Home/Episodes/The War of the Roses
‘The War of the Roses’ With Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin, and Amanda Dobbins
April 9, 2024 · The War of the Roses (1989) · Comedy · Romance · 1:42:35 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Amanda DobbinsBarb talking to the live-in nanny about hiring her and the brief gymnastics callback scene▶ 28:10
Bill SimmonsYoung Nantucket flashback scene, first big dinner scene leading into bedroom argument, Barb finds her dream house scene, and the snoring/fingers in nose scene▶ 22:38
Mallory RubinThe bedroom argument/debrief after the dinner party and the dramatic letter reading scene before the nose-plugging incident▶ 27:04
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Mallory RubinThree-way race between piss fish, the Benny fake-out pate, and the fresh fig and cognac sauce conversation from the first dinner party▶ 48:31
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Amanda DobbinsThe terrazzo floor in the foyer - doesn't care for the late 80s interior design aesthetic▶ 54:12
Bill SimmonsThe Danny DeVito scenes and framing device - feels like he put himself in the movie because he was a big star and the movie would be better without those scenes▶ 51:00
Mallory RubinThe pacing issues, particularly how the movie's two halves are tonally distinct and the final stretch puts you in a completely different movie▶ 53:16
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Amanda DobbinsThe War of the Roses house is not even a top 20 movie house, provided a list of 17+ better movie houses▶ 1:03:02
Mallory RubinGavin orchestrated the entire divorce as a long con to inherit the house and move up in the firm▶ 1:01:09
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsCher — Cher was in the mix for Barbara Rosa role during her late 80s renaissance after Mask and Moonstruck▶ 1:09:13
Joey Pants Award
Bill SimmonsG.D. Spradlin — J.D. Spradlin (the senator in Godfather II, also in North Dallas 40, Apocalypse Now, and other films)▶ 1:09:53
Dion Waiters Award
Amanda DobbinsDiscusses Susan the housekeeper but notes she doesn't get much to do and there are only four people with extended speaking roles▶ 1:10:56
Bill SimmonsThe guy in the hospital who got stabbed by his wife - appears for about 3 minutes and delivers the line 'They're always sorry after'▶ 1:10:39
Apex Mountain
Amanda DobbinsKathleen Turner — Kathleen Turner: No, mid-80s was probably her peak with Romancing the Stone. The piss fish scene: Absolutely, can't think of another piss on fish▶ 1:16:39
Bill SimmonsDanny DeVito — Michael Douglas: No, 1987 was his peak year with Fatal Attraction and Wall Street. Kathleen Turner: No, this is tail end. Danny DeVito: Yes, around his apex with this and Twins. The piss fish scene: Yes, without question best piss on fish ever▶ 1:16:26
Mallory RubinSean Astin — Sean Astin: Certainly not his apex mountain. The piss fish scene: Agreed it's the best▶ 1:17:27
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsSamuel L. Jackson — Sam Jackson, potentially as the person Danny DeVito is talking to.▶ 1:32:47
Mallory RubinWayne Jenkins, potentially inserted into the hospital scene or involved in a case the law firm is handling.▶ 1:33:25
Just One Oscar
Amanda DobbinsKathleen Turner — Acknowledges both Turner and Douglas are great but leans toward Turner since Douglas already has an Oscar▶ 1:34:04
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill SimmonsMy father used to say there are four things that told you what a man is: His house, his car, his wife, and his shoes▶ 1:37:58
Mallory RubinWhen a man who makes $450 an hour wants to tell you something for free, you should listen▶ 1:38:16
Who Won the Movie
Amanda DobbinsKathleen Turner — Agrees Turner has the better part - gets to be funny and sexy while Douglas is just befuddled▶ 1:39:10
Bill SimmonsKathleen Turner — The combo of Douglas and Turner, but at gunpoint would pick Turner▶ 1:38:54
Hall of Fame Plaque
Bill SimmonsAgrees with Hall of Fame status, emphasizes things that would never happen in movies now▶ 1:40:33
Mallory RubinSupports Hall of Fame inclusion, notes the movie works because the leads are good together▶ 1:42:03
Movies Referenced (58)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatal Attraction (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin | ▶ 8:07 |
| Ant-Man (2015) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Amanda Dobbins, Mallory Rubin | ▶ 17:12 |
| Jerry Maguire (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 1:21:34 |
| Basic Instinct (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 8:00 |
| Ex Machina (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Mallory Rubin, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 1:03:22 |
| The Whale (2022) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons | ▶ 4:13 |
| Wall Street (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 15:48 |
| Barbie (2023) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Amanda Dobbins, Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons | ▶ 12:47 |
| Marriage Story (2019) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Amanda Dobbins, Mallory Rubin | ▶ 4:19 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 55:30 |
| Father of the Bride (1991) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 1:03:36 |
| It's Complicated (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 1:06:12 |
Directors Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Demme | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, Rachel Getting Married | ▶ 1:11:16 |
| John Hughes | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Amanda Dobbins | Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, The Breakfast Club | ▶ 1:04:21 |
| Ken Russell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 10:49 |
Actors Referenced (53)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Douglas | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 30 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin, Amanda Dobbins | Wall Street, Romancing the Stone | ▶ 2:29 |
| Kathleen Turner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 23 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins, Mallory Rubin | Romancing the Stone, Peggy Sue Got Married, Body Heat | ▶ 2:29 |
| Danny DeVito | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 21 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin | The War of the Roses, Batman Returns | ▶ 2:36 |
| Beach House | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 16 | Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:34 | |
| Tom Hanks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 16 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin, Amanda Dobbins | Cast Away, Big, Forrest Gump | ▶ 40:00 |
| Harrison Ford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin | Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, The Fugitive | ▶ 3:28 |
| Olivia Colman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 13:18 | |
| Tony Romo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:06:40 | |
| Chris Berman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | The Longest Yard, Draft Day | ▶ 1:09:04 |
| Ivana Basic | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 8:00 | |
| Phil Collins | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | Tarzan | ▶ 1:14:31 |
| Tom Cruise | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons | Top Gun, Minority Report | ▶ 40:17 |
Writers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nancy Meyers | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Amanda Dobbins, Bill Simmons | It's Complicated, Something's Gotta Give, Private Benjamin | ▶ 1:04:14 |
| James Thurber | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 20:09 |