The Big Picture · Interview
September 14, 2018/ 26 min/ Sean Fennessey
Sean Fennessey talks with Nicole Holofcener about her first Netflix film, adapting a novel for the first time, directing a male lead, and why she likes to make people squirm about money.
11 films across 1 segment.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
In conversation
Her latest, and a string of firsts: her first film for Netflix, the first adaptation she's directed (from Ted Thompson's novel), and her first film centered on a man, played by Ben Mendelsohn. She calls it a small, dark drama with funny things in it, not a dramedy.
Her debut; a friend of the host's called it the first authentic female friendship on screen. Holofcener credits Girlfriends and One Sings, the Other Doesn't as coming first.
With Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini, among the actors she says show up to do quality work in her movies.
Ben Mendelsohn's big franchise credit, next to the much smaller scale of her film.
The kind of big comedy she says she'd take in a heartbeat if it were good enough. She's been sent broader scripts but never loved one.
Claudia Weill film she names as an influence that predates Walking and Talking.
Agnès Varda; another influence she names ahead of her own work on female friendship.
Her pick for the last great thing she's seen, the Gilda Radner documentary, which she says captured her spirit.
Lynn Shelton's then-new film, which Holofcener says she's happily promoting. Misstated as 'Sword of Truth' in the conversation.
Also mentioned raised along the way
In passing Rounders
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV The Zen Diaries of Garry ShandlingSex and the CityOne MississippiOrange Is the New BlackGilmore GirlsSix Feet UnderThe SopranosSaturday Night Live
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