‘Dave,’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Amanda Dobbins
February 18, 2019 · Dave (1993) · Comedy · Romance · 1:14:04
Categories
Casting What-Ifs
Amanda DobbinsKevin Kline — Praises Kevin Kline's versatility in being able to 'adjust the dials' - turn on 20% Robin Williams energy when needed but also be earnest, romantic, or villainous as required▶ 6:05
Bill SimmonsRobin Williams — Robin Williams was almost cast in the lead role, but thinks it would have been 90% likely to be a disaster, with only 10% chance Williams would have reigned it in like in Dead Poets Society▶ 4:24
Sean FennesseyRobin Williams — Robin Williams would have been fine but too broad - his big expressive face would have made the ridiculous premise into a circus show of clown ideas about American politics▶ 4:45
Most Rewatchable Scene
Amanda DobbinsWhen Dave and Sigourney Weaver are pulled over by cops and sing 'Tomorrow' from Annie▶ 25:33
Bill SimmonsThe 'I would have taken a bullet for you' scene between Dave and Ving Rhames' character▶ 24:09
Sean FennesseyMentioned the homeless shelter scene as a nominee but didn't give a clear final pick▶ 25:44
What's Aged the Best
Amanda DobbinsKevin Kline's performance - he walks a fine tonal line that not many people could pull off and created its own brand of comedy▶ 32:31
Bill SimmonsThe cameos (Oliver Stone, Tip O'Neill, Jay Leno, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the McLaughlin Group, Camden Yards, Ben Stein, Paul Simon)▶ 34:06
Sean FennesseyThe score/music - it feels completely of a moment, reminds him of The Firm score where they don't make those kinds of scores anymore▶ 30:49
Half-Assed Internet Research
Amanda DobbinsAnalyzes White House residence sets, noting Dave's president bedroom looks completely different from Sorkin projects (American President/West Wing), describes Dave's bedroom as large with red velvet but poor spatial relationships compared to more livable Sorkin version▶ 38:36
Bill SimmonsShares multiple trivia facts including: Oval Office set reused 25+ times, Clinton loved the film and gave Ross signed script, Obama said he loves Dave because it makes presidency look fun, Nelson Rockefeller died during encounter with young assistant, Woodrow Wilson's wife essentially ran presidency for 2 years after his stroke, and Reitman's family appeared as VP Nance's family▶ 38:30
Sean FennesseyComments that Clinton can't be trusted when he says he likes something because he's 'famously full of shit,' questions Obama's quote about the movie making presidency look fun when Obama actually did the job, and clarifies Rockefeller wasn't in office when he died▶ 40:30
Apex Mountain
Amanda DobbinsKevin Kline — Voted no on Kevin Kline for Dave, but specific reasoning not detailed in transcript▶ 46:47
Bill SimmonsKevin Kline — Yes for Kevin Kline - Dave is his Apex Mountain, more power after this movie than A Fish Called Wanda▶ 46:16
Sean FennesseyGrand Canyon — Grand Canyon for Kevin Kline - five years after his Oscar, still close enough to peak power▶ 46:18
Movies Referenced (34)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Lot Like Love (2005) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:09:36 |
| No Strings Attached (2011) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 1:08:25 |
| Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:12:11 |
| Dracula (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 47:01 |
| Sing (2016) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 24:40 |
| Ghostbusters (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 10:51 |
| God Bless America (2011) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 20:41 |
| Independence Day (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 3:33 |
| Kindergarten Cop (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 10:51 |
| Schindler's List (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 15:08 |
| The Remains of the Day (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 19:55 |
| A Fish Called Wanda (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 8:31 |
Directors Referenced (8)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivan Reitman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Up in the Air, Ghostbusters | ▶ 10:41 |
| Oliver Stone | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Born on the Fourth of July, Platoon, JFK | ▶ 29:59 |
| Frank Capra | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | It's a Wonderful Life, It Happened One Night | ▶ 2:01 |
| Kevin Costner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | ▶ 5:48 |
| Jason Reitman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Up in the Air, Thank You for Smoking | ▶ 45:49 |
| Warren Beatty | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Heaven Can Wait | ▶ 37:07 |
| Chris Corner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Amanda Dobbins | The Saint, Open Your Eyes | ▶ 16:12 |
| Kevin Smith | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Clerks, Chasing Amy | ▶ 33:44 |
Actors Referenced (62)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Kline | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 31 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins | Wild Wild West, Dave, A Fish Called Wanda | ▶ 3:20 |
| Charles Grodin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins | Midnight Run | ▶ 11:33 |
| Frank Langella | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 22:10 | |
| Robin Williams | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins | Mrs. Doubtfire | ▶ 4:24 |
| Ving Rhames | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons | Pulp Fiction, Bringing Out the Dead | ▶ 11:50 |
| Ashton Kutcher | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey | A Lot Like Love | ▶ 1:08:35 |
| Sigourney Weaver | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | Avatar, Alien | ▶ 0:40 |
| Jay Leno | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Dave | ▶ 29:59 |
| Donald Trump | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins | Home Alone 2: Lost in New York | ▶ 1:51 |
| Jason Biggs | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | American Pie, American Pie 2 | ▶ 1:11:00 |
| Jon Hamm | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | The Town | ▶ 33:51 |
| Kevin Dunn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Transformers, Warrior | ▶ 48:34 |
Writers Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Ross | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | The Hunger Games | ▶ 11:39 |
| Aaron Sorkin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey | A Few Good Men | ▶ 39:09 |
| Richard Nixon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 18:36 | |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 14:32 | |
| Woodrow Wilson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 42:16 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Kovic | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | ▶ 0:13 | ||
| Hannah Jell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Black Widow | ▶ 11:09 |