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‘Body Double’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey

November 5, 2024 · Body Double (1984) · Crime · Drama · Mystery · 1:53:25 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill SimmonsThe movie is pretty tame compared to what the potential of it was▶ 14:16
Chris RyanThe movie pretends to be incredibly horny and titillating but is actually more about how funny and weird the sex industry can be - it's not titillating because it treats it like a day job▶ 14:23

Casting What-Ifs

Bill SimmonsKurt RussellSuggested Kurt Russell as alternative lead, considered Richard Dreyfuss and David Caruso as possibilities, noted the lead casting as 'really weird' choice▶ 17:01
Chris RyanCraig WassonDescribed the actual lead as perfect for first act but wanting 'more of a blue chip arm' for the climax; dismissed David Caruso option▶ 18:41
Sean FennesseyKurt RussellKurt Russell would give a better lead performance but make it a worse movie overall; Tom Hanks would have been perfect for the part▶ 17:06

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsJake walking in on his girlfriend cheating (with Barbara Crampton) and Jake's first time at the house-sitting place seeing the neighbor's nightly show▶ 35:41
Chris RyanSupported the cheating scene discussion and emphasized the method acting class scene as important▶ 36:28
Sean FennesseyContributed to discussion of the cheating scene and method acting class scene but didn't give definitive picks▶ 37:00

Great Shot Gordo Award

Chris RyanThe diopter shot of the two of them at the payphone from the valet over the weird tunnel where it pans back▶ 46:33

What's Aged the Best

Bill SimmonsYoung Melanie Griffith; Craig Wasson looking like Bill Maher; Barney's Beanery still existing; Linda Shaw getting recognition; movies with walking in on girlfriend scenes; vampire movie influences; Dakota Johnson connection; the movie's overall cultural influence▶ 59:33
Chris RyanSober people falling off the wagon scenes with horrified bartenders, and the Peter meter routine▶ 1:01:20
Sean FennesseyThe movie becoming one of the most influential films of the 1980s on filmmakers and audiences; the Melanie Griffith/Tippi Hedren/Dakota Johnson family lineage; various cultural references and ripple effects▶ 1:03:49

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill SimmonsThe reservoir ending being ridiculous, the acting class teacher calling the killer 'the Indian' throughout the movie, not enough cocaine depicted, and Jake not having sex with Holly while spilling the beans▶ 1:05:35
Chris RyanThe reservoir ending making no sense, Craig Wasson's annoying performance and character making the film difficult to spend two hours with, Sam's overly complicated plan to kill his wife, and Jake's coffee drinking at the farmer's market▶ 1:05:43
Sean FennesseyCinema being prioritized ahead of story with the reservoir location, the surreal satirical tone being hard to wrap your head around, and the movie's bad timing being released the same day as The Terminator▶ 1:05:55

Is There a Better Title?

Bill SimmonsNo way - there is no better title▶ 1:10:44

Movies Referenced (34)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Boogie Nights (1997)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 33:13
From Hell (2001)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons▶ 13:30
Dressed to Kill (1980)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 3:16
Scarface (1983)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 3:44
Smile (2022)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 12:19
Carrie (1976)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 5:08
Gladiator (2000)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 35:11
Miami Vice (2006)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 52:00
The Terminator (1984)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean Fennessey▶ 1:09:02
A Quiet Place (2018)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 35:16
About Time (2013)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 59:57
American Psycho (2000)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 1:03:21

Directors Referenced (10)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Linda ShawIMDb ↗Lb ↗8Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyBody Double▶ 1:56
Brian De PalmaIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Chris Ryan, Bill SimmonsBody Double, Dressed to Kill, The Bonfire of the Vanities▶ 2:34
Jack DanielsIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 37:57
Warren BeattyIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsHeaven Can Wait▶ 34:18
Abel FerraraIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyKing of New York▶ 12:47
Arthur PennIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyBonnie and Clyde▶ 19:00
David LynchIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris Ryan▶ 4:32
Nina HartleyIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsBoogie Nights▶ 37:32
Paul Thomas AndersonIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyPunch-Drunk Love, Licorice Pizza, There Will Be Blood▶ 37:28
Xavier LafargeIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsBlack Panther▶ 55:26

Actors Referenced (50)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Melanie GriffithIMDb ↗Lb ↗12Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyWorking Girl, Body Double, The Bonfire of the Vanities▶ 3:26
Craig WassonIMDb ↗Lb ↗10Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris RyanBody Double▶ 14:51
David CarusoIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Chris Ryan, Bill SimmonsFirst Blood, Proof of Life▶ 19:11
John TravoltaIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsPulp Fiction, Get Shorty, Saturday Night Fever▶ 16:28
Paul GiamattiIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill SimmonsSideways, Cinderella Man▶ 20:38
The GameIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Chris RyanStreet Kings, The A-Team, Coach Carter▶ 21:10
Al PacinoIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris RyanDog Day Afternoon, The Godfather▶ 16:30
Angie DickinsonIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyDressed to Kill▶ 7:13
Barbara CramptonIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsYou're Next▶ 35:45
Bill MaherIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsIron Man 3▶ 16:04
Cameron DiazIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyCharlie's Angels, Vanilla Sky, There's Something About Mary▶ 23:00
Deborah SheltonIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyBody Double▶ 20:51

Writers Referenced (1)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Roger EbertIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 33:17