Apex Mountain on The Rewatchables
42:51 – 56:09… her. All right. That's great. Great. I mean there's a lot of worthy candidates in this movie. A lot of great small small roles for extremely famous people. Apex Mountain. This is really just a contentious conversation I think. Oh my gosh. We have to go through all four stars. So. And also Nancy Meyers. And Nancy Meyers. Yeah. Okay. Definitely. Cameron Diaz. Is this her Apex Mountain? Do we also. Do we need to define Apex Mountain? Yeah. Let's do it. Because it's you know this gets argued every single time. Craig. Correct me if I'm wrong. Apex Mountain is when someone has the most objective power in their …
The whole segment, as transcribed
Now I see her in all this other stuff and I'm like God that was such a small part for her back then. But I just liked her her vibe. So I go for her. All right. That's great. Great. I mean there's a lot of worthy candidates in this movie. A lot of great small small roles for extremely famous people. Apex Mountain. This is really just a contentious conversation I think. Oh my gosh. We have to go through all four stars. So. And also Nancy Meyers. And Nancy Meyers. Yeah. Okay. Definitely. Cameron Diaz. Is this her Apex Mountain? Do we also. Do we need to define Apex Mountain? Yeah. Let's do it. Because it's you know this gets argued every single time. Craig. Correct me if I'm wrong. Apex Mountain is when someone has the most objective power in their career. Not like if it's your personal favorite but if it's the peak of their career. Like just like the absolute best they're gonna do. Both like given the context of the movie and the movie itself. So with all that in mind let's go through the four stars and Nancy Meyers. First up Cameron Diaz. So it's 2006. I would say this is the very beginning of the slowing down of Cameron Diaz. I agree with that. I was gonna say no. It's not the Apex career. I would put that somewhere between. Honestly this is so weird. Is it Charlie's Angels? It's like somewhere between. It might be. There's something about Mary and then Charlie's Angels. Because after Charlie's Angels she does Shrek. She does Vanilla Sky. She does Gangs of New York which doesn't turn out well. But you know she's in the Scars-Azzy movie. Um yeah I think it's earlier. Yeah I think so too. Because by 2006. Was it something about Mary? It was earlier. Oh yeah I guess that could be because it's like when she becomes. That's when she becomes a thing. And for like her future potential is highest at that moment probably. And that was in 98. So we're eight years past peak Cameron Diaz. But I agree with you. I think she hits like a really high plateau from basically. It's something about Mary through Shrek in 2001. Yeah. And then from there she very slowly sort of begins to like. Now she says she's retired from acting. And I think it begins essentially with this movie. Where she really slows down. And in fact during the press tour for this movie. She talks about how she had gone like movie to movie to movie. Without stopping for a long time. And she had reached a point where she just like didn't want to do that anymore. And you want to know what? Shout out to her. She stopped doing it. Yeah. So Cameron Diaz. Firm no. Next. Jack Black. I think this is Jack Black's Apex Mountain. Wow. It comes right after. I think this is like the time where he's the absolute peak. I do. I really do. I'm not laughing at you. I'm just laughing at the idea of this actually being the best it gets for Jack Black. I think it does because in this it's coming in the same range. So School of Rock was 2003. And then after that he has King Kong. Which is like also didn't go great. But was like a big splashy movie. Because people thought he could carry one. He has Tenacious D sprinkled in there. And then he goes to the holiday. And I don't think it's been as good for him since. He's done a lot of voice acting work since. So I think he becomes like an actor that's like more oriented towards like stuff his kids can enjoy. But I do think that Jack Black really peters off after this movie. All the Goosebump movies. I didn't even know about that. Yeah. No. That's. Those are his. I would still argue that his apex is School of Rock. That's when he's in the consciousness. That also like sets him up for this sort of thing. I think. I guess what I'm learning is that my definition of Apex Mountain is the person's like best or most popular movie unless they have several of those. Sure. And Jack Black really just has School of Rock. I mean he has other things obviously. But that is. That's the one thing that you associate with him. That's true. I don't know. No it's true. I agree. And also that obviously went on to be a musical. Like School of Rock has so much like equity. But I think if you put like that run from 0-2 to 0-6 together. That's like peak Jack Black. Okay. Yeah I agree with that. Next. Kate Winslet. I mean obviously. That's a really hard one to evaluate. Because she's had so many like peaks essentially. I don't think anyone thinks the holiday is her best work. However she is very good in it as you said. Titanic. No. Or is. I just think that catapults her to a new level. Is that her apex though? I don't. I don't know. And then for Apex Mountain even though she won for a terrible movie. Yeah. She did win an Oscar for in 2008 which is after this. So. But like objectively winning an Oscar is a pretty big deal in terms of being. What are you calling a terrible movie? The Reader. Oh I don't even know that movie. I think I have seen The Reader and it's set during World War II and I believe that she plays a Nazi who teaches a young boy to read. Sounds awful. And then. Isn't there like some weird like sexual stuff in it too? Yeah. And then I do believe they have an affair. Yeah. It's like. It's like. It's not. She knows. She always gets the. She's. She's very willing to do nudity as we all know. Yeah. She's good at that. Yes. And I just think that she is really kind of unparalleled. She. I think she does make acting seem very easy like I said before. And she's like. She seems like a fun hang. She probably is not a fun hang. But I think she. She plays fun hang well. Like in Titanic. Yeah. Rose seems fun when she loosens up. When she goes dancing downstairs. Yeah. Remember that she married Richard Branson's nephew. Ned Rock and Rolla. Ned. A man named Ned Rock and Rolla. And they named their son Bear. Bear. And then. She was asked whether his name would be Bear Rock and Rolla. And she was. Very affably like. No. I'm not insane. His name is Bear Winslet. You know what? That's great. That's pretty good. That's pretty good. So good. I also. I love an actress who. Acknowledges like their. On screen husband. With their actual husband. In the same breath. Is just very complicated. But when she was always like the two men in my life. Sam Mendes and Leonardo DiCaprio. That was really. Really complicated. It was a rough stretch. That I thoroughly enjoyed. I think the two men in my life is my favorite. Kate Winslet and May. And did a line with the reader. I believe. Yeah. I think that's true. That was really tough. I forgot about that. So funny. So where is her apex mountain? I think it's around the time she won an Oscar. Okay. In like the middle of the aughts. Even though that movie is pretty bad. Yeah. She was on Revolutionary Road that year. That's true. With Leo. That was good. That's the same year. And she is like working up to that at this moment. So. Yeah. So she's on the way. She's on the rise. Yeah. It's on the rise. Okay. Next. Jude Law. A lot of conversation about Jude Law's apex mountain. And what that means. So. I think. Career wise. Is it his acting? We've already talked about his apex. Of hotness. Yes. His apex of hotness is certainly this movie. Okay. No disrespect to Dickie Greenleaf. Yeah. I was. I wanted to save this conversation with you. Apex of hotness. I kind of have to go with talented Mr. Ripley. My man's just in a rowboat in Italy. Wearing linens. And he's rich. And he's rich. And like handsome. And sings. Like. Hey mama. Yeah. He's very into jazz. Da da. Ba da da da. Yeah. I love dad. I love dad Graham Simpkins. Or whatever his name is in this movie. I think he's really really attractive in it. I mean it's splitting hairs. He's obviously really hot and intelligent Mr. Ripley as well. I would say Mr. Ripley is his apex mountain though. Yeah. Because. It just was. Went downhill from there. It was a gradual decline. But nothing was as good. I don't know anything he did. I just was looking at IMDB. He did Closer. Closer was one of his. Probably one of his most notable movies. He's in a bunch of good movies. But he's not. He never really carries one. I mean he's in Cold Mountain. Which was really like well received. He was in I Heart Huckabees. But he's like. He can't carry a movie. Like I guess his biggest like solo movie is Alfie. And like that was not a hit. No. That was part of the. That was right during all this Sienna Miller scandal. And I think kind of. He has Talented Mr. Ripley. And I believe he gets nominated for an Oscar for Talented Mr. Ripley. And then all of kind of the. The cool project that he's doing to try to spend his capital. Also are happening at the same time as he's indulging in a personal life. That the tabloids are covering. Because the British tabloids are really intense. There's like a. I think it sounds Mr. Ripley. But there is an argument that right now Jude Law is sort of in his apex mountain. Because he can do whatever he wants. He's in The Young Pope. Which is that HBO show that all the kids love. Yeah. I think they're doing a. Kids love it. Well I don't know whether he's in the second season. I think by kids she means like. 25. 25 year olds. Yeah. Like I don't. I mean maybe. Maybe your children will love The Young Pope. They are sophisticated. They have. You know. Maybe. Older taste. Do you love it Craig? I actually didn't. Okay. Yeah. There we go. There it is. And then he's in. He has like the Harry Potter spinoff. That's true. And he's in like the weird Marvel movies. And then he's doing all of. He does all these. And he's on the side where he just pops up to be like Jude Law. And have sort of a fun supporting role for a while. Seems like he's living well. As evidenced by his late movie career. And also the time I saw him at the Arclight. But in terms of actual power. It is probably Talented Mr. Ripley. I agree. And also Hotness. Talented Mr. Ripley. That's a really important movie. It's a great. I mean it's just an incredible movie. Great movie. Incredible talent. Has that one been done yet? Not yet. Oh yeah. You have to do that. Because it's 20 years in December. I think. Okay. It was 20 years ago. It's a great, great, great, great movie. I watch it every time it's done. It's me too. It's so expertly done. And part of that is Jude Law being Dickie Greenleaf in it. Nancy Meyers. Is this her apex mountain? No. What is her apex mountain? That's a great question. It's not something that's got to give. It might be that. It might be that. Because I think that's the one. Is both like a critical breakthrough. And she gets Keaton and Jack Nicholson. And Keanu Reeves. Kind of. And Keanu had kind of been in the wilderness for a little while. Yeah. I know it's not coming home. No. Oh no. That's her daughter's movie. Isn't it? Oh wait. No. I thought she did it. No. She produced it. Home again. Home again. Home again. Yeah. She produced it. It's her daughter's movie. Her daughter made it. Oh sorry. Absolutely horrible movie. I gotta say I had a fantastic time watching it. I enjoyed watching it. But I still. I just didn't think it was that. I think it's. I think it's probably. That's probably right. It was The Houses again. Right. Because it's The Houses. It's like the best cast. It's very good. And it's like 2003 when the movies still make money. Yeah. And like people still went to see like studio comedies in the theater. And then from there. I really love both It's Complicated and The Intern. Me too. But you know. They just aren't. Their impact is less. Yeah. Yeah. I think I agree with that. Also something's gotta give Amanda Peet's in it as well. Oh that's right. Frances McDormand is in it for a minute. It's also a really good cast. I mean Jon Favreau's in it. Like it's a. It's a really good movie. So I watched that one a lot too. So the only person we could potentially say it's her Apex Mountain and probably not even is Jack Black. And yet all this star power. Incredible. Oh man. Okay. Moving on. The Joey Pants Award for that guy. I mean. I just want to say I'm giving this to Dustin Hoffman. Okay. It's the great guy. Sure. It's the greatest that guy of all time. It's like a reverse. It's using the. The. It's sort of like a reverse that guy. Yeah. But it's pretty good. Um. Let's jump to half-assed internet research. Okay. Because I learned doing some half-assed internet research that they were filming this movie at a blockbuster. And Dustin Hoffman was like walking down the street. Saw a movie shoot happening. Went over to it. His friend is Nancy Meyers. And they just put him in the scene. I don't think I made it to that part of the director's commentary. That's awesome. Yeah. Apparently that's just like how it happened. And it was just really quick. I think it happened in Larchmont too. Because there's a coffee bean and tea leaf right next door. Oh interesting. Or there was. Not anymore. But. Huh. Back when this movie was made. Huh. That's definitely possible. I'm always obsessed with trying to figure out where they're filming things. A lot of the stuff seemed like it was. I know the one thing they filmed the scene when they were in the. That beautiful chateau where they were eating lunch. It was in the Greystone Mansion. Oh. The interior of the Greystone Mansion. And the exterior was like a home. Oh interesting. Yeah. We alluded to this. But they built. So the house that Kate Winslet's character has in England. That was completely built in a field in England for this shoot. Basically like exteriors and everything like that. And that was also in Surrey. And then a lot of soundstage action for the interiors of the homes. But building the exterior is like in a field. It's a big deal. Now I know where a lot of that 85 million went to. And that house was like made of brick. And it just feels like it's going to take a long time to do. Yeah. Totally. And then apparently it snowed during the shoot. Which is actually rare. But you know. Added to the vibe. Which is wonderful. And as we mentioned. The exterior of Cameron Diaz's house is near the Huntington Gardens in San Marino. Which is right near Pasadena. Beautiful. Yeah. It's so pretty. I couldn't verify this. So this is truly half-assed internet research. But Iris is the name of Kate Winslet's character. Also the name of one of Jude Law's daughters. And that's either a funny coincidence. Or one website suggested that the character was named for his daughter. But I actually couldn't confirm it. So who knows. Could be incorrect. Nice name. Yeah. Yeah. Very nice. Yeah. It's lovely. Iris and Graham. Those go together. I believe that Iris and Graham are siblings. Totally. Great stuff. 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78:49 – 81:36… I mean, it's tough, but true. It is. Yeah. As you said, this movie doesn't work without him. Yeah. No other answer. It's just so great. And yet it still has Apex Mountain. How wild. It's just a great holiday movie. I certainly feel like I'm in the holiday spirit now. Me too. Yeah. Listen to some Christmas music. It's getting chilly here. Mm-hmm. Thank you so much for listening. I'm Juliette Littman. I'm Amanda Dobbins. Carrie Simmons. We'll be back next week. Well, the three of us won't be, but the rewatchables will be. Thanks for listening. We'll be right back. Thank you. Thanks for listening. You're …
The whole segment, as transcribed
Who won the movie? Jude Law. Jude Law, right? Jude Law. Yeah. I mean, it's just a resounding, man, that guy's so hot it carries the movie. I mean, it's tough, but true. It is. Yeah. As you said, this movie doesn't work without him. Yeah. No other answer. It's just so great. And yet it still has Apex Mountain. How wild. It's just a great holiday movie. I certainly feel like I'm in the holiday spirit now. Me too. Yeah. Listen to some Christmas music. It's getting chilly here. Mm-hmm. Thank you so much for listening. I'm Juliette Littman. I'm Amanda Dobbins. Carrie Simmons. We'll be back next week. Well, the three of us won't be, but the rewatchables will be. Thanks for listening. We'll be right back. Thank you. Thanks for listening. You're welcome. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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