Ebert praises Burns’s craft but calls the movie an overhauled Brothers McMullen and urges him to move on; the panel partly agrees while defending McGlone’s broader comedy.

In the discussion (3)

Roger Ebert’s two-star rating is reported.
Ebert praises Burns’s command of scenes and human detail but calls the film a larger-budget reworking of Brothers McMullen.
The movie is defended as funnier because Mike McGlone plays a broader, more compromised character.

Casting What-Ifs

Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Heather Graham, Amanda Peet, Anne Heche, Lauryn Hill, and Jennifer Garner auditioned; the Wallflowers were sought.

Amanda Peet’s accent performance and Burns’s relationship with Tom Petty are retained.

In the discussion (6)

Burns reports auditioning Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Heather Graham, Amanda Peet, Anne Heche, Lauryn Hill, and Jennifer Garner for the two lead roles.
Jennifer Lopez as Heather is considered intriguing.
Amanda Peet reportedly arrived in character with teased hair, gum, and a Long Island accent despite her Columbia background.
The filmmakers reportedly sought the Wallflowers’ 6th Avenue Heartache before using Tom Petty.
Burns’s early assumption that Hollywood success would always feel this easy is reported and treated as poignant.
Burns learning from Saving Private Ryan is raised and answered from his book.

Recasting Couch

Talia Shire as the sisters’ mother; Leslie Mann in Maxine’s role.

Susan Sarandon, Kathleen Turner, and Diane Keaton are considered but judged too large, mismatched, or destabilizing.

In the discussion (4)

Leslie Mann taking Maxine’s role is proposed.
Susan Sarandon is proposed and rejected as too prominent immediately after her Oscar.
Kathleen Turner and Diane Keaton are proposed and questioned.
Talia Shire is proposed and receives the strongest interest.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Whether Burns needed to star; when Francis began sleeping with Heather; whether Burns is a good actor; whether the movie loves women.

The panel keeps these unresolved while supplying competing cases.

In the discussion (8)

Whether Edward Burns needed to star in his own films is questioned.
Writing parts for other movie stars is proposed as an alternate career route.
When Francis began sleeping with Heather is questioned, and making it the final act is proposed.
Whether Edward Burns is a good actor is debated; his screen presence is praised while his self-direction is said to limit his flaws.
Working more often with other directors is proposed as a test of his range.
Whether Burns erred by not continuing with McGlone is questioned.
Whether the movie loves or hates women is kept open because it grants agency while using a male viewpoint.
The title’s failure to identify who “the one” is becomes part of the uncertainty.

Picking Nits

The 24-hour marriage; Heather’s limited choices and possibly false marriage; the mother’s affair; Mickey’s apartment.

The device is criticized as underexplored, while the older affair is defended through attention and affection.

In the discussion (10)

A drifting cab driver marrying after 24 hours and then considering Paris is criticized as underexplored.
The marriage is defended as a plot device that moves Mickey into the other relationships.
Heather having only an older wealthy man or a married man as choices is criticized.
The panel says it needs to see the older wealthy man before judging the choice.
The hardware-store owner winning the mother is questioned.
His affection and attention are offered as the reason the mother chose him.
Heather’s claim that she married that morning is questioned because she may be lying.
Ebert’s plot-logic questions are cited as broader support for the nitpicks.
Heather preferring a long drive despite holding a plane ticket is questioned.
Mickey’s ability to afford his apartment is questioned.

Best Double Feature

The Brothers McMullen; Crimes and Misdemeanors; Walking and Talking.

The pairings emphasize Burns’s origins, tonal ambition, and a contemporary friendship film.

In the discussion (3)

The Brothers McMullen is selected.
Crimes and Misdemeanors is proposed as the successful blend of drama and comedy this film reaches for.
Walking and Talking is proposed as a same-era relationship film.

Mentioned in the podcast

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