Podcast Pt 2: Steel Magnolias, Parenthood, and Movie Memories
Did you listen to part one and read the smackdown?
(If not, do both first.)
In the second half of our Smackdown 1989 companion conversation we discuss the 'regular family' subgenre in movies and television, and our histories with both Parenthood and Steel Magnolias. We also revisit Julia Roberts feud with her director Herbert Ross and debate how Parenthood has aged and where it sits in the raunchy comedy continuum.
You can listen at the bottom of the post or download on iTunes Continue the conversation in the comments. We'd love to hear your thoughts on these two films. Who's your favorite from these huge ensembles?
And a big round of applause please for our awesome panel: Nick Davis, Kevin B Lee, Tim Robey, Tasha Robinson, Todd VanDerWerff and your host Nathaniel R. We hope you'd give us at least ♥♥♥♥
until next time...
Reader Comments (7)
Wow! This whole podcast was so comprehensive and enjoyable. What a great panel!
I guess it's wrong, but I love when actors open up and tell us how miserable they were while shooting a movie. I don't think it affects my opinion on the performance and it gives much more perspective. It can be a tough job sometimes.
The one about the hair is priceless. I also love: "There's so much static electricity in this room, I pick up everything but boys and money."
I find it somewhat incomprehensible that you could be in a bad mood on a set with Sally Field, Olympia Dukakis, and Dolly Parton, but here we are.
Loved the discussion. I feel like everything in the DIanne Wiest stratosphere of Parenthood is great and memories of the rest of the film with Robards and Martin the exceptions blur to the background. Howard as a filmmaker? Hmm.... I like when he is going for straight comedy- except for Gung-Ho that was one too many George Wendt gleeful dancing montages and also just culturally insensitive. I feel like he falls into a trap that happens to many filmmakers **cough** Jason Reitman **cough** and mistakes more drama and important topics with natural levity and gravitas.
I love Steel Magnolias. It's a rare film I can watch with my mother and sister and not at all feel annoyed at how inconsequential- okay, there's Jackson- the male characters feel because it's such a show of women for women. This must be how my mother and sister look at the crime films I watch.
Line goes to Ouiser:
The only reason people are nice to me is because I have more money than God.
peggy - i love that too! behind the scenes turmoil doesn't mean a movie will be bad. it just means the people involved are people. I'm currently reading Mark Harris's FIVE CAME BACK and the stories of Wyler & Davis fighting on the set of Little Foxes are eye opening because that movie is so great but it basically ended things with them.
cmg -- that's a great line to quote if only it were more universal. haha. I've always been too poor to quote it
the line I quote a lot is "I'm not crazy M'Lynn I've just been in a very bad mood for 40 years". Ouiser!!
Ouiser: What's the matter with you these days, M'Lynn? You got a reindeer up your butt?
Sally Field's non-reaction to this line makes the moment even more hilarious.
These podcasts were SO great, Nathaniel. So great. Someone needs to hire you to do some moderating on a film radio or tv show or something.
My brother and I used to do dueling Diane Weist in Parenthood impressions growing up. "OOOP. HERE'S ONE FOR MY WALLET!"
murtada already posted my favorite line, so here are my next three:
Clairee: "You know I love you more'n my luggage."
Ouiser: "You are too twisted for color TV."
Truvy: "When it comes to sufferin', she's right up thar with Elizabeth Taylor."