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‘Indecent Proposal’ With Bill Simmons and Mallory Rubin

April 11, 2023 · Indecent Proposal (1993) · Drama · Romance · 1:39:05 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 19:06Demi Moore — Demi Moore - this movie represents her apex mountain, when she was at peak of her powers and 'flawless fucking flawless hot'; Woody Harrelson - making moves left and right with Cheers ending and post-White Men Can't Jump success; Robert Redford - this was his last attempt to be a leading man and last time he could pull off this type of part
Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:57Demi Moore: yes — this is her Apex Mountain (nearly $300M gross, coming off Ghost and A Few Good Men, the stable Bruce Willis marriage, paved the way for the $20M Striptease check). Also yes for Woody Harrelson (post-Cheers, off White Men Can't Jump), Thierry Mugler, and JFK Jr.; no for Robert Redford, Adrian Lyne, and craps.
Mallory Rubin▶ 20:24Robert Redford — Robert Redford gives a compelling performance and looks incredibly handsome, as he does in every movie because he's one of the best-looking people who has ever lived; notes his later villain turn in Captain America as end-of-career move
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:17:14Surprised by the Demi Moore call; firm no on Seal ('no way' — Kiss from a Rose was bigger later); notes the absent Chris Ryan would call True Detective Season 1 Woody Harrelson's apex.

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 29:51Vegas shopping scene right into the craps scene, the billiard scene where Redford makes the million-dollar offer, Oliver Platt-Redford contract scene, and the boat scene
Mallory Rubin▶ 31:09Agrees that 90% of the most rewatchable scenes come from the Vegas stretch, specifically mentions the sex scene after the first Vegas day, and discusses the billiard scene and boat scene

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 48:10The wad of chocolates that Diana puts into her purse at the shop and the casino
Mallory Rubin▶ 48:10The wad of chocolates that Diana puts into her purse at the shop and the casino

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 48:24Multiple locations: Rich Guy Party/Vegas suites, the boat, and Malibu stopping point, but agrees the yacht was underutilized
Mallory Rubin▶ 48:53The craps table

Great Shot Gordo Award

Bill Simmons▶ 49:04When she kisses the dice
Mallory Rubin▶ 49:12The scene where David walks in front of the wall of TVs showing horse racing, then suddenly every screen shows Gage and Diana together

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 50:11The second half of the movie
Mallory Rubin▶ 50:36The second half of the movie

Picking Nits

Bill Simmons▶ 54:54Why do they go back to roulette after losing? It's inexplicable
Bill Simmons▶ 56:30The Santa Monica property would be worth $5 million minimum in 1993, but they act like they need to scrape coins together for it
Mallory Rubin▶ 54:43The first losing streak is too fast - they go from $25,000 to only $4,000 after first stint at roulette
Mallory Rubin▶ 55:58Readily available prime oceanfront real estate in Santa Monica - huge open property that should realistically be worth millions
Mallory Rubin▶ 58:34The voiceover is terrible and sporadically deployed - very central in opening then disappears for long periods

What's Aged the Worst

Mallory Rubin▶ 59:10The opening stretch of the film with the initial voiceover that spoils that David and Diana split up

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:01:12Adrian Lyne's sex scenes aren't that good despite his movies being sexual, with specific critique of scenes from this film and others like Fatal Attraction and Unfaithful
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:00:15A porn star was supposedly Robert Redford's stunt double (but she says this is fake news)

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:02:12No, absolutely not - no better title exists

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 1:02:15Multiple quotes including 'A life without risk is no life at all' and 'Remember if you want something very badly set it free. If it comes back to you it's yours forever. If it doesn't it was never yours to begin with.'
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:02:52Suppose I were to offer you one of the dollars

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:38Diana should go with Gage instead of David, calling David 'kind of a loser' who messed up their property and allowed the situation to happen
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:05:25The movie needs a murder - specifically David should die under mysterious circumstances, making Diana suspect Gage did it, creating perpetual doubt and trust issues

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:46Julia Roberts — Discusses alternate casting including Cruz/Kidman/Beatty version, Julia Roberts offered Diana role (feels too young), Johnny Depp approached for lead, and notes Cruise wouldn't have done a movie where he 'loans out his wife'
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:08:06Tom Cruise — Woody Harrelson was genius casting over Tom Cruise because you need someone who is 'not as hot as Tom Cruise' for the husband role to work with the movie's dynamic

Overacting Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:09:06Woody Harrelson — Woody Harrelson wins the Ruffalo Hannah-Rubinick Partridge overacting award for a couple different moments where he dials it up
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:09:15Woody Harrelson — Agrees with Woody Harrelson, specifically citing him throwing the wine bottle into the fridge as remarkable

Racehorse Name Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:18:22Indecent Proposal
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:18:49Million Dollar Club

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:25:59Wayne Jenkins in the John Gage role and confirms Wayne Jenkins makes this movie better
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:26:14Wayne Jenkins as casino observer/private security watching the poker game unfold

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:26:51Demi Moore
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:26:57Robert Redford — Robert Redford for Best Supporting Actor

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:27:07Multiple questions: Would movie be better with Richard Gere? Was John Gage a bad guy (says no, he's flawed but not bad)? Would Million Dollar Club work as TV show? What are the sexual contract rules/clauses?
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:27:20Multiple questions: Movie better without Gere because Redford off-kilter casting helps. John Gage is a bad guy. What are the contract clauses for sexual acts? What happened to Gage's dogs? Has Shackleford killed someone? Did Diana keep Gage's business card herself?

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:33:52Fatal Attraction
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:33:51Unfaithful

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:53Everything's for sale
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:34:54Location, location, location / Beachfront property

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:59Robert Redford — Redford

Movies Referenced (28)

Fatal Attraction (1987)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Pretty Woman (1990)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin▶ 5:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Prestige (2006)

3 mentions · Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons▶ 7:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Deep Water (2022)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 25:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Don't Worry Darling (2022)

2 mentions · Mallory Rubin▶ 1:36:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ghost (1990)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 19:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jacob's Ladder (1990)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 26:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

White Men Can't Jump (1992)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 9:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

A Few Good Men (1992)

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 19:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

American Gigolo (1980)

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:25:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Basic Instinct (1992)

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 6:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Captain America (1990)

1 mentions · Mallory Rubin▶ 21:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (4)

Adrian Lyne

9 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Jacob's Ladder, Indecent Proposal▶ 2:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Warren Beatty

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin · Known for Reds, Heaven Can Wait▶ 16:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ben Affleck

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin · Known for Argo, Gone Girl, The Town▶ 0:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Wilson

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Grease▶ 1:13:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (50)

Robert Redford

42 mentions · Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin · Known for The Natural, Ordinary People, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid▶ 1:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Woody Harrelson

32 mentions · Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin · Known for Natural Born Killers▶ 1:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Demi Moore

27 mentions · Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin · Known for Striptease, Indecent Proposal▶ 1:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Brad Pitt

9 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Fight Club, 12 Monkeys, Mr. & Mrs. Smith▶ 13:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jeremy Strong

8 mentions · Mallory Rubin · Known for The Big Short, The Trial of the Chicago 7▶ 8:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Oliver Platt

7 mentions · Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons · Known for 2012, Bicentennial Man▶ 8:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sydney Sweeney

5 mentions · Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons▶ 42:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Angela Bassett

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin · Known for Strange Days, Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever▶ 1:12:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jacob Elordi

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin · Known for Frankenstein, Saltburn, Priscilla▶ 26:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Cruise

4 mentions · Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons · Known for Top Gun, Mission: Impossible II, Minority Report▶ 1:08:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Adam Driver

3 mentions · Mallory Rubin · Known for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi▶ 1:09:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Garfield

3 mentions · Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons▶ 35:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (5)

Amy Holden Jones

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin · Known for Mystic Pizza, Indecent Proposal▶ 9:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Andy Greenwald

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:17:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Steve Englehart

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Thor: Love and Thunder, Avengers: Endgame▶ 12:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Taylor Sheridan

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Hell or High Water, Wind River▶ 9:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

William Goldman

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men, The Princess Bride▶ 1:14:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗