Half-Assed Internet Research
Nicholson’s speech; Sorkin and Goldman; casting; awards; salaries; filming; baseball; real-life claims
In the discussion (20)
Approx. transcript time · 00:18:46Read transcript
- Reiner reportedly planned stand-ins for reaction shots, but Nicholson insisted on fully delivering the climactic speech repeatedly and explained that he loved acting.
- Bacon and Sutherland reportedly regarded Nicholson’s work that day as a demonstration of movie stardom and professional commitment.
- Sorkin’s Navy-lawyer sister’s hazing case reportedly inspired the play, which he began on cocktail napkins while bartending at Broadway’s Palace Theatre.
- William Goldman’s rewrite contribution is clarified: instead of a documentary smoking gun, the flight-log issue provides no proof, forcing Kaffee to elicit a confession.
- The film reportedly received picture, supporting-actor, editing and sound nominations but none for Sorkin or Reiner, and won no Oscars.
- The film is described as Reiner’s only $100-million box-office release.
- The reported budget is $40 million against $243 million earned, with an 84 percent Rotten Tomatoes score mentioned.
- Cruise’s Nicholson impression reportedly was unscripted and elicited genuine laughter; that production anecdote is questioned but defended through Moore’s reaction.
- A making-of featurette praises the other actors extensively but reportedly gives Moore only Reiner’s acknowledgment that she auditioned and won the part.
- Moore reportedly reduced her asking price from $3 million to $2 million after The Butcher’s Wife, Mortal Thoughts and Nothing but Trouble disappointed.
- Wolfgang Bodison reportedly moved from Reiner’s location scout to playing Dawson without prior acting experience; his ability to hold his own opposite Cruise is admired.
- Cruise reportedly received $12.5 million and Nicholson $5 million for ten shooting days.
- Nicholson reportedly disliked the release-date move that put the film against Hoffa; filming at Camp Pendleton was not permitted.
- Nicholson and Walsh reportedly became close while making this film and Hoffa, and Nicholson later dedicated his third Oscar to Walsh’s memory.
- Bacon is said to have played a Jack in six films: Frost/Nixon, My Dog Skip, Apollo 13, A Few Good Men, Quicksilver and Friday the 13th.
- Pollak reportedly described a screening of both Godfather films at a home screening hosted by Cruise, separated by an Italian meal.
- The first televised baseball game is identified as a Braves–Padres extra-inning game featuring a David Justice tying homer before San Diego won 11–10; Atlanta later lost the 1991 World Series.
- The second game is identified as Minnesota–Baltimore, with Rick Aguilera surrendering the save and Randy Milligan’s winning double ending a Twins streak; Minnesota later won the World Series.
- A New York Times account reportedly exposed lawyers advertising themselves as Kaffee’s inspiration, with one removing the claim when questioned.
- An executive reportedly demanded a Kaffee–Galloway sex scene and questioned her being a woman without one; Sorkin objected that women have other purposes.