Green Card with Esther Zuckerman

Introduction

0:00The story of two friends who got a podcast, did bits, and then fell in love. So true. Now, this movie does have a perfect tagline.

0:32It's a really great tagline. Do you know the tagline? No. I'm going to read it. Was that it? That was a riff. That was a little bit of a riff. It was a riff on it. It's the story of two friends who got married. No, two friends. Because we're the two friends. No, yeah. No, obviously. That's competitive advantage. Yeah, you said two friends. Two people? The story of two people who got married, met, and then fell in love. Yeah. It's good. Kind of gets you. That's how the fucking film industry used to work. If you could walk into a room and say, I will say, the poster does look like Obelix is kidnapping a woman.

Movie Discussion

1:02David, I like this movie a tremendous amount. I had never seen it before. Look at him. He's like, I have her. She is mine. This is a thing we're going to have to keep talking about in this movie, where this movie is super charming and sweet and exquisitely made. It really is. And yet, it is all this study of, what is the weird charm of this guy? Totally. And part of it is, this guy is, why no Shrek? Is he an emotional terrorist? You know, like...

1:33I thought you were going to do something like, I wanted you to do something like in a French accent, like, I am a beast, or the beast will come out, or something like that. Right. This movie is trying to present Gerard Depardieu as, like, the Walt Disney version of the beast, who's not actually that bad of a guy, but obviously has this kind of, like, rough, oafish personality. And then you're just like, you know, it's really close to, like, just, we took all the bad things out of Gerard Depardieu and left the baseline.

2:05I mean... Gerard Depardieu was hot and sexy, guys. I hate to, you know, I hate to break it. I do not get it. And I think we will discuss that I... But it was not like a... No, I know it's not like a... You know, a shocking proposition in 1990. This is the thing. Times change. Or do they? Well, yes, but also... I think times change for Gerard Depardieu.

Gerard Depardieu

2:24This was the real project. This was the, do we get... How do we make Americans get Depardieu? Right. And I think this is the one time that Americans really got him. Yeah. I guess so. As, like, a romantic lead? Yeah. I mean... Yeah. I think the other stuff... Not in a... Yeah. Oh, God. 1492. Right. You know, like, his other stuff later. But, like, didn't Americans... It was the same year, but, like, didn't Americans get him even though...

2:54Yeah, in Cyrano. In Cyrano. Yeah. That was the... Which is, like, obviously a French film, but... But gets him an Oscar nomination. Yeah. That was just a huge crossover hit. Yeah. But, like, here's this guy who's in his third decade of being a movie star in France. Yeah. Yeah. And had worked with Bertolucci, had sort of, like, touched the membrane of Hollywood without fully crossing over. I mean, he was a French actor. That was the most crossing over international films that existed. Right. Yeah. And he was in, like, the last... We'll talk about it.

3:24And in the 90s, there was this push of, like, are you ready to meet France's Robert De Niro? I've got that baguette for you. Well, he got a fucking handjob next to Robert De Niro. And that's where De Niro said... In the movie. You know, you should try. He's being me. I wish there was a French Fockers trilogy with De Perdue. There must be something approximating that. Yeah, that sounds like there's so many crazy... He makes so many movies. Right? Like, he made a bunch of silly... Like, he probably did something... Also, French comedies, as I know, I don't want to offend someone who is French.

3:57My mother is French, yes. Yeah. Yes. Are some of the most insane, stupid things on the planet. Well, right. I mean, isn't it always like, oh, my daughter, she married an immigrant. Oh, Sacre bleu, right? Like, it's like, oh, a lot of that, right? A lot of that. Let's also acknowledge that De Perdue's breakout was in the movie Going Places, which is basically just about a fucking contest. I'm sure a bunch of French listeners are going to explain how I'm not paying proper respects to Going Places. No, I don't think so.

4:27Going Places, you know what in French it's called? Like, you know, that was the American title for Going Places. And then we'll introduce our pocket. In French, it's called Les Values, which means the ball. Yeah. Yeah.

4:41It's like slang for the balls, but like, that's what it means. That's what it means. Every year at Cannes, I've been going for three years now,

French Comedies

4:48and every year there's some movie that sort of pops up that's like the French pick. And it's like, often there's like a French comedy and you're like, oh, wow, this is just playing so much differently here than it would. You see the French response. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Well, you're like, there's French comedies that are like based on very retrograde cultural, socioeconomic, racial stereotypes. Right. And then regional stereotypes as well. Bonvenu, le chiti, which is like the biggest French comedy of all time.

5:21I think it has not been beaten since. But then there's like, you will go to France and there will be giant billboards for a movie that is just like four firmly middle-aged actors wearing like suits and dresses, making faces. And you're like, what's that? And it's like, it's been number one five weeks in a row. It's called like, you know, the fucking fart family. And it's just about them all walking into walls and stuff. No, it's like, it's called about like, quelle chance. Right, exactly. And you're like, what's it about?

5:52And you're like, um, it's kind of just about like two couples have a dinner. Right. But then it finds out that they've all slept with each other. There's a lot of puns. But you wouldn't understand because it's French puns. And so, you know, there's a lot of, you know, double meanings to the words. But some of them are like these kind of classical, almost like stagey French farces. Just four characters. They haven't really gotten over that. No. I remember when I lived in Paris, there was a movie called Paris, made in 2008, starring Juliette Binoche, that I believe was sort of like the, you know, Valentine's Day or New

6:25Year's Eve of like French movies, because it was like a big ensemble movie with a bunch of stars that was just called Paris. And the only thing about it was that it was set in Paris. Oh, yeah. That's a good movie. Is it? It's not bad. Is it? Have you seen it? The Cedric Clopage film? Correct. Yeah, I've seen it. Yeah. And I remember when I was just like looking at that, I was like, is this like the biggest French movie ever? It's just called Paris. Is this the biggest French movie of all time or is everyone in Paris? What if we had like New York? Right. Because there was Perry and Don Perry were around the same time. And Don Perry is much better.

6:56Don Perry is Louis Garel and Romain Durice. Yeah, that one's fun. That's about like some, you know, shaggy boys, right? It's about depression. Yeah, it's about two brothers. That movie rules. And then Perry, I'm trying to remember, but I have seen as well. It's got a huge cast. Yeah. A lot of Frenchies. Romain Durice is in that one too. Yeah. What's he up to these days? Yeah, I realized because he's so good in All the Money in the World. Oh, yeah. That's right. He's excellent in that film. Sort of a movie I forgot. And I was like, yeah, he doesn't do enough like American films.

7:27And I looked and I think that's literally the only one. Yeah, I guess it's just not. Well, you know what? He was the French voice. This is so fun when you learn this. Of the Edward Norton character in Isle of Dogs. I'll tell you that much. There we go. Yeah, but he does a lot of, oh, man. And he did a movie called Eiffel about Gustave Eiffel, like a biopic. Okay. Where you're like, that doesn't even make it to America. But in France, they're like, please. He was also in that really big Three Musketeers. They told him he could not make The Tower. Yeah. He's a great actor.

7:58I think he's one of the best movie actors working. And he's, yeah. But it's just interesting. And he's got a hanger. I've seen it. He does. In like 50 movies.

Jean Dujardin

8:06But I even feel like his biggest French movies haven't crossed over super wide here. Not since like Beat That My Heart skipped. You know, but in those early days, he was having some. Yeah. Yeah. What can you do? He's French. I'm sure. Was he in Die Person or whatever it's called? You know, was he in Call My Agent ever? Yeah. It just felt like Depardieu was the one male French star. They really tried to make work. There's a history of, here's the most beautiful woman in France. Sure.

8:37And we try to make her convert. And that usually does work, but for a period of time. You know, you have your Sophie Marceau. You have your Isabella Gianni. You know, I'm sure. Certainly Bardot. So, and like Marion Coutillard has probably had a better, more sustained, fully French and American career. Laissez-dû. Laissez-dû. Yep. I mean, you're forgetting the queen. The number one. Juliet. No. No. Binoche. Binoche. Binoche. Binoche. The whole thing with Juliette Binoche is anytime you see her in a movie, you're like,

9:11this is the best movie I've ever seen in my life. I had this experience recently. Also, mothers around the country were captivated by Chocolat. Yes. Well, that's true. And you wanted a bite? Love her. Yeah, of course. Right. You just named her one. The French actors who've crossed over, it is an interesting list because I'm thinking of like Vincent Cassell, right? Yeah. Where it's like he crossed over, but in America, mostly he plays the weasel. I was going to say, with the men, it's usually kind of that where you're like, it's a little Mads Mikkelsen. Jean Reno, he plays the living cigarette.

9:43But the Mads Mikkelsen effect where you're like, Hollywood has accepted this guy doing one kind of thing. Yeah, maybe two. Garel has sort of had a little. But if Garel shows up again, you're just like, who's this molester? Right. I know in Little Women, he has the, but you know, that's sort of a tankless role. Right. Sort of exception to the role. The best actor who accepted an Oscar with pleasure. And what was his name, Griffin? It was Jean Dujardin. Jean Dujardin. Jean Dujardin. Jean Dujardin. Jean Dujardin.

10:13Oh my God. Jean Dujardin. Dujardin. Jesus. I'm going to help you out here. Jean Dujardin. Who did he beat for best actor, Griffin? George Clooney. I guess he just recently won. Brad Pitt. Yeah. Right. For Moneyball. He beats. I just like, I recently watched his like win. And the other four guys were like, hmm, heavy hitters. One of them is Demian Bashir, who's a great actor. Oh yeah. In our buddy's film. In our friend Chris's film. And there's the other one, Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor. Yeah. Yeah. Pretty good. I mean, pretty good. Pretty good.

10:44Yeah. That's my example of like, we've talked about too many times. But Jean Dujardin, a name I know how to say. Like, wins best actor. And you're like, you know what? This is kind of a little ready made for Hollywood. He's making it easy for them to cast him. He's weird cartoon version of a Frenchman. But on the other hand, it's weird that he has an Oscar and a bunch of the guys we just mentioned don't. And he basically does not do any American productions anymore. But also he doesn't speak in the movie.

11:14He doesn't. And he did Monuments Man. He's more bilingual now than he was when he was doing the Oscar campaign. Also, that movie, like, doesn't exist. It truly is a memory hold film. But he has this small collection of like, I'll do a two scene role in Wolf of Wall Street. I'll do a couple scenes in Monuments Man. And I feel like there's one other film in that period where it was like a supporting ensemble role. And then he has not made any sort of American film in over 10 years. Yeah.

11:44I think those might be the only two. Yeah. He's made plenty of other films. He works still in France. He's their... He's a big star. Biggest star. Yeah. He's a big star. Certainly. And he did another OSS 117 finally. Right. Yeah. And he did Zorro recently. Did you know that? Yes, I did. A French Zorro. Yes. Jean-Ducard D'Anne. Yes. He's like Chris Pratt. He's stealing all the characters. He was already Lucky Luke. He, of course, originated Brice Dunice.

12:15What's that? Brice Dunice. What's that? He's a surfer from Nice. Oh, that guy sounds silly. That was kind of his Wayne's world that broke him out. Is that like their version of like a kind of... Right. Like a Venice Beach kind of dude. Like, I am from Nice. This is the Dujard D'Anne. I have tan. My sunglasses, though, so it's white around my eyes. Anytime I would go to Paris and there'd be a poster for a big comedy film and I'd ask someone, what is this? They'd be like, it's a very specific type of person who lives there.

12:46I mean, that was... And that's like, we have stereotypes too. I mean, as a child, I was obsessed with Asterix books, as I've talked about, I'm sure, before. And those are all about ethnic stereotypes, mostly of internal French ones, where I would be like, I don't get the joke. And my dad would be like, people are from Bordeaux or like that. And I'm like, they are? And he's like, I think so. I think that's the joke. And I'm like, okay. Like, Bonvenu Le Chutti is like, big businessman has to move to small town to like take care of the operations there.

13:16And 90% of the jokes in that movie are, the people in this small town say SH at the end of every word. And it performed like Avatar. Are French people going to be mad at this episode? Probably. What are they not mad about? Probably. Ah, yeah. I lived in your great country. It was nice. But it is, it is an example of like, right, Depp Ardu, if American audiences had familiarity with him, it was like, here's this big, like fucking burly man who's doing historical epics and intensity and playing the great characters.

13:49And they're like, but in France, we find him charming. Would you believe in France, he's something we wish to kiss you on? It's what we call a kiss wisher.

14:01What's our podcast called? Our podcast is called Blank Check Avec Griffin et David. Check Blanc. Je suis Griffin. Je suis David. I'm giving up the French.

Podcast Introduction

14:14This is a podcast about filmographies, directors who have- Directors. Directors. Directors. Who have massive success. Directors. Realisateurs. Realisateurs. Cinema. Cinema. This is the worst episode we've ever done. This is a podcast about filmographies, directors who have massive success early on in their careers and are given a series of blank checks to make whatever crazy passion projects they want. And sometimes those checks clear and sometimes those checks get interviewed by the immigration

14:45agencies. By Neelix from Star Trek Voyager. Baby. Yes. Ethan Phillips. Today, we are talking about a motion picture called Green Card. Mm-hmm. It is written, directed, and produced by Peter Weir? Uh, yep. I believe it's got a big hunkin' fuckin' final opening credit card. You're right. It's a flex. You're right. And this is kind of his first, in a way, this is his first American blank check. Uh, yeah. He basically says that he took Witness to figure out how to break through to Hollywood, that

15:16this was the dream, his passion project at this moment that he really wanted to make. And the success of Witness granted him, and certainly Dead Poets as well, granted him the freedom to make this. It's just so funny, if you look at his career, as we will discuss, you don't really see a, I've just been waiting to make Green Card. No. In there. And yet, you read, that was... That he's like, exactly how he feels. Right, yes. He's like, I really liked this script, and I wanted to make it. Which I think is correct, because it's a great film.

15:46But he's just taken, like, two assignment jobs. Mosquito Coast and Dead Poets Society, Griff, uh, Esther, to be clear. Well, and Witness. So, really, three. Yeah. Yeah, he's taken three assignment jobs, and he's like, have I proved myself enough that at a lower budget, with my casting choices, you let me make the one I want to make? And you're right that it is funny because, and so often in these cases, you're like, now can you let me make the ambitious thing with the scary budget that you wouldn't grant me unless I proved myself in other arenas?

16:18And he's like, no, I want to make, like, a pretty contained... Right, pretty cheap. $20 million, I have to imagine, $20? Uh, the budget is listed at $12.5 million. Okay, so is that USD or francs? USD. I had to ask. I had to ask. Our guest today returned to the show to talk about this rom-com, and we can discuss the balance of rom versus com in this movie, which I think is an interesting starting point

Green Card Discussion

16:47for conversation. Okay. The great Esther Zuckerman. Hello. Something of an expert on the subject. Yes. Though I have never seen this movie. Neither did I. Oh-ho-ho. Oh-ho-ho. You guys are crazy. We're not... We're going to do the wide weekend, I think. Okay. Just FYI. I'm just inspecting the box office choices here. Okay. So just establish that tab and then place it two hours from now. Yeah. Sure. Esther, you wrote a book on rom-coms. I did. Is it now available on paperback? No, it's never going to be available.

17:19It's never going to be available on paperback because it's sort of the form factor. Yeah, it is a gift book. It's more like a little hardback. Yeah. But yeah, you can still buy it. It's still available. And one should. Yes. But did not watch Green Card. No, it didn't really come up in my research. Because I did try to fill in a lot of blind spots. And somehow, Green Card never came up. It's a great film that I was introduced to at a young age by my mother because it's a great New York rom-com. But I do feel like it's not part of any particular movement.

17:52No. Or sort of star narrative or anything like that. And certainly, it's by a director who never made a rom-com again. Yeah. So, it's just kind of like a funny little thing. It was Oscar nominated. It was a solid hit. Like, yada, yada. You know, like, it's not like it was a forgotten movie. That's the wildest thing. But it is sort of forgotten now. I think it is. That's crazy. I think it is. I mean, it's interesting. I'm right here. That's what we're here to do. David is. And you are sort of carrying the torch, I feel like, for this movie. I love this movie. My mom showed me this movie when I was a kid. This is just like a Sims family classic.

18:22But I was like, for instance, I was at a, I was watching the Super Bowl with some friends, some very film-oriented friends. Okay. Yeah. Our friend Rob was there. Rob was there. Allison was there. Spike, Marty, Francis. I mean, and now, our friend Rob is someone who has seen literally everything. The great Rob Shearer. Rob Shearer. I mean, God bless Rob, who is our friend. He is, you know, certified. Psychotic. He goes to see movies where I'm like, I've never heard of this.

18:53He's like, well, let's do one show time at like the Regal Essex at 11 a.m. He's like movie-going Pac-Man. He is like the king of Cinematrix. Like, he sends me his grids every day. And I'm like, are you cheating? And he's like, not cheating. He just has like an insane memory. And he had not seen it. And Allison had not seen it. And, you know, I think it is sort of memory hold a little bit. I agree. I think David's a little right that it might have to do with the fact that this basically becomes just like a blip in the 90s, Annie McDowell kind of arc.

19:27But it's before. That's the thing about, like, which I honestly didn't even like really clock. It's before her rom-com arc. It is after. We're going to put a pin in this. Yeah. Sorry. But I agree with you. That's what I think is fascinating. And I just want to be able to fully zoom out and talk about the Annie McDowell thing. The Depardieu thing is so much what's selling this movie of like, we're trying to make you like this guy, which worked at the time. But then because it did not last, that also feels like a weird dead end. And then as you said, David, like, we didn't make a movie before this with this kind of

20:01vibe. Never made a film after this with this kind of vibe. Not really. Despite coming from comedy, this is a very gentle comedy. It's not one hard on laughs. And his movies that have comedic elements tend to be harder comedic elements than this. Yeah. It's, um, yeah. I'm looking at McDowell again. Very interesting career. I had completely, let's just do McDowell now then. So the film stars Andy McDowell. I had completely flipped in my mind that the reason she is so bad in Four Weddings and a Funeral is because it was before she kind of figured out her thing through working with

20:37better directors after. No. It's the exact opposite. No. The whole thing with Andy McDowell in Four Weddings is that it will never be explained. You can, you, I'm serious. No, I thought you were, I'm just laughing because I thought you were going to explain it and then you were like, it can't be. Because if you look at her career, I will run it for you right now, quick. Okay? She breaks out in Greystroke, Tarzan, Legend of the Apes, where she is Jane. It's dumb. But like, yeah, it's dumb. Famously dumb, but she's gorgeous. Right? And it's like, okay. Ben, producer Ben, she is cast as Jane in a live action Tarzan movie, big Warner Brothers production because of her look.

21:08And she is so bad in the film that they hired Glenn Close to re-dub all of her dialogue. Well, it's also because she's like, you know, she's got the southern thing. But she's landing immediately with this framework of like, well, she's nice to look at. I guess so. Sure. She has a small role in St. Elmo's Fire, which is a big, you know, movie for that generation, but it's obviously a stupid movie. In 1989, she's in Sex, Lies, and Victor. Three years later. Probably, yeah, she did a little TV in between, but not much. Probably kind of her best role.

21:39She's amazing in that movie. Yeah, she's incredible in it. Yeah. Makes Soderbergh look like a genius. A huge movie. She's so effective in it. Yeah. Then she's in Green Card, which she absolutely rocks. Just thunderous. Yeah. Like 82 points. I agree. Like Kobe. She's awesome. Just fucking crazy. And then she's in The Object of Beauty, which is a... You're skipping right over Hudson Hawk. No, I am not. Oh, okay. Sorry. That's next. Object of Beauty, which I've never heard of, but it's a rom-com with Malkovich, with the poster looks like this. Yeah. I'm not turned on. Me neither. I don't really know. It might not be a rom-com. It might be a rom-com.

22:09No, it says it's a romantic comedy about the fine art of thievery. Okay. Then Hudson Hawk, which is a huge bomb. I've never seen. I have seen Hudson Hawk. How is it? I think it's pretty fun. I think it's fun. That's the one where people are kind of like, oh, it's not so bad. I think it's, yeah. I mean, it's not... Is she good in it? No. I mean, she's barely. Right, okay. I mean, she's... It's a nothing fun. She's a nun who falls in love with him. Yeah, who wouldn't? He sets an lock. He sets an lock. He's saying, you know, he and Danny Aiello sang throughout it. She's one of the only people in the movie who doesn't get to be fun.

22:40Yeah. Like, so much of that movie's embarrassing reputation is that everyone's like swinging for the fences and every character is overconceived. And she's kind of playing the straight character. She plays herself in the player little funny cameo. She's in a movie called Deception, pretty forgotten movie with Neeson. Sort of like a thriller, whatever. She's in Groundhog Day. Incredible. Phenomenal. Incredible. So charming. Out in Groundhog Day. You're in love with her. Yeah. She's in Shortcuts. Really incredible in Shortcuts. Agreed. Like, and everyone's good in that, but she's kind of one of my favorite parts of it.

23:10And you're like, great. Annie McDowell has totally figured out how to act. She's arrived as a movie star. One of the most important romantic comedies ever made. Like, where everyone is on fire good. That is a huge hit and gets nominated for Best Picture. And she's weirdly flattened. Like, it doesn't make it. She's a contest winner plucked off the street. I don't think it's entirely her fault. I don't think it's... I mean, I... My point is it's clearly not her fault. Yeah. I mean, yeah. Something happens. I love Four Weddings and the Funeral more than any other movie. And I think it's just...

23:41Part of it is that she's up against Crispin Saad Thomas, who is just like, again, you know, like, I don't know, slam dunking the ball. And she's just so out of place in it. What's it about? Four Weddings and a Funeral? Have you never seen? No. It's about... I can tell you. Are you setting us up to say Four Weddings and a Funeral? I sure am. It's about a group of friends. It's about the lives of a group of friends set over Four Weddings and One Funeral that they attend over. Those are the only events you see. Oh, yeah. A couple years of their life connected by...

24:12And she is an American... And it's like a will-they-won't-they romance that Hugh Grant and her have. Yeah. She's an American... I think she works for Vogue. And she's very stylish. And she shows up at the first wedding. And they sort of... They have sex, actually, at that first wedding. They sure do. I kind of assume they'll never see each other again. And then one of the... Yeah. No spoilers. She's hot, like... And the whole point is she's this sort of mysterious object of affection. But she and Grant just don't really have much chemistry. Yeah, they don't have the chemistry. And it's sort of weird.

24:42And it kind of doesn't matter. The movie rules. It weirdly doesn't affect the movie that badly. But yet everyone comes out of it going, why is she so bad at that? And then she... Her career dies. Yeah. Like, she keeps making movies, but, like, she never was, like, a big deal again. Yeah. When it should have been, like, great, you were just in a huge hit. Like, get rid... And she's in, of course, Michael, a film we've covered on this podcast. Yes. She's in The Muse. She's in your favorite film of all time, Muppets from Space. Yeah, she's pretty good in it. Can't say I remember. First of all, do you like...

25:13Do you actually like Michael? No, that's my least favorite. I have a lot of issues with that film. Yeah, it's bad. But she plays a rival local news reporter who Miss Piggy is trying to beat to the scoop of alien existence. She's never stopped working. Like, she's, you know, working all the time. She has produced, of course, the Hollywood's great ingenue now, Margaret Qualley. I thought she was excellent in Magic Mike XXL. Loved her in that. Yeah, she's great in that. Did you like her in Goodrich? She has a couple scenes there. We talked about that movie on the show.

25:45Yes, we did. I do feel like every time I see Annie McDowell show up in that size of role in, like, a dramedy, I'm like, she's really kind of aged into something interesting. I remember liking her in Ready or Not, the horror film. Same. Very fun. Same. Obviously, she's in Beauty Shop, your favorite film. Not. Your favorite film? Not my favorite film. She says for your FYI. Or does Alicia Silverstone say that? I think Alicia Silverstone says that. Yeah. She is quite good in the limited series, which I'm sure you guys don't watch, Made,

26:16which was... I remember that existed. Which was... It was Margaret's... It was a role for Margaret that she plays her mom in, and she's very done... I mean, I think the beautiful thing about... Oh, M-A-I-D. Yeah. Yes, I remember that. I think the beautiful thing about, you know, I mean, she looks incredible. Yeah, and she looks incredible, and she has gone totally natural. Like, she has gray hair. Yes. She, like, if she's had work done, it's like super barely. She has aged incredibly. It is one of the things. She feels... And she now has this... I mean, I guess she always had it,

26:47but she feels so earthy now in a way that's very interesting. It's the one of the things I like most about seeing her stuff... show up and stuff now. Yeah. It is crazy that... It's just a crazy, weird career. She also has the best hair of any human that ever lived. I mean, there's that moment in this movie where he's like... Where she puts her hair up to go to dinner, and he's like, your hair looks better down. Here's another reason I think this movie is a little forgotten. Yeah. What year did it come out, guys? 1990. What's another movie that came out in 1990?

27:18Pretty Woman. There you go. There was actually... I was doing a little bit of research. I'm sure that... Which is, in my opinion, a far inferior film to this film. I don't really like Pretty Woman. No, I think... Yeah, I don't like Pretty Woman that much, but... I appreciate the phenomenon. I'm not here to deny it. I didn't mean to step on JJ's toes, but I did do a little Googling. I didn't do that deep to Google. Uh-oh! I'm going to have to fire you? We've been trying to get JJ to Google. We've been asking him for use it. No, but there was a story in the New York Times

27:48literally about how Green Card... I can't remember which came first, but like Green... I think Pretty Woman came first. Well, yes. I think Pretty Woman came first because there was a story in the New York Times that was basically like, oh, this is trying to do the Pretty Woman thing and it's not working. Like, you know, it's not working as like well and it's like it's... It was almost framed as they were trying to copy it, but it was like... That's so weird. Pretty Woman was March 1990 and was obviously this runaway success for like the whole year and Green Card comes out Christmastime 1990. Yeah. Yeah, it's a funny article.

28:19I read it sort of confused almost. Like, why would you even compare these two movies, you know? Well, it's got two people in it. A man and a woman. It does have two people. Green Card, the literally... Oh, Karen James wrote this. Interesting. Oh, Karen James. Karen James, our colleague at the New York Film Critics Circle. Green Card Apes Pretty Woman was the headline. Green Card was not conceived as Daughter of Pretty Woman, although it seems that way now. Pretty Woman, she's walking down the street. You know?

28:51Also, they were both touchstone. Ben like that. Yes, they're both touchstone. They're both touchstone and part of it was that it wasn't that, oh, the movies were the same, but that touchstone was trying to market it the same way because they were like, you know, yeah. But I also think there was this codification of what a touchstone movie was, which was really important to the film ecosystem for a while. I remember a Mad Magazine article in the early 90s. Absolutely. A kid who devoured that. You read it for the articles. I read it for the articles. I only read it for the articles.

29:21Sergio Aragonius, you tore it out. Yeah. I don't want to see it. Sorry. Those spies are up to no good. Right. We cannot support the spies. Get out of here, Antonio Prohas. He, there was an article that was, what if Walt Disney was awakened from cryosleep? And it was a multi-page illustrated comic story of Walt Disney being shown around the 90s. Right, like how things have changed. Walt Disney by Michael Eisner. Right. And it's saying, and here we have Touchstone Pictures.

29:53And he goes, what's Touchstone Pictures? And he goes, Touchstone Pictures is our label for films with more adult themes that we could never release under Walt Disney Pictures. Like, for example, Pretty Woman, a movie about like a financial maven who falls in love with a Oh, ho, ho. A prostitute. Right, right. And he goes, oh, and at the end, she's like sent back to her life of struggle. And he's like, no, he basically like marries her and makes her a princess. Like the bit that they were sort of found a way to make movies that almost had a Disney arc to them.

30:24Right. Despite being for grownups. I think of Touchstone films with a lot of warmth. Yeah. Because there was, not just because of the air it represented, but it did feel like Touchstone had a lot of good mid-budget kind of gooey movie star comfort films. I think of that warmth because when lightning strikes. Hot. And that's what Touchstone is. You don't want to touch the stone if lightnings hit it. You don't. No, I do too. You see that logo and you're like, ah. Yeah. 100%. I think that's sort of maybe what people were starting to comment on

30:55is like, is this just going to be their fucking beat now? And, you know, up until that point when they found it, Eisner and Katzenberg, their whole strategy was like, get diminished value stars. Yeah, sure. Like a sort of a B-level guy. Right. They were like, Bette Midler, five-picture deal. Richard Dreyfuss, five-picture deal. It was so easy. No, it was either people who had flops they were too afraid to recover from. Yeah, or... Or had just kind of like

31:26alienated too much of the industry and you could get them at a bargain. Richard Dreyfuss wasn't either of those, right? He hadn't had any flops or alienated anybody. No. I think it's down and out in Beverly Hills is Dreyfuss, Nolte, and Midler who were all like fucking bargain basements, clearance, must-go movie stars and that movie opened to number one at the box office and they were like, see, our fucking thing works. The trailer for Green Book, which is very deranged... I assume you mean green card. Thank you. Yes.

31:56Because nobody does an accent in Green Book, that film. No one's doing a kind of like a big ethnic sort of accent. Let me correct myself. No one's eating a pizza. The trailer for Green Book is sensitive, profound, uproariously funny, and it has a quiet beating heart at the center named Linda Cardellini. The trailer for Green Card is insane. I haven't seen the trailer. It's a peak 90s trailer. I haven't watched the trailer. It was on the Blu-ray. It felt like it was 12 minutes long. She's a horticulturalist. He... We actually...

32:27It's hard to fucking tell what he does. Who knows who he does? Maybe a composer, but maybe he's not. It's a lot of that, but there's so much voiceover talking through every plot. He's heaps in the pot. She needs the apartment. But this is the part I want to call out. Touchstone Pictures presents France's most acclaimed actor,