FILM 1907: THE INTERN

FILM 1907: THE INTERN

TRIVIA: Writer and Director Nancy Meyers approached Jack Nicholson for the role of Ben Whittaker. Nicholson is mentioned in Jules' philosophic rambling at the bar.

In one scene, Robert De Niro's character is confused as to who Jay Z is. This is an in-joke about the beef Robert De Niro and Jay-Z have had since 2012.

Reese Witherspoon was originally cast as Jules, but dropped out.

Quentin Tarantino named this movie one of his favorite movies of 2015.

This was once set up at Paramount Pictures, with Tina Fey starring.

The first time Nancy Meyers and Robert De Niro worked together.

FILM 1873: THE WIZARD OF LIES

FILM 1873: THE WIZARD OF LIES

TRIVIA: In order to prepare for her role, Michelle Pfeiffer spent some time with the real Ruth Madoff.

This is one of two films focusing on Bernie Madoff. The other is Madoff (2016). Both films are television productions.

Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter Diana Henriques was the first to interview Bernie Madoff on August 24, 2010, after his incarceration on June 29, 2009. She plays herself in various scenes throughout this movie interviewing Madoff (Robert De Niro), and has said that the resemblance was so uncanny, she got goosebumps just sitting opposite him.

-The film's premiere drew 1.5 million viewers, making it HBO's largest premiere viewership for an HBO film in four years; additional replays and viewings through the network's streaming service brought the film's total viewers to 2.4 million for its premiere weekend.

FILM 1743: MIDNIGHT RUN

TRIVIA: Paramount Pictures originally owned the rights to the film, and they wanted a big name star to appear opposite Robert De Niro, in order to improve the film's chances at the box-office. It was suggested that the character of John "Duke" Mardukas be changed to a woman, and be played by Cher, who had had recent box-office success with The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Suspect (1987), and Moonstruck (1987). It was felt that casting Cheropposite De Niro would lend some "sexual overtones" to the relationship between the two characters. Director Martin Brest however, rejected the gender switch idea, so Paramount Pictures suggested giving the role to Robin Williams, who had recently had a big hit with Good Morning, Vietnam (1987). Williams read and liked the script, and agreed to audition. In the meantime, however, Brest had auditioned the less famous Charles Grodin, and had liked Grodin's interaction with De Niro. As such, Brest cast Grodin without auditioning Williams, and Paramount Pictures decided to drop out of the project, selling the rights to Universal, who went ahead with the De Niro and Grodin casting.

The idea to have Jack Walsh (Robert De Niro) continually checking his watch, and the whole back-story related to his habit, was all De Niro's own idea.

Charles Grodin has permanent scars resulting from the real handcuffs he had to wear for a great deal of the film.

After doing The Untouchables (1987), Robert De Niro was looking for some lighter material to do next. Initially, he wanted to play the lead in Penny Marshall's Big (1988), but the studio wasn't interested in having De Niro play the role. He was then offered this movie, which he liked, and agreed to make.

Bob Maroff, the taxi driver who snubs Jack in the last scene, played alongside Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver (1976).

The Blue Angel Motel in Las Vegas was demolished in 2012 to make way for ninety-one thousand square feet of retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues. The motel had seen better days, but its iconic statue of a blonde woman wearing a blue dress was preserved. Adored by locals and visitors alike, the statue was designed by Betty Willis, who also designed the Stardust Casino sign, and the world-famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign.

DIRECTOR CAMEO: Martin Brest: Ticket clerk who serves Marvin (John Ashton): "smoking or non smoking?"

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FILM 1629: SLEEPERS

TRIVIA: Author Lorenzo Carcaterra has claimed that his book on which the film is based was a true story of his childhood. When the New York legal community went on record stating that no cases resembling the events of his book could be found in any court records, Carcaterra refused to discuss the discrepancy. It is generally believed that his book was almost 100% fiction. Carcaterra's school attendance records show he could not have been in prison for as long as he said, and that he could not have been in prison at the dates given for certain events in the book.

The code name "Edmund" that is used in the paper to notify Michael that he needed to contact Shakes is the name of the main character, Edmund Dantes, from "The Count of Monte Cristo".

During filming both Brad Renfro and Joe Perrino wore colored contact lenses so they would have the same colored eyes as Brad Pitt and Jason Patric who played the characters as adults.

The film cast includes three Oscar winners: Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro and Brad Pitt; and one Oscar nominee: Minnie Driver.

Billy Crudup and John Slattery were reunited in Spotlight (2015), which also revolves on similar themes of abuse.

FILM 1573: JOY

TRIVIA: Joan Rivers is portrayed in this film by her real life daughter Melissa Rivers.

Despite earlier reports, this movie is not a biography of Joy Mangano. Annie Mumolo's original script was based on Mangano, an Italian-American inventor and entrepreneur known for inventions such as the self-wringing Miracle Mop and Huggable Hangers. She is the president of Ingenious Designs, appears regularly on US television shopping channel HSN, and holds more than 100 patents. When David O. Russell came onto the project, he added many more supporting characters and interwove Mangano's original biography with stories of other women changing their lives. Russell admitted he was in no hurry to meet Mangano in real life during filming because he wanted to make the movie his own way. He only spoke to Mangano on the phone. Joy's last name is never mentioned in the film, and she is not a native of Smithtown, NY, on Long Island's north shore.

The fourth collaboration between Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. They previously starred together in Silver Linings Playbook (2012), American Hustle (2013), and Serena (2014).

Except for Neil Walker, none of the principals' last names are ever stated.

Isabella Rossellini and Diane Ladd co-star in this film and also co-starred in Wild at Heart.