The War of the Roses

Marriage as warfare

The hosts frame the film as a brutal battle of resentment, revenge, and escalation rather than a sentimental breakup story.

Sex and aggression

The movie mixes erotic charge with hostility, using sex and physical comedy as part of the couple’s combat.

1980s star power

Douglas, Turner, and DeVito are treated as a very specific 1980s type of movie-star package that no longer exists.

The dream house becoming a nightmare

The house symbolizes status, control, and marital power, eventually turning into a battlefield.

Production note

The film made about $160 million on a $26 million budget.

Production note

Roger Ebert gave the movie three stars and called it a black, angry, bitter comedy.

Production note

The movie was a huge success in Germany and became synonymous with high-profile divorce there.

Production note

A deleted scene explains why Barbara is so sweaty in the finale.

Production note

Phil Collins wrote a song intended for the film, but the offer was withdrawn before completion.

Production note

The production used a 1960 Morgan roadster plus four, which Bill says was extremely rare.

Production note

The hosts say the remake could be interesting partly because cell phones and modern tech would change the logistics.

Production note

A real-life person was inspired by the movie and received a seven-year prison sentence.

Kramer vs. Kramer

Used as a benchmark divorce movie and comparison point for emotional tone.

Squid and the Whale

Named as a modern divorce film favorite with a very different despair level.

Marriage Story

Referenced as a divorce movie that is powerful but hard to rewatch.

Mrs. Doubtfire

Cited as the child-of-divorce movie choice.

Romancing the Stone

Used as a prior Douglas-Turner pairing and an example of their 80s chemistry.

Jewel of the Nile

Mentioned as the lesser sequel in the Douglas-Turner run.

Body Heat

Used as a comparison for Kathleen Turner’s sex appeal and career trajectory.

Basic Instinct

Referenced in a Michael Douglas dark-era discussion and in a prior Rewatchables joke about his body.

Fatal Attraction

Discussed as another key Michael Douglas dark hit and as a possible house reference later.

The American President

Mentioned as the first Michael Douglas movie Mallory saw and a formative viewing experience.

The Natural

Used as an example of implausibly old-looking actors playing very young characters.

Jerry Maguire

Referenced when discussing Tom Cruise’s ability to play charming but flawed characters.

Gone Girl

Used as a tonal comparison for a possible modern version of the story.

The War of the Roses (remake)

Referenced in the discussion of the Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman remake announcement.

Divorce movie pantheon

A recurring framework where the hosts argue over the top four divorce films.

Michael Douglas dark turn / balls swing joke

The episode revisits Douglas’s darker 80s roles and jokingly replays the 'balls swinging' discussion from a prior episode.

Producer Craig’s blind spots

The hosts keep teasing Craig for not knowing the movie and for needing to see it.

House list / movie houses ranking

The conversation spirals into an extended ranking of great movie houses.

Tony Romo director’s commentary imitation

Bill and Amanda riff on Romo-style commentary to describe scenes.

Speaker not identified

“I just want to smash your face in.”

Speaker not identified

“next time I'll hit back.”

Speaker not identified

“Never apologize for being multi-orgasmic.”

Speaker not identified

“tiny worm-like infinitesimal prick”

Speaker not identified

“you have sunk below the deepest layer”