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The Player
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Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 5
- Movies in this archive
- 5
Rewatchables episodes featuring Julia Roberts’s films
The Pelican Brief
1993 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
Aired December 12, 2023
Displaying all 5 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
Apex Mountain
Jennifer Garner as an actress; Vienna
In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 01:40:08Read transcript
- Jennifer Garner is a yes: on Alias, the movie nearly makes $100 million, and she starts dating Ben Affleck; the other agrees as an actress. — Bill Simmons
- She is more famous and richer now, as the Capital One spokesperson who took Once Upon a Farm public, so money-making Garner may not have peaked here. — Bill Simmons
- A participant interviewed her for a Felicity project; she did 20th-anniversary press with Judy Greer for Vogue and is called a beloved Hollywood lady. — Bill Simmons
- Mark Ruffalo's entry is only "mark ruffalo now" (ASR), so no clear judgment is recorded. — Bill Simmons
- Razzles: this is probably the most prominent Razzles appearance, unless the 80s. — Juliet Litman
- For 2000s fake fashion-magazine plots, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is the bigger magazine rom-com and would be the apex; Eva Mendes in Hitch and Kate Hudson are the biggest such roles. — Juliet Litman
- Madonna's Crazy for You: the answer is no, since it was already big from Vision Quest; Thriller is obviously mid-80s. — Juliet Litman
- Sam Ball, who played Alex Carlson, has multiple IMDb names, a red flag; "I hope to never see him again." — Juliet Litman
- Post-9/11 feel-good New York movies: this is in the running, but Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 (and 25th Hour) are up there. — Juliet Litman
- Judy Greer: no; Descendants is a better performance, and she is a reliable second banana. — Bill Simmons
- Rom-com characters cruelly breaking up a wedding: My Best Friend's Wedding, A Lot Like Love or this; it has to be Julia Roberts. — Juliet Litman
- Vienna reached Apex Mountain here, completely rejuvenated and finally getting its acclaim after 27 years; agreed. — Juliet Litman
Casting What-Ifs
Michael Keaton as Venkman; Jeff Goldblum as Egon; other reported candidates (credibility questioned)
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:33:36Read transcript
- Chevy Chase's claim that he declined Venkman is treated skeptically, though a preliminary conversation is considered possible. — Chris Ryan
- Michael Keaton is the favored Venkman alternative because he had already played comparable fast-talking comic leads. — Chris Ryan
- Tom Hanks, Robin Williams, Steve Gutenberg, and Richard Pryor are listed as other reported Venkman possibilities with varying credibility. — Chris Ryan
- Christopher Walken, John Lithgow, Christopher Lloyd, and Jeff Goldblum are discussed as reported Egon candidates; Goldblum draws the most interest. — Bill Simmons
- Daryl Hannah, Denise Crosby, Julia Roberts, and Kelly LeBrock are reported as Dana audition possibilities, though the panel doubts some claims. — Bill Simmons
- John Candy is reported to have declined Louis Tully after proposing a German accent; Sandra Bernhard reportedly declined Janine. — Bill Simmons
- Paul Rubens is mentioned as an alleged Gozer possibility, but the claim is explicitly doubted. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Cameron is proposed to direct; Roberts, Cage, Turner and several mother-role alternatives are suggested.
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:11:43Read transcript
- James Cameron is proposed with Jamie Lee as the other teacher and increased violence/production value; a joke imagines tall blue students with tails. — Bill Simmons
- Given the star and director’s status, a more ambitious cast is wanted, with Julia Roberts as the teacher on the run. — Kyle Brandt
- Nick Cage is proposed as Crisp and receives approval. — Kyle Brandt
- Faye Dunaway, Shirley MacLaine or Ellen Burstyn are offered for the mother; Kathleen Turner replacing Cathy Moriarty is the strongest wish. — Bill Simmons
- Meg Ryan as the partner is questioned because she would need to be the female lead and might imply too much romantic interest; the existing partner’s flirtation and kiss are debated. — Kyle Brandt
Pete Berg Award for Underacting, a.k.a. the Ambien Award for the Sleepiest Actor
Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington
The panel proposes a new category here.
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:33Read transcript
- A new Julia-and-Denzel underacting variation is proposed for both leads, with Darby’s car-bomb reaction acknowledged as an exception. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:06:28Read transcript
- The original reported star configuration was Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman with Warren Beatty as the billionaire, enthusiastically compared with their later Eyes Wide Shut. — Bill Simmons
- Julia Roberts reportedly declined Diana; her apparent youth and repeating a paid-sex premise after Pretty Woman draw objections, although the character’s age is estimated at twenty-six. — Bill Simmons
- Harrelson reportedly left Benny and Joon and faced a lawsuit; Johnny Depp had been approached for this film before taking that role, while White Men Can’t Jump persuaded Lyne to cast Harrelson. — Mallory Rubin
- Harrelson is defended as inspired casting because David needs less overwhelming attractiveness than Cruise despite the marriage’s continuing sexual chemistry. — Mallory Rubin
Apex Mountain
Campbell Scott; anguished phone messages; Xavier McDaniel era; garage openers; video dating; early-nineties Seattle; red Saab
In the discussion (16)
Approx. transcript time · 00:45:20Read transcript
- Newsstands are nominated as a possible Apex, with the fuller discussion deferred. — Bill Simmons
- Crowe is rejected as an Apex here. — Bill Simmons
- Sedgwick’s later The Closer is preferred. — Bill Simmons
- Scott receives an affirmative choice based on this film and the Julia Roberts movie. — Bill Simmons
- Dillon and Pearl Jam are rejected; Kelley’s television work is offered instead. — Bill Simmons
- Long, anguished nineties phone messages receive an emphatic affirmative choice. — Bill Simmons
- McDaniel’s Knicks–Bulls playoff and Singles period is accepted as a career-era peak, with his Celtics signing mentioned. — Bill Simmons
- Garage-door openers receive immediate agreement. — Van Lathan
- Video dating in movies is accepted, reinforced by Burton directing the fictional video. — Bill Simmons
- Tim Burton cameos are proposed as a separate candidate without a clear response.
- The supertrain concept is compared with the 1979 NBC series; its repeated failure leaves no clear winner. — Bill Simmons
- Apartment buildings as plot devices lose to Melrose Place or Rosemary’s Baby. — Bill Simmons
- Sub Pop is rejected in favor of roughly two years earlier. — Bill Simmons
- Early-nineties Seattle is favored, though the exact year is debated through Sleepless in Seattle, the Sonics and Griffey; later civic and musical changes complicate the nostalgia. — Bill Simmons
- The old red Saab fastback is an affirmative final candidate. — Bill Simmons
- Douglas Coupland’s Generation X is noted as another major contemporary touchstone; no explicit final ruling is stated. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Roberts; Connelly; Applegate; Ryder; Doherty; tentative Milano
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:03:14Read transcript
- Cindy’s friends should be played by actors closer to the characters’ ages. — Bill Simmons
- Julia Roberts is proposed as one of Cindy’s friends. — Bill Simmons
- Jennifer Connelly is proposed as one of Cindy’s friends. — Bill Simmons
- Christina Applegate is proposed as one of Cindy’s friends. — Bill Simmons
- Winona Ryder is proposed as one of Cindy’s friends. — Bill Simmons
- Shannen Doherty is proposed as one of Cindy’s friends. — Bill Simmons
- Alyssa Milano is proposed for Iris despite concern she might be too young. — Bill Simmons
What’s Aged the Best?
Early-1990s Los Angeles, the no-stars pitch, cameos, Randall Batinkoff, anonymous threats, and Hollywood-insider jokes
In the discussion (14)
Approx. transcript time · 00:49:37Read transcript
- The pre-internet early-1990s Los Angeles movie world is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Executives recoiling from a movie with no stars is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Jeremy Piven’s pre-hairpiece appearance is highlighted. — Bill Simmons
- Anjelica Huston and John Cusack visibly disliking Griffin is a favorite cameo moment.
- Randall Batinkoff’s funny supporting role and failed star trajectory are highlighted. — Bill Simmons
- The mystery-person postcard device is praised as reliably effective. — Bill Simmons
- Brion James’s studio-chief presence is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Larry Levy attending AA meetings to make deals despite not drinking is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Malcolm McDowell’s cameo is praised. — Bill Simmons
- The movie marks Sidney Pollack’s return to acting before a later run.
- The running assumption that Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis fit every movie is praised. — Bill Simmons
- The Pasadena insult is highlighted. — Bill Simmons
- Griffin being served a different bottled-water brand in each venue is highlighted. — Bill Simmons
- The movie’s insider view of powerful institutions is connected to later storytelling. — Bill Simmons
Most Rewatchable Scene
The opening tracking shot
In the discussion (14)
Approx. transcript time · 00:32:47Read transcript
- The 7:47 opening tracking shot is nominated and ultimately selected. — Bill Simmons
- The opening includes Buck Henry pitching The Graduate Part II. — Bill Simmons
- The opening’s rapid movie-pitch mashups are praised.
- Fred Ward discussing Touch of Evil while admitting gaps in his movie knowledge is praised. — Wesley Morris
- The large party where Sidney Pollack appears is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- The Burt Reynolds party exchange is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Griffin confronting David Kahane at the Rialto and the ensuing murder are nominated. — Bill Simmons
- The hotel-pool Habeas Corpus pitch is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- Griffin’s generic black-tie speech about movies as art is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- The one-year-later Habeas Corpus ending with Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- The final in-car pitch of The Player and Griffin’s homecoming are nominated. — Bill Simmons
- The Pasadena interrogation with Lyle Lovett and Whoopi Goldberg is nominated. — Wesley Morris
- Whoopi Goldberg’s tampon exchange is highlighted. — Wesley Morris
- The lineup scene and Whoopi Goldberg’s pressure on the witness are praised. — Sean Fennessey
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:29Read transcript
- The Gibson-Russo reteaming leads off; actor pairs who run it back in different roles are rare, with examples including Julia Roberts and Richard Gear, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, Sana Lathan and Omar Epps, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper in multiple movies with a co-star (more of a David O. Russell thing), and Winslet and Leo. — Bill Simmons
- Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling (Crazy Stupid Love, La La Land) is the favorite re-pairing because they could make another completely different movie now. — Bill Simmons
- The chess-match aspect of Sinise and Gibson has aged well. — Bill Simmons
- The script is called well-constructed and well-written, with a shout-out to the writers, including Richard Price for the screenplay. — Bill Simmons
- The kidnappers, by shorthand, are Lieutenant Dan, the bald Californication guy, New Kid on the Block number two, the HBO narrator guy and Lily Taylor; Lily Taylor is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Donnie Wahlberg as the good kidnapper recalls the good Nazi in Victory. — Bill Simmons
- Early email as a plot device, when getting an email signaled that he must be really rich. — Bill Simmons
- The crew is a sneaky good cast who all played their positions; Donnie Wahlberg was stunt casting in 1996 and has since become a successful actor on Blue Bloods. — Van Lathan
- The narrative of the dirty cop as the lead villain has aged best. — Van Lathan
Apex Mountain
Shari Headley; Allison Dean; Clint Smith; Jheri curls in film
In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 01:30:43Read transcript
- Eddie Murphy is not at Apex here. — Bill Simmons
- Arsenio Hall is proposed as at Apex, but the objection is that the Arsenio Hall Show is his apex, with 1989 preferred. — Bill Simmons
- James Earl Jones's apex is debated: this film and Field of Dreams, the 70s, the voice of Darth Vader, the Yellow Pages ads, possibly no apex, or Sandlot as a belated apex.
- Best of the Best is jokingly named as an apex and a future Rewatchables pick.
- Shari Headley and the other sister are "definitely Apex for both". — Bill Simmons
- St. John's is no, because the 1985 team with Chris Mullin, Walter Berry and Mark Jackson was better. — Bill Simmons
- Clint Smith is a yes. — Bill Simmons
- Hot tubs are raised; the Coming to America hot tub is admired, but others point to Julia Roberts and Eddie's James Brown sketch. — Bill Simmons
- For Jheri curls, Soul Glo is both the nadir and the apex, at least in film. — Bill Simmons
- Queens isn't treated well enough to be at Apex, and classy New York hotels peak with Home Alone. — Bill Simmons
- Barbershop conversations were copied for 33 years, but the movie Barbershop is judged the apex for barbershops. — Van Lathan
- The category should be specific to Black barbershops because Mississippi Burning has a barbershop scene the same year. — Wesley Morris
- It's got to be Barbershop. — Wesley Morris
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:49Read transcript
- These are always a struggle, but you have to go Julia Roberts. — Bill Simmons
- There is a case for the villain as one of the best villains in these movies. — Bill Simmons
- The hockey-player look might have won: the mullet-beard boyfriend and Bergin's thick mustache and fluffy top match NHL haircuts from 1990-91, and Bergin would be the helmetless player, identified as Craig MacTavish (ASR 'McTavish'). — Bill Simmons
- Agreement that Julia Roberts won: making the seventh-highest-grossing movie of 1991 with this plot and this many holes is really something. — Bill Simmons
Podcast choices
- Speaker not identified
- Julia Roberts
- Speaker not identified
- Julia Roberts
Displaying discussions 1 - 12 of 52 in total
Films in the archive
Notting Hill
1999
Ocean's Twelve
2004
Pretty Woman
1990
Sleeping with the Enemy
1991
The Pelican Brief
1993