‘Bad Boys’ With Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, and Logan Murdock
August 13, 2020 · Bad Boys (1995) · Action · Comedy · Crime · 1:34:25 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
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Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsMichael Bay convinced Will Smith to do the iconic shirtless hotel lobby shootout scene, later claiming he should get half of Smith's salary for making him a movie star. Also provided buddy cop movie timeline from 1982-1995, noting Bad Boys was first with two black leads after 14 years of the genre. Movie was originally set in New York but moved to Miami for budget reasons.▶ 6:22
Logan MurdockEmphasized the distinction that this was an 'action movie with black people' rather than a 'black movie', which was radical for the 90s. Noted that filming in Miami instead of New York was a blessing in disguise as Miami works perfectly as a character in movies.▶ 10:33
Van LathanDiscussed why it took until 1995 for two black leads in buddy cop movies (Hollywood reluctance), noted the movie's multicultural Miami setting made it less of a 'black movie', and explained how the film started a Miami renaissance in cinema.▶ 8:19
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsMartin Lawrence — Martin Lawrence - Bad Boys (1995) was his peak before he 'unraveled' in subsequent years▶ 20:04
Logan MurdockMartin Lawrence — Supports Martin Lawrence's later success, emphasizing Big Mama's House made $174 million and was 'a joint'▶ 20:51
Van LathanMartin Lawrence — Martin Lawrence - Big Mama's House era (2000s), he became a much bigger star later than in Bad Boys▶ 20:33
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsThe opening scene with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence ad-libbing in the car, the scene when they find the dead guy, the inept hit men chase scene, and the role reversal scene in the office▶ 32:40
Logan MurdockThe opening scene, particularly the 'shiny dick with two chairs' dialogue and the ad-libbed argument between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence▶ 34:31
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Logan MurdockThe weird sexual tension Julie has for the idea of Mike Lowry - she tries to have sex with Marcus pretending he's Mike, then becomes infatuated with the real Mike, despite her best friend being killed after dealing with Mike Lowry▶ 51:05
What's Aged the Best
Van LathanThe comedy itself and the banter, specifically citing the joke about 'your mama snorted up all the heroin'▶ 56:01
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsDana Carvey — Discussed Dana Carvey and John Lovitz originally cast but backed out, Arsenio Hall and Laurence Fishburne turning down Mike Lowry role▶ 1:05:30
Logan MurdockArsenio Hall — Glad Arsenio Hall didn't take Will Smith's role, doesn't think it would have worked▶ 1:06:46
Van LathanLaurence Fishburne — Praised Laurence Fishburne's missed opportunities, said he would have been better in all the roles he turned down including Mike Lowry and Jules in Pulp Fiction▶ 1:07:41
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsMartin Lawrence — Max (the character) - acknowledges Martin Lawrence is the correct answer but personally gives it to Max, upset she wasn't in the sequel▶ 1:13:45
Logan MurdockMartin Lawrence — Martin Lawrence's character - calls him the clear winner, saying he 'kills it every single time' in his three scenes and 'goes in on Will Smith' like no one else in the movie▶ 1:12:58
Van LathanMartin Lawrence — Agrees Martin Lawrence is good but thinks he's actually better in the sequel, describing his performance in this movie as 'muted' compared to the next film▶ 1:13:13
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsWill Smith — Will Smith - becomes the biggest movie star in the world within three years because of this movie▶ 1:32:30
Logan MurdockWill Smith — Will Smith - movie launched his transition from TV to movie stardom, leading to Independence Day and Men in Black▶ 1:30:44
Van LathanWill Smith — Will Smith won the war, Martin Lawrence won the battle - Will became much bigger star long-term▶ 1:31:22
Movies Referenced (31)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 7:46 |
| Independence Day (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Logan Murdock, Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 3:40 |
| Lethal Weapon (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 7:20 |
| Men in Black (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Logan Murdock, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 18:00 |
| Running Scared (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 7:15 |
| Rush Hour (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan | ▶ 1:21:00 |
| Scarface (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Logan Murdock | ▶ 1:20:02 |
| The Apartment (1960) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 9:34 |
| Beverly Hills Cop (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 18:45 |
| Die Hard (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 1:07:34 |
| Enemy of the State (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 18:00 |
| Iron Man (2008) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan | ▶ 43:18 |
Directors Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Bay | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 37 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Logan Murdock | Armageddon | ▶ 6:35 |
| Mel Gibson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Braveheart, Lethal Weapon 3, Conspiracy Theory | ▶ 7:20 |
| Clint Eastwood | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven | ▶ 15:15 |
| John Singleton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Logan Murdock | Boyz n the Hood, Four Brothers | ▶ 10:55 |
| Spike Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Logan Murdock | Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It | ▶ 10:55 |
Actors Referenced (43)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Smith | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 59 | Bill Simmons, Logan Murdock, Van Lathan | Men in Black, I Am Legend | ▶ 1:25 |
| Martin Lawrence | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 54 | Logan Murdock, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 1:22 | |
| Lisa Boyle | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | The Nutty Professor, Face/Off, Bad Boys | ▶ 37:07 |
| Eddie Murphy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Logan Murdock | The Nutty Professor, Beverly Hills Cop II | ▶ 3:56 |
| Jennifer Aniston | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Van Lathan | We're the Millers | ▶ 1:15:16 |
| Laurence Fishburne | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Logan Murdock | The Matrix, Contagion | ▶ 1:07:08 |
| Don Simpson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | Days of Thunder, Beverly Hills Cop, The Rock | ▶ 1:05:30 |
| Halle Berry | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Logan Murdock | Die Another Day | ▶ 11:42 |
| Joe Silver | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 11:55 | |
| Arsenio Hall | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Logan Murdock | Coming to America | ▶ 1:06:30 |
| Damon Wayans | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | The Last Boy Scout | ▶ 7:40 |
| Michael Jordan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | Space Jam, He Got Game | ▶ 42:34 |
Writers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Logan Murdock, Bill Simmons | ▶ 26:18 | |
| David Allen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | ▶ 16:44 | |
| Ed Burns | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | ▶ 1:15:30 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stamos Triantafyllos | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan | Wonder Woman | ▶ 54:01 |