Julia Stiles has spoken about her experience working on Down to You and how Harvey Weinstein’s involvement altered the film. During an appearance on the Films To Be Buried With podcast, Stiles described how reshoots pushed by Weinstein forced her into a dance scene that she felt was unnecessary.
“It was a time when teen rom-coms were really popular,” Stiles said. “The director [Kris Isacsson] wrote the script. He was a first-time director and a very, very intelligent, capable guy. The script was very good. And then Harvey Weinstein got his hands on it and decided to capitalize on this trend. And it just became dumb.”
The actress recalled being told that, due to the success of Save the Last Dance and 10 Things I Hate About You, Weinstein wanted her to perform a dance sequence. “They’re pouring money at it in stupid ways,” she said. “So when we went and did reshoots, and I’m told that he [Weinstein] decided that because of the success of Save The Last Dance or the success of 10 Things I Hate About You with me dancing on the pool table, he needed to have me dancing in the film.”
Stiles expressed frustration with the decision, saying it didn’t fit the character or story. “I love to dance, but it was dumb. It was like, ‘Okay, let’s get her on a pool table.’ It wasn’t even imaginative,” she added. “And I felt so slimy doing it the whole time. I don’t know if that actually made it in the film, but it was annoying, ’cause I was like, this is so cheap and it’s not adding to the story.”
Weinstein responded to Stiles’ comments with a statement, saying, “Julia Stiles is a talented and charismatic actress who naturally connects with audiences. Beyond her acting skills, she’s also a fantastic dancer, which was something fans really wanted at the time. I included that scene in Down to You to enhance the film’s appeal, and her chemistry with Freddie Prinze Jr. made it work seamlessly.”
“As a filmmaker, I’ve always sought ways to elevate a project, and when I see an opportunity to make a film better, I take it,” Weinstein continued. “That same instinct led David O. Russell and me to cast Julia in Silver Linings Playbook, where she once again delivered a standout performance.”
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Released in 2000, Down to You followed college students Al (Freddie Prinze Jr.) and Imogen (Stiles) as they navigated their relationship. The film also starred Selma Blair, Ashton Kutcher, Rosario Dawson, Lucie Arnaz, and Henry Winkler. Despite the star power, the movie underperformed at the box office, earning $24 million and receiving negative reviews.
Weinstein, who was convicted of sex crimes in Los Angeles, is currently awaiting retrial in Manhattan after his initial conviction was overturned last year. He remains in prison while facing multiple health issues, including bone marrow cancer and coronary artery disease.
