So the American president, I'm a bit older than you. So I feel like it hit me at the right time. It was, I didn't know who Aaron Sorkin was at the time.

This is written by Aaron Sorkin. You mentioned Rob Reiner before, directed by Rob Reiner. And it's kind of the stuff you were talking about before. This is kind of like, for me, the epitome of like a slick, in a good way, 90s dromedy. Like, it's smart, it's sophisticated, it's about adults, it looks great. It looks great, it's true, yeah.

Do you know, by the way, here's a fact I was gonna throw in later that you'll appreciate. Do you know who the director of photography was? Johnny Seale? John Seale, who of course was the DP of Mad Max. It's funny because I watched it recently the American president and for the first time, noticed that and went, oh, Johnny did this, that's funny.

Yeah, and I think, It's Michael Douglas, who weirdly was, like, in, like, a spate of, like, sex thrillers at the time. And then it's, like, but somehow in the middle of all that made this kind of, like, wholesome, idealized, like, the best version of the president we could want. Annette Benning, in her most trying. Annette Benning is just wonderful in this movie. I mean, there's this scene where he calls her for the first time.

And I'm just, I'm just, I was a giddy for her and with her. and just, I think also the thing that makes me gravitate towards these films and these kinds of comedy is that the acting is really exquisite, and the actors are not playing the joke, right? They don't have to, because if you have someone like Sorkin writing for you, you don't have to do anything but make it real, you know? Yeah. And there's something interesting about that. Like, I was imagining someone now doing that scene, and I feel like it would just be, like, goofy, you know?

It's smart actors that are doing white comedy, but it's just such a deaf touch. We should mention some of the cast. We mentioned some of it already. So let me just give some basics. Michael Douglas, of course, plays President Andrew Shepard, Annette Benning, Cindy Ellen Wade. You've got Martin Sheen as the Chief of Staff.

David Turner, Samantha Mathis, Michael J. Fox, Richard Dreyfus' evil Senator Rumson. It's a great ensemble and a real precursor, by the way, to the West Wing. The word on the street is that a lot of the discarded elements of the script from this film ended up in the first season of West Wing. Well, I was watching those masterclass, right? The masterclass thing, I was watching Sorkins. And it was interesting.

He said something that I was like, oh, that's really true. He said, if the thing that you're in love with, is a place, is a location when he was doing newsroom or something or the West Wing. Like if you're interested in a place and how it runs, that's a TV show. Yes.

And if it's a story with the beginning, middle, and end and it just kind of finishes at the end, it's a film. But if there's like a place that you think is really interesting that can continue on, that's how you know the difference between the two.

And I thought that was really interesting. Smart guy. Okay, so what are your memories? Do you have any specific memory about when you saw this or who you saw this with? I mean, I watched it when I was I don't know, maybe in my early teens or something, and I don't really think it affected me very much

the first time I saw it. I think, you know, I don't know. It was just like it was an adult movie. It was, you know, I probably didn't get a lot of the humor either because Sorkin's so dry and smart and then watched it recently after actually watching Sorkin's master class and thought, and it made me look up Rob Reiner, too, and I was just like, God damn,

this man's just, like, made so many of my favorite films, you know? And so me and my husband watched Princess Bride and a few good men, which is just like, oh, my God. And the American president. And I just had this reaction to the American president, which, you know, despite what's going on, I was like sitting on my couch, probably a little stoned, and was just like fully in it. I was like, invested on like, oh, he's calling her up, you know, and she's answering the phone

and she doesn't believe it's him. And oh, my God, this is going to get in between them. And he's going to ask her to dance and they're dancing, you know, just like so. And then, of course, you know, to be whisked away to a world where the president is not only someone that makes you want to shoot yourself on the face, but someone that makes you want to, like, go on a date with him. You know, it just also just took me into this world where I was like, oh, yeah, the American president

is supposed to be a good thing. Yeah, yeah. It plays a science fiction now. It's like, well, it's just even possible? The idea of, like, the president calling you up now and asking you on a date makes me want to... Oh, it's a horror. That's a boring house movie.

Yeah, it would be a horror film now. The American president. Like a horror film. It's me. That guy can't even dial his own phone. Let's be real. And Trump trying to order fly. flowers and just being, oh, that whole bit is so funny how we can't figure out how to get her

flowers. And it pays off at the end. That's kind of the end. And it pays off at the Rose Garden and he goes into the, well, he goes into the place and she passes out. And I just, I just, I don't know, I loved it. It does work on a number of levels, I think. You're right. Like, it's, it's an unabashedly kind of romantic movie and kind of sweet and wholesome. They name check Frank Capra in the movie. And of course, it's definitely in that vein. You know, you can see the bones of it in like something like Mr. Smith goes to Washington, et cetera. But it's pretty sophisticated, like you said. Like I think like a really, like a seven-year-old or 10-year-old kid

maybe isn't going to get the political stuff. But like the main thrust of the story in some ways is about like passing a bill and getting enough votes. And that was also something really interesting where, you know, they're talking about the environment, right? And just the fact that so many years have gone by and how far have we come, you know, the fact that was something that I connected to as well. and um yeah the environment and gun control are the two issues yeah exactly wait this is 25 years ago

still talking about this shit you know um and that's something of course is a younger person i wouldn't have really felt you know so um i think and that's what sorkin does so well right the balance between talking about real shit and hiding it in clever wit you know have you ever uh you've never done a sorkan no god i'd be would be i mean that would be a dream and i would also be very scared um just because he's working but i'm a huge fan as you can probably tell it's it's funny to see yeah again like to see in context because again he wasn't sorkin then but literally the first scene of the film is a walk and talk which of course yeah it will become like his his hallmark with the assistant right it's the assistant in the yes yeah yes yeah so a couple other things

i want to mention i think one of the MVP's of this film is also the again very romantic and wholesome but the score by Mark Shaman. Uh-huh. Yeah, it's so gorgeous, and it plays over the opening credits, and they've used it in trailers since, and I understand why. It's just kind of fits the material. And every time it comes up, you really do, you kind of perk up and feel it. And yeah, yeah. Let's see, other things to mention. Yeah, you mentioned Rob Reiner at the time, and he was on a hell of a streak. It was interesting, though. He, so this is the streak of movies he had made. He done Stand by Me, Princess Bride, Misery, Good Men,

But then right before this one, he made... Have you ever seen North? Do you know North at all? No, I haven't seen North. Should I not say North? You can skip North. North at the time was like an infamous bomb. It was like with ETH...

Alasia Wood and like... All-Star Cast and it was like the one kind of chink in his armor back then. But yeah, it just strikes me. Like, Reiner at his peak was able to do so many different kinds of movies. A League Thriller, Stephen King, fantasy. And do them also. Well, that's the thing. No. Layland, no. Layla, not a fan of Rob Reiner's.

Yeah, honestly, like, what's the problem with Rob Reiner? No, but to be able to do a film, like a coming of age film, like Stand By Me, which is also one of my absolute favorite films, and then to do a thriller horror like misery, you know, and it's just, and then to do fantasy, like the Princess Bride. I mean, they're vastly different and approached with the same amount of, of precision. Yeah, and I think you're right, and humanity. Like, it feels like those characters

are really, like, indelible. Like, I will, like, every character in this film, and that's partially, of course, thanks to Sorkin, but, like, it feels like a very lived-in film, like that staff at the White House, like... Yes, the whole thing with the assistant, you're like, oh, she's on her shit, but she gets freaked out when he wants to do something himself,

and it's, yeah, it's amazing. Yeah, I love the relationship between Martin Sheen and Michael Douglas in this one, like there's a history with them and, and she won't call him by his name. Yeah, he says, okay, Mr. President. Yeah, that's a great moment. And then also the way that they kind of kick off the whole romantic story, which is that I forget her name, but one of his, I don't know what she does for him,

but I don't think she's his assistant, but she mentions early on something about him being a widower or something. And you see it right now, like how many minutes are we into the movie? and this is the thing that's going to make him do something different this time, you know, and he happens to meet a net Benning like that day and asks her if she wants a donut. And it's just like, what? And it's just, it's so smart.

It's so well done. And by way, that staff member, I remember being struck by this at the time, was played by Anna Devere Smith, a amazing playwright. Yes, okay. I didn't know that with her. Some facts that I came across about this film, this is intriguing. You know, the what ifs of casting. I mean, I love the casting, but.

Yeah, someone else was supposed to play. Yeah, he mentioned it during his master class, but I don't remember who the actor was. Redford, Robert Redford. It was apparently began as like an idea from Redford that Sorkin kind of was commissioned to write. And not only that, it was Redford and Emma Thompson, which...

That's interesting. Would have been so different. Would have been so, so different. A good movie probably in its own right, but a different movie. And apparently Sorkin's first draft of this script was like, I don't know, 300 pages or something.

he said that he brought it he brought the script over in a plastic bag or something because it was so heavy well that case into one of the darker fun facts that I read is in an interview Aaron Sorkin has admitted that he wrote this screenplay while high on crack no I swear to God these are his words no yes he wrote such a sweet wholesome film on crack no if someone told me they wrote like Jacob's ladder on crack like that makes sense Requium for a dream. Yeah, like, that's what you write on crack. But if you're going to take, if you're going to do crack and write a few good,

I mean, to write the American president, then, you know. Weird. He got through. That is the most bizarre. No, isn't that crazy? Yeah, that's insane. I mean, this film has definitely resonated. I think it still comes up in pop culture, in weird ways, too.

I don't know if you remember this. Like, of all people, Ted Cruz, like, paraphrased, like, Andrew Shepard's, like, speech on the campaign trail. I did not know that. Weird. Yeah. So it's, I mean, we should also say, like, the speeches, and in particular the speech Michael Douglas as Andrew Shepard makes at the very end

is just, like, again, like, the best version of a politician you ever want, someone who's, like, principled and eloquent and stands up at the right time for the right thing. Breaks the rules in the right way, right, you know? Yeah. Another detail that is so beautiful in this story is, in this story is, in the right? In the opening scene, he skipped over a part of the speech. Yes. Yes.

And Michael J. Fox is freaking out about it. And they never go back to it. And then Annette Benning says to him later, she notices when he's lying or when he does something where he's feeling weird or something. And she says, like in your speech, there was something else that was supposed to be said there. You skipped over it. And it's just like, oh, it's just beautiful. It's just smart. I love smart writing. I love smart writing.

So, okay, a couple, a couple of general kind of questions to consider in this film. Do you think, we kind of alluded to this already, does this film, it plays differently currently in this environment, obviously. Do you think it plays better or worse or just different considering what we are dealing with right now? I think it's, for me, it was better because I think, you know, if Obama was an office or something, it would just be like this romantic idea of the president asking you out on a day. and now it really does feel like a fantasy, not only the president asking you on a date, but having a president who you would want to ask you out on a date.

You know, so I think it really does have this kind of layer to it that wasn't there before. Let's give some awards out for this film. The best performance in this film, who would you bestow that honor to? And that Benning. She's great. It's also something like, I remember seeing her in,

I think, like, one of her big early roles was The Grifters. Amazing and that meant Bugsy. But we hadn't seen her like in this kind of a charming, kind of just like smart but sweet role. And it was just perfect. Yeah, I think Annette Benning can be so Annette Benning, which we love. But there was something,

there is something so soft about her in this. And it was kind of like, it was just, you know, she's flustered and she just plays it so well. Like she plays the comedy so well. And of course we know Annette Benning is funny. but there's just there's a softness to her when they're walking down the stairs for the first time and she's like asking him about first dates, you know what I mean?

It's just wonderful. It's just wonderful. Do you have a favorite scene in the film? We've alluded to a bunch. Is there one that jumps out? One of my favorite scenes is when he calls her for the first time and she doesn't think it's him and she hangs up on him and he calls back and tells her to call the White House.

I think that's her in that scene, I think she's just wonderful because her, face after she's told him how sexy she thought he was because she thinks it's a joke and then her like the real the real terror on her face when she realizes Layla no the real the real terror on her face when she realizes that she really just said that to the president is just like you're so embarrassed for her and with her you know you're just like it would be bad enough it plays on just like a dating level take the president part of it but then you add in the layer of like the most powerful person on the planet, then it just becomes amazing.

And you're killing me. You're killing me. You're breaking her concentration, Lela, as we discuss a classic. No. Quiet. Oh, yeah. She knows she's in for it now. What about, okay, how about this?

Remake or sequel? Do we leave this one alone? It's funny because I have that feeling, especially as an actress, when I watch something like this. And I'm like, oh, I want this role, you know, I want to remake it. But there's just, I think more than remaking it, I just want more films that feel like this. And I don't know the last time I've seen a film.

It's like either, you know, comedies are so broad or the indies are so indie. And there's, this is kind of like the melding of like the drama and the comedy and the indie and all of that together. And I just, I think I am hungry for this. tone of film again. Is there a, I like to program a double feature for the audience sometimes with these, these picks. Does one jump out at you as a good movie to pair this with? If not, I've got a nomination. I mean, we did watch just going on, we were on a, a sork and Riner kick and watched a few good men after. That was also really satisfying and smart and fun,

and Tom Cruise is such a movie star. It's so funny, just like knowing what we know, how, you know, like how strange he can be and all the things we know about him now and just kind of like, doesn't does not matter he he's on that screen and you're just like I'm in and there's like extreme close-ups of him and Nicholson's face and it's just like you don't want to look anywhere else yes you're just like oh my god and there's you know the way he shoots that scene um in the courtroom um you know where he's interrogating him and um the like my husband pointed it out and it was really interesting the way it was shot it's like it gets like first it's like Nicholson by himself and Tom Cruise by himself, and then all of a sudden, like, Tom Cruise is dirty and Nicholson's shot,

and then all of a sudden, we're getting closer, and we're feeling him get backed up, and all of a sudden we get to, like, you can't handle the truth, and it's like, yeah. And it's so exciting. I love it, yeah. That's my nomination. That's a good one. Mine would be in the vein of these kind of, like, light but smart presidential comedies. There was a movie that came out two years prior to this that I love called Dave, directed by Ivan

Reitman, starring Kevin Klein and Sigourney Wheat. I haven't seen that. I'm going to watch it. Oh, dude. I would like Dave. Dave is, it's a very smart but funny and romantic. It has a lot of similarities to this film, but it's great. Highly recommended. Awesome. Dave. I'm on it.

Okay. So that is the American president. Some other things I want to hit up with you if you have a couple minutes. I do want to mention high fidelity, of course, on the Kulu, which it feels like it came out six years ago. But that was just like, what is that? That was obviously such an accomplishment. I know source of pride for you. You were an executive producer. You've never been like the star of your own series like that.

Did it feel like a big challenge and test for you? And tell me about the relief when you obviously feel like you pulled it off. Yeah, it was a huge, it was a huge challenge and I learned a lot. It almost felt like some kind of crash course in storytelling, in producing, and just kind of seeing behind the curtain, you know, all the things that it takes to make something good, you know? And, you know, protecting the humanity,

the things that we love about the things that we're talking about, you know, in those kinds of films. Like, that's a job. There should be so, I mean, it should be the director's job, but I'm like, that's a job on its own, you know, protecting the heart. and protecting the humanity, that's really hard to do. Especially when you're doing something in 30 minutes,

and it's for network, and they want it to appeal to everybody. And, you know, it's like, how do you figure out how to tell a story that is appealing to a lot of people, but also feels honest and specific, because that's what makes storytelling interesting. So it was great. It was like, I think I drove myself a little bit crazy because I, you know, if you're going to produce and be involved it's like where does it where does it end you know what i mean i wrote an episode and i was involved with the casting and i'm giving notes and everything i'm out

every notes call and i'm you know writing in music and i'm seeing you know i'm on set seeing if this the song got cleared and i'm in the editing suite and i'm you know it's like it was insane well and it's all about focus and and and kind of losing yourself once you're on set in front of that camera and you have to let go of all those other things that are in your producerial brain. That's a challenge. That's a lot to kind of like keep balanced. I think because I was so involved in this project from the very beginning. And so from, you know, from, you know, writing the, all the episodes, you know, and I saw the character evolve and I was giving. And when you're, you know, so involved in something and you're giving notes on, you know, scripts and stuff like that, by the time

I was on set, it was like, I knew this person in my bones and I knew the words. And I knew the words. And I was more concerned about, you know, another actor or, you know, looking at audition tapes in between setups and trying to find, you know, like, the last thing on my mind was my performance. And who knows, I mean, whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, but it was just really interesting to go through something that way. Because usually as an actor, you're sitting in your trailer going over your line, over thinking, like, kind of like what my character is doing in the show. and I actually didn't have time to do that about my own performance. Well, maybe that's a good lesson to... I think so, actually, yeah. You must get an enjoyment out of the fact that it's been five years

and thankfully the world has come to agree in a relatively short period of time that Fury Road is one of the greats of all time. I think I called it at the time just for the record, but now the rest of the world agrees that oral history in the times was great, and I just love that it's appreciated it as just this like weird, bizarre, singular vision that could only come from George Miller. Yeah, it's been really, it's funny because I hadn't thought about that film in a long time. And, you know, I don't watch my own movies, really.

I see them once and then I, that was it, you know. And so because of the five-year anniversary, I did, you know, that interview for the New York Times. And then me and my husband got this projector for, because now all we do is watch movies. And so we decided to watch it. and I hadn't seen it since it came out. And then also doing that New York Times interview, just like talking about it and thinking about things I hadn't thought about in a long time

and just what an insane experience it was making that movie. And then to be able to watch it and say that it was worth it is incredible, you know, and to really be able to step back from it as well and really just watch it as, you know, the first time you see anything that you're in, you're kind of just judging yourself and thinking about like what it was like to, film something that day or whatever.

So to sit back and watch it and say, holy shit, I'm in this. Like, I'm in this movie. That's insane, you know? Especially something like that, which I know was just like, you know, making, it could have, just as easily probably could have turned into a disaster the first time you saw and be like,

wait, how did he, this didn't work. I mean, just, it couldn't have been any worse. Like the movie needed to be exactly as good as it is for it to feel like it, worth it. That's how hard it was to make this movie. Right. Right. What do you think? I'm filled with mixed emotions because I've been like, every time I've seen Charlize in the last five years, I'm like, when's the Furiosa sequel? And I guess we now have the official word from George that he's going to go

back and recast Furiosa, which is quite a challenge. Do you have mixed emotions about that? I mean, what's your take on that? He was, he always spoke about, if I recall correctly, he always spoke about wanting to do a Furiosa prequel. I didn't know he was going to cast her um so i don't i mean look man if i learned anything from being in fury road it's shut up and trust george miller you know so i think tom hardy to learn that too yeah charlie is right exactly yeah we all really did so i think you know i'm just going to shut my mouth and say go to work my stroke because i don't know what else i can say to that man who do we cast as young furiosa have you heard about, like, the people that that had been testing?

I heard one name, and I didn't know who she was. Well, I don't know if you watch Killing Eve. I guess Jody Comer is one person that they were talking about. Okay, I don't, but that's, I think, the name that I saw. She's very talented, and Anya Taylor Joy, who's been doing a lot lately. Those are the two that, I guess, are as of this moment in the running, but who knows? Again, he knows what he's doing. He knows what he's doing, you know?

Like, I think we all have to just, like, I know, especially when something is greatly appreciated the fans feel like they own. it, you know, and that they know what's best, but you have to remember that the reason the thing exists that you love so much is because this guy knows how to do shit. So I think he knows this dying. Yeah,

that's an apt topic for a lot of the nerdy film conversations I have nowadays. But last thing, I'll leave you with, I know we can't say much, but you were knee-deep in The Batman, as we like to call it. That's the official name. Matt Reeves, I've always been obsessed with, so this couldn't be in better hands um talk to me just a little bit about like has your had you shot much yet like

yeah we've shot for we were shooting for about two months um so you know we were like still getting going but we were in it man we were shooting you know we were we were shooting what was it like to see in the early stuff to see your buddy rob in that costume oh it's amazing i said i mean just he's i mean he's bad man when he's wearing that costume he's He's Batman, you know, and it's interesting. It's like you don't really get used to seeing Batman walk past you because, you know, we've all grown up with this character. So it's like a pinch me moment all the time.

And he's wonderful. He's like, he's really wonderful. And there's, you know, sometimes I have moments, especially like when I auditioned, I remember just feel. feeling silly and he was only in half the suit because it was just a camera test and just thinking like, we're adults and we're dressed up like Batman and we're doing a really dramatic scene and it's just like sometimes it's like, oh my God, this is happening and sometimes it's like this is funny. I don't know. That's why they pay you the big bucks because you got to just

you got to push it all the way down and sell it. Take it seriously. But it's great and that and And that's, as you said, you know, it's just, he is absolutely the man for this, for this job. And this script is phenomenal. We haven't seen your book yet as Selena slash. I know. I know. I mean, I'm sure there was, I think if this hadn't happened, it would have probably come out by now. But did you have much say?

Were you happy? Are you happy? I mean, obviously, I love it. Yeah. Michelle Piper's Catwoman, that iconic look, they've all had iconic looks. Did this one find a different thing? Yes. I mean, the tone of this film

very much feels like its own thing and it's funny. I didn't really think about like how difficult it is to make something as simple as a cat suit original. It's like how do you reinvent the jean jacket? You know, it's like it's a gene, it's a jacket. Like, what do you do?

Right. But Jacqueline Durand, who's our amazing costume designer is just a genius and yeah, it was amazing. It wasn't, it was cool, to be a part of the process because sometimes in films this big you know it can be very much

you know put this on stand over there say this and you know Matt is very much about process so yeah it began the whole thing began with conversations between me and Matt and Jacqueline and so

we kind of birth this thing together and there's references to you know the year of the comic that we're you know we're dealing with and it's cool. What comics? Who were you reading for, did not give you a list

of specific comics to read? I've been reading the year one comic. That's a good one. Yeah, it's wonderful. It's great, it's great. It's just, it's like super, it's just super badass and it is, it's super badass.

And, yeah, so I, you know, it's been sad to be so, you know, geared up for something and have to come to a halt. But at the same time, I've, you know, of course, been trying to find glass half full, you know, ways of thinking. And, you know, it is interesting, you know, for our generation, this really is the first, I mean, pandemic, but just like situation of this caliber that we've had to deal with. And in all of these movies when we're dealing with superheroes and, you know, it's always, it's the end of the world and things are a mess and something needs to be fixed. and all of a sudden I feel like I actually have some kind of understanding

for the first time in my life about what these people are really fighting for, you know? So, of course, it's a movie, it's Batman, but I do want to come to it with that kind of intention. So there's a gift in here somewhere. Well, no, I think you're right. I mean, I think one of the fascinating things to come out of this will be how art responds to this crazy situation

because I was being with any kind of major event, whether it was 9-11 or World Wars. art reflects what society is going through, and it may, it's going to show up in the Batman, but it's going to show up in original screenplays and TV and music and everything, and that's going to be something interesting, I'm sure. I know. I do believe and hope that this will kind of be like a golden age of art after this. And that doesn't, you know, for people listening at home and making things, it doesn't mean just writing about the thing.

It doesn't mean writing a movie about quarantine. It's just we have this opportunity to be still for a minute and to have time to think and what ideas are going to pop up that you would have never had the space for before. So I hope that people take that opportunity and think outside the box and use this time to get things going. We'll see what Sorkin has up his sleeve after all of this. What did Sorkin have to say about this? Zoe, as I said, I'm thrilled that you took some time out to distract me and the audience

to talk about some awesome classic films. The American President, by the way, is I think you can check it out on Showtime. That's where I checked it out for the probably 20th time in my life. So thank you for that excuse. Everybody's check out High Fidelity, if you haven't already. That's on Hulu. And I couldn't be more excited for the Batman.

I'm anxious for you guys to get back to work. Me too, man. Yeah. Thank you again, really. It's nice to see you. Hang in there. And so ends another edition of Happy, Sad, Confused. Remember to review, rate and subscribe to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm a big podcast person. I'm Daisy Ridley, and I definitely wasn't pressured to do this by Josh. Goodbye, Summer Movies. I'm Anthony Devaney. And I'm his twin brother, James. We host Raiders of the Lost Podcast, the Ultimate Movie Podcast, and we are ecstatic to break down late summer and early fall releases. We have Leonardo DiCaprio leading a revolution in one battle after another,

Timothy Salome playing power ping pong in Marty Supreme. Let's not forget Emma Stone and Jorgos Lanthamos' Bougonia. Dwayne Johnson, he's coming for that Oscar in The Smashing Machine. Spike Lee and Denzel teaming up again, plus Daniel DeLuess's return from retirement. There will be plenty of blockbusters to chat about two. Tron Aries looks exceptional, plus Mortal Kombat 2. And Edgar writes, The Running Man, starring Glenn Powell.

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