SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to Susan Swap.

SPEAKER_01 0:05

I'm Pokemon. I'm Emma Document and I'll finally watch Death Becomes Her.

SPEAKER_00 0:20

We watched the 1992 classic Death Becomes Her. So old. I was so exc so old. My God. It's younger than us. And we will talk so much about things being old in this movie. I can't wait. Yes, we will. Um yeah, so Emily. Um, why I feel like I I feel like I probably know. Uh, how'd how'd you miss this movie? Well, I mean, you've seen Death Becomes Her.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

Okay, so yeah, number one, uh, was only three years old when it came out.

SPEAKER_00 0:54

Girl, I was five. That's not an example.

SPEAKER_01 0:56

I know, it's crazy.

unknown 0:57

What?

SPEAKER_01 0:58

Okay, I want to know how or when you saw this. Um genuinely, I had only heard about this movie a couple years ago. Like it had not been in my radar at all. And I guess the like the picture you always see is like the one, like the um, I guess the movie poster, whatever the poster was of like him with the candlestick and the two women and whatever. Like, yeah, and it was just like a weird picture of people that looked like they were supposed to be dead. And I was like, I don't know what this is. Um and then I think at one point, yeah, but like I don't even know at what point I found out it was like it was a comedy, which I didn't know that in the beginning, and then eventually heard it was gonna be a musical, and I was like, okay, maybe I need to listen, like check this out. I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_00 1:46

Uh okay. But like maybe within the last five years, maybe. Okay. The musical's like a year or two old. Like the musical's new, right? I believe so, because it's that woman from um uh Megan Hilty.

SPEAKER_01 2:01

Yes, Megan Hilty. Yes. She's in that, and and she's phenomenal. Yes. I had no idea where any of this was going besides my one qualm is that the poster does kind of give a little bit of it away. It does. You know. So like the suspense of um uh uh Goldie Han, you know, my god, is she dead? Yeah, yeah. But I don't know if that was on like if that was supposed to be. I'm not sure. But I was like, man, it would have been really cool to not know that.

SPEAKER_00 2:34

And that is, I think, a problem that we are going to both end up having with movies. Man, it'd be really cool if I didn't know this one pivotal part of it.

SPEAKER_01 2:41

Yeah, if I didn't see the picture for the fucking movie and know like what happened.

SPEAKER_00 2:46

Yeah. So so there's also another post, and and you're right, like the one with uh Meryl Streep and Goldie Hahn and Bruce Willis is like the the movie poster. There's also the picture on IMDB is and I and this I feel like is like the VHS cover that I remember. It's basically like the center like chest of probably Isabella Rossellini holding the I see it. Yeah, holding like the vial of the potion. And then you have these little tiny vignettes of Bruce Willis and Meryl Streep and Goldie Hahn, and that hides everything so much better. I've never seen that. I know I don't remember that it's so funny. I don't know. Like I I worked at Block Blockbuster, and so there are a lot of VHSs. There are a lot of movie covers that I remember seeing that I'm just like, I don't know what's going on with that, but visually I see it and I'm like, oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:42

Um but no, I visually remember the one where it's like the hand through the candlestick and your hands behind like that one. I remember. I don't know if it's like been on maybe Netflix or something like that. Like, I just don't. I was like, yeah, I've seen this.

SPEAKER_00 3:56

That makes sense.

SPEAKER_01 3:56

Didn't realize anybody but Merrill Streep, though. I feel like I are like, I didn't realize that was Bruce Willis. That mustache is confusing to me.

SPEAKER_00 4:04

Yeah, Bruce Willis. It's it is so funny watching Bruce Willis in this movie. It's I literally, I think my first note was like, my God, it's so fun seeing him in something where he's not just like grizzled action guy. Yeah. I'm like, you're such a weirdo, and this is really fun. It's really good. Really weird. It's so fun. Um, but yeah, I so I've only I had vaguely heard of this movie, I think in college, probably in grad school. Um, I don't think I saw it until maybe 10 years ago or so. Oh okay. Yeah, so it wasn't like a classic that I knew well, um, but it was one where as soon as I saw it, like it fit um, like it fits so nicely into that like era and genre. Like it's very Beetlejuice. It's very like the not very like very like there's a lot of like Tim Burton flavored stuff in here that like even like a little Edward scissor hands kind of exactly. Yeah. So okay. Yeah, like those sort of like campy fake horror elements where it's like, you know, yeah, the slight body horror. Yes, yeah, the body horror. Um, yeah, it's there's a lot of there's a lot of weird stuff going on, but also it's just it's one that like it's it's one that I've didn't get like burnout ever on watching. So I like watching this every time. Like it's not like Beetlejuice, I love Beetlejuice. I've seen it a ton. So like I'll watch it, but it's not one where I'm just like every single year, I'm like, I gotta watch Beetlejuice. Like, I I watch it more a little bit like a little bit more now because partially because I love Catherine O'Hara so much. It's just I like getting her in anything. But like it, I don't know, like it's not one that's overplayed to me. Like, I I like this movie, I think it's a lot of fun. Okay. Yeah. So let's get to my trivia. Um, so Death Becomes Her in 1992 movie, uh starring Goldie Hahn, Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis, who actually um initially uh the role of Ernest was going to be Kevin Klein, and they had started filming, and then Bruce Willis ended up replacing him, I think, due to a studio um disagreement about money. Um, I feel like I could have seen Kevin Klein as this, but I don't, I don't know. You'll you'll know Kevin Klein when you see him.

SPEAKER_01 6:38

I just need a picture. I'm so bad at it.

SPEAKER_00 6:40

Dog your memory, yeah.

unknown 6:42

What have you been in?

SPEAKER_00 6:44

Kevin Klein was in Oh golly.

SPEAKER_01 6:47

Um Wild, Wild West.

SPEAKER_00 6:50

Yeah, he was the bad guy. Um, he was in a fish called Wanda. He was the voice of um Tulio from Road to El Dorado because Kenneth Granagh is Miguel. Um wait, he was my voice? Yeah. Oh, look at that. Um yeah, but he's yeah, like visually I can see it, but the like the wild, like the over the top, I can't pick I can't picture anyone but Bruce Willis doing this. Like, I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 7:23

It just Oh my gosh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:24

It seems so out of character. So like I I love Bruce Willis as the choice. But uh, and it also has Illabella.

SPEAKER_01 7:30

Wait a second. Yeah sorry. Yeah, what do you know him from? He's in the live action Beauty and the Beast.

SPEAKER_00 7:36

Oh my god, you're right.

SPEAKER_01 7:37

He is. He's the father. Oh, okay. Yes. This is a really bad picture on Google of him. He looks real weird and pale. I hit the biggest. Sounds like businessman. Yes. Who are you in the hunchback?

SPEAKER_00 7:48

Oh, he's um Phoebus! What the fuck? Yes, okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:52

He's done a lot of shit. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 7:53

He's got range. Um, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:55

Oh, I see that, yeah, between Tulio and yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_00 7:58

Yeah, he's delightful. Um, yeah, but yes, visually I kind of get it, but yeah, like literally, I'm like, I can picture you and the mustache, and I'm like, nope, care, like like mannerism-wise, I'm like, no, this needs to be Bruce Willis. It's so good. And then we also have Isabella Rossellini, who is in this movie for a grand total of 12 minutes.

SPEAKER_01 8:21

Um is she important? Is she a bigger? I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 8:27

She is, oh gosh. Um I'm trying to think. I maybe I should look up these people too. No, you're fine. Um, she's also she's a model, so but she's like, she's been working forever. She is the uh daughter of Casablanca star Ingrid Bergman and um Roberto Rossellini. Um she's she's been in a lot of indie movies. Um, she's been in a lot of newer movies too. Um like she's still she's still acting. She does um, she does voice acting as well. Um I see. Yeah, she just does a whole bunch. But yeah, in this one specifically, it's just like the very iconic, like, hello, like, you know, picture of of you know, beauty and and you know, youth and wealth. And she has some phenomenal outfits. I love them.

SPEAKER_01 9:17

I'm a- Oh, yeah, those are cool.

SPEAKER_00 9:18

Yeah, I love it. Um but yeah, so this was uh directed by Robert Zemeckis, who did um Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, a bunch of different movies. He was one of those directors that did a bunch of stuff in the 90s, especially. I knew I recognized that name, and I was like, you're gonna, Kate's gonna tell me about this guy. Yeah, yeah. Back to the Future is like one of the big ones, like with Robert Zemeckis. Um, the writers, interestingly less well known. Um, it is uh co-written by David Cope, K-O-E-P-P. Um, he has written a ton of stuff, specifically. Um he's worked with a lot of other writers. Um, so he co-wrote the screenplay for Jurassic Park, for Mission Impossible, for the first Spider-Man movie. Um I know he's done a bunch of stuff. Um he he's and specifically has worked on a lot of um uh Spielberg movies. Um and it was uh co-written with Martin Donovan, who um has not written many other things. I actually didn't recognize anything else that he'd written, um, but he co-wrote this with David Cobb. Um so this movie specifically um won the Oscar in 1993 for best visual effects. It beat Batman Returns and Alien 3. Um Wow. Yeah, and specifically, I love that we watch this movie specifically because it gets into some of my favorite things, which are practical effects. That in this case, you have this really fun in 1992, this fun era of um, you know, developing a new technology. Um, like we, you know, we both remember like what Toy Story came out in 1994, five?

SPEAKER_01 11:06

Probably four or five, yeah. Yeah, something like that.

SPEAKER_00 11:08

Yeah, and just the the idea that a whole movie was computer generated. It's like, oh my god, this is groundbreaking. I can't believe they're doing this. This is this is this era where technology was just we were finding all of these new fun creative uses for it. And just it's this movie actually pioneers a lot of them. Um, this was the first movie to use photorealistic human skin software. So, like actually replic replicating like visually the texture of like actual skin. Oh, the hands. Yeah, um, the hands. Okay. Um it pioneered techniques that were used a year later in Jurassic Park as far as um combining animatronics and CGI. Okay. Yeah. Um Meryl Streep absolutely hated working with that much CGI. Uh she said it's like it's just, you know, you're acting to nothing and there's nothing to actually feed off of. She said that this is the only, the first and last and only movie that she would ever do with this much special effects. And I was thinking about I think that's mostly true, but I feel like most movies now rely so heavily on that. I'm like, girl, you've She was in the second Mary Poppins, bitch. Yeah. Well, my thing immediately, I was like, have you ever been in a Marvel movie? And I was like, she hasn't. She's fine.

SPEAKER_01 12:24

No, she hasn't, but like literally in the second Mary Poppins, her house turns upside down.

SPEAKER_00 12:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:32

So I'm pretty sure there was something there.

SPEAKER_00 12:34

Yeah, it is Meryl. Yeah, it is a little bit dismissive. And I think this was like maybe like within the same decade. So it wasn't sure. Yeah. So it wasn't like, oh, you're acting, you're gonna be in front of a green screen alone. Good luck.

SPEAKER_01 12:48

But like who how was she like she was the one that was in like the most green screeny stuff, so it was saying she wasn't acting with other people, it was just like her doing her stuff by herself and they added it later.

SPEAKER_00 13:02

So some of it was. Is that how it worked then? Okay. Yeah, it's yeah, it sounds like basically like like when she's um like when mostly like when she and um Goldie Hahn were like fighting or when they're interacting and in like the weird, like you know, oh, the heads and falling apart and stuff. Like a lot of that's like, okay, you know, like like you know, push this like you're gonna hit her head. Oh, well, no, you actually gotta move like five inches to the side. Okay, we'll do that again.

SPEAKER_01 13:29

And like just the very Oh, you're right, because they weren't in the screen at the same time. They kept coming back and forth.

SPEAKER_00 13:35

Yes. Okay. Yeah, so some of those kinds of things. Um, but with that, like it's it just a lot of um like green screen sort of um uh basically like when um when she falls down the stairs and her head is backwards. She just filmed that in two takes where one of them she had like a like a hood that could be blue screened out, and she did all of the acting like of walking backwards and everything. And then after the fact they filmed her face. What her face would look like doing that facing the correct way. Yeah, so like that kind of combination. Um, but yeah, uh, they use animatronic puppets of her head. Um in that yeah, uh, and it's the one of the earliest implemented effects where practical and CGI effects work together. Whoa. Yeah, so this is just a brave new world of weird um, you know, CGI and special effects.

SPEAKER_01 14:30

Um not even like based on a book or anything. Like it's a completely original script.

SPEAKER_00 14:35

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 14:36

With all the like, wow.

SPEAKER_00 14:37

Yeah, it's 2025 would never. Yeah, it's so, it's so fun. Um, and one of the one of the things that I I have found out more about, especially the more I've watched this movie, um, but it has a very strong uh queer cult following. There have been a lot of drag acts based on, especially them like in the like the various, you know, states of falling apart, or like especially at the end where they're just like the caked on makeup. I'm like, this is just drag. These are drag looks. This is great. Um really? Yeah, apparently um to a drag show. Oh, girl, we gotta go. Um apparently, uh, apparently there was like a challenge on um drag race where they did Death Becomes Her Looks. Um, but uh I found this quote that I really liked. Um, Tom Campbell, one of the executive producers on Drag Race, um, saying basically asked like why this movie is so iconic within like queer circles. Um they're fighting for beauty, they're against the system, they're also villains, but we understand their complexity. We root for the undead divas because they're trying to win a game that's rigged against them. And to borrow an apocryphal phrase from Ginger Rogers, they sort of have to do it backwards and in high heels. So it is sort of the the, you know, villain, the villains who look really good being villains that get that queer cult following a lot of the time. It's just it's very uh yeah, very, very dramatic, but also good for her. She's doing weird stuff. This is great. Okay, okay, cool. Yeah, but yeah, it's fun. Yeah, it's uh it's a good time. Um, that's all my trivia. I think the big thing I really just kept finding were like this the things about the special effects and the CGI and the fact that it was like that's the first time they used this. This like studio that like whatever the studio that worked with the special effects, they were the same studio that did the special effects for Jurassic Park.

SPEAKER_01 16:24

Like that went on to do big things, yeah. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 16:27

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:29

You're welcome to Jurassic Park. Yeah, basically. You're welcome, Spielberg.

SPEAKER_00 16:36

Amateur. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:42

Oh my god, that's funny.

SPEAKER_00 16:43

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:44

Cool. Well, that's fun.

SPEAKER_00 16:45

Yeah. Shall we get into it?

SPEAKER_01 16:48

Yes. Yet again, I keep thinking older movies are gonna be shorter. This is literally over an hour and a half long again. I'm like, why are we doing this?

SPEAKER_00 16:56

I know. Uh, it's not I have to ask, did it feel like it was this long?

SPEAKER_01 17:02

I paused it more and I don't know why. So yes. But like thinking about the overarching plot of the movie, no. And like towards the end of it, I got better at like just letting it kind of go. I think I was getting very detailed on my notes because there was a lot like not plot-wise details, but just like a lot of little things I wanted to write down. I was very excited that it was rated PG 13 because I was like, oh man, PG 13 in 1992. I'm excited to see what this is. Yeah. Because I knew it wasn't gonna be the same as PG 13 now.

SPEAKER_00 17:33

No, got it. And it wasn't.

SPEAKER_01 17:35

So we've got this incredibly tense music to start. And I I wasn't sure if you looked at any of like uh who did the music for this or anything like that. Um because it was, I mean, it again, it just felt like very 90s, but it was like so intense in so many different situations.

SPEAKER_00 17:56

I know. It's so Danny Elfman-esque, and I'm not a hundred percent. Yes, I don't also like Elfman. I don't think it is.

SPEAKER_01 18:03

I don't think it is, but it's just very like of an era, like it reminded me of like Airplane, or like um in a second we get to this the musical. So we're so we're in we're in New York, um, and it's Broadway 1978. And Madeline Ashton is in Songbird, and um apparently it's a really bad musical, and someone says she looks old, and I was like, Oh, it's Meryl Streep. Okay, great. Um so we see her go through an entire musical not re uh musical number um that makes me think of the producers.

SPEAKER_00 18:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 18:43

Like I was just like, this is straight out of a literal musical. Um I did note, like it's obviously Meryl Streep singing because she sounds the same. Yes, like this is her voice. I have heard her in other things. Uh-huh. There's so many people blatantly leaving the performance. Yeah, people are asleep. Like, I mean, granted, like it's not a good song.

SPEAKER_00 19:07

No, there's a disco interlude and everything. It's bad, like it's a bad song.

SPEAKER_01 19:12

At some point, she like you look at her, like half of her dress is gone, so you're like, where did the dr like, where did her costume when was the wardrobe change? Yeah. Through all that, we cut to Bruce Willis and Goldie Hahn in the audience. Um, Bruce Willis is enthralled with this performance, and Goldie Hahn is just watching him.

SPEAKER_02 19:33

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 19:34

Um, so yeah, we end the song, and uh Bruce Willis is the only one applauding so loudly. Cheers. I was like, yellow. This is already bonkers because my knowledge, there are three people. I didn't know. I assumed one of the women was with Bruce Willis, but I didn't know how this was gonna work out at all. Yeah. Like I really did not know where this was going besides like death-defying feats of some.

SPEAKER_00 20:05

I love that for me.

SPEAKER_01 20:07

Oh my god. I love that for Emily. I don't know if I did like I am I'm genuinely, I'm genuinely unsure how I feel about this. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 20:16

Well we'll I mean we'll we'll see. Sometimes we get to the end of a summary and then we're like, you know what? That's how I feel.

SPEAKER_01 20:22

Exactly. So I did not, I did not rate it, um, and I should have, but at the end it'll we'll get to it again. Um so and there's so many like quick cuts to like other scenes that like it is just like we're not we're not dragging our feet, we're not wasting film, we're just like, we're backstage. Yeah, you know, Madeline is mourning her wrinkles backstage, and she has a guest who is Helen Sharp and a gentleman. And I was like, oh, okay, like they know each other. Yeah. So it's Dr. Ernest Menville, which is Bruce Willis. She's he's Helen's fiancee, and he and a plastic surgeon, and he is enraptured.

SPEAKER_00 21:03

And I was like, all right, neat. So at this point, we have Meryl Streep who is who is you know talking about aging and how you know how she you know doesn't look great and everything. Do you I this is the very first thing I looked up. How old do you think Meryl Streep is in this movie? Oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 21:20

I don't even know how old she is now, so this is hard for me.

SPEAKER_00 21:23

Yeah. Um I realized I didn't know either, but I was like, this is not a good one. No, that's fine. It it's a number that hurt my feelings.

SPEAKER_01 21:31

Oh no.

SPEAKER_00 21:32

Um 33? Uh well thankfully no, she was 43 in this movie. Oh, okay. Yeah. So thinking about all of this in perspective, and and granted, we do some time jumps and they don't do too much to dramatically, you know, like the timey whimey wibbly wobbly. It's just, you know, age age is a number, whatever. But keeping in mind that in this movie she is 43, and this is what a 43-year-old woman is not supposed to look like. I'm like, oh my God. Um, Goldiehan, I think, is 48 in this movie.

SPEAKER_01 22:14

But like, do they so in the beginning, right here, where they're like the youngest they are in the movie, yeah. Is that what they're supposed to be aged at? Allegedly? I'm not sh I'm not sure. I think Like, are they supposed to be playing younger and then like because the only one that I really noticed that they had done some work to was Bruce Willis after the tw the 14-year jump.

SPEAKER_00 22:40

Yeah, that is true.

SPEAKER_01 22:41

Like he had a lot of shit going on. I don't believe the women looked like they changed that much.

SPEAKER_00 22:47

Not much. No, I think it literally is just it, it's more in clothing and maybe lack of makeup. Like there are definitely points like as we as we move forward in time where Madeline is specifically like unlike dressed down to make her look more aged.

SPEAKER_01 23:04

But I think like I would say, yeah, you can get rid of a lot of the wrinkles with makeup and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_00 23:10

So yeah, I think I think at this point, but it for me, like, you know, having even having the conversation of like, oh, you know, I can't believe like I'm you know, like uh like you know, getting old and like, you know, my my best years and da-da-da. And I'm like, yeah, this is no, this is one, like you are actually 43. This is absurd that you're too old to be doing whatever. But also, I think I think based on time, they're supposed to be like in their mid-30s at this point. I think so. Yeah, because like when we jump and it's it's that um Helen is 50 and that's 14 years. Right. Yeah, so at this point they're like 36.

SPEAKER_01 23:49

30, yeah. Oh, so my age.

SPEAKER_00 23:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:52

Neat.

SPEAKER_00 23:52

Yeah. We can only hope we look like this.

SPEAKER_01 23:57

Yes. Yeah. I mean, it's very, especially in the 90s, women in Hollywood, you know, aging. Having an expiration date, yeah. A thing. Yeah. And I mean, luckily Meryl Streep has pervaded that and, you know, gotten whatever. Yeah. Like moved past it. But um, yeah, that's this is not entirely um out of the question. Uh, I was surprised um that there was so much talk about like like the knowledge of plastic surgery. This like I always I only it came into my periphery, like I feel like later. And so I was like, and I thought it was like a new thing then.

unknown 24:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:41

So I'm like, how long has plastic surgery been going on? I have no idea if this was supposed to be like the 70 1978. Yeah, this is supposed to be he's a brilliant plastic surgeon. Like, what is happening?

SPEAKER_00 24:55

Yeah, I think I think it's interesting, but I also think that it's I I similarly am not sure about like and like later when we get to the spa, there are things where it's like, oh, this that I'm like, is that a real thing? I don't like we'll talk about that. I'm like, I don't know what's actually real. I was like, I don't dude. I don't know. I'm unaware. Um yeah, but I I think especially the the big takeaway is that they live in Beverly Hills, so plastic surgery is a thing that like, you know, maybe it hadn't gotten to the Midwest yet. Maybe no one was getting, you know, plastic surgery done outside of California and like New York.

SPEAKER_01 25:32

But I think it might be like So Helen Helen and Ernest were in Beverly Hills. I think because this is we're in New York meeting.

SPEAKER_00 25:41

Oh, you're right. You're right.

SPEAKER_01 25:42

Madeline.

SPEAKER_00 25:44

Where did they live then? I don't know. Maybe it was New York. Yeah, but like the the idea of like, you know, of the stars and the stars. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Sure. I don't know. Yeah, but that's yes, that makes sense. That is a good point. Yeah, like being a well-known plastic surgeon, I'm just like, what does that mean there were five of them? Like, what does that mean? I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 26:03

Yeah. Oh, I'm a fan of your work. I'm a fan of your work. Yeah. Um so they're kind of friends. We find out that uh Helen uh is a brilliant writer, and um they catch up a little bit. We uh cut to Ernest, like in the middle of surgery doing something, and then like Madeline's there to see him with like drinks, and then immediately we cut to Helen being super pissed that they went on a quote unquote business dinner and Helen like trauma dumps and is like, I've lost men to her before. You had to pass the Madeline Ashton test before we got married. And he's like, You're crazy. Cut to, oh my god, he marries Madeline Ashton. What the fuck? What? Helen goes for some reason. Well, she didn't look like she was dressed. I think she was like spying upstairs. She's not dressed for a wedding.

SPEAKER_00 27:03

Yeah, it's not like she was invited, probably.

SPEAKER_01 27:06

No, not at all. Yeah, no. And then, yeah, she's like stressing out. Uh-huh. Cool. Okay. And then seven years later, we're fat shaming someone. So 1985, we have our original childless cat woman. Yeah, yes. Is this our OG? Is this where everything came from? Maybe. Probably not, but it probably didn't help. Did not no, not at all. Yeah. Yeah. There's literally a cat in the cupboard when she opens it for all the cat food. And I was like, what was that doing in there? Um, she's it's Helen, of course. She's getting evicted. Yeah. She's watching a movie of Madeline getting murdered while her landlord and the NYPD demand she opens the door.

SPEAKER_00 27:53

Yeah. Okay, so real quick, so real quick about this movie, I it threw me off because Michael Cain is in this movie. And I was like, I'm sorry, what? Yeah, I was like, Michael Cain is is the guy like walking up the stairs. And I was like, when the fuck did Michael Cain and Meryl Streep do something? Um so this is actually walking up the stairs. Yeah, so no, so in the in the movie that she's watching, there's like the clip of like the man who's there. That's Michael Cain. The one choking her? No, the the guy who's like separately in all of the scenes in this movie.

SPEAKER_01 28:25

Oh, I didn't eat I did okay.

SPEAKER_00 28:27

That's funny. I didn't even really pay attention to the city. It was like a weird little like blink and you miss it thing, but then and then like later you see like a poster of like like that, and it's like it's called like Dark Windows or something. But it's like Michael Cain and uh Madeline um, I forgot her last name. Ashton. Yeah, Madeline Ashton. Um, and I looked it up. Apparently, the clips of um uh Michael Cain are from a a spy movie series. It's his character is Henry Palmer. Basically, it's a not James Bond like anti-hero spy that essentially um Austin Powers is based on, which I did not know existed. What? Yeah, this is a this is a separate lore thing that now I need to figure out what the fuck Michael Caine has done. Also, young Michael Cain, hot, real good. This is why I didn't notice it because he's not old in it.

SPEAKER_01 29:19

That's true.

SPEAKER_00 29:19

Yeah, he's got like the really smart glasses, and I was just like, hello, sir, what's happening?

SPEAKER_01 29:23

No, wait, what? Okay, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:26

Um, yeah, it's Henry Palmer movies.

SPEAKER_01 29:29

I'm just looking up young Michael Cain, excuse me. Oh, yeah, okay. Yep. All right, all right, all right. He's just been around for so long. Wow, yeah, I know.

SPEAKER_00 29:46

Okay. As long as you separate that from Muppet Christmas Carol Scrooge, you're fine.

SPEAKER_01 29:51

I'm trying. I'm trying profusely. Yeah. Um, yes. Oh my god. Literally, one of the the things for images is glasses, like young Michael Cain with glasses. Wow, okay.

SPEAKER_00 30:05

Awoga, let's go.

unknown 30:07

Sorry.

SPEAKER_01 30:08

That's funny. Um, okay, very interesting.

SPEAKER_00 30:12

Sorry, so that's the fake the fake movie that they compiled that like that's why footage from those movies, and then just her acting very badly. Yeah, dying really badly in this movie.

SPEAKER_01 30:24

Yes. So uh all the people get inside, arrest her while she is like fixating on the killing of Madeline. I was like, all right, well, this is great. So we cut to a fucking psych ward. Um, a la one flew over the cuckoo's nest.

SPEAKER_03 30:41

Yes, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 30:42

We're in like some sort of therapy circle or whatever, and Helen says she wants to talk about Madeline Ashton, and all the other women go berserk. And then our psychiatrist, therapist, whatever. I was gonna say therapist is such a strong word here. Yeah, because this woman is fucking yelling at Helen, like you've done nothing, you've been here six months, you haven't lost any weight, you won't stop talking about Madeline. And I was like, this is a bad doctor.

SPEAKER_00 31:15

I said back when bullying was therapy, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:18

I guess so. Yeah. Like Jesus Christ. Yeah. Um, and then the the woman has the mistake of saying, you need to erase the woman from her mind, completely eliminate her. And my only other nerd in all caps is murder. Like, okay, this is where we're going. This is what's happening here. Ellen's like, heard, say no more. Basically, like, oh great, you're right. That's all I need to do. I'm cured. Hooray me. Yeah. I passed therapy.

SPEAKER_00 31:53

With flying colors. I won therapy.

SPEAKER_01 31:57

First prize, best therapy patient ever.

SPEAKER_00 32:00

That's what we all want. That's what we're all aspiring to.

SPEAKER_01 32:03

Truly. So then we cut to Beverly Hills. Who sings that song?

SPEAKER_00 32:11

Uh Weezer.

SPEAKER_01 32:12

Weezer cut to Beezer Hills. Yes, okay.

SPEAKER_00 32:18

Uh, we got seven years later. So now it is present day. It is 1992. It is when the movie comes out.

SPEAKER_01 32:25

Fantastic. Okay. We have a huge ass mansion. There's a delivery for Madeline and Ernest. Madeline kind of looks like, and I don't know if this is true. It kind of originally looked like she had just had plastic surgery and was recovering, but maybe it's just like a nightly treatment thing.

SPEAKER_00 32:44

I think it's probably meant to be like the ant like the collagen whatever, like all the anti-aging whatever face patch situations. Yes. It it does look very plastic surgery, but it's like, okay, if you if you you know sleep with your face on the pillow, you will get wrinkles. And it's like, well, I guess I sleep suspended in space. It's like one of those.

SPEAKER_01 33:07

Okay. No, that makes sense. Yeah. I thought of um Once Upon a Time in Mexico where the guy string is flashed. Like the face replacement. Yeah. So I was like, oh, like all the stuff around her neck and everything. But no, that you're right. It's like probably like pulling up everything out of her face. Madeline requires her maid to tell her she looks younger every day. And I was like, oh my God, this is a bad person.

SPEAKER_03 33:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:32

Like, this is just this is just all around bad.

SPEAKER_03 33:35

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 33:35

So we've got tickets for Helen Sharp's book party tonight. The book is called Forever Young. Kind of weird, ominous title. We found out that Ernest sleeps upstairs. Well, sleeps, quote, sleeps. He was passed out on the floor. Uh-huh. Uh, and his morning breakfast is a bloody Mary and medication question mark. Yeah. So cool. I was like, so this marriage is awful now. Ernest is doing very much. Very exciting.

SPEAKER_03 34:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:05

Yep. We're all thriving here.

SPEAKER_03 34:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:08

Um, Ernest gets called in for work. Uh, looks like he's fixing up dead bodies to look better. Madeline has an appointment as well. It's a weird spa place, which again didn't know these things existed, quote unquote, in 92.

SPEAKER_00 34:28

Yeah, so the treatment they're talking about is plasma separation. And I was like, is this a I have no idea.

SPEAKER_01 34:34

I wrote it down too, but I have no idea. I don't know.

unknown 34:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:38

Because the woman was like, you can only do it every six months. This is what we're supposed to do. I'm like, what are we doing here? Like plasma's in your blood. Like, what is that gonna do?

SPEAKER_00 34:48

I have no idea. But I mean, also, it's like one of the motifs in this movie is mirrors and reflections and stuff. It's beautiful. There are so many like good shots of like mirrors and stuff like that. But we get this shot when we're getting into the spa of like the like the mirror on the back of a door of this guy who is like hooked up to IVs and like some like zero G thing. And I'm just like, uh Yeah, that's I mean shit. Like they have like the like the like the IV bars and like the hydration things. And I'm like, nope. That's that doesn't sound fun. No. I don't like it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:22

Like there's Oh, here we go. Okay. I uh plasma separation is a process that involves isolating the plasma from whole blood. Uh says it's a crucial step in various medical and research procedures. Centrifugation. Centrif centrifugation. Okay. The most common method. Whole blood is placed in a centrifugion spun at high speed, causing the denser blood cells to settle at the bottom while the plasma remains at the top. But what does it do? And then what?

SPEAKER_00 35:52

Do you like screwing the colours? Application.

SPEAKER_01 35:55

Stop it. Stop. I'm like, oh my god. I'm like, I'm really You don't have to try so hard.

SPEAKER_00 36:03

You're an angel and I appreciate you.

SPEAKER_01 36:06

Um none of it is for like Yeah, this is like for legit research things, and none of it is for like anti-aging.

SPEAKER_00 36:16

Oh.

SPEAKER_01 36:16

So honestly, I don't even know when this process was like actually created.

SPEAKER_00 36:22

So it's like if they said they were using leeches or something, like just here's a blood thing.

SPEAKER_01 36:26

I don't know. Kind of, but it says it's like used in like cancer research and stuff. Like they you they do it for things, but I don't think it's like yeah, put back into the body or something like that. I don't uh let's see.

SPEAKER_00 36:38

Is plasma subsidiary I always fall separate wrong. I always mix it up for whether there's a high aging.

SPEAKER_01 36:51

They're gonna be like, oh, BTW. Is a theoretical anti-aging approach being explored in research, but it's not yet proven.

SPEAKER_00 36:59

Not yet proven?

SPEAKER_01 37:00

Why is it a treatment for what? Could plasma exchange therapy help you live longer? Is plasma anti-aging? No. Wait. Benefits for healthy have not been proven. Yeah, okay. So this is I think this is all bullshit.

SPEAKER_00 37:15

Okay. Um So it is like leeches, okay.

SPEAKER_01 37:18

I think so. Especially for when the movie was written.

SPEAKER_00 37:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:23

I wonder if it was even a thing then.

SPEAKER_00 37:25

It's it sounds like maybe it was just like uh here's a thing, and it's like, yeah, they might use that as a spa thing. Sure, whatever.

SPEAKER_01 37:32

Yeah, everything I'm looking up is like from like 2025 or 24.

SPEAKER_00 37:36

Yeah.

unknown 37:36

Oh gosh.

SPEAKER_01 37:37

None of like that's so funny. Uh I'm surprised, honestly, that that movie didn't pop up at some point.

SPEAKER_00 37:45

Honestly, yes. This is just like, do you mean from this movie? You dumbass.

SPEAKER_01 37:49

Yeah, this is not stupid. This isn't real.

SPEAKER_00 37:53

No. Sorry.

SPEAKER_01 37:54

Dumbass. There's fucking magic in it. What do you think?

SPEAKER_00 37:58

I don't know. Yeah, you think Elvis is alive too? Shut up. Maybe.

SPEAKER_01 38:12

Okay, yeah. So then Madeline only had the thing three weeks ago. Uh, she wants it again. It's not safe. Makeup doesn't do anything. She likes tries to bribe this poor woman, and then Mr. Chigal is there, and I'm like, who the fuck is this weird guy? Yeah. He's a weird dude with a very non-placeable accent. And this is, I feel like, when we we use accents to make people weird or exotic. Uh-huh. And uh he like is all secretive and then tells her about this woman, Lieso von Ruman. She's very select. And Madeline smartly is like, what a weird guy. I'm gonna rip up this card that he gave me because he seems insane. And I was like, wow, honestly, yes, yeah, that's the correct answer. That's a red flag. Good for you. Yes. So we cut to uh I said Bruce, dang it. Uh Ernest and Madeline so many times, you're fine. I yeah, these names did not fit for me. Yeah. For them. It was yeah, like none of them seemed to make sense.

SPEAKER_00 39:21

Yeah, Madeline just felt weird. I don't know why.

SPEAKER_01 39:25

So they're in the car going to the party. Ernest meets a woman who like did work on her aunt her her aunt's body?

SPEAKER_00 39:39

Yeah, yeah. Like he he was the more token for for her and like made her look like, you know, great, but they were they were burying her. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:48

Okay. Cause she was like, oh, what's your secret? And he was like, real paint.

SPEAKER_00 39:53

Yeah, I said spray painting.

SPEAKER_01 39:54

And then she gets upset. Like, why did she I didn't understand why she got upset.

SPEAKER_00 39:59

I think it's because it's like, oh, you know, you did this really like, you know, like I this is the thing that like you know is supposed to make me feel better. And like you want to, you know, the conversation around death should be sort of reverential and like comforting. It's like, oh, you know, I wanted to, you know, I I wanted to, you know, preserve her natural beauty and da-da-da-da-da. And he makes it like this very clinical, like, yeah, I use spray paint because actually, you know, the it's just you know, the color of you know, mannequin skin. And so I just used, and then she was really grossed out and weird, weirded out by that.

SPEAKER_01 40:31

Yeah, I don't know. That was kind of like it made sense to me. I mean, he was a little blasé about it, but it's a wild question to ask.

SPEAKER_00 40:39

I'm not gonna ask someone. It's like, how'd you do it? I'm like, I don't need to know how this sausage is made.

SPEAKER_01 40:43

Yeah, also, like, yeah, like why they're dead. It's not like you could you can't do that. So why do you want to know? Yeah. Yeah, it's very odd.

SPEAKER_00 40:52

Yeah, I don't know what kind of fairy tale answer you're expecting, you know?

SPEAKER_01 40:55

I have no clue. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 40:57

Yeah. No, you're you're not wrong. It's a weird question.

SPEAKER_01 41:00

I mean, I I get the setup.

SPEAKER_00 41:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:03

Of course.

SPEAKER_00 41:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:04

Um Yeah, Ernest is giving up.

SPEAKER_00 41:06

Ernest is disillusioned by everything. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:08

Well, not even that, it's like the setup of using paint.

SPEAKER_00 41:11

Yeah, that's true.

SPEAKER_01 41:12

Like we we get that so many other times in this movie. We had to know how he did it. Okay, yeah, yeah. But in a weird way, I guess. Um so then Helen arrives at her own party and she looks stunning. She's a smoke show. Honestly, some of the best acting was Bruce and Merrill reacting to her coming in. Yeah. Like the way that it was really cute because like they don't, you know, genuinely don't act like a couple a lot of the time, but like right there they did, and they were just both like very intimidated. And I was like, oh, this was good.

SPEAKER_02 41:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:44

Because then Madeline's like, we have to go. And Ernest is like, no, maybe we don't. And Madeline's like, I will talk to her. So she does this like really slow-mo, like, sneak up, and then like tries to sneak away before and gets caught.

SPEAKER_00 42:00

I love their little nickname whenever they see each other. It's just mad. I I love it. Like every both terrible. Yeah, the fact that it's every single time, including later times in the movies, I love that. Where it's just like, yeah, oh, this is all I do. It's great. They're they're such good frenemies, and I love it so much.

SPEAKER_01 42:22

God, it's so good. Um so Helen's really happy to see Madeline, doesn't seem so happy to see Ernest, frowns at him. Helen, you know, blames Ernest uh only for leaving her, and oh, it's not Madeline's fault at all. But then, you know, two seconds later, Helen pulls Ernest away, and Madeline spies on them. And uh Helen's like, oh, Madeline ruined you. This is terrible. I never blamed you. Yeah. I'll never forgive her for what she's done to you. And at this point, I'm trying to figure out, like, okay, I know we're trying to get revenge on Madeline, but like, do we care about Ernest anymore or do we not?

SPEAKER_03 43:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:03

So this is where I'm trying to like, are we gonna get rid of him in the end too? Is that the plan? And we're just gonna play both of them, or do we actually want this sad washed up man right now?

SPEAKER_00 43:16

Like, do we do we want everyone's leftovers at this point? Yeah, I don't know. I don't know if we do. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:22

So I love let's let's see.

SPEAKER_00 43:24

Yeah, so in their banter in like between Madeline and Helen, it's very, you know, you know the song bosom buddies from Mame where they like to do. Yeah. We're in the play. Yeah, yeah. Like where they're just like real, you know, really cute, but they're just like super bitchy to each other. But it's just like, you're my best friend. You're such a dumb slut sometimes. It's like that dynamic. I I love that. I love seeing that played out. And like they're Meryl Streep is so fucking funny in this movie. I love her in this movie. I think she's hilarious. And I just definitely like some really funny bit like some really good writing some really funny bits where I was just like oh yeah that yes that's good yeah yeah I just I loved like this scene specifically where it's like before it was just like oh you know when like like we see like Madeline having power in the beginning and then we see Helen not doing great and now seeing like spiral yeah and now we see like Helen doing great and Madeline not doing so hot like still kind of holding her own but like not great and seeing them kind of like at each other's like almost level but like bickering like that. It just it's fun. I love I don't know I just I love it. Like I like that part of setting the scene I'm just like oh here's your vibe.

SPEAKER_01 44:44

It's always been this vibe I'm like I hate you both you're great yes yeah it was yeah yeah towards the end of this it's like are we rooting for do we like any of these people are we rooting for anyone I don't know yeah I don't know if I like anyone in this movie. Everyone sucks but you're made for each other yeah in some way you deserve each other yeah yeah so then we get home well Ernest and Madeline get home he sees Helen leaving she is off to go see a a very young man uh who didn't know she was coming so he's not alone this young woman is very naked we sick you know PG 13 we see her complete ass and I was like okay PG 13 uh let's remember that and then boobs just butt everyone's got one of those oh yeah yeah no boobs no boobs uh PG13 let's keep it clean you guys let's be serious here come on now 13 year olds have seen a butt before everyone's seen a butt come on get over grow up grow up part of life um I hate this the young man doesn't feel sheepish kind of gets mad at her he's like you always think about yourself and not me we rook we look ridiculous together doing you a favor I'm like you're gross dude number one she's cheating on her husband with this young guy to make herself feel better yeah she is fully using him but at the same time for him to be like I can't it's like oh you know you're the problem it's like you both kind of suck like don't make this yeah you're both the you're both the problem yeah it's not all but like no no neither yeah I mean because he's he's agreed to it but yeah and then and then the the final nail in the coffin is find someone your own age and I was like Madeline why well because then she's like angrily driving in the rain crying scares herself from her own reflection in the rear view the the the mirror yeah um uh finds the torn-up card of course this is our catalyst for her going to um Lisa's to see Lisa uh but we we jump back and forth with a lot of this movie as well so we don't stay in one place which is or we we follow multiple people which I feel like we didn't do that as much in the last two movies jumping back and forth it was very linear.

SPEAKER_00 47:21

We don't usually have multiple characters that we give a shit about you know what I mean no it feels very TV I mean in my experience.

SPEAKER_01 47:28

Yeah we have lots of main characters in this movie yes yes so we got Helen all dressed up practicing something like some reaction or whatever that we pan out in her mirror is like a serial killer psycho board.

SPEAKER_00 47:45

It's a crazy murder shrine and I love it.

SPEAKER_01 47:48

It's so camp it's so I was like this reminds me of something from like Brooklyn 99 where it's yeah like the eyes are cut out the the and this is when I was like okay this woman and I knew like she had you know revenge but like she's insane and wants revenge. This is not like I don't know why there's a difference in my brain of like complete psycho versus like thoughtful killer murder. I don't I don't know this just felt like an extra level of oh my god.

SPEAKER_00 48:24

Yeah this is the extra level of oh no you got out of the psych word but the therapy did not work oh well we knew that you are not by any means.

SPEAKER_01 48:33

Yeah no yeah so Madeline drives up to the address it's this like enormous gothic manner the door opens and she was expected we've got two dogs coming out of the elevator guarding something this whole building it seems like it's like Tim Burton meets Clue meets Rocky Horror Picture Show.

SPEAKER_00 48:59

It's so bonkers and I love it.

SPEAKER_01 49:02

This whole building that's that's a very good description yes so Liesl's there she is stunning talks uh about uh Madeline and Ernest knows about both of them like knows of their work knows of her like big fans apparently Helen uh we cut back and Helen arrives at the house immediately hits on Ernest a lot he seems clueless which was this was very funny to see Bruce Willis clueless yeah um like the they was like I don't even know what she was saying but he was just like I am you are what do you mean? Yeah but also like looking at him how they've aged him with like the age spots and like the less hair and like because he was so cute in the beginning of the movie. Yeah and just to see him like I was like does she actually want this man? Like what's happening here?

SPEAKER_00 50:00

I don't know. The terrible haircut it's so funny and like this is when we get like literally it's just like Ernest is just like it's a he's just a tool at this point but it's the I wrote the line down it's like you're a powerful sexual being Ernest he goes I am yes that's like yeah what? Just him being so shocked of like oh my God it's so good. Yeah he was like yeah I feel everything but yeah um so we go uh we cut back Liesel is basically like you know screw the natural law opens a vaguely looking Egyptian case and I was like are we we put we're pulling from from Egypt here and we're being uh um appropriative white people what yeah white people about it yeah cool cool okay neat so I think I think I read something that said like specifically I think the Ankh does symbolize immortality so it's not like fully off base like it it's it's not just like it is a symbol of the gods yeah yeah I think it wasn't just like I I pick this picture this symbol because it's pretty and it's like that means that it's it's not like people getting like you know Chinese tattoos that don't mean the thing they love those videos where the girl translates and she's like oven stove gibberish like this yeah oh my God.

SPEAKER_01 51:20

I've seen these like TikToks of this girl and she's just like going through them and I'm like oh fuck yeah yeah luckily it wasn't that that that bad no and the dogs too as well like if we're going with symbolism they're Dobermans they're very reminiscent of Anubis they were protecting the egg like I get it but I was like also why because I believe you said the actress was Italian yeah and um nothing else in here resembled Egypt at all so why are we being fuckboys about this? Yeah it's just kind of a you know the 90s of vague multiculturalism God yeah yeah um it was the 90s so there's an Oh my god so there was an egg inside and then it opens to a magic vial tonic potion what what have you it's magic Liesel admits that she's 71 years old and this thing it stops the aging process and forces it to retreat drink and you will not grow any days older but I feel like that was different than making them look younger. I feel like there's like a little bit of like um timey whimey bullshit. Yeah where it's like it kind of does make you look younger but then it doesn't look there is a difference between immortality and eternal youth. There we go. Yes and I feel like they use both of them interchangeably.

SPEAKER_00 52:44

I think so yeah and I think it's I think in this case it is both. Yeah I I I think it's interesting like especially like the way it's tossed around but it's also sort of framed as one way for one person and framed as one way for another so it's just kind of you know depending on the selling point. I did like the line when she's describing it saying a touch of magic in this world obsessed with science like I just I I like that phrasing of it. I'm just like yeah that does that does sound cool. I'm like honest and it's like it's literally just just enough hand waving magical realism that I'm just like yeah okay you're right this is just for me it was like this woman who's like completely against science I'm like red flag red flag red flag this is very bad she doesn't believe in science oh no what are we doing?

SPEAKER_01 53:36

Have you tried an essential oil? She doesn't give her kids vaccines oh my god no oh no Lisa your kids oh no I got political no what am I doing whoops wow you got political before I did I did proud of you I have a kid it's that's true that's true this is we're not we're not doing this no we're not we gotta we gotta come no yeah no so then no the best thing is then we get this we get the um uh Lisa pricks uh uh Madeline's finger with the knife and we get this amazing squawk scream from her I love it so much yes because was this um oh but I liked uh right before this uh Madeline asks how much and I was like honestly I thought she was just gonna like completely wholeheartedly agree and she was like no like I how much is it I'm suspicious and I was like okay good for you in this moment of like pure magic that you're like wait a second yeah do I have to pay you how much are these Christmas what's happening right yeah and then you know Lisa writes something down and Madeline's like haha no and that's when she does the demonstration makes her one hand look young again and Madeline's like I am in is a check okay takes yeah takes it and then Lisa's like there are rules and Madeline like I was like you're telling me now the friend how now a warning now a warning yes that's it yeah I was like oh my god I love it it's this is I love this scene it's so funny yes this was this was yeah genuinely funny yeah um so she can't tell anyone about it she can only stay in show business for 10 years but then has to disappear from public view forever and then they make a reference to someone that I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 55:31

Yes what were they referencing uh the Ivan to be alone is uh Greta Garbo who is an actress who she actually I looked it up she actually just died like a year or two before this movie came out um but she does um she was in what would you know her from I know that name yeah I think it's she did a bunch of um silent movies and then she got into uh the talkies is she Catherine Hepper?

SPEAKER_01 56:07

Why are you doing that?

SPEAKER_00 56:08

No that's just you know the I'm trying to think.

SPEAKER_01 56:14

She looks vaguely familiar. Like I feel like mom's talked about her and stuff.

SPEAKER_00 56:18

Yeah she's I don't think I've seen any actual movies that she was in but she's been in like she was in movies like that were like nominated for like best actress and stuff in like the 30s. So like she's wait but like old like old movie like old Hollywood.

SPEAKER_01 56:38

I'm gonna side note this because I scrolled down and one of the people also ask what is Greta Garbo syndrome Greta Garbo syndrome has two main meanings. It describes celebrities who retreat from the public eye often due to a desire for privacy and a loss of meaning similar to how she was reclusive or first who less coming okay so I like that helps solidify she retreated from the public eye she wanted to be alone because she's not aging anymore. So that would have helped like that's um of the era of uh like pervasive knowledge I can't remember like like I don't know what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_00 57:18

Pop culture like yeah pop culture yes this would have been pop culture for the night okay that makes sense yeah because you're right like it was literally like that phrase and I was like I need to look this up because I'm not a hunter yeah the term is rooted in the Hollywood icon's famous phrase I want to be alone although she reportedly meant I want to be left alone. Okay yeah all right cool I learned a thing yeah she had a few uh social anxiety fear of strangers reporters yeah yeah so she's a hermit vibes good for her got it yes cool okay I was like we are referencing something I do not know because Madeline was like no grant she's she oh my goodness she lives forever now yeah I was like say more about that right sorry the rules and then the warning yeah yeah she drinks it then the war okay yeah so so now the warning take care of your body you're going to be living with it for a long time ominous siempre viva live forever and then we get a weird ass little pin now this will come up later yes this'll come back later I'm sure Madeline looks in the mirror skeptical until everything goes quote back into place basically although one at a time couldn't do it at the same time okay so that is partially just just for dramatics I mean it has to be one side and then the other um I looked I looked it up uh the the top rated most interesting piece of trivia is that apparently they did have like a pneumatic bra that was supposed to like pop her boobs back into place and it didn't look great so basically they just had her assistant stand behind her and hide and go one and then the other with like manually what I I saw that and then rewound it and you can kind of see like the little flutter of a hand under her shirt and then it's just like no really oh man that's funny.

SPEAKER_01 59:12

It was very funny I mean it where those this was good. Yeah I was just like there we go and then like the weirdest part of this was like she looks at the doorman and he gives like a knowing shush and I was like I hate these men that work here. It's a sc I hate all of them. Yeah nope I hate it yeah it's fucking weird so we go back to the other mansion Helen and Ernest are like you know vaguely making out but it's like the oh I I couldn't I shouldn't whatever she's she's destroyed you um everyone knows about her lovers all over town and Ernest is like yeah same I know too basically and then he's like wait I'll just get divorced and Helen's like nah you'll be poor you're not good at being poor and I was like rude you don't know him yeah then Helen's like well you know what we could do we could murder her I have a very thought out plan that we're going to reenact in cinema I love it um uh but then Ernest is like I don't want to do that and um she's like but once she's gone we can start our life all over and then Ernest like rationalizes the murder and agrees to it.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:29

Yeah it's like she's killing you. He's like so it would be self-defense. Self-defense wild fucking wild I love the play by play of the dumb murder plot where it's just like all of this is like and then it's like okay you're gonna coat one of every glass in this poison and then it's gonna do this. Then I'm gonna get invited over for dinner and then she's gonna die and then we'll finish dinner and I loved that part just that was funny. Yeah I was like okay first we have to finish dinner and then we'll put her body in the trunk and then we'll do this.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:59

It's very Emperor's new groove yes can we have dessert all five coffee and then and then take him away I'll put that box in a box. Yeah I'll put that box in a box yes and all throughout this plan though I was like there are so many instances of things going wrong because this is what it was leading up to this point is like the botched murder.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:24

So Helen Lee or no okay so Madeline comes in as Helen is leaving. Uh-huh and so this is where I'm wondering because I don't know entirely I'm like how did she get all thin like I had kind of a suspicion but I was like was it something else in addition to that? Like because I was like well maybe she takes the potion later after she finds out about Madeline or something. Maybe she's just fueled by spite yeah I mean you know yeah yeah for sure so Madeline walks in Ernest kind of does a double take like he noticed something I think and then like Madeline is admiring herself and he wants to talk she's like nah bitch I'm going out on the town I look hot now and then they get into like this big argument. He's had enough you know she they're just you know super bad marriage bad people whatever and uh yeah Ernest snaps and like you know starts choking her above the stairs and I was like oh no so he's he he stops and apologizes but then she's still wobbling at like the 45 degree angle on the steps so her heels are like on the steps so he's like apologizing and she's like like wants help but then like yells at him to help her and he's like nah bitch and like lightly pushes her down the stairs.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:51

Literally just the line of like it's like help me help me and it's like hurry up you wimp and then it's just like boop yes oh my god it's just it's great. I'm just like girl how did you think that was gonna happen come on now.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:02

Yeah why did you why why yeah so almost immediately her neck breaks oh my god and then like she falls down so many stairs three times she falls down these stairs it's I flinched so much like this is probably the first of me flinching with the neck I was like I think literally audibly in my room I was like oh like oh that's not supposed to go that way oh no like oh my god oh god so Ernest immediately regrets it cries over her checks her pulse all this stuff calls Helen admits to everything and Helen's like we had a plan I told it to you three times yeah that was that made me laugh she was like we went over the plan three times like are you stupid what are you doing yeah her her just like in a t-shirt in front of her murder shrine going hey just like what was unclear what the what do you mean what what yeah what about this says that you should have done this at this point. Yeah um meanwhile Madeline's body is flopping trying to get itself together horrifying she's untangling herself in the back just like limbs going not where they're supposed to be uh huh um it's so I love that scene just like the fuzzy like in the background of like an arm and then a leg untangling oh that's great so yeah Helen you know tells Ernest hey they'll look at the you know the phone records he called her before the police and he's like trying to figure out like what to do. Um so Madeline gets up somehow doesn't realize for a while that her head is twisted around until she freaks out Ernest no she God she does the great thing she goes up taps him on the shoulder and says you pushed me down the stairs yes and it's yeah beautiful and he freaks the fuck out and then but then like kind of calms down enough to be like hey look at yourself like I'm freaking out for a reason and then she's like wait oh my god what happened help me and he's like oh clearly it's this medical thing where what was like a dislocated neck or something that he said yeah he's like I've never seen it but I don't know and she's like well fix it and he's like no I can't so then she's like all right I'll do it myself fucking twists her neck around herself and then has bone sticking out of her around her neck and I was like no no I can't oh no so they like oh because then that's when she's like I does she say like I think I need to go to the hospital or like I need to go to the doctor or something like that. They go to a hospital Ernest is freaking out of course Madeline is in like this really big coat. Yeah um so that we Don't, you know, see everything. The doctor tests her wrists, it bends back way too far than it should, but it doesn't hurt. He uh checks her neck, freaks out as much as Ernest does, uh-huh. Tries to check her pulse, there isn't one. Ernest and the doctor share a flask, uh-huh. And then they're like, okay, what is it? And he's like, Well, from all from what I can see, your wrist is fractured in three places, you have three broken vertebrae, your temperature is below 80, and your heart stopped beating. And it's like, Madeline's just like, what? And Ernest is like freaking out in the back. And the doctor's like, I need a second opinion. Because I what? Because I think one of them was like, what the fuck? Or like how? And then the doctor was like, exactly, how? Like I don't I am also confused.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:52

I love a I you don't see doctors freaking out in situations like this. And I think it's it's just so funny in this case where it's just like where Madeline is the one going, I don't know, it's fine. Like, you know, my neck hurts a little bit. It doesn't hurt. Yeah, and it's like, I think I'm fine. Him just going, I don't understand. Like you're not okay. Yeah, watching him lose it is is great.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:14

Yes, like to the to the effect of like, yeah, because Ernest, he when he gets to Ernest's level of also like, oh my god, what yeah, it's like I should be freaking out.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:24

Okay, validating.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:25

Yes, yes, yeah. So yeah, he leaves from second opinion. Uh-huh. Ernest says, uh, you're in violation of every natural law I know. Yeah. He's like, basically, you're dead. And uh, so then Ernest, like, isn't that when she is that when she faints?

SPEAKER_00 1:07:42

That's when she faints. Yeah, and Ernest runs out of the room to try to find another doctor, and they're all gone.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:49

Well, like, but then like they see them all working on something. Isn't that her doctor? Yes, it's that doctor that just died. Yeah, okay. Yes. So her, yeah, he can't find one because they're all working on an their doctor who just died, basically. Yeah. But then he goes back to the room and a doctor's like, oh, we took your wife to the morgue, and he's like, she'll be furious. And I was like, oh my god. It's such a weird, like, the the the like the simpering husband of oh, my wife gets so angry and all this, but like she's literally dead. Yeah. And like she can't do anything, but he's still worried.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:28

And he was also planning to kill her right before then. Like it's like the the yeah, the swings with with Ernest are fascinating.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:41

Yeah. Yeah, because we'll get another one in just a second. Yeah. So he finds the morgue, he hears her knocking, and then he like flinches and then opens it up. Yeah. And she's all like, you know, upset and scared. You know, she passed out, and then they thought she was dead, so they just put her in there.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:58

But then Ernest is like all hyped up and he's like, You're a miracle, and we belong together forever, and I'm gonna fix you up. And I'm like, What? Yeah. What's happening? Because she's a medical miracle. Now you love her again.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:16

She's a project now. You can fix this.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:19

I don't know. Yeah. So Helen wanted to find out what's going on. So she's spying outside. She sees Ernest come home with Madeline, who looks like she's dead. Yeah. And then for some reason drags her out of the car. I guess she's asleep, quote unquote. I guess so. I don't know. Like that was it was a weird, that was a bit heavy-handed. Yeah. And not really explained later. No.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:44

We do we do get Helen's slick little like cat suit and beret combo here. Love this for her. That was cute. Love the outfit. Yeah. So good.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:52

Love this for her.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:53

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:54

So she almost gets run over by the car leaving again.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:59

And I thought the fake out was gonna be like, oh, uh, Madeline's driving. It's not. It's Ernest out getting formaldehyde. Uh-huh. And this is when I'm like, oh, okay. He's like working on her. Yeah. He's literally painting her.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:14

And he's in this like Frankenstein-esque state, Dr. Frankenstein-esque state of like trying to paint her. Yeah. And like she moves and he's like, What are you doing? Like, I need a da-da-da. Like, this isn't right. It's not mixing. It's like, like, but like frenetically trying to do it. And I'm like, what's going on now? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:35

So I so real quick with this. The idea that he just pulled up to the mortuary and he was like, hey, I need stuff to take home. Wild. That's not normal. Why would why? That's so much.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:47

Because he's the more he's the the mortician to the star.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:51

I well, yeah, it's got a yeah, got a house call to make, I guess. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:55

Yeah, house calls. I mean, for real. That's yeah, that does actually make sense. Um well, because the one that he did was like, oh my god, he died in his jacuzzi with his like 18-year-old wife, and he looks way too happy.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:06

Yeah, we need to calm him the fuck down. Yeah. So like, yeah, if he's, you know. Yeah, but also the the line when he's like uh like fixing up. And it's it's funny because it's like we get Ernest who gives a shit about the job that he's doing, like imagining like maybe this is what he was like when he was doing plastic surgery. But the line I wrote down's like the highlight of your eyes are completely unbalanced. You want people to stare? And I'm like, oh and I was and I was like, honestly, no wonder this is a queer movie. I get it, I understand.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:37

That line alone, honestly. Yes, that's so true.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:40

Iconic, I love it.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:41

Um, but it was yeah, just like a yeah, yeah, just so practical.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:48

It's like, oh, you don't understand. I'm like, yeah, dude, okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:51

Yeah, it's like stop m yeah, yeah, the balance isn't right. I think, oh, he goes downstairs because he like needs more paint or like she messed it up or whatever. And he's like in the middle of like whatever and comes down, and Helen's like inside with her body bags ready. Uh-huh. But then Ernest, like, they do that thing in comedy where he's like not telling her the full truth, but he's like tiptoeing around it.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:16

Your favorite.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:17

And then Matt I know. And then Madeline, Madeline, like overhears the plot basically, of like we were trying to murder her. So then Helen's like, yeah, fine, let me see her. And then Madeline comes down fully dressed pretty quickly. Yeah. That was odd because she was naked the last time we saw her.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:35

Guessing the page ride real quick, it's probably fine.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:37

Yeah, and then Ernest is like worried Madeline's mad, and it's like, Helen, you have to leave.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:42

Yeah. I love that they immediately, it's it's the nicknames no matter what. It's like mad hell.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:49

Yeah. But it's like, oh hey, murder. Uh-huh. So Madeline gets a gun, blasts Helen through her stomach. Helen flies into a conveniently small fountain that just fits her and nothing else.

SPEAKER_00 1:13:08

Um Beverly Hills has a body-sized fountain in the backyard. That's exactly it.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:13

I don't know anything about guns. I don't think that's supposed to do that. I don't think so either. I think if anything, Madeline should have gotten kickback from those old ass guns. Honestly, versus Helen.

SPEAKER_00 1:13:24

Yeah. Madeline's Madeline's wrist would probably be fractured again.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:28

Yeah, she wouldn't. They're like her shoulder. It's the kickback from the if you, you know. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:13:33

Like, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:34

Yeah. I know 1% things about guns, apparently. Um. Good job. Once again, Ernest freaks out, a bit hypocritically, though. Madeline is so casual. Well, yeah, because she's got the upper hand now, because she's like, I'm, you know, it's fine, whatever. I'm having a great day. And look, if you don't go with what I say, I'm gonna play dead and you're gonna go to prison. So then it's like, hey, you gotta help me. She even brought all the stuff to clean up the body, so let's go. Yeah. We've got a completely red fountain at this point. I don't know how much blood's in there. So much. And then Helen stands up, coughs out blood and water, and stands up with a hole in her stomach. We get the iconic shot of looking through Helen at both of them. Yes. At this point, I don't know if this is something I was supposed to notice or if I was wrong about this, but it seemed like at this point both women's eyes turned a weird shade of blue.

SPEAKER_00 1:14:36

I think I know Helen's do a hundred percent. And I think that's like, I don't know if it's like the water washes them out or something. I don't know exactly what it is. I don't think you're wrong. I'm not sure. I didn't pick up on it as much on Helen or on Madeline.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:55

It wasn't as obvious because I think Madeline naturally has the complexion more for blue eyes. Yeah. But they were they were very striking for Helen, and I was like, what just happened? Why are her eyes so blue? I don't understand. Yeah, sorry, this is when I just made that note. And then through throughout the rest of the movie, I'm pretty sure it kind of stays that way. But uh both women realize the other has taken the potion. Yeah. They find the pins on each other. Yes. Yeah. Uh Helen admits to taking it way before Madeline, so she stopped aging sooner. And then I feel like we've we just find out there that her book was a beauty book, like like a lose weight, like because then Madeline's like, You're a fraud. You know, you know. Yeah. Like I didn't realize that's what the book was about. Like I don't.

SPEAKER_00 1:15:42

Yeah, like we get like forever young. I don't think we really get like the details of what the book's about. I think that could be anything. Yeah, I think it's kind of like maybe suggested. But here's the thing. So the potion made her, you know, skinny and younger and beautiful and everything. It didn't make her write a book. She did still write a book out of spite all on her own. Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:05

Yeah. I wonder if that also stops, it must stop you from gaining weight as well, then, right?

SPEAKER_00 1:16:10

I guess so. Yeah. I'm sure. I don't know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:13

Well, now, yeah, now I just But is gaining weight not necessarily part of aging.

SPEAKER_00 1:16:18

Maybe. Now I also just have questions about like the nature of this. Like, can you eat?

SPEAKER_01 1:16:25

We don't see them eat anything, do you? But I mean it's only within like a 24-hour period.

SPEAKER_00 1:16:31

That's true. Yeah, we only see them for a little bit of time. And that I don't know. They probably don't need to. Yeah, I have, I don't know. This this is one of those, like, you know, any like magical realism movie where it's just like, well, no, hey God, how exactly would and I'm like, I don't need to know.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:46

This is this is because I was also wondering the whole deal was okay, you have 10 years and then you go into hiding and like take care of your body, but like, is all the like the wear and tear happening so quickly because they quote unquote died and then came back? Is that why their bodies are deteriorating faster?

SPEAKER_00 1:17:13

I think so. Yeah, because like yeah, because like at this point, like Helen has been immortal for seven years and has not had the wear and tear that this last that suddenly this last encounter has. So I'm guessing like the other people that we see, like, you know, maybe they haven't have normal lives. Yeah, maybe maybe they don't have a murderous frenemy that they're that they're still in contact with.

SPEAKER_01 1:17:40

Exactly. Yeah, okay, because it was like at this later in this party, there's so many people and they look fine.

SPEAKER_00 1:17:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:17:46

So I was like, okay, are these bitches just messing up immediately? Well, one immediately, and then one after seven years.

SPEAKER_00 1:17:53

I think they're just messy. I think the indication is that, like, yes, they're immortal, but they're doing a bad job.

SPEAKER_01 1:17:59

Yes. Okay, okay, that makes more sense.

SPEAKER_00 1:18:01

Oh, yeah. So we get Ellen stands up, she says that was totally uncalled for. They see the pins. Oh, and then this is when Ernest goes, it's another miracle. And then he then they're yelling up at the potions. He goes, I don't think this is a miracle at all. And this is where I wrote, this is not about you, Ernest.

SPEAKER_01 1:18:16

Well, he was excited about one medical miracle, so then he wants another, and it's like, wait a second, this isn't, yeah, this isn't about me. So he just goes upstairs. Yeah. Um, but we've got Helen smacking Madeline with a shovel, yeah, shovel flip. Knocks her head to her back. Then Madeline fixes it, and then they just start to shovel sword fight.

SPEAKER_00 1:18:37

Yeah. So I will tell you, um, during this scene, um, at one point Meryl Streep did actually hit Goldiehan in the face and scarred her cheek in real life. No. Yeah. Meryl. Yeah. Come on. All that talk about not wanting to use CGI, but you hit Goldiehan in the face, Meryl.

SPEAKER_01 1:18:57

Bitch. What are you doing?

SPEAKER_00 1:18:59

Come on.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:00

So eventually these women realize that it's pointless to fight because they can't hurt each other. Well, I mean, they can, you know. And then Helen starts bringing up all the stolen boyfriends. And Madeline says, Well, you hurt me first because you and your friends thought I was cheap. Uh, both women realize they've hurt each other, and then both apologized. And I was like, This is a weird term. Yeah. What are we doing? Yeah. So then both women go and find Ernest, and they're like, Oh, we're so sorry. We've made up. And he's like, I am out of here. And Madeline's like, no.

SPEAKER_00 1:19:35

My dartboard with me.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:37

Right, yeah, what the hell? Um, she's like, No, you have to stay and fix both of us, because I told Helen that you would. And then Ernest is like, fine, I'll do it once. And then I get to disappear. And both women are like, okay, yeah, great. Okay, bye. Yeah. So he's done all that. He's packing, throws both women's pictures away, like he's done with these two. Both women are like gloating about how that's they how how good they look. And then Helen has like a weird chip. And then they realize they suddenly realize then that these fixes that he does won't last forever. Yeah. And their only solution is for Ernest to also take the potion so he can fix them forever. It's like kidnapping your mechanic. Almost, yeah. But you married them. Yeah. So they're like, oh, he wants to leave. His mind was made up, whatever. And they're like, okay, so we'll just drug him and then take him to Liesel to take the potion.

SPEAKER_00 1:20:44

It's so funny.

SPEAKER_01 1:20:46

It's so fast that they just become immediate friends and they're like, fuck this guy. We're amazing.

SPEAKER_00 1:20:52

This man, this man is a tool. This man is a pawn. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:20:56

Oh my god. So they give it to him in a glass of alcohol, and they're like, surely he'll take it. He doesn't do it. Yes. He doesn't do it. We no bash him over.

SPEAKER_00 1:21:09

No, we have this great scene of him like almost drinking it, and sloshing this drink everywhere, almost drinking it, sloshing it around, and then saying, you know what? I think I'm done drinking it. Pours it in a I drink too much. Yeah, I think I drink too much, pours it in a bush. Helen hits him with a vase, he goes, huh? And then gets hit again with another vase. With another vase. Yeah. Yep. Just beautiful. God, the physical comedy.

SPEAKER_01 1:21:32

It's so good. They make sure he doesn't fall down the stairs. Yes. Because it's right at the stairs again. So then he's in a pool in Liesel's house. In a textile. She's basically naked. And again, I'm like, ah, PG 13, another butt. Cool. Cool. So Liesel's like, oh yeah, I'm throwing a party downstairs and I want to give you a present. She does the same hand trick on him that she did on Meryl. Meryl. Madeline. He's astonished. She talks about Don Quixote. And I was like, these references are weird for me. Yeah. Like every time this woman talks, she references something I don't know a lot about.

SPEAKER_00 1:22:12

So the line the line that she uses for Ernest is like basically saying that it's what he like basically like what his job is, talking about stopping time in people's faces and their hands. And I was like, that's like I like, I like that parallel. Like I like that it's like, no, this is, you know, this relates to you. And also the fact that she's just giving it to him. She's not like, you know, you don't want this enough to pay money for it, but this would be a gift for you. This would be something that you could enjoy.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:43

But I also feel like she was pushing him as in like, oh, you have a new purpose in life now to do all this. To do uh like I saw the work with your your wife and her friend. Like, you know, you're you're so talented. You should, you know, do this and live forever. And it's like all the men in there like bowing, and Lisa's like really pushing this on him.

SPEAKER_00 1:23:07

This like climax of this scene.

SPEAKER_01 1:23:09

It was crazy. And then Ernest is like, and then what? She's like, what do you mean? And he's like, What if I get bored? What if I get lonely? I don't want to live forever. Yeah. And he's like, This isn't a dream, this is a nightmare. And then says, You have to be stopped. I was like, oh no, you're in danger.

SPEAKER_00 1:23:31

I'm in danger. Oh no, I I love like all of these lines. Like, I don't want to live forever. It sounds good, but what am I gonna do? What if I get bored? Who am I gonna hang out with? Madeline and Helen? Yeah, he's like, ew, no, I don't want to do that. Literally, just like I think about that line delivery of like, what if I get bored? And I'm like, the idea of being faced with immortality and asking him, what if I get bored? Is he the most normal man who's ever existed, and he's in this movie where so many normal things are not happening, and the contrast is just so funny.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:06

Yeah. But is he asking the normal man's question, or is he asking a question that everyone should ask, but doesn't?

SPEAKER_00 1:24:13

I think in this case, both.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:16

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:24:18

It's like this is this is the most relatable Ernest is in the entire movie. It is. Absolutely, yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:24

So he takes the potion and runs. He tries to mingle in the party, but is obviously too old to be around everyone. We see our weird guy, Mr. Chigal, is like in charge of the party or something. I think so, like the MC. Yeah. Madeline and Helen are there in dresses. Elvis is there because he's not supposed to be making fun appearances. We're naming names.

SPEAKER_00 1:24:45

Andy Warhol's there. Marilyn Monroe's there.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:48

Wait, what?

SPEAKER_00 1:24:49

Oh, those are the people who are supposed to be real people. Yeah, no, those are the um the two that when he's when Ernest is like stumbling through when he like bumps into them. Um it's like the woman in the pink dress and the guy with like the sort of like boxy haircut.

SPEAKER_01 1:25:02

I did not even notice that. Damn it. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:05

Well, later we get Jim Morrison down at the pool. So who's that? He's a musician. He's in the doors. Okay. It's okay. Just so you know. This movie is not made for me. Yeah. Oh, we get Buddy Holly at some point. Oh, wait, no, it's um, no, it's uh James Dean. Sorry. Just kidding. What? Okay, I got sorry, go ahead. Are these like real people? Yeah, real people. I mean, like not like the actual people because they are dead.

SPEAKER_01 1:25:31

Okay, okay. I wasn't sure if it was like anyone playing themselves as like a joke in the movie. Okay, okay, okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:36

That would be wild.

SPEAKER_01 1:25:38

Hey, you never know. Somebody would do it now, I'm sure, as a joke.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:41

Tilda Swinton would be in there.

SPEAKER_01 1:25:43

Tilda Swinton has aged.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:45

Yeah, but I think she's probably immortal. Like, she's got that vibe. She's played enough like vampires and shit.

SPEAKER_01 1:25:51

She's Faye. She's not magic potion.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:54

That's a good point.

SPEAKER_01 1:25:55

Yeah, she excuse you. Fix your fantasy board. Excuse me.

SPEAKER_00 1:26:00

I'm so sorry. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:26:02

She's wild shit.

SPEAKER_00 1:26:04

She absolutely is.

SPEAKER_01 1:26:08

No, you're correct. Okay. Um, so Mattel and Helen see Ernest, and they're like, oh, he looks I think she says, Oh, he still looks like shit. Yeah. And they're like, he still has the potion. So the room gets sealed, so we can't leave. He goes up an elevator, but runs into the dogs, who just get his coat. They obviously don't actually bite him, or else he would have been injured. So he's uh completely upstairs, like on the top of the mansion, a la beauty and the beast to me. Yeah. Where it's like the the climbing of the whatever.

SPEAKER_00 1:26:43

It is totally, yeah, like those towers and edges. Yeah. It's really that.

SPEAKER_01 1:26:47

Yeah. So he spots a dangerous exit sign, basically. He goes nuts, and like tries to get to it. That's what it is. I'm gonna do this. Um this is another instance where the music got really intense when he was like climbing it and it reminded me again of like older movies.

SPEAKER_00 1:27:02

Um So I looked it up, the the um composer for it. The composer for all the original music is Alan Silvestri, who has truly I've heard that he's done fucking everything. He's done Marvel, he's done Back to the Future, he's done um God truly like every fucking popular movie in the last however long. Um but the big one is Marvel.

SPEAKER_01 1:27:26

He's done like Yes. I was like, I know, yeah, I'm pretty sure I have some of it.

SPEAKER_00 1:27:31

A hundred percent. Yeah, he's done like all of that stuff.

SPEAKER_01 1:27:35

Um Yeah, I feel like he did like the Avengers theme and shit.

SPEAKER_00 1:27:38

Yeah, yeah, that's it. Literally, yeah, like all of those like 90s movies and stuff. That's like when he was when he was making when he was doing stuff like that.

SPEAKER_01 1:27:49

That's why this felt nostalgic is probably because it was of the era.

SPEAKER_00 1:27:52

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 1:27:53

Okay, cool. So Helen and Madeline get up there and basically scare him enough so that he falls and gets his. Suspenders caught in a on a pipe and they can't get to him. So they're like, Oh, the only way to save yourself is to drink the potion or else you'll die. And he's like, Oh yeah, like that's that seems to make sense. They get kind of pushy, and then right before he does it, they admit he has to do it because they need him. And he's like, nah, bitch. Okay, cool. I'm gonna drop the potion and then fall right into the pool. Mm-hmm. Which you should be dead.

SPEAKER_00 1:28:35

A hundred percent. Bestbusters would hate this.

SPEAKER_01 1:28:38

Because okay, yeah, he falls through the ceiling. I was like, at least he was sore and has like a big cut on his arm when he gets out there.

SPEAKER_00 1:28:45

Yeah, he he had a bad time. Like he didn't bounce right back, which is good.

SPEAKER_01 1:28:50

Well, he kept moving though. Like he got out of the pool and got the like Yeah. Bruh. I was although I also like I was fully like, this is the end for Ernest. He's dead. This makes sense. This is how it ends. Okay, cool. Uh nope, yep. Gets in a car and drives away.

SPEAKER_00 1:29:07

He James Dean is the guy who is who turns around trying to get the car.

SPEAKER_01 1:29:11

That makes sense. So Helen, Madeline, and Liesel are like, oh shit, he left. And Liesel's like, you guys gotta fix this. Figure it out. Yes, please. Helen and Madeline, they go back to the house, and he's not there. Both women are like noticing that they've already got wear and tear, like their fixes are peeling. Yeah. Like they aren't taking care of their body. And then they're like, oh, we'll figure this out. They're like, this is this is just upkeep. This is what you do to a body. You take care of it, and we'll take care of each other. And then we cut to 37 years later.

SPEAKER_00 1:29:45

Which is 2029.

SPEAKER_01 1:29:49

No. Thank you. That's amazing. Uh-huh. So then we are at a church for a funeral, and I was like, oh, of Ernest. Uh-huh. We're at Ernest's funeral. And the um, the preacher, whatever, was like, oh, Ernest's life began at 50 because we don't know anything about him before that. But also, that's when he met his wife Claire and had two sons and four daughters, and spread messages of hope, and was like this rugged outdoorsman and made the world a better place. Founded the Menville Marriage Counseling Clinic, the Menville Center for the Study of Women, and his own AA chapter. Like, what the fuck? I love it. And then, of course, all the way in the back are Helen and Madeline with like black veils on their faces and everything. And then at one point they start, like, you know, laughing in the back. And Ernest talks about the living dead of Beverly Hills.

SPEAKER_00 1:30:49

And they get very quiet and look up.

SPEAKER_01 1:30:51

Yep. Helen cries a little bit, and then you see that her paint's running. They get mad and loud, and then you know, start to try and leave. And then the preacher mentions, you know, I think Ernest really discovered the secret to eternal life and eternal youth. And it's living among the memories of his family and friends. And they went, oh nah, that's bullshit. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But but they obviously turned around. So it's like, okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:31:18

They're like, wait, did he actually figure it out? What's happening?

SPEAKER_01 1:31:22

And not tell us.

SPEAKER_00 1:31:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:31:24

So he this is when I noticed they're both walking like very oddly. Uh-huh. I was like, something's going on. Like, I was very confused. So they both remove their veils and look awful.

SPEAKER_00 1:31:35

They look like shit. It's so funny.

SPEAKER_01 1:31:38

Like, so bad, but they like think that they don't.

SPEAKER_00 1:31:42

Yeah. They're just lying to each other. It's like, no, you're fine. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:31:47

I don't know. So they're like walking down the stairs, and then Helen trips on the paint can that they were looking for, almost falls. We get this heel catch again. Madeline doesn't go to help her. And then Helen's like, Alright, bitch, I'm pulling you down with me. Yeah. So they both tumble down the stairs, and their bodies break in multiple pieces.

SPEAKER_00 1:32:11

They just shatter like mannequins.

SPEAKER_01 1:32:13

Yeah. Yeah, like there's gray on the inside of every piece of that. Yeah. It's just gray stone. Yeah. But both their heads roll next to each other. And then Helen's like, Do you remember where you parked the car? And that's it. What? Yeah. Is this movie?

SPEAKER_00 1:32:36

This movie is a commentary on aging and I think female friendships and the societal pressures to, you know, stay young and relevant, but also, you know, the how realistic that expectation actually is.

SPEAKER_01 1:32:51

What is the commentary on female friendships?

SPEAKER_00 1:32:54

I I think to me, at the end, after they finish the shovel fight and they sit down and they're just like, okay, well, like it's like, we'll admit it. Like, you know, you always thought this about me. And it's like, well, you always thought this about me. And it's like, I think, especially in the 90s, like female friendships were presented as either nothing has ever gone wrong, or it's like, we're actually really bitchy to each other, and we actually don't like each other and we're out to hurt each other's feelings, but we're gonna say that we're friends. And so I and I think by the end of this, it's like it seems like a reflection that female friendships are all a little bit fucked up, but they're also the like one of the most reliable like relationships. Like it's you know, it's like, yeah, they're gonna bicker and be horrible to each other.

SPEAKER_01 1:33:41

But they're still together.

SPEAKER_00 1:33:42

Yeah, exactly. It's like at the end of the day, it's it's Madeline and Helen. Like it's at the end of the day, you know, like however horrible they've been to each other, they're all they have. I think it's something where like I I would love like a prequel to this. I think that like not like a prequel, but like any kind of like backstory of like, hey, here's you know, like we hear a little bit about like them in school, basically, or something. Yeah, like what the dynamic is. But I'm just like, you seem terrible, and I just think this would be very funny. But yeah, but I don't know, like I think it's like that's to me like the reflection on female friendships, but also it's like women having to be competition to each other, and it's like you can be competition because the world has set you up as competition, but you also have to rely on each other.

SPEAKER_01 1:34:28

Okay. I feel like these messages they are harder for me to pick up on. And I don't know if it's because of the type of movie or or what. Like it wasn't it wasn't one of those where I was like, ah yes, I see the symbolism of this, and we'll get to that later or whatever. Like I and maybe it's because the characters are all so insane that I was distracted, I feel like, by like the insanity of the and it just kept like escalating itself because I I really didn't know where this was going to end.

SPEAKER_00 1:34:58

Yeah, no, this is this is much more of a popcorn movie than it is like a this is a this is a treatise on feminism, da da da. Like it's I mean, I think for me, like I've seen the movie enough times where I'm like taking a step back and sort of picking it apart a little bit, but also it is, you know, a movie written by men, directed by a man. Are these intentional themes? Are these things where it's like, here's what I want to say about feminism? I'm like, probably not. I don't think you have no, I don't think you really gave a shit about feminism in this case.

SPEAKER_01 1:35:31

Yeah, you think this is all real and legit. Yeah. Women are like this.

SPEAKER_00 1:35:35

Yeah, I think it, I think there is definitely an aspect to like see, like reading these things into it after the fact, um, you know, however many, like 30 something years in the future of like a you know a modern reflection of it. But I definitely don't think that these are the things that it like was presented as. Like I know the the motif of beauty standards and you know having to stay young and and relevant and stuff like that. I feel like that's what the movie set out to be a commentary on. Um and some of the and some of the reviews that I read were just like this thought it was saying that and then didn't actually say anything about it because it was just wacky.

SPEAKER_01 1:36:15

And I'm like, I think that's kind of where I yeah. Like I'm not saying completely, but yeah, that's kind of where I would like the intention is there of like we're talking about aging. Yeah. But none of it is making actual commentary about it, kind of like I guess besides like the desperation of these women to stay young and beautiful forever.

SPEAKER_00 1:36:37

Yeah, I think there's a difference between like actually saying something about a topic like that and just talking about it. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 1:36:47

That's a good point.

SPEAKER_00 1:36:48

Yeah, and I think I think this talks about like body image and you know, youth, like how women have to present themselves, but I don't know if it really knew what it was saying about it.

SPEAKER_01 1:36:59

No. Yeah. But also it's hard, obviously, for me to remember what was going on in the world at that time, because I was three. But I do know that, you know, reflecting on the 90s and the early 2000s of diet culture. And so that was, I would assume, also very pervasive in the year that this movie came out and the years prior. So that's what I would kind of compare it to versus like, because I said I didn't know about plastic surgery then. So yes, if I had probably known that there was enough plastic surgery then, I would have also, you know, because the big thing now is like the Botox, the this, like, and normal people get it and stuff, instead of just like celebrities getting Botox.

SPEAKER_00 1:37:41

It's not like, oh my god, I can't believe you da-da-da. It's it's so it's so commonplace. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:37:47

Yes, yeah. And even and then even then it's very like normalized. Is divisive the right word? Oh, um I don't know if division kind of like polarizing.

SPEAKER_00 1:37:55

Like it's you know, polarizing you shouldn't have to do it's like it's so interesting. Like, I I don't remember what podcast it was, but I was listening to I think it was my favorite murder, like years ago, back when I listened to that. Like, um uh one of the hosts said that like she had like like started getting Botox and she was just like, I felt really bad about wanting to get this for a very long time. And it's like I started doing it and I feel better about myself. And it's a thing that it's like I don't want society to make me feel like I have to do it, but I do actually feel better about doing this. And it's like if I do it, yeah, exactly. Yeah, it and it's it's so, I don't know, like it is something that, you know, especially like growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, we've gone through a lot of phases where especially the media hated women and were like, oh my God, I can't believe we're wearing this. And I'm just like, these are clues. Exactly. It's oh my god, Britney Spears weighs 150 pounds. She's a whale, and it's like, wow, bud, okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:38:55

Tyra Banks and America's next top model.

SPEAKER_00 1:38:57

Oh my God. My God, you have visible thighs. No, no, thank you. Gross.

SPEAKER_01 1:39:02

You're a size 10, you're a plus size model. Get out of here.

SPEAKER_00 1:39:05

Yeah. So, like, we like, especially like seeing this kind of conversation in the 90s, like it was definitely like commenting on like, hey, here's a the thing that is happening in society. It wasn't like, it wasn't out to solve it. It wasn't like, here's how we solve body shaming. It's like, no, it's like, wouldn't it be crazy if this thing happened as a result of this culture?

SPEAKER_01 1:39:28

Like, yes, I think I think we've boiled it down to like it's just like, man, if magic was real, this would happen.

SPEAKER_00 1:39:36

My God, yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:39:41

We just gotta ask Tilda Swinton for it.

SPEAKER_00 1:39:43

Please, Tilda Swinton, can we follow you into the woods, please? No, lead us to your pay court.

unknown 1:39:50

Mr.

SPEAKER_01 1:39:51

Tumness might be there. I was Oh, wait, okay. That's that's um James McAvoy. Okay, that's not bad. I go into a circle of mushrooms.

SPEAKER_00 1:40:00

Let's go, baby.

SPEAKER_01 1:40:03

Oh my god. Yeah, so that that's the movie. Yeah. We did it. Bonkers. Like I just I don't know, I don't know what I was expecting, but you're right. It's so like this is on the similar ilk of how I felt after watching Rocky Horror for the first time, which was in 2020.

SPEAKER_00 1:40:22

I was gonna say, you did not see that until like not long ago. No.

SPEAKER_01 1:40:26

No. My friend showed it to me in Japan when I was pregnant, and we were hanging out after we had given out candy at Halloween.

SPEAKER_04 1:40:35

Oh, that's fine.

SPEAKER_01 1:40:35

So we we stayed up late and watched it because um it was my friends, they were a married couple, Ryan and Gina, and Ryan had seen it, and Gina and I hadn't. And we were both like, what is this? What what is happening? Like, what is and like I I I don't know. I truly don't know. And so this has more of a plot than that did. Oh, for sure. Like this follows a timeline and a plot line. Yeah, but it is very similar, just like, what did I just watch?

SPEAKER_00 1:41:05

I I think an interactive screening of this would be very fun. Okay, yeah, yeah. Like I can see like that kind of like Rocky Horror interactive. I don't know if I've ever seen Rocky Horror all the way through, not at a theater. Like, I don't think I've ever Really? I don't think I've I You've never just watched it. I don't think so. Here's the thing it's like it's fun, it's not a good movie. But No, it's not yeah, but I feel like I really want to say I've only ever seen it on like a screen with people yelling things.

SPEAKER_01 1:41:37

That makes sense. Maybe that's how I'm supposed to see it. It's a good time. Not for the first time, apparently, though.

SPEAKER_00 1:41:42

Yeah, yeah, I think that's what everyone says, like the first time, and I'm just like, no, I'm just gonna go. Um I think Mary Alto still does um still does Rocky Horror every now and then. There are enough places it's still I'm too old for that now. No, yeah, no. It's um yeah, seeing it now in your mid-30s, no, you don't need to. No, no, I'm good. I'm good. Yeah, um at some point I I gotta look up like the list of like all of the cues and stuff and not I just gotta show you. I don't even know. They are a good time, they're pretty fun.

SPEAKER_01 1:42:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:42:16

So would you like me to rate it first?

SPEAKER_01 1:42:20

Do we rate first or do we ask you if it holds up?

SPEAKER_00 1:42:23

Ooh, um I'll talk about how I'll talk about whether I mean well, so for me, I like like I said, I don't I don't have much really old nostalgia for this movie. I do, I do love it. I think it's a lot of fun. It is definitely a product of the 90s. There are worse there are things from the 90s that have aged worse than this because I think it's you know That's true. Yeah, I think like it's not saying anything about vanity or diet culture or you know, body image that we're not still talking about. Like I think it's I think it's still I don't think there's anything that's really like like oh I I can't imagine anyone.

SPEAKER_01 1:43:04

Like there's stuff that's like none of it was overly offensive, like besides like our our quick Egyptian nod, like nothing, you know, made me cringe. Yeah, like yeah, uh this is not ever green, but it's it's fairly green.

SPEAKER_00 1:43:21

Yeah, it's it's a it's a really fun watch. Like I think it's it's it's when we're especially like seeing it once all the way through. It's just like, okay, you know, like here's what happens here, you know, thematically, like, oh yes, you know, eternal life and you know, youth and trying to, you know, be young again. But the like watching it the second time and just taking in all of like the batshit line reads and just like Meryl Streep just chewing the scenery. I'm like, this is great. This is a this is a fun movie. I like it. This is a good time.

SPEAKER_01 1:43:53

There are lots of like little bits. I think overall, I don't know how I feel about it, but there were definitely parts that like made me laugh or made me smile or something. I think I just it was one of those like I I don't even know if I'm stunned. It's like I just don't know. And it's like, did I like it? I don't know. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 1:44:16

Do you would you watch it again? Not like right now, like not immediately, but like like next Halloween. Do you think it would be another like maybe Halloween watch?

SPEAKER_01 1:44:29

Not unless I was trying for like a genuine rewatch of like what did I miss the first time? Now that I know the plot. I don't think I would sit down and just watch this again for fun. Okay. Part of it, I feel like, was Bruce Willis just half the time was acting crazy. And I was like, this is this is kind of stressful. He's like never um, never like he was always at like a 10.

SPEAKER_02 1:44:56

Yeah. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:44:57

No matter what he was saying or feeling, it was always like, oh my god, the sky is falling.

SPEAKER_00 1:45:02

It was the most of whatever that emotion was.

SPEAKER_01 1:45:05

Yes. And I was like, what are you doing when when neither of these women was usually doing that? So it's like him just freaking out and them usually not. Yeah. I don't know. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 1:45:17

No, it's fair. Do you think you have a rating for it?

SPEAKER_01 1:45:20

I think I do. Okay. I feel like we haven't done enough of these for me to go like really hard on something.

SPEAKER_00 1:45:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:45:26

Either way. So I'm probably just gonna say five out of ten shovels. Okay. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:45:33

I love that you went with shovels. That's good.

SPEAKER_01 1:45:36

I yeah, I need to get better at writing than before, but I thought of it. It was either that or paint cans.

SPEAKER_00 1:45:41

No, that's totally good. Um, I I like this movie a lot. I think it's fun. I think there are some great line reads. I'm gonna give it, I don't want to go too high. I'm gonna give it eight out of ten potions.

SPEAKER_01 1:45:56

I think that's fair, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:45:57

I think so. I think it's fun. Well, I'm glad I'm glad you watched it. I'm glad we got to get in some of my uh my practical effect uh darlings.

SPEAKER_01 1:46:07

No, and that was cool. That was fun to watch and see like all the different things and uh like the little sparkles and the this and the that. And it's fun to have a movie that like I didn't come out like fully loving, too, because that's gonna happen.

unknown 1:46:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:46:22

You know, I surprised you last time with something you actually kind of liked. Um surprisingly poignant. So Right. Uh in in some ways. So yeah, I think it's funny that we already kind of got one that didn't entirely hit the mark.

SPEAKER_00 1:46:37

Yeah. But I I also think that it's funny that like I you got it at five. There's plenty of room to go down from there. I know, and I didn't want to be too harsh either.

SPEAKER_01 1:46:48

Yeah. Um, because it's like, would I watch this again? Probably not. But like, yeah, there were definitely parts that made me laugh. There were things that were funny, and like nothing overall about it was like bad.

SPEAKER_00 1:46:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:46:59

You know, like it was I wouldn't say don't watch this movie to anyone.

SPEAKER_00 1:47:02

Like I wouldn't like it wasn't a slog to get through or anything.

SPEAKER_01 1:47:06

No, no, and it was just like, I just don't think it was for me entirely. That's fair. And I can't, I don't know why. Like, I don't know why. It was like I finished it and I was just like that sure was a movie. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:47:19

I was like, I don't know what yeah. Yeah. I think it'll be interesting. Like in a in a week, let me know if there's anything about this movie that you thought of, you know? Oh, I feel like sometimes it's just like, yeah, I watched that thing, and then it's just like, oh yeah, that line. Or like it's something will like make you think of it. And it's just like, huh. Yes, maybe this did stick with me a little bit more. Like, I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 1:47:43

Oh, sure. Sure, sure. Yeah. And and maybe next next Halloween season I'll see it and be like, oh, maybe I should watch that one.

SPEAKER_00 1:47:50

Yeah, maybe it'll be on a list of like, here are the Halloween movies that you probably and you're like, I did watch that one. I've seen that.

SPEAKER_01 1:47:57

Well, it just did uh come back to Netflix, apparently. Yes. Um, even though I had already rented it on Prime and I was like, no. So it's fine. I I didn't check Netflix because I didn't think it would be there. And then I saw something up and it was like, back on Netflix. Damn it. Son of a bitch. It's fine. It was like three bucks. That's not that bad. No. Renting a movie is not terrible, honestly.

SPEAKER_00 1:48:20

Cool. Yeah. Well, if you like what you are hearing and you want to talk to us more about it, you can follow the show in several social media platforms. We are Sister CinemaSwap on Facebook, Instagram, Blue Sky, and Letterboxd. Letterbox, we are S-I-S T R Cinema Swap because Sister Cinema Swap is too long.

SPEAKER_01 1:48:41

And uh yeah, this is still news. We want to thank you guys so much for taking the chance and listening. Yeah. Let us know what you thought of this movie. If you've seen this movie or or if you liked it, or if you didn't like it, or whatever. This is this would be an interesting thing to hear people's thoughts about is what they thought of the movie, maybe. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:48:59

Weigh in. Let us know.

SPEAKER_01 1:49:01

But yeah, uh, I guess we'll see you guys next time. I still don't know what to say. See you at the Maroons. See you at the movie.