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‘My Best Friend's Wedding’ With Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman, and Amanda Dobbins

August 9, 2018 · My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) · Comedy · Drama · Romance · 1:26:39

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

Categories

Apex Mountain

Amanda Dobbins▶ 24:10Acknowledged There's Something About Mary was a phenomenon and Cameron Diaz was great in it, but didn't offer alternative pick
Bill Simmons▶ 23:12Cameron Diaz — There's Something About Mary for Cameron Diaz
Juliet Litman▶ 23:32Discussed Cameron Diaz's career arc and PR challenges but didn't give a specific Apex Mountain pick

Most Rewatchable Scene

Amanda Dobbins▶ 33:25The Say a Little Prayer for You lunch/karaoke scene
Bill Simmons▶ 34:43The bathroom fight at Comiskey Park between Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 35:24The lunch singing scene and both singing scenes

What's Aged the Best

Amanda Dobbins▶ 38:29The backup marriage pact concept, which started with this movie and is now seen everywhere
Bill Simmons▶ 35:43The title, Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz's looks/performances, Chicago as a setting, Cameron Diaz's BMW convertible, and Julia battling for screen time with Cameron
Juliet Litman▶ 37:56Julia Roberts' style and how beautiful she looks - her fashion is very current now including crop tops and small sunglasses

Casting What-Ifs

Amanda Dobbins▶ 46:56Edward Burns — Notes Julia Roberts had good PR during rumored personal struggles, finds Ed Burns very handsome and says her husband resembles him, but seems conflicted about the casting choice
Bill Simmons▶ 45:43Edward Burns — Discusses Sarah Jessica Parker turning down Julia Roberts' role for Sex and the City, analyzes Julia Roberts' career drought in the 90s, and strongly prefers Ed Burns over Dermot Mulroney for the male lead
Juliet Litman▶ 52:01Edward Burns — Ed Burns would be a clear upgrade over Dermot Mulroney - more believable and smarter for the role

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 54:28The three Helium kids
Juliet Litman▶ 53:58Carrie Preston — Carrie Preston (who answers the phone at the end and talks about her sister licking the ice David sculpture)

Half-Assed Internet Research

Amanda Dobbins▶ 56:00Reacted to the research findings, particularly opposed to the John Corbett ending saying 'Don't bring Aiden in at the end of this movie to fix it. That's so lame'
Bill Simmons▶ 54:41Presented research including: Delmet Mulroney and Julia Roberts are still close, potential sequel 'My Best Friend's Divorce' was discussed in 2001, test audiences thought Julia was too evil requiring reshoots to beef up Rupert Everett's character, original ending had Julia meeting John Corbett but was changed after poor testing, and Julia Roberts wore a wig in the final ending shot filmed 8 months later
Juliet Litman▶ 56:43Responded positively to the research saying 'That's a lot of research' and suggested the movie should be redone rather than sequelized

Best Quote

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:13:47The creme brulee/Jell-O exchange ("you're never going to be Jell-O") and the "Choose me. Marry me" speech
Bill Simmons▶ 1:13:18"I am a dangerous criminal person. I do bad things to honest people" and "It's so against God's plan" (Rupert Everett)

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:16:31Cameron Diaz would phase out Julia Roberts gradually rather than confrontational cut-off. Michael and Kimmy don't stay married - he'll work for her father's company, become miserable in Chicago, and they'll divorce. Julia Roberts goes through emotional growth, therapy, marries a non-threatening schmuck around 31, divorces by 40, then finds AARP partner later
Bill Simmons▶ 1:14:27Multiple questions including: Was Julia Roberts the worst maid of honor ever? When did Cameron Diaz cut Julia Roberts out of their lives (after the honeymoon)? Does Julia Roberts get married (predicts two marriages - panic marriage within 18 months, then second marriage with kid)? Julia Roberts becomes a food TV star rival to Anthony Bourdain around 2008-9
Juliet Litman▶ 1:14:40Julia Roberts is worse maid of honor than Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married. Every woman wants a perfect gay best friend. Julia Roberts would back away from the friendship herself due to embarrassment. Michael and Kimmy don't stay married. Julia Roberts finds AARP boyfriend later in life and gets a Netflix series

Who Won the Movie

Amanda Dobbins▶ 1:21:47Julia Roberts — Julia Roberts - this was her comeback that led to her Oscar and established her as America's sweetheart
Bill Simmons▶ 1:22:12Julia Roberts — Julia Roberts - because it's her comeback A plus list movie, though acknowledges cases could be made for Cameron Diaz and Rupert Everett
Juliet Litman▶ 1:21:17Rupert Everett

Movies Referenced (46)

Notting Hill (1999)

10 mentions · Amanda Dobbins, Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons▶ 25:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chicago (2002)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins, Juliet Litman▶ 36:29IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Hook (1991)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins▶ 7:13IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Erin Brockovich (2000)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins, Juliet Litman▶ 25:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Pretty Woman (1990)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 14:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Holiday (2006)

5 mentions · Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins▶ 24:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bridesmaids (2011)

4 mentions · Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons▶ 8:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

4 mentions · Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons▶ 25:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

There's Something About Mary (1998)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins▶ 23:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

In Her Shoes (2005)

3 mentions · Juliet Litman▶ 27:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Vanilla Sky (2001)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 27:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Black Panther (2018)

2 mentions · Juliet Litman▶ 22:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (3)

Jerry Zucker

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Airplane!, Ghost▶ 47:22IMDb ↗Lb ↗

George Clooney

2 mentions · Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons · Known for The Ides of March, Michael Clayton▶ 1:02:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mel Gibson

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Braveheart, Conspiracy Theory▶ 1:23:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (51)

Julia Roberts

90 mentions · Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins, Juliet Litman · Known for Pretty Woman, My Best Friend's Wedding▶ 2:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cameron Diaz

43 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins · Known for Charlie's Angels, Vanilla Sky, There's Something About Mary▶ 2:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Rupert Everett

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins · Known for My Best Friend's Wedding▶ 31:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kiefer Sutherland

9 mentions · Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons · Known for Phone Booth▶ 4:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jude Law

8 mentions · Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons · Known for The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Grand Budapest Hotel▶ 28:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dermot Mulroney

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins · Known for My Best Friend's Wedding, Young Guns▶ 32:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Drew Barrymore

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman · Known for Charlie's Angels, 50 First Dates, Never Been Kissed▶ 27:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Rachel Griffiths

4 mentions · Juliet Litman▶ 53:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Calista Flockhart

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 49:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Carrie Preston

3 mentions · Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons▶ 53:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lyle Lovett

3 mentions · Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons · Known for The Crying Game, The Player▶ 4:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Steve Buscemi

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Fargo, Reservoir Dogs▶ 1:03:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (3)

Ed Burns

21 mentions · Bill Simmons, Juliet Litman, Amanda Dobbins▶ 29:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Nancy Meyers

4 mentions · Amanda Dobbins, Juliet Litman, Bill Simmons · Known for It's Complicated, Something's Gotta Give, Private Benjamin▶ 24:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Nora Ephron

1 mentions · Juliet Litman · Known for Julie & Julia, When Harry Met Sally...▶ 33:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Hannah Jell

3 mentions · Amanda Dobbins · Known for Black Widow▶ 1:13:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗