‘8MM’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan
November 24, 2020 · 8MM (1999) · Crime · Drama · Mystery · 1:28:11
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes: Second scene with Nick Cage and the missing girl's mom (Amy Morton) where she makes dinner and he asks about choosing to know vs. not knowing; First Phoenix scene reading 'Anal Secretary'/Truman Capote; Second/third Phoenix-Cage scenes in parking lot and watching snuff films; Nick Cage calling Gandolfini while spying; The big confrontation scene in the last 45 minutes▶ 37:28
Chris RyanSupports the dinner scene discussion, noting the unspoken attraction and sadness, and comments on various Phoenix scenes but doesn't give specific definitive picks▶ 38:52
Van LathanDiscusses the dinner scene between Cage and the mother, analyzing how he represents hope to her while she represents loss to him, calling it strong and grounding for the rest of the movie▶ 39:21
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsPhoenix's three rules of life quote, the Clevelander hotel, and Anthony Heald as the scumbag lawyer▶ 55:36
Chris RyanMentions having 'a huge depression about this guy's character' but the statement is cut off▶ 57:16
Van LathanAgrees about Anthony Heald's performance, particularly his comfort with depravity and ability to play characters who associate with dangerous people▶ 56:51
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsPorn now compared to porn in the late 90s - the movie makes less sense in 2020 because everything would be done on the internet▶ 59:58
Chris RyanAgrees that porn/technology changes make the movie outdated - it would basically be like a hacker movie now with people trying to figure out who was downloading what▶ 1:00:09
Van LathanAcknowledges porn has changed dramatically, sharing personal anecdote about having to call someone on the phone to order VHS tapes in college, contrasting with modern accessibility▶ 1:00:40
Joey Pants Award
Bill SimmonsNicolas Cage — Initially nominated the tall blonde Swedish guy in S&M outfit from seedy shop scene, but later said 'you guys convinced me' about Nick Cage▶ 1:05:54
Chris RyanNorman Reedus — Initially considered Amy Morton or Norman Reedus, but acknowledged SPEAKER_00's pick was superior▶ 1:06:29
Van LathanNorman Reedus — Considered Norman Reedus and the lawyer guy, praised SPEAKER_00's deep cut pick, but didn't give final definitive answer▶ 1:06:34
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsEddie drives a Stutz Blackhawk, a prestigious 70s/80s car owned by Elvis and Sinatra, too expensive for his scumbag character▶ 1:08:59
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsNo for Cage (peak was after Oscar win), No for Schumacher, No for Joaquin Phoenix, No for Gandolfini (too early in Sopranos), No for Chris Bauer, Yes for seedy porn shops cinematically, Yes for snuff film movies, Yes for fake recreated seedy LA/Times Square▶ 1:09:20
Chris RyanChris Bauer — Notes Chris Bauer is mostly known as Sabaka and face not seen except at end▶ 1:09:55
Van LathanJames Gandolfini — Agrees Gandolfini's apex was at peak of Sopranos when he was one of biggest stars in world, agrees on snuff film movies apex▶ 1:09:47
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsJoaquin Phoenix — Phoenix as the winner, with Machine as 1B - praises Phoenix's 35 minutes as 'who the fuck is that? It's just awesome'▶ 1:23:13
Chris RyanJoaquin Phoenix — Phoenix - calls him 'far and away the best part of the movie' who gives it edge and reality▶ 1:20:58
Van LathanJoel Schumacher — Joel Schumacher officially, but 'in my heart of hearts' gives it to Machine as a great scary movie horror villain▶ 1:21:53
Movies Referenced (52)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 18:49 |
| Batman (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 34:40 |
| Gladiator (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 17:43 |
| Enemy of the State (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:13:03 |
| True Romance (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 17:31 |
| A Time to Kill (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 34:40 |
| Casino (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 49:23 |
| Con Air (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 6:54 |
| Funny Games (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan | ▶ 27:37 |
| Ghost Rider (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 8:47 |
| Gone in 60 Seconds (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 8:32 |
| Hannibal (2001) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 19:44 |
Directors Referenced (9)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Schumacher | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | The Phantom of the Opera, 8MM | ▶ 5:48 |
| David Fincher | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | Se7en, Gone Girl, Zodiac | ▶ 29:53 |
| Anal Arasu | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 40:41 | |
| Michael Bay | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Armageddon | ▶ 11:12 |
| John Colorado | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Hancock | ▶ 37:15 |
| Mel Gibson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Braveheart, Lethal Weapon 3, Conspiracy Theory | ▶ 1:05:12 |
| Michael Mann | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans | ▶ 1:00:16 |
| Oliver Stone | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Born on the Fourth of July, Platoon, JFK | ▶ 1:26:48 |
| Paul Verhoeven | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | RoboCop | ▶ 1:04:58 |
Actors Referenced (51)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Gandolfini | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons | Get Shorty | ▶ 6:00 |
| Catherine Keener | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Being John Malkovich, The 40-Year-Old Virgin | ▶ 12:31 |
| Nicolas Cage | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Face/Off, Leaving Las Vegas | ▶ 2:35 |
| Joaquin Phoenix | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | Walk the Line, Gladiator | ▶ 6:00 |
| Russell Crowe | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind | ▶ 1:04:00 |
| George C. Scott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Patton | ▶ 16:02 |
| Amy Morton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Up in the Air, 8MM, Rookie of the Year | ▶ 18:52 |
| Anthony Heald | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | The Silence of the Lambs | ▶ 6:00 |
| Cali Swag District | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Horrible Bosses 2, Grown Ups 2 | ▶ 1:10:36 |
| Chris Bauer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 17:55 | |
| Meat Loaf | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Fight Club | ▶ 1:10:36 |
| Norman Reedus | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 19:26 |
Writers Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Kevin Walker | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Killer, Se7en | ▶ 5:12 |
| Truman Capote | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | Breakfast at Tiffany's | ▶ 25:12 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 18:12 | |
| Tommy Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | Vanilla Sky | ▶ 1:00:40 |