The Rewatchables - ‘The Holiday’ With Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins, and Kari Simmons

Episode Date: November 14, 2019

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins are joined by Kari Simmons to swap studios for a much-needed break as they rewatch ‘The Holiday’ starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black, and directed by Nancy Meyers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the Santa Ana's blow, all bets her off. Anything can happen. This is the rewatchables. This spring. I'm Miles. I'm Graham. Finding love can be complicated. I'm leaving in nine days.

Losing yourself in it. I'm in love with you. Can be wonderful. From the director of Something's Got to Give, the holiday on DVD and Blu-ray March 13th. Welcome to The Rewatcher olds. I'm Juliette. I'm joined by Amanda Dobbins. Hello.

And making her re-watchables debut, the one and only Carrie Simmons. Hi, everybody. Carrie, welcome. Thank you. We feel truly honored. This is my favorite movie of all time. Really of all time. Romcom.

Okay. I'm done. Harry Met Sally's right below. Sure. So you put the holiday above when Harry met Sally. Yeah. It happened in 2006. Yeah, so it did.

Okay. So what is it about the movie that you just love so much? I've always loved heartache and, you know, in love, there's also sadness. And this has both. And the happy ending always helps. But I think it's the way. it flows in the music. The music just...

The music is very good. Every moment together. You feel like you're sucked into like when Kate Winslet is in the newsroom and it gets really sad and, you know, everybody's like breaking down. You know, you could just see her breakdown about to happen. And the music makes that happen. Well, the music is an essential part as Jack Black's character and Ed Burns' characters are both movie score composers, which I really enjoy.

and we will discuss more. But I think that's intentional. To your point, the music is very important. I mean, it's about 10 minutes into the movie where we get the first mention of Enrico. Yeah, Ennio Morricone, which Jack Black says with like a weird Italian accent. I love Nancy Myers movies.

This is probably my favorite Nancy Myers movie. It's because of everything with it. But I love them all. She's also done, I mean, you know, as good as it gets, something's got to give. It's complicated. The Parent Trap. What else?

Oh, Father of the Bride. She wrote. Father of the Bride. So she wrote and directed this. She has like 25 writing credits. And then seven movies. She's written and directed. Oh, the intern, which I also love.

I love the house. It's all of her houses, right? So Nancy Myers' houses are just iconic. Yes. And I would say this is, we're going to talk about it. This is not my favorite Nancy Myers movie, which is just a way of saying that Nancy Myers is really important to me. And I just have an investment in a lot of her.

films. But the thing that I like about this Nancy Myers movie is that it's literally about the houses. They are honestly literally exchanging houses and the houses are their characters and are a major focus. And, you know, it's become kind of a running joke that you watch Nancy Myers movies for like the kitchens. Right. By the way, it's not just the kitchens. She has amazing, amazing eye for detail throughout the home and often landscaping experience. Check out the landscaping and it's complicated, just FYI. But I do like that this literalizes it. Yeah.

It also, it's also funny because I think it's like two of the worst kitchens in the Nancy Myers'Uvra. Well, we're going to have to talk about the decor. It's not great. We'll get into it. But this came out in 2006 in between something's got to give in 2003 and it's complicated in 2009. And just an absolutely all-star cast.

Just absolutely all-star. Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, cameos from Ed Burns, Lindsay Lowhan, James Franco, John Krasinski, Catherine Hahn, and Dustin Hoffman. Dustin Hoffman. Just an absolute, it's kind of in that way, almost put Nancy Myers movies into a slightly different stratosphere. I feel like they became more star-studded with this movie. And since then, like, it's complicated.

It had Alec Baldwin, Merrill Streep, and Steve Martin and John Cresensky. Yes. And then the intern had Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro. I feel like she leveled up with the holiday. Yeah, it's a perfect storm of where movies are in this production. moment. Like, they're still making rom-coms in 2006. And most of them, I don't know, Carrie, what's your favorite era of romantic comedy? Do you have one? I don't know. I feel like I've probably like in the 90s. I think that I don't want to speak for Juliet, but I think we agree that it's like from

when Harry met Sally through all of the Nora Ephron ones. And, you know, my best friend's wedding gets thrown in when it's actually Juliet hates, but I really like it. I don't know. I don't think that I like it. Well, yeah. And then in like Cameron Diaz live for her. When is four weddings and a funeral? Yes, 1994. Thank you. That is one of my favorites. Thank you.

Justice is for four weddings and a funeral. Do you know no one else on this staff will do that? We rochable with me? He is the best. I mean, I said he because I met and I was thinking of few grand. Sure. Richard Curtis is the best, too. Yes.

Totally. And so all of that happens. And then like the 2000s, when you get into the Kate Hudson era or Sarah Jessica Parker era, with all respect to both of those actresses, like not as great. And so this one comes through and, 2006 and still can, they're still making those movies so they can get major actors, but it's also in comparison so much better than everything is being released at the time. I think that's a good point. Like when you get to the 2000s, the formula is so familiar to us. And there's a lot of like just

offensive tropes in the sort of the early 2000s rom-coms. And actually when she was doing press for this movie, they went really hard on press in the UK, it seems like, for the holiday and less so in the U.S. It's kind of weird. But she didn't want to interview. with coming soon.net and they asked Nancy Myers, which romantic comedies do you think that you can ever tamper with the conventions or do you know in the beginning when we meet the characters that you better have them walk away hand in hand in the end? And I thought this is a rude question,

which she handled really wonderfully by saying, I like when they end up together, but there are some conventions in every genre, as you know. When you go to see the James Bond movie, you are pretty sure he's going to be alive in the end. There are conventions to every genre. It's just how well you do it. You try not to leave a trail.

You try to be invented with it. And I think that is like a really kind of sending question to someone who's bread and butter. Yeah, their bread and butter is rom-coms. And the reason why she's so good at it is because she does have a really deft hand with how she reinvents it each time and everything.

And I thought that was a really good point. It's never obvious with her, I feel. Well, it's obvious, but it's like such a cliche, but how they get to the end is really fun and pleasant and enjoyable and distinct. Like she has her own style that she weaves into the genre. And I just, I think that like if you go back

and you read a lot of the interviews, actually astonishing how many rude questions she gets like that that are just like, why rom-coms or like, what is it about Cameron Diaz? And she's like, she's really pretty, but, and you could just sort of tell, like, I think in this press tour, she was kind of sick of it,

and she just sort of was like, just kind of like taking names and giving her answers. And it's kind of funny. One thing I really like about this movie as well, and it is into the idea of the genre. And by the way, every genre has like a very set formula and you know what's going to happen.

Yeah, that's why it's a genre. Of course. And then it's kind of, And you had the template allows you to kind of go in different directions. And one of the things she does in the holidays, and I had forgotten this until I rewatched it, it's a lot about like how the movie industry works, especially between Jack Black's character and Kate Wenslitz and the Arthur character, who I love, who is just given a lot of speeches about like box office numbers and, you know, how it used to work in the old days.

But it's interesting because it's like, it's Nancy Myers working through a lot of those assumptions and all of the kind of attitude that surfaces in those interviews, like in real time in the movies, in the movie itself. It's pretty interesting. I counted. Nine movies are opening today.

I remember what nine movies would open in a month. Now a picture has to make a killing the first weekend or they're dead. This is supposed to be conducive to great work. Awesome. Yeah. I think another thing about her that's cool is that like directors like,

Christopher Nolan and Quentin Tarantino are like often referenced for like working with the same group of actors over and over again. And she really does too. And I really like it. Like Lindsay Lohan and James Franco end up in this movie because Lindsay Lohan and she worked together on the parent trap. And she's like called in a favor to Lindsay Lohan. She was like, I'm on board. And then John Krasinski and is like a repeat Nancy Meyer as a fender. And she just like she cycles through a lot of the same people. And I always like that in a director, like when they have like the kind of like the rep that they work with. Who else does like with all of the stars in one movie this well?

Like, it's a good question. I feel like it's hard to make a cast that's this big because everyone was at the height of their careers during this, right? Totally. Yes. And also. Usually they bomb when movies like this come out. Right. Or they do like the ensemble thing like the he's just not that into you or

the love actually, which we should talk about a little because I think it comes a few years before this movie. But it's like you can get everyone famous for like three scenes. Right. Right. And then they all like come together at the end. And this comes together at the end. But it's like two separate stories. Pretty fully baked. Yeah. Mostly as baked as you would in a rom-com, like romantic plot lines and like four real characters. It does seem like basically there's two movies. They're not like particularly connected outside of the houses. The themes aren't even like that deeply tied. It's kind of weird. And then the weirdest part is how the fake trailers and like the trailer voice only appear in Cameron Whizlet and Cameron Diaz's story.

Yes. I find that really odd. I do wonder did she write two separate movies and then splice them together. In interviews, she made it seem like she did not do that. Well, sure. Did you listen to the director's commentary? No, I didn't. Did you?

Go! I might have listened to it. No, I mean, she didn't say that she did that. It just, I was just curious. if you listened because there were some little nuggets that maybe as we go along, I can like add. She was just telling us, telling you like where some of the homes were. Cool.

Yeah. She didn't say anything about that, though. Interesting. Please sprinkle as much director's commentary as possible. Okay, okay, okay. Should we enter the categories? Let's do it. Most rewatchable scene.

I would say there's quite a few options and also many extended scenes. I think the most obvious nominee, which I know Amanda, certainly hated, is the video store scene. I kind of didn't love that either, to be honest. Okay, so it's not rewatchable, but that's the scene where it's probably Jack Black signature scene in the movie. Yeah. Where he and Kate Wenslett are at Blockbuster.

It looks like it's somewhere on the west side. And he's explaining movies to her based on their scores, essentially. And then Dustin Hoffman is in the same row as them, and he's, like, very annoyed by it. Uh-oh. Where have you gone? I bet you didn't know. That was all written for the movie. It was a score, technically.

I did know that one. Can't go anywhere. Oh, my God. Okay, this one, you have to check this out. Because he brings up the graduate. When you said explaining the movie scores, that just really glossed over by key objection, which is that he's singing them,

but he's not like seeing them. He's like doing weird Jack Black voice with like vowels that no other human has ever made before. Remember how great it was? Roodle-de-d-d-d-dudence-scrooddle-de-d-d- Rood and deed and do Dissie.

Lassie. I'm going to wait to litigate the jet podcast. I find it pretty annoying that part. Okay. I was just thinking like if I were on that date or like not quite date yet, I would be just like driven away. I'd be like this is a no. This is an absolute pass. But it's like an iconic scene in the movie nonetheless.

Okay. But I guess no one likes it. Graham and Amanda, Jude Law and Cameron Diaz is first morning after. So. Amanda, I just do... Yeah, you know, listen, you don't have to worry about a thing here, okay? Okay? I mean, it was great meeting you and everything.

Definitely. Also, for the record, your ex-boyfriend is, in my opinion, extremely mistaken about you. Well, yeah, you were drunk. Not that drunk. Yeah. Oh, that's mine. So, Sophie, I'm sorry, I didn't. Look.

I'll call her back. I just think Cameron Diaz absolutely shines in that scene. She does. She's a little bit awkward, and I absolutely love it. Yeah, it lets her do the screwball thing, which is what she's good at. Yes. I found the cadence of their banter are a little bit odd in that scene, though. I felt like she was always trying to, like, not be too into him and act like she wasn't too into him.

And I feel like I've been in that position. before. Sure. Or like you've been attracted to someone really like them, but you don't want them to know because then they might, you know, you give them too much. They might not like you or reject you. And I felt like that was her role in this whole thing. Like I know it was her not being like getting jolted and then having to get back with

the guy. Doesn't want to jump in. Right. Some of the tension in that for me is that Cameron Diaz's power is actually in that very physical, kind of goofy. Yeah. She's like an extraordinarily beautiful person who then is sort of silly in her humor. And when she's supposed to be playing like a very together control freak type of person,

I don't know. That's not what I associate with funny Cameron Diaz. So when they finally let her let her let loose and be weird, then it feels slightly more natural. Sure. I think also it's just so uncomfortable because Jutla is so hot. Like she's like she really. And I feel like in that scene. He comes to, he's wearing his glasses, which pop up throughout the movie.

And it's just like, so. Greatest glasses ever, by the way. Greatest glasses ever. He was kind of early to the plastic glasses trend, too, in 2000. Their filings in 2005, wasn't a full-on Warby Parker time yet. It's true. So, shout out to them. It's just like an elephant in the room when I'm watching.

Isn't an elephant in the room or is it just the text? Well, she does acknowledge it, which I appreciate. Okay. But it's just sort of like how, how is this. real? Like, how is this guy actually real? I mean, it's just an incredible act of magic. Because he's so handsome. He comes out of nowhere, knocks on her door in the middle of the night, and all of a sudden, you're having sex with this hot dad that you don't know as a dad. Yeah, she doesn't know yet. But just, like, absolutely, just overwhelming how hot he is in the movie. And it's a distraction, every scene he's in. I think that one I particularly like because they're operating on different frequencies, really. Like,

You do love awkwardness. Yes, I do love awkwardness. It's the best. I think I love a good story, you know, like that. So I thought, I think it's a great scene. Some other nominees, the scene where she finally goes to Jude Laws, or Cameron Diaz goes to Jewelaw's house, and she finds out that Sophie and Olivia are his daughters and not other women. That's a great one. The daughters really shine through that one. They carry it.

They are the cutest little, I mean, they couldn't have found two more beautiful little kids to do that hard. It really helps that they're British. It really does. Daddy. Daddy. I know. I'd like some hot chocolate. Yeah. Amanda. You know, if you wanted to stay better, that would be alright. We could push your beds together. And also they call both of them out on things, which kids really do, which I thought was like a true to life. They seem a little bit too well adjusted for having their mother just to have died a year ago. Yeah, they do. Yeah, that's in my nitpick section. But I just want to say I have this scene written down as just Jude Law as a dad, which kind of stuff. comes up the appeal in that particular, when he's just like doing the glasses, the napkin face,

but still looks so hot. Yeah. And it's just like so nice to his two daughters. I was just like, okay, this was crafted in a lab to appeal to a certain type of person and that person's me. I think it's like to all women. I know. It's really, it's just like every single like primal signal that it can send is sending.

I was like, this is incredible. And he also has a really nice house. When you see him like in his own environment, it's even more overwhelming. You're like, holy shit, this guy. I can't believe it. Are any of the other scenes between Jack Black and Kate Winslet and Eli Wallach even worth mentioning? I like this scene when Kate Winslet, Iris. Sorry, I was like, what's her name?

Iris picks up Arthur to go to the WGA and then his little WGA. I just say it's sweet. It is very nice. I like when she helps him in the pool when he's learning how to walk. But that part of the movie is. I like the dinner scene. Which one? With the, it's like all of his little friends.

Oh, the Hanukkah dinner? Yeah. Of course. Love a great Hanukkah meal. It was a great Hanukkah meal. Actually, I like that plot line, perhaps more than other plot lines that Kate Wentzlet is a part of. Definitely. I'm defending that.

But I had that the last scene on my list when he gives her the corsage. Forgive me. The last time I had a date, this is what we did. It's beautiful. If it's corny, if it's going to ruin your outfit, You don't have to wear it. I like Corny. I'm looking for corny in my life.

Yeah. And she's like a great guy. Yeah, it's so cute. I do feel like that is like a real L.A. story too. You're just like befriends your neighbor. And it's just like a sweet person of any age or, you know, like wherever they're from. It's just very sweet. But I don't know.

You can't, you can't attend with Jude Long, Cameron Diaz, in my opinion. What about the scene when Cameron Diaz is driving to the town? And she's, like, so scared that she's going to hit all the cars. And then she, like, comes around that corner in the downtown and, like, just Mrs. Hitting Jude Law on the bike and pulls right in front of the little grocery store. And then she's drinking the wine. That's my favorite. Yeah, she is really funny. That's the point.

Yeah. I had Camer Dias, like, alone in the cottage when she's just, like, trying to figure out what to do and is swinging the wine and, like, can't sit still. She's got her beanie hat on or reading a book. Yeah. Yeah. Just solo, solo funny Cameron Diaz. I think as I was watching Cameron Diaz movies when they came out, I didn't appreciate her for being a great, like, comedian both physically and otherwise. But she really is like a great comedic actress.

And I guess, I mean, it makes sense. If you look at her movies, The Mask, something about Mary, my best friend's wedding. Yeah. Body comedy. Yeah. She is really, she like owns her height in a way that then like gives to her comedy. Right. She also wears clothes so well.

I mean, it's just unfair that she can just wear those long. coats and make them look good. Like, those would be like dragging on the floor to me. I know, but like she made the hideous coats look good. It was out in how she did that. Very, very 2005. Also very west side of L.A. Yes. Yes. Yeah. You're right. They're definitely going to a type that I recognize now that I live here. Yes, absolutely. And I believe Nancy Myers was in Brentwood where her house is supposed to be. Amanda's house. So it all makes sense. All right. So Carrie, you're going with Cameron Diaz driving. Yeah. Amanda. Do you thought as a dad. Hello. I'm going with Judelaw, Cameron Diaz morning after.

Okay, that's great. So we all agree it's a Jude Law and Cameron Diaz movie. Next, what's age the best? So I think we'd have to just begin with talking about home exchange.com. Yes. The prejudice or Airbnb. I think you can make the case for both best and worse, but I'm going best on this one. The concept of just living in someone else's home was not mainstream in 2006.

Like maybe you would like rent for two weeks. you know, that would happen, but that it's just a thing that people do on a whim, which the timeline in this movie is something I'd like to discuss later on, but is totally validated by the last five years. Totally. Absolutely. And also, it is as seamless now as they made it seem. You just show up and you go in and you see what you find and you're either really excited or you're really bummed out. You're like, fuck, I should have picked a hotel. But it really does age well.

It does. I was pretty impressed. Los Angeles at Christmas, I think, truly underrated in, like, times to be in Los Angeles, an absolutely wonderful time here. And it looked great in the movie. It did. They did that justice. Isn't, like, I think people don't understand how quiet it gets and how it's like. There's no traffic. But when she pulled on, this is going to be a nitpick for later, but when she pulled on to sunset off of the PCH coming from here anymore, you know, you just, you got that vibe that no cars were around. And it was like happy. And they were playing, of course. Christmas music. It is kind of nice that you get to wear a coat at night and feel chilly and then be in the warm sun during the day and still listen to Christmas music. December, great time to visit Los Angeles. She made a good choice.

What else is the best? Celebrating the art of movie trailers? Yes. I feel like in 2006, we were still making the corny movie trailers with a voiceover as evidenced in Cameron Diaz's trailer work. But this movie does show that there's an art to it. And now we spend all our time just talking about how great trailers are. And literally The Ringer did a trailer bracket about the best trailers of the decade.

This movie in 2006 knew the trailers were important. There's also that great moment where she's watching the Lindsay Lohan one, I think. Yeah, it's the Lillohan one where she was like, yep, that seems like a good movie. And that's why they pay me the big bucks. And it's like, yeah, like you can do a lot of work through a good trailer to mask the fact that a movie sucks. Yes. And that I like, that was sort of like the cynical side of the movie appreciates. that comes through a lot.

There's that funny line when she's, I think she's with Catherine Hahn and John Krasinski, and she's like, now it looks like a hit. Yeah. You know? Make it red. It's a really good point. It is like very invested in the changing movie landscape. And like at like the right moment probably.

2006. Yeah. I also thought like while they're invested in musical scores, I did think the score was very lovely. Oh, that's, that was mine. I was about to say like that's what aged the best. Yeah. Is that Han Zimmer is it?

Yeah. He makes a lot of good scores. He really does. But then they added in like the white stripes when she's like dancing on the bed. And they had like, I don't know, there was like a James Taylor. Yeah. Merry Little Christmas. And I mean, every song, every Christmas song was kind of queued up perfectly.

Yeah. They have the Phil Specter Christmas album and they do, there's a, well, I guess you send me, and Noretha Franklin cover, you sent me, which is not Christmas music. It has good taste of music as well is the score. I agree. picked up Zoe from the train last night, and I had the music on, and I wanted to see if she knew what movie it was. And she did. All right. This is driving me crazy. What is this? What is this? And I'm like, come on. Give it a second. And I, like, moved another, you know, soundtrack, like,

Iris and whatever. And she was, she knew. That's so funny. It's definitely a recognizable soundtrack. Yeah. And it, like, conveys like a feeling that is very Nancy Myers and very the holiday. Love it. What else? Jude Law's handsomess. I just, I put that out my last. It's unbless. It's unbelievable. It's timeless. I also just think the way he dresses is very much timeless as well. It's just like hot guy. It's also a hot British guy. It's a hot, Tweety British guy. It's really specific. And if every man we knew started wearing those blazers, I think it would be a problem. It's worth it. It just won't happen here in L.A. Like, you have no chance of being too attracted to anybody because they're not, they all dress the same. It's at least worth considering moving to England over.

That's really true. Because you can up your probability of meeting a hot guy to tweet jacket like 100 times over. Craig, are you taking notes? Okay. In Boston, you can get it. Sure. Through Boston, New York. Yeah.

Some professors maybe. Yeah, some professors are trying to go for a look here at Harvard Square. But I feel like most professors aren't actually hot, but whatever. Yeah. If they were, they'd be actors like Jude Law. It's true. It's just, it really is unreal. Like, when I think about this movie, which I really love, the first thing I think about

is how hot he is in it. It's like, I can't think of another movie that is like. quite, except for maybe once upon time in Hollywood, which is quite as defined by one person's hotness. I agree, 100%. It's just outrageous. I mean, when I was thinking about who, like, what made this movie, that's what it is. It's like you, like I look forward to seeing Jude Law, my, my boyfriend's from this movie.

I agree. Julia, it's fascinating to me, though. I understand that Jude Law is just objectively hotter than Hugh Grant. Like, I get that. I acknowledge that. There's room for both in the world and in my heart. but he is giving you the same kind of Tweety British appeal that Hugh Grant is. I like more than, he's, he's got a little bit of a,

yeah, the edges are sanded off for sure. Also, I like a pretty person, like both men and women. How dare you say that to Hugh Grant? I don't think he's beautiful. He's not pretty in the same way, though. He's pretty handsome. He like, he's back then he was. Now I look at him and I feel like Jude Law is mine of page.

I've never, never been interested in Hugh Grant. Okay. just never did it for me. That's, you know, everyone agreed to disagree. I don't know. I just never, I never believed it as like a true heart. Never believed him as a heartthrob. Okay.

Carrie, I'm really glad you're here. I thank you for being with me. Four weddings and a funeral, Hugh Grant was like the hottest Hugh Grant's ever been. I think it really warped my brain. I think I saw that at a too impressionable age, to be quite honest. I feel like has a loofness in four weddings and a funeral. Well, I think that also warped my brain, Juliet. I wasn't into it.

But that's a different podcast for maybe a therapy session. Well, I think we could all agree. Jude law definitely age the best. Yeah. What age is the worst? I mean, the newspaper. The newspaper? Blockbuster.

Yeah. There's also like all the DVD collection at the radio store. Yeah, the Blackberries too. Although I will say I really miss my BlackBerry. My favorite phone I ever had was my Blackberry curve in 2009. Just an incredible phone. Great for communications. Not good for the Internet.

But like, who cares? Texting, email. It can bring it back. I know. I couldn't. I couldn't anymore. I'm so used to my iPhone, but I do love a good Blackberry. And it was kind of ahead of its time.

I feel like BlackBerry's peaked in 2008. 06 was slightly early. I had some questions about how their phones worked internationally, though. Yeah, they did not seem concerned with international dialing rates. But like especially, you know, the scene when... And then it was pretty bad, right? Yeah. When Kate Winslet is going between Cameron Diaz and Jude Law on the...

And listen, these are all unbelievably wealthy people who have no concerns for finances as evidenced by the fact they live in, like, perfect mansions. and just fly off on a whim all the time. But I did also have a thought about the international phone call plan. Me too. Yeah. I was confused about that. And that's something that now is seamless, but was certainly not 13 years ago.

I also think one of the best moments was when Jack Black handed her, handed Kate Winslet, a frappuccino from a coffee bean and tea leaf, and said, this is the best drink in town. Yeah. And when they're in the blockbuster, that was so, so funny. Because I had never been to L.A. when this movie came out. And so I had only read about coffee bean and tea leaf and us because Mary Kate and Ashley went there all the time. And so it's such like a hallmark of like 2003, 2004, like in the tabloids.

But I had never actually experienced it. And just seeing it now was really funny to me. It's kind of sad because they're not around as much. They've kind of pulled out of a lot of places. I think also like just those drinks, people are too health conscious now. You're not going to be like I'm having in L.A. Although the chocolate one is not that bad for you. The one that they had.

And she's like, he wants two dollops of cream or one. That was a sweet touch, actually, when he asked about that. It was just showing how she doesn't care either. I love that about her character. Yeah. And she was like a little more less health conscious. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was actually in the Nancy Myers commentary.

Oh, what'd she say? Because they said they, when they judged up her house and Cotswold, that they made sure to put like lots of candy and things that you wouldn't see in a lot of women's homes out to make it seem like She was more warm and, you know, less of a less caring about being a size two. Sure. And, yeah. And, I mean, she proved that when she moved to LA with all the frontie outfits. That's true.

I actually wish I, for what's aged the best, I actually think the L.A. house has aged very well. I think that, like, is still a house that you would be happy to live in. Beautiful house. Yeah. It's in San Marino. It's by a famous, probably this architect Wallace Neff. It's like right by Pasadena, essentially. That's the exterior. When you see her throwing, when Cameron Diaz is throwing, or talking to Ed Byrne. when he's outside and she's on like the balcony, that's the exterior of that house.

And it is like a really lovely classic Spanish architecture, L.A. Home. I 100% agree with this. A dream L.A. home for me. Now may I talk about the decor in terms of what's age the worst? Sure. They're literally, I honest to God, I don't think they're pine cones. I really think that they are dried artichokes, like spray painted in bowls around the exterior interior of Cameron Diaz's. I mean, Amanda's home. I didn't either until the rewind. I didn't either. I didn't either until the rewind. And I was like, the couches are much you want. It's a little more. And maybe this is supposed to reflect the character.

It's kind of like office hotel she. She was more sterile. Yeah, exactly. But then there are actual artichokes in bowls in the home. And I don't know what that is. But that's not what I watch an Nancy Myers movie for. And I was really bad about that. It is kind of weird.

It's almost like the kind of decor you'd find in a peer one, but you shouldn't have in your home. Yeah. It's like this is what you could put here. but you don't have to. I also just felt like the inside was kind of other than that, like in some ways unremarkable. Like it had like a lot of built-ins and then it like how, which was like nice. But it didn't have like a distinct. It wasn't rich enough.

It wasn't like, it didn't have enough like. It wasn't like luxurious. Yeah. It didn't. And like the house and it's complicated like feels so lived in and like and. I love that house. Yeah. That's my dream house.

Yeah. It's amazing. It's amazing. Carrie, do they talk about it all on the director's commentary that it. it's a set that the interior... Yeah, they built all of it. Yeah. Like, they were complaining that...

I think there was one scene when Kate Winslet was... You know, the part where she comes into the house and she's so excited and then she goes and jumps on the bed. Yeah. And I guess that was her idea to jump on the bed.

But it was... That scene was supposed to end in the bathroom, which they apparently built. Oh, God. And then they never used it. And that's got to be a bummer, right? Oh, my God. The budget on this movie was $85 million, by the way.

Which is, like, insane to me. That's been a lot of money. Did it make. Worldwide, 200 million. Okay. So I made it back. I did like pretty well. Not like gangwusters, but I did pretty well for a rom-com in 2006.

I just thought like in general, Cameron Diaz is like the spaces in her home just didn't really feel remarkable. The England house is so much more memorable. The staircase. Yeah, it's cute. I love like coming down the little staircase and you think you're going to hit your head. Like I just like those cozy little places. And then there's like a fire, little mini fireplace. Yeah.

I don't know. It's very true. We are also three people living in a. L.A. I know. Lying for something cozy, which is very true. I also thought it was funny how she was, Cameron Diaz would, like, wear her, like, hat and mittens inside.

I feel like that is also a very L.A. thing because, like, no place is actually very well heated. So you're always cold in the winter. And she probably just, like, used to do that inside. It was pretty funny. In general, I think this movie aged well, though. Can I, may I just nominate one? Can I throw a bomb in the middle of this podcast?

I just, Jack Black has a romantic interest. is just not, that does not stand for me in 2019. That's a great transition. Like he was having a moment maybe. I know like School of Rock was a thing. Yeah. You know, that he was a comedian. He was popular.

It makes sense for like a softer, like a, you've got Jude Law and you've got Jack Black. You got something for everybody. But no. In 2019, I don't know what, I don't know what's going on. Well, this is a great transition into casting what ifs. Okay. Not a lot of casting what ifs for this movie because Nancy Myers insists that she

wrote it with Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz in mind, and very early on cast Jack Black. And here's what she had to say about it. I thought he was someone I'd like to write a part for. And I'm aware he's not Clark Gable. He's not tall, dark, and handsome. But he's adorable. It's my way of saying, this is the right kind of guy. This is what most guys look like, if they're lucky. He's so adorable. And why not? Everybody has a heart and deserves to fall in love and he should get a great girl. So I fixed him up with Kate Winslet. I think all of that is true. Except why are you making him sing weird movie scores in a blockbuster. And make goofy faces.

Yeah, and just the whole... Turn off. I like that this movie is about movies. Like, I'm a nerd. I think that's cool or whatever. But when he's just like wandering around singing random scores from like driving Miss Daisy, like, no, thank you. No, it's not that's elevating.

There is the every man. And then there is just lowering standards. Okay. I think that if you're just, probably wasn't coming off of Tenacious D in School of Rock. It made me be a little bit different. I feel like his persona at the time was just a guy who sings in movies. And that, like, has to be great-in-

That sounds like the worst thing that's ever been said. It's a little overacting, though, like with him. Like, he has that. He's annoying. He's kind of annoying. Like, I'd be friends with him. I just wouldn't ever want to kiss him. Like, I wouldn't, I just don't see that connection.

There was one point in my rewatch where I was rooting for Kate Wenslett to get together with Arthur because I'm just like, this is an interesting person who's lived a life and who respects you and who gets you a corsage and who isn't like the other thing about this character is that he's in like thinks he's in a relationship with some dumb actress for the whole time. Yeah. And he only realizes that Kate Winslet is the person for him like with five minutes to go in the movie.

Yeah. That's not what Kate Winslet or anyone deserves. True. She needs better than that. It is true. Although I like that actress. She was in 40 days and 49. Shannon Sossman.

Yeah. No disrespect to her. She's just playing a part. Sure. Okay. I've said my piece. I agree with you, but I think that's the point. Okay. That's how she wanted it.

All right. It might not track, but I think that was the intention. Okay. I mean, right? Yeah, no, I think that that's true. So, you know, that's where the movie kind of hits the, hits the wall for me. Well, the Cameron Diaz movie is way better than the Kate Winslet movie. But you don't feel that Kate Winslet, like, it makes you like her more.

Like, I've already invested in her, and now she, like, you can tell that she has. has a thing for Jack Black. And sometimes when a very pretty, beautiful girl that's smart and funny likes a guy that kind of seems like he has no business dating her, I like them more. Yeah. That bought me in a little more. Yeah. It's like for love.

It's for real. They feel it. Sure. I think that's really true. And let me be clear that my objection to Jack Black is not in any way what Jack Black looks like or even that you would date a funny guy. But this character is really annoying. ink and they don't have any chemistry.

They seem like nice friends. Yeah. They seem like people, like she has made some friends in L.A. And that's nice for this character. I actually think Kate Wenzut is very good in this movie. She is very good. She makes the acting seem easy. Yeah, she does.

But then it's basically like this character is supposed to settle for the friend. No, she deserves more. Totally. That's my objection. I agree. I agree with that. I don't know. I support it.

Okay. I still think they could have recast him. Yeah. I had a whole idea of who I thought could have been there. I thought maybe Matt Dillon because he had just come. I think it wasn't. I haven't thought about Matt Dillon in quite a time. I know. And I, he's, he's very good looking.

Yeah. And he was slightly older at the stage. Sure. And he's funny. He was funny and something about Mary. I feel like he's always a jerk, though. I know, but I feel like it's his chance to not be a jerk. He needs a rom-com.

You know what movie I loved him in as beautiful girls. Yeah, a great movie. Right? Like he, and he could have been that character a little bit, but with I don't know. The only thing I might not have bought in was him playing piano. Because he doesn't seem, doesn't look musical to me. I feel like Jason Siegel would be perfect if you were to remake this movie right now.

Also, another guy that's probably not good enough, good and looking enough. I have a soft spot for him. Yeah. I have a soft spot for Jason Siegel and also sings and likes to like be dramatic. Yeah. I feel like he actually would have been a really good thing. It knocked up. I liked, he was a knocked up.

Yeah. And for guy and Sarah Marshall. Okay. That's what it was. Like that character. would totally fit in this movie. Yeah, I'd accept it. I don't know.

I just, I love Jason Zingle though, so. Okay. Personal pet, pet interest. Like I said, there's just not a lot of casting minutes for this. Like, every, every interview is, like, insisting that she had it with those two in mind, the two women, and that Jula, then she, like, wanted to write a character for someone like Jack Black. And Jude Law, like, she said they had, like, changed some things for him. And the way that both Cameron Diaz and Nancy Myers talk about. about Jude Law taking on this role.

It's just sort of like the subtext is, can Jude Law play a good guy? There's like a lot of questions about can he be appealing and endearing, which is pretty funny. And I will also say I think real life Jude Law is, does not seem like a particularly wonderful human to me. But I don't have a lot to base that on except for the tabloid stories by his various relationships.

I once saw him at the Hollywood Arclight, just rakeishly leaning over the counter, having a very engaged enthusiastic conversation with this. staff of the arc light about how the assigned seating worked. Oh, like, angry or? No, no. He was just like, this is so I can choose any seat. Okay.

You know? What year was this? This was like a year and a half ago? So I definitely leave the movies in a few years? I'd, maybe he doesn't go to the arc light. But like his pant crop, I just want to let you know was like five inches above the ankle. Oh, no. No, it was great.

You sure? I don't know. I like that. It was a turn off. He was being. Sorry, Craig. Yeah. Craig is also wearing crapins.

Greg, you've got a little too long. It's going well. Great, thanks. That's really funny. So that make you like him more or less. Oh, so much. I was just like, wow, I want to be a part of this. Because he was just, he was there to experience cinema and connect with people and was so excited that you could have assigned seats and really confidently rocking that crop.

Incredible. So I'm going to, I support you law. I mean, it was like kind of that of his talented Mr. Ripley book. Yeah, totally. Yeah. Has he ever not had a confident day in his life? Like, probably not. That's great.

It's just like how he lives. With his life. Was he married to? Sienna Miller? Yeah, well, he would change on her. Yeah, they never got married. Oh, they, okay. They were dating. Because of the scandal. Yeah. And I think he has, like, six kids now with like four of women. Oh, geez. I think he recently. Oh, I think he recently. Yeah. And they had like a tasteful age appropriate wedding that I read about in the daily male. For whose age? His or her. Um, both, I think. Yeah. She's younger, though. Isn't she like 26? No. I think she's in the 30s. I think she's in the 30s. I think what is going on. We just spent the whole podcast talking about how great you'd love. Right, let's not with him apart now. I know how hot he is. No, I don't think he's great. I just think he's extremely hot. That's fair.

Can I say one thing about the casting one-ifs before we go? Sure. The fact that Nancy Myers was just like, I will write a script for Cameron Diaz, Judea, Kate Winslet, and Jack Black, and I will get them. And I don't even have to worry about not getting them is like that. That says a lot about her and her power and her authority and like not many directors at all get to do that, let alone women directors. So shout on Nancy Myers.

That's what I have to say. or she's really good at controlling the narrative around her movie. Either way. Either way. Good job. Yeah. Because I was like, she really won't anyone else answer this question otherwise, which I thought was kind of interesting too.

Because she didn't say she wrote it for Jack Black and Jude Law, which wouldn't let any other names into the conversation. But I thought was pretty fascinating, too. All right, we're going to move on to the Dionne Waiters Award. But first, let's talk about today's sponsors. The Google Assistant is ready to help you get more done with just your voice in the car at home and everywhere you take your phone. When you're driving and want to listen to your favorite ringer podcast, hands-free,

just say, hey, Google, play the latest episode of The Watch podcast. Sure, here's the latest episode of the watch. Confusion about what? The Morning Show and Apple TV. Hey, Google, pause the podcast. A little help hands-free. Just say, hey, Google, to get started. All right, there's so many choices for the Dionne Waiters Award.

So many people doing a lot in very little screen time. We got Lindsay Lohan. James Franco, Catherine Hahn, John Cresensky, Dustin Hoffman. Should we put Eli Wallach in here? I was going to say, is Eli Wallach? She doesn't he more in the movie? I feel like his role is too big. Yeah.

But, you know, maybe not. He's not on the movie poster? I feel like if we're not on the movie poster. What was, I don't know who she was, but her friends in the newsroom. I kind of liked her. The woman who's just like you need to get on, no one is friends with their excheats on them, which is like so extreme real talk. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. I don't know who that was. I don't know who it is either. Is Ed Burns on the list? Oh, I forgot about Ed Burns. Yeah. Is he, is he?

That's Cameron. I guess she would say he wins it. Yeah. I love Ed Burns. Yeah. I'm going with Eli Wallach. I just, I think he's so great in this movie. He is great.

He's wonderful. And there are four stars of this movie. Wait, Dion Waders is what? Great question. Person who comes in. Is that it? Yeah. He checks in for like a short amount of time and, and just like,

but Eli goes off. But he's in it a lot. Like, Sort of. Yeah. Kay Winsett has three men in her life because she has Rufus Sewell, who is the ex. Jasper. Jasper.

I mean, I don't even know what to say. I have some nipics. Then she's got Arthur and then she's also got Jack Black. So they're all doing, but Jack Black is billed as the star. Right. And Eli Wallach is not on the poster. So that's my new definition for whether someone is eligible for D.N. Waiters. Is there not on the poster?

I think it's valid. I mean, he is obviously. not like the focal point of the movie, but he does contribute so much. Yeah. I think I probably would, I think I'm just going to have to go with, I don't know, it's hard. I mean, also like, does Dustin Hoffman even count? I mean, it comes in for five seconds.

Sure. I mean, it's hard because these people are so short, but I don't know, I kind of enjoy the low-hand appearance. I just also have a soft spot for her. Okay. I'm going low-hand. Carrie? I just love Catherine Hahn.

Yeah. So her character's name is Bristol. Incredible. And I just, that is such an L.A. name. It's perfect. But I just, now I see her and all this other stuff. And I'm like, God, that was such a small part for her back then. But I just liked her vibe. So I go for her. All right. That's great. Great. I mean, there's a lot of worthy candidates in this movie. A lot of great, small rules for extremely famous people. Apex Mountain. This is really just a contentious conversation, I think. We have to go through all four. stars. And also Nancy Myers, I assume. And Nancy Myers, yeah. Okay. Definitely. Cameron Diaz, is this her Apex Mountain? Do we also, do we need to define Apex Mountain. Yeah, because, you know, this gets argued every single time. Craig, correct me if I'm wrong. Apex Mountain is when someone has the most objective power in their career. Not like if it's your

personal favorite, but if it's the peak of their career, like, just like the absolute best they're going to do. Both, like, given the context of the movie and the movie. itself. So with all that in mind, let's go through the four stars and Nancy Myers. First up, Cameron Diaz. So it's 2006. I would say this is the very beginning of the slowing down of Cameron Diaz. I agree with that. I was going to say, no, it's not the Apex career. I would put that somewhere between, honestly, this is so weird. Is it Charlie's Angels? It's like somewhere There's something about Mary and then Charlie's Angels because after Charlie's Angels, she does Shrek, she does Vanilla Sky, she does gangs of New York, which doesn't turn out well, but, you know, she's in a Sparse movie. Yeah, I think it's earlier.

Yeah, I think so too. Because by 2006. Was it something about Mary? It was earlier. Oh, yeah. I guess that could be because it's like when she becomes a thing. That's when she becomes a thing. And for like her future potential is highest at that moment, probably.

But now it was in 98. So we're eight years past. peak Cameron Diaz. But I agree with you. I think she hits like a really high plateau from basically. It's something about Mary through Shrek in 2001. And then from there,

she very slowly sort of begins to like, now she says she's retired from acting. And I think it begins essentially with this movie where she really slows down. And in fact, during the press tour for this movie, she talked about how she had gone like movie to movie to movie without stopping for a long time. And she had reached a point where she just like didn't want to do that anymore.

And you want to know what? Shout to her. She stopped doing it. Yeah. So Cameron Diaz, firm no. Next, Jack Black. I think this is Jack Black's Apex Mountain. Wow.

It comes right after, I think this is like the time where he's the absolute peak. I do. I really do. I'm not laughing at you. I'm just laughing at the idea of this actually being the best it gets for Jack Black. I think it does because it's coming in the same range. So School of Rock was 2003. And then after that, he had.

has King Kong, which is like also didn't go great, but it was like a big splashy movie because people thought he could carry one. He has tenacious D sprinkled in there. And then he goes to the holiday. And I don't think it's been as good for him since. He's done a lot of voice acting work since. So I think he becomes like an actor that's like more oriented towards like stuff his kids can enjoy. But I do think that Jack Black really peters off after this movie.

All the goosebumps movies. I didn't even know about that. Yeah, no, that's those are his. I would still argue that his Apex is School of Rock. That's when he's in the consciousness. That also, like, sets him up for this sort of thing. I think, I guess what I'm learning is that my definition of Apex Mountain is the person's, like, best or most popular movie unless they have several of those. Sure.

And Jack Black really just has School of Rock. I mean, he has other things, obviously, but that is, that's the one thing that you associate with him. That's true. I don't know. No, it's true. I agree. And also that obviously went on to be a musical, like, school of Rock has so much, like, equity. But I think that you put like that run from 03 to 06 or 2 to 06 together.

That's like peak Jack Black. Okay. Yeah, I agree with that. Next. Kate Winslet. I mean, obviously. That's a really hard one to evaluate because she's had so many peaks essentially. I don't think anyone thinks the holiday is her best work.

However, she is very good in it, as you said. Titanic, no? Or is. I just think that catapults are to new level. Is that her apex though? I don't know. And then for Apex Mountain, even though she won for a 10. terrible movie. She did win an Oscar for in 2008, which is after this. So, but like objectively

winning an Oscar is a pretty big deal in terms of being. What are you calling a terrible movie? The reader. Oh, I don't even know that movie. I think I have seen the reader and it's set during World War II and I believe that she plays a Nazi who teaches a young boy to read. I was saying, that sounds awful. Isn't there like some weird like sexual stuff in it too? Yeah. And then I do believe they have an affair. Yeah. It's like, It's like, it's not some. She always gets the, she's very willing to do nudity, as we all know. Yeah.

Yeah. She's good at that. Yes. And I just think that she is really kind of unparalleled. I think she does make acting seem very easy, like I said before. And she's like, she seems like a fun hang. She probably is not a fun hang. But I think she plays fun hang well, like in Titanic.

Yeah. Rose seems fun when she loosens up when she goes dancing downstairs. Yeah. Remember that she married Richard Brunner. Renfranola. Ned Rock and Rolla. A man named Ned Rockenrolla and they named their some bear. And then she was asked whether his name would be Bear Rock and Rolla and she was very affably like, no, I'm not insane. His name is Bear Winslet. You know what? That's great. That's pretty good. That's pretty good. So good. I also, I love an actress who acknowledges like their on-screen husband with their actual husband in the same breath is just very complicated. but when she was always like the two men of my life, Sam Mendes and Leonardo DiCaprio. That was really, really complicated.

It was a rough stretch that I thoroughly enjoyed. I think the two men in my life is my favorite Kate Winslet in May and did align with the reader, I believe. Yeah, I think that's true. That was really tough. I forgot about that. So where is her Apex Mountain? I think it's around the time she won an Oscar in like the middle of the odds. Even though that movie is pretty bad, yeah.

She's been Revolutionary Road that year. I liked that movie. Yeah. That was the same year. She is, like, working up to that at this moment. So it's on the way. Yeah. It's on the rise.

Okay, next. Jude Law. A lot of conversation about Jude Law's apex mountain and what that means. So I think career-wise. Is it acting or? We've already talked about his apex of hotness, which is his apex of hotness is certainly this movie. Okay.

No disrespect to Dickey Greenleaf. Yeah. I was, I wanted to save this conversation. conversation with you. Apex of hotness, I kind of have to go with talented Mr. Ripley. My man's just in a rowboat in Italy wearing linens. And he's rich. And he's rich and like handsome and sings like sings a man. He's very into jazz. I love dad. I love dad Graham Simpkins or whatever his name is in this movie. I think he's really, really attractive in it for sure. I mean, it's splitting hairs. He's obviously really hot and intelligent Mr. Ripley as well. I would say Mr. Ripley is his apex mountain now. Yeah.

Because it just went downhill from there. It was a gradual decline, but nothing was as good. I don't know anything he did. I just was looking at IMDB. He did Closer. Closer was probably one of his most notable movies. He's in a bunch of good movies, but he's not, he never really carries one. I mean, he's in Cold Mountain, which was really, like, well received.

He was in I Heart Huckabees. But he's like, he can't carry a movie. Like, I guess his biggest, like, solo movie is Alfie. And, like, that was not a hit. No, that was part of the, that was right during all of the Siena Mill. scandal. And I think kind of he has talented Mr. Ripley, and I believe he gets nominated for an Oscar for talented Mr. Ripley. And then all of kind of the cool project that he's doing to try to spend his capital also are happening at the same time as he's indulging in a personal life that the tabloids are covering because the British tabloids are really intense. There's like a, I think it sounds Mr. Ribly, but there is an argument that right now Jude Law is sort of in his apex mountain because he can do whatever he wants. He's in the young pope, which is. that HBO show that all the kids love. Yeah.

I think they're doing a... Kids love it? Well, I don't know that he's in the second season. I think by kids she means like 25-year-olds. Yeah. I mean, maybe your children will love the young quote. They are sophisticated.

They have, you know, older taste. Do you love it, Craig? I actually didn't do you. Okay, yeah. There we go. So there it is. And then he's in... He has like the Harry Potter spinoff.

That's true. And he's in like the weird Marvel movie. and then he's doing all of, he does all these, any movies on the side where it just pops up to be like Jude Law and have sort of a fun supporting role for a while. It seems like he's living well as evidenced by his late movie career and also the time I saw him at the arc light. But in terms of actual power, it is probably Talented Mr. Ripley. I agree. And also Hotness, Talented Mr. Ripley. That's a really important movie.

It's a great. I mean, it's just an incredible movie. It really is. Incredible talent. Is that one been done yet? Not yet. Oh, you have to do that. Because it's 20 years in December, I think.

It was 20 years ago. It's a great, great, great, great movie. I watch it every time it's on. It's me too. It's so expertly done. And part of that is July being Dickie Greenleaf in it. Nancy Myers, is her apex mountain? No.

What is her apex mountain? That's a great question. It's not something's got to give. It might be that because I think that's the one is both like a critical breakthrough. and she gets Keaton and Jack Nicholson and Keanu Reeves. Kind of, and Keanu had kind of been in the wilderness for a little while. Yeah. I know it's not coming home.

No. No, that's her daughter's movie, isn't it? Oh, wait. No, I thought she did it. Oh, home again. Home again. Yeah, she produced it. Her daughter's movie.

Oh, my daughter made it. Oh, sorry. Absolutely horrible movie. I got to say, I had a fantastic time watching it. I enjoyed watching it, but I still, I just didn't think it was that. I think it's probably, that's probably right. It was something's got to get. Right.

Because the houses, it's like the best cast. It's very good. And it's like 2003 when the movies still make money. And like people still went to see like studio comedies in the theater. And then from there, I really love both it's complicated and the intern. Me too. But, you know, they just aren't. Their impact is less.

Yeah. Yeah. I think I agree with that. Also, something's got to give Amanda Pete's in it as well. Oh, that's right. Frances McDormand is in it for a minute. It's also. a really good cat. I mean, John

Favreau's in it. Like, it's a really good movie. So I watched that one a lot, too. So the only person we could potentially say it's her Apex Mountain and probably not even is Jack Black. And yet, all of this star power. Incredible. Oh, man. Okay. Moving on. The Joey Pants Award

for that guy. I mean, I just want to say I'm giving us Dustin Hoffman. Okay. It's the great guy of all time. It's like a repress. It's using the, it's sort of I can reverse that guy, but it's pretty good. Let's jump to half-ass internet research because I learned doing some half-ass internet research

that they were filming this movie at a blockbuster, and Dustin Hoffman was like walking down the street, saw a movie shoot happening, went over to it. His friends is Nancy Myers, and they just put him in the scene. I don't think I made it to that part of the director's commentary. That's awesome. Yeah, apparently that's just like how it happened, and it was just really quick. I think it happened in Larchmont, too, because there's a coffee bean and tea leaf right next door. Oh, interesting. Or there was, not anymore.

But back with this movie, it was made. Huh. That's definitely possible. I'm always obsessed to trying to figure out where they're filming things. A lot of the stuff seemed like it was... I know the one thing they filmed the scene when they were in the, that beautiful chateau where they were eating lunch. It was in the Greystone Mansion.

The interior of the Greystone Mansion and the exterior was like a home. Oh, interesting. We alluded to this, but they built... So the house that Kate Winslet's character... has in England that was completely built in a field in England for the shoot, basically the exteriors and everything like that. And that was also in Surrey. And then a lot of sound stage action for the interiors of the homes.

But building the exterior is like in a field. And now I know where a lot of that 85 million went to. And that house was like made a brick and it just takes a long time to do. Yeah. Totally. And then apparently it's snow during the shoe, which is actually rare. But, you know, added to the vibe, which is. which is wonderful.

And as we mentioned, the exterior of Cameron Diaz's house is near the Huntington Gardens in San Marino, which is right near Pasadena. Beautiful. Yeah, that's so pretty. I couldn't verify this. So this is truly half-ass internet research, but Iris is the name of Kate Winslet's character. Also the name of one of Jude Law's daughters. And that's either a funny coincidence or one website suggested that the character was named for his daughter. But I actually couldn't confirm it.

So who knows? Okay. Could be incorrect. Nice name. Yeah. Yeah, very nice. Yeah, it's lovely. Iris and Graham, those go together. I believe that Irish and Graham are siblings. Totally. Great stuff.

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Once again, Luminary. com slash rewatch, and you can cancel any time. Terms apply. I skip the Linda Partridge they knew overacting. I think we all agree with Jack Black. Yes. Yes. Well, all right.

one part where Cameron Diaz kind of bugged me was her esophageal. What is it called? Esophageal. What is the word? Esophagal? Her esophagal spasms? She says esophagus with a soft G. And I was like, is that how you say it? Because I've been saying it wrong for 35 years. I don't know. I don't know either. And then her ability not to cry, like, her trying to cry. I don't know. That was a little overacting for me. But there were some moments where just like, calm down. We get it. Like you've got emotional. issues. Like, we get it. I agree. She got, like, a little annoying at times. I found this scene between her and Ed Burns when they're fighting at the beginning is, like, maybe it should be a shared award, shared winner for this award. That whole thing where

they're just yelling at each other and you never, you don't believe anything of what's happening and that either of them care. And they're just kind of shrieking. And then she does, as you mentioned, the esophical whatever. Yeah. I don't know. I mean, you're the only woman on the face of the earth who breaks up with her boyfriend and doesn't even shed a tear? I mean, that's kind of mean something, right? Why does it bug you so much that I can't cry? Oh, esophageal spasm. God, it's a big one.

No, it's okay. I'll be all right. I know, I know. I'm thinking about me. Ethan. Definitely always reminded that she was acting. You weren't like, oh, she just slipped into this part or whatever. Right.

It just very, very much felt like she was acting. Maybe also part of that is because she's like supposed to be out of her element in England. I don't know. Just trying to be kind. Yeah. Who knows? Recasting couch. So I nominate Jason Segal.

Okay. For the Miles role. I think you swayed me. Thank you. Yeah. I tried. Because he did that whole like what was the weird vampire? Yeah, the Dracula opera.

Yeah, now that now I can buy it. What about Amelia Clark as Iris? Yeah, she would be fantastic. That's my best suggestion. Deneiars Targaryen. Could Kate Hudson have been Cameron Diaz? Yes, it's good. Contemporaneously accurate.

And also she has both the L.A.ness and also the rom-com chops. Yeah. She might even be slightly better at the emotional aspects of it. Because let's be real, this movie's pretty sappy. And I feel like that's the... Cameron Diaz, like, gets a little uncomfortable with the sappiness. And I know her character is supposed to be uncomfortable with the sappiness. But the giving it.

into it, maybe Kate Hudson could do it a bit better. This was right when she did like how to lose a guy in 10 days. Yeah, when she did all the McConaughey ones. But then I was like, but then you got to put McConaughey in as July and the movie's over. Like you could have put McConaughey in there too. Yeah, but you need the British accent. Yeah, Weddinger McConaughey would have been a good fit though. Love that character.

Other British actors, I don't know, like could any Redmay in play this character? No. No one's as hot as you know. No. You can't do it because it's too sappy. Yeah, definitely not. Yeah. And it's like he's too direct.

I mean, the thing about that's like so realistic. What about Colin Firth? If he wasn't. Oh, yeah. He might have been able to. Yeah, he could do it. Oh, he totally could. He definitely has the aloof.

He has the aloofness that of like a Hugh Grant basically. Because the thing is the Jude Law character is like so direct when he's like, I love you. I'm sorry. Right. Said. But Colin Firth did the love actually really messed up plot line. But where he is just kind of helpless and is immediately like I love you. So he could do it.

Yeah. That's a good one too. The thing is just no one says hot. That's true. It's true. Good point. As a part of that, it's just really. This movie does not work without Jude Law.

Yeah. Right. It really does it actually. He really does bring it all together. Picking Nits. There's so many. Yes. Amanda, let's go through your list.

Okay, thank you so much. Okay. Number one. And this is like a rom-com trope for forever, but we would be remiss. We didn't point out a wedding reporter for the telegraph is owning this picturesque cottage that's on par with the mansion in Brentwood, even though it's in Pasadena. Right. I don't know.

She can't afford this cottage. Also, what's her commute like? How should you get into the hour? It says 40 minutes. I actually really appreciated that. Interesting. The description is just like just 40 minutes outside of. But yeah, I don't know.

I'm not buying it. Okay. Maybe it's the family home because Judea also lives in the area. British people have a lot of family money, though. That was the only reason I might have bought into it is because it's. Sure. Yeah. That's true. Great set up for my next question.

Where are these people's families? Where's anyone's family? Okay? Like, everyone is just like, I'm going to go away for Christmas. No problem. No one cared. I have no parents, no siblings, no one to keep in touch with. Jude Law didn't even know Kate Winslet was gone, but she did just make the plan the night before.

It was part of the moment. Yeah. And she did try to tell him. He said that she called. They have no holiday obligations to friends or family or any life. outside, like, the people that are shown in the movie. I just am very confused. Even, like, Eli Wallach, just, like, don't you have, like, grandkids or a nephew or a niece?

Right. I mean, you know, I guess when you are getting older, he does have some friends, but, you know, but there's just, there's no one. Okay. Another related thing. This is a Christmas movie, right? It's called The Holiday. There's Christmas music.

There is a major scene, like, that happens on Christmas Eve, when, which is when Jack Black finds out that his girlfriend is dating someone else, right? And she's like, do you want some Christmas fatigini? So we know it's Christmas Eve. Christmas Day just totally fast-forward through. There was no Christmas celebration. They just don't even mention, like, the whole movie has Christmas music and it's called the holiday.

And the actual holiday is just not acknowledged. I have no idea how any of them spent their Christmases. And also, in England, Boxing Day, not discussed either. Just total fast forward to New Year's. It is, it's super weird. And also like that no one's like sad or like there's no, there's also no Christmas trees. There's like, yeah. There is in Jude Law's house.

Oh, you're right. That's the only place. And I did wonder whether they were trying to make it like broader holiday appeal. Like there's a reason. I mean, the holiday is a nice. They did have a Hanukkah dinner. Right. And it's what British people call vacation.

So it's a wordplay. But it is also, it's not Christmas. It's the holiday. Right. But still, if you're going to have like Christmas Eve, I don't know. Yeah. Why not have Christmas Day? Okay.

Right. I got a couple of. more. Okay. What is the vetting process for home swapping? You're right. It was like just, oh, I'm free. They're literally just, I-E-Ming. Like, it's AOL in 1999. It honestly reminded me a lot of the lovely you've got mail scenes when Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are, you know, so a nice, meet cute. I thought it was very sweet. They seemed to have a great I-M relationship. But there is like no other vetting or checks or even how are we going to swap keys? It was just assumed that because they were both on this house swap website that neither one of them was going to rip the other person's house.

Yeah. And there's none of the kind of the behind the scenes. Like there's no house cleaning. There's no preparation. There's whatever. Okay. I have another one. Yes.

Let's hear it. I really truly don't understand Cameron Diaz's sex life and why that's a plot line in this movie. Where she's suddenly like, I'm bad at sex. Yeah. I have that as well. What is that? Like where your long-term boyfriends, like you're bad at sex and then you stay together? Like, what is that?

And then also what, if he said that, why is she surprised that he was cheating? Like, no offense. But it's just, it's confusing. And I don't understand why it's involved. And I also don't understand why Jude Law is, like, affirming her several times afterwards. I mean, that's nice. If you have consensual sex or someone and you've enjoyed it, tell the other person. You know, that was great.

I had a nice time. But, like, as a rebuke to the other guy, it's not just like this was great. Like, he doesn't know what he's talking about. Yeah, it's more like a follow-up on her comments. I just, they see. say that they haven't had sex in a year, okay, which, like, I guess sometimes happens in bad relationships. I agree that then the infidelity, it doesn't really seem to come as much of a surprise to her

as you might think, but it all flows. But then for her to introduce the fact that for her to believe him, even though, number one, they haven't had sex in the year. So what does he know? And number two, for her to introduce it just before they're having sex and she's otherwise supposed to be, I think she's supposed to be a competent person and they have to give her like a thing to make her relatable. You know, like they used to make all the rom-com people fall down or whatever.

But number one, that's sexist. And number two, picking, I'm really bad at sex as the thing to make her relatable. So weird. So weird. I don't understand. It's just, it's a really weird plot point that didn't need to be in the movie. And also just like, it's just strange. It's just so out of left field and just really super strange.

You just don't say that to someone. No. Also, when she's the one who's like, I think we should have sex. Like, just go with it. Like, if you're saying that, don't like hedge. You'd be like, sorry, it might be bad. Also, if you're not planning on steam ever again, like, don't even say anything. Just have sex.

Just go with it. It's really baffling to me. Me too. I don't get it. Also, a woman in her position in L.A., even in 2006, if she thought she were bad at sex, would have taken multiple classes, done a lot of reading. This is a solutions-oriented person. She would have found solutions for it.

I totally agree. It was so weird. Okay. I have one more. Is great the only adjective that... Cameron Diaz's character knows. Literally, the kids are like, look at our magical 10 and she's like, it's so great. What a great day. It's only, there's only one word that she knows and it's great and it drives me insane. I think part of that is bad writing. Sorry, Nancy. I think the other part of it is she's like bad with her emotion so she doesn't have like words to put against like happiness. She's like clearly not been around children either. Right. So she's just a vapid L.A. person. Yeah. Okay. But they don't lean into that. If she were a vapid L.A. person, I would get it. But you're supposed to empathize with her any of my bad writing. I agree.

I think those are my major issues. I have a few more. In 2006, why do Jude Law's daughters, who are both under five, I think, five or less, have their own cell phones that they're calling him? That's a good one. Carrie, I guess you couldn't speak to this. It's 2006, and they're under five. No. That would be like if Zoe had a phone.

It was like 11 or something or 10. Are they under five? I think at least one of the men. I started playing club sports. That's when they got their phone. Okay. Because then I could communicate with them if they're on the field or whatever.

But that's way too young. I mean, they'd have iPads at that age, but not phones. Maybe one of them is, like, let's say she's at, what, Mac, 7? Like, that's still too young. In 2006, when cell phones have only been mainstream for really, like, five years at that point. It's really weird to me. Well, maybe it's because, and this is one of my nitpicks, he was, he just could randomly be out and stay out all night.

And his kids would be calling him the next day. And it's like, wait a minute. Like, so you just. You just left and you decide to have a late night and stay at Cameron Diaz's house when you're... It's so weird. Your kids are home? I guess he says his parents were with them, his parents, but... Oh.

Yeah, he did. He did say that. They mentioned grandparents who you never see. Definitely was too available, though. Like, just not like emotionally, but like logistically, too available for Cameron Diaz. Yeah. I do wonder if the kids having cell phone things is actually just they introduced a basic error. I think you're supposed to think that they would just be calling from home.

but you have to have the names in the phone to make the Sophia Olivia reveal actually work. Right. So they just, you know, it's a... They were trying to do it so that it seemed like... Yeah, it's unreality. It could be a woman. It just didn't work. Another one that Craig pointed out, Jude Law, very tan in this movie for a man who lives in England.

He's always tan. In the middle of December. He was in Italy, filming talent in this early. That's what I'm saying. Eight years before. It's forever. Way too tan. And on the topic of the color, tan,

Kate, ones with the character wears too many tans. tans whites and creams like she just took diane keaton's wardrobe from something's got to give and just put it on and made it more frumpy yeah more frumpy it didn't fit her well and again i wasn't sure if that was like and she's got a crazy body Kate wins like yes she's like hot yeah when they when she's in the pool in the one piece you're just like wow you're like oh this is old hell it would glamour of course it's pretty weird they make her look so bad and her wardrobe is terrible that feels like just really bad studio notes of like this woman needs to be quote relatable to everybody. And so you can't do anything threatening. And so you have to make her look like normal. Yeah. Which is lame. It's like the, I don't know, it's like the skimification of. But that's like she literally dresses like my mother's 80. I agree. My mother's 80. I agree. And like she would wear that what some of the outfit she'd like, I don't know. It didn't look good. Not enough rain in this movie. Didn't rain once. Oh yeah. For all the time in England. It snowed. It snowed, which they did say in the, uh,

commentary. Commentary that snowed never. even sticks in England. So they were, they had to keep making it stick. Right. And it, but it's not common. Right. It's not at all. Like the last few years when there's been snow like in London, like the city is like paralyzed. It's way too warm. Yeah. Yeah. And like it's like damp. And it's just like give us the England rain. Jude Law still will be hot if it's raining. Make them wet. No problem with that. Like I don't, I don't understand. It's England. It's England fog. Can I ask another weather related question? Sure. Do the Santa Ana's really last December? We're in peak Santa Ana season. Rain.

now, and it's November. Yeah. And do they often go towards Christmas? I don't think so. I think they can happen. They can happen. They're just using that because people don't know. Yeah, no, it's true.

Yeah. And I also, I don't know whether this is true or whether they talk about this on the commentary, but they added that in because they had Santa Ana's while filming. Oh, interesting. And so. The wind was blowing. I think that wasn't created wind. Yeah.

In the commentary, there we go. Yeah. So much weather. Okay. Yeah. Carrie, any more nits to pick? Mine were like kind of more specific. Please, let's hear him.

It bothered me when Jasper was like... You put on that little red bikini yet. You know, the one that unties at the back. Wait a minute. All little bikinis have a tie in the back. It was like, what? That's a great point. You know, that was a weird one.

Also, does she have two red bikinis, one that's a front clasp and one does a tie in the back? Yeah, okay. It didn't make any sense. The drive, I already brought that one out, the drive from the airport that somehow ended up on the PCH.

It didn't make any sense. I think she was, I think they were even going north. So she ends up on the PCH and then she's on Ocean, I think. And she turns on to San Vincente, but they put a sunset sign there and they make it look like Bel Air. Oh, yeah, that's true. But it's ocean onto San Vincenti. And like that could have tracked, but they like, they messed it up. Yeah, someone was wrong there.

I think they wanted like a Beverly Hills looking sign, but it was Santa Monica. And she is also from the airport. I think she's like driving south. She's in Malibu. That's not how you would be coming from. Yeah. Which is, you know, then she's looking at the ocean. I mean, it's a great view.

Yeah, it's beautiful over there. Oh, I got one too. The driver when she gets to the Cotswolds will not drive her down to the house. Yes. Which is bizarre. Like you pay a driver. It was a black car. They all take you all the way.

They never, they're not. They don't say, oh, yeah, lady in your high heels. You have to walk now. It's true. Mile and a half path. And she almost dies. on the way. Like, that doesn't happen.

Related to this, Carrie, can you confirm this is really half-ass trivia, but apparently on the director's commentary or on one of the behind-the-scenes commentaries, Cameron Diaz says this is her most physical film because of all the running she has to do, which I think just means like up and down at that suitcase. That must be. They must have filmed that scene like 20 times. I thought that was really funny. I can't confirm it, but I'm sure that was true.

There also was a lot of interviews. was a lot of focusing on Cameron Diaz hitting her head on the beam inside the house as like, oh my God, what a funny moment that she handled so well. And it's like, okay, sure. I didn't even think about that scene more than once. Okay. No big deal. I had some other notes like this that like borderline unanswerable questions.

Just throw them out now. Okay. Does Jude Law leave his glasses at his sister's house? Or does he just travel with them anytime he has a big night out, like assuming he could end up wherever and like we'll have to take out his contacts and needs his glasses the next morning? I sort of assumed that he was like the low-grade glasses where he's not going from contacts to glasses. He's either reading glasses or, you know, a little bit of help. He can get away with that.

Because he's a dad. So he's like 40s. Yeah. They're in the suit pocket. I mean, like, gesturing to my blazer right now that no one could see. But yeah, I assume he has them on them because they're like, it's an on-off situation. Just look so hot in them. My other thing is I don't think I would let like a complete stranger who just drove through my door.

No, no. Well, that either. But this, I'm thinking back to Jack Black when he shows up. Oh. And he, like, the Santa Ana winds are blowing. And he goes to take something out of Kate Winslet's eyelash. And he's like literally like right on her and breathing in her face and like trying to get something out of her eyelash. And I would, I don't.

I think I would recoil. I'd be like, what are you doing? I would not be comfortable. Yeah. Um, do you really think that Cameron Diaz's two suitcases was enough for all the clothes we see her wearing? Keeping in mind. No, she had like five jackets. A lot.

Yeah, a lot of shoes. A lot of warm weather stuff that's bulky. But also a lot of light layers, though. She is really doing a lot of like the light cashmere. And that stuff can be pretty compact. I wasn't sure. I was like, I was like, this looks like a lot. But then she has these coats and shoes.

Shoes are just so bulky. And she had like boots and stuff. So I was worried about that. Did she just buy the clothes that she wore over to his house that day? Because she said there's no men there, right? So she wasn't planning on a big night. I feel like she only knows how to dress formally. Yeah.

Either like super, super low-key. like in her pajamas or like dressed up and like structured clothing, which honestly, good way to go. That outfit was like a crisp holiday outfit. Like she was wearing like a long pencil skirt with like this big thick black belt with like rhinestones. And again, it was a beautiful top. Like I just, that didn't seem like something I'd bring along on my vacation if I wasn't planning on having a big night out. On the other hand, she clearly had weird expectations for what she was going to be getting in England. So whatever. Maybe she packed everything she owns. I also was wondering how I, gets up to her home if the cab driver wouldn't drive her. Like, how does she drive up there? But whatever. Smaller car? Because she has a mini because the Cameron Diaz is, yeah, she's using her car because

they say that they exchange cars. I know. Just like it didn't track with the whole cab thing. I think that that driver is not a five-star reading is what we've come down to. That's what it is. Best quote. I'm going to be honest. I know it. Oh, all right. Go. You don't think there is one? No, I don't have a lot of options. It's the one where he says, where Arthur says, Iris, in the movies, we have leading ladies, and we have the best friend. You, I can tell, our leading lady, but for some reason, you're behaving like the best friend. You're so right. That's good.

That is the best one. You're correct. I think the runner-up is when the Santa Ana's blow. All bets are off. Anything can happen. Yeah, Santa Ana's. Pardon? The wind.

It's what makes it so warm this time you're. Legend has it. When the San Ana's blow, all bets are off. Anything can happen. That's it. I also liked when Cameron Diaz says, we should probably have sex if you want to, and Jude Law says.

Is that a trick question? I'm actually serious. That's, like, actually funny, and I feel like it's, like, a weird thing to say. But you're right, Carrie. That's definitely it. Could this be your remade as a 10-episode Netflix show? Yes.

100% do it right now. Let's go. I'm in. Completely. I want to know what happens. I want to see her and Jack Black break up because you know that's going to happen. Totally. How long do you think they last?

Like two months? I was like five months. All right. Oh, so you guys think that they are the ones that break up, but Jude Law and Cameron Diaz has a future together? This is one of my own nine-sbrow questions. Cameron Diaz's character, Amanda, as a stepmom. Go.

Oh. I can't imagine it. I just can't imagine it. She would put them in really cute clothes. She would try really hard and just wouldn't work out. This is so great. Yeah. Really, really tough.

Any other unanswerable questions? But that would be part of it, though. Then she'd be her, like, getting over the humps of being trying to be a mom. I feel like, and she would be like, what the fuck did I do? And then she'd have to work through it. Okay. And you think she would work through it rather than getting on the first plane home and living back in her beautiful house with her, like, with her extremely high profile career.

She wasn't happy there, though. That was the point. Yeah, I think she might. Okay. She already had the chance once to leave and she came back. Right. We didn't talk about. Another nitpick was how they all just, they have, like, pretty involved jobs. And I understand it's the holidays, but they just drop everything. And you never hear from Catherine Hahn or John Crosinski or any of the trailer people ever again.

She's like, I run my own business until I don't. Yeah. Okay. I think it's like a quasi-believe-al. L.A. Desch had doubt from like middle December to New Year's. It is very true. But for a reporter, it's definitely harder. Yeah. For especially a society reporter. Especially with all the people who like get married on Christmas Eve. Parties and stuff. Yeah. Christmas parties.

New Year's parties. That's definitely less believable to me. Okay. Who won the movie? Jude law. June law, right? I mean, it's just a resounding man, that guy's so hot it carries the movie. I mean, it's tough, but true.

It is. Yeah. As you said, this movie doesn't work without him. Yeah. No other answer. It's just so great. And yet it's still on his apex mountain. How wild.

It's just a great holiday movie. I certainly feel like I'm in the holiday spirit now. Me too. Listen to some Christmas music. It's getting chilly here. Mm-hmm. Thank you so much for listening. I'm Julietette Litman.

I'm Manit Abbins. Carrie Simmons. We'll be back next week. Well, three of us won't be, but the rewatchables will be. Thanks for listening.