Roger Ebert
Just one Oscar
Cameron Diaz
The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award · 1:41:12
Bill Simmons: Amanda Peet is selected as the hottest woman in the movie.
Her directness, intelligence, and willingness to commit to roles are praised.
The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson · 2:09:50
Bill Simmons: No women on the boat is selected.
Selected cast credits · Film reference
In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.
Heather entering Mickey’s cab; the brothers’ silent sizing-up; the gay-question montage; the final confrontation.
Mike McGlone shouting after Heather’s departure.
Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel-era hair; the valuable heavy television; a cab rather than Uber; 1990s character names.
Irish-American guilt and sanctimony; never showing the mother.
Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Aniston, Mike McGlone, Edward Burns, John Mahoney, and brotherly conflict.
Mike McGlone and Jennifer Aniston; Pete as runner-up.
Jennifer Aniston and Pete.
Bottled Budweiser; canned Guinness; Icehouse; Coca-Cola.
The brothers walking at dusk; Maxine leaning forward in Mickey’s cab.
Moonstruck.
Tom Petty’s songs, especially Walls and the cue after the family meets Mickey’s bride.
Irish Goodbye; Irish Curse; She’s the One retained.
Francis refusing sex with Renee; Maxine’s underwritten role.
Maxine’s jealousy and France subplot; shallow psychology; gender perspective.
Dennis Peck could break every relationship in the movie.
The panel proposes a new category here.
Amanda Peet is the movie’s hottest woman; Burns could have been Noah Baumbach with a stronger co-writer.
Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Heather Graham, Amanda Peet, Anne Heche, Lauryn Hill, and Jennifer Garner auditioned; the Wallflowers were sought.
Mike McGlone; Robert Weil; Malachy McCourt.
Talia Shire as the sisters’ mother; Leslie Mann in Maxine’s role.
Edward Burns, Maxine Bahns, and Mike McGlone: yes
Islanders game, par-three golf, or pickup basketball
Tom Hanks as Mickey; Tom Cruise as Francis.
Whether Burns needed to star; when Francis began sleeping with Heather; whether Burns is a good actor; whether the movie loves women.
Yes for several characters; Jennifer Aniston’s character is exempted.
The 24-hour marriage; Heather’s limited choices and possibly false marriage; the mother’s affair; Mickey’s apartment.
An Apple TV series circa 2006.
A 13-year-old third Fitzpatrick brother modeled on Sean Fennessey.
Mickey and Hope break up; Mickey and Maxine may not last.
The television; fishing rods; boxing gloves; watch.
No women on the boat; do not become sensitive mid-argument.
The Brothers McMullen; Crimes and Misdemeanors; Walking and Talking.
Cameron Diaz (short term); Edward Burns (long term)
