Hello, After Partiers! As those of you who joined me and Christopher Rosen for our Wednesday night watch-along of Something’s Gotta Give already know, it was a delight to revisit this 2003 classic — yes, classic — that earned Diane Keaton her final Oscar nomination and set a template for rom-coms that more or less hasn’t been matched since.
Not only is this Nancy Meyers movie genuinely funny and genuinely romantic, but it looks exquisite in a way that almost feels shocking today. It’s filmed by Martin Scorsese’s frequent cinematographer Michael Ballhaus (After Hours, The Color of Money, Goodfellas, The Age of Innocence), who also shot movies for James L. Brooks (Broadcast News), Mike Nichols (Working Girl) and Robert Redford (Quiz Show)! It has a score from Hans Zimmer! The interiors look incredible, even beyond the customary Nancy Meyers kitchens! (Props to Jon Hutman, who worked with Meyers on every movie since What Women Want and — look at that— was also the production designer for Quiz Show; if you’re in a rewatching mood for that movie, we’ve already got it covered here.)
But even beyond the craft, Meyers’ screenplay is so sharp, and it’s clear her work as a director brings out the best in both Keaton and Jack Nicholson. (A fun fact we discussed: This is the first and only time Nicholson was directed by a woman in his entire career.) This is to say nothing of the film’s supporting cast, which includes Frances McDormand as we’ve never seen her before and Keanu Reeves, so charming in the Ralph Bellamy-esque role of the good guy who isn’t endgame material.
We really didn’t know how good we had it in 2003, did we?
If you missed our Substack Live on Wednesday night, now’s the time to catch up — provided you’re a paid subscriber.
Ideally, you can fire up a copy of Something’s Gotta Give — it’s available to rent on all major platforms — and watch along with us, but our video replay here also includes clips from the movie that will keep you oriented. The Substack Live was open to all Prestige Junkie After Party subscribers, but for the replay, dear readers, you have to pay. Five bucks (the monthly tab) wouldn’t buy you a single item at that Hamptons grocery store where Diane and Jack shop, but it will give you access to so much great stuff here!
