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‘Sleeping With the Enemy’ With Bill Simmons and Van Lathan

February 16, 2021 · Sleeping with the Enemy (1991) · Drama · Thriller · 1:24:54 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 27:22Multiple scenes: the boat conversation scene with neighbor, the dinner scene with chess-like dialogue, the sailing accident through flashback escape sequence, and the YWCA phone call scene
Van Lathan▶ 30:04Agrees with and analyzes the dinner scene and boat conversation, focusing on character development and the cowardly nature of the abuser

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 52:39Jane Fonda — Discusses that Julia's role was originally written for Jane Fonda, Kim Basinger turned it down, and Patrick Bergen suggested the Berlioz song. Questions how anyone could marry Bergen after this movie.
Van Lathan▶ 54:04Patrick Bergin — Notes that Patrick Bergen didn't have a 'get back role' like Danny Glover did with Lethal Weapon after The Color Purple, which hurt Bergen's career recovery.

Joey Pants Award

Bill Simmons▶ 54:29Kevin Anderson — Kevin Anderson (the new boyfriend character)
Van Lathan▶ 54:44Mentioned the woman who gave her the apple as seeming familiar from other things

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 55:16Initially gives it to the casting director for having no black people in the movie, then says no winner and suggests the lady with the apple

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 58:52Multiple trivia facts including: film based on 1987 Nancy Price novel, Julia Roberts controversy over racist treatment at South Carolina restaurant, Roberts got real black eye hitting marble floor, film initially rated NC-17 for sex scene, symphony fantastique song about opium dream of killing girlfriend, grueling shoot with Roberts in freezing ocean water
Van Lathan▶ 1:01:28Provided commentary and reactions to the trivia, praising Roberts for standing up against racism in 1991, noting it took courage during that era, and criticizing the production for making the biggest star in the world shoot in actual ocean instead of water tank

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:05:23Julia Roberts — Discussed Julia Roberts - acknowledged Pretty Woman as previous choice but suggested this movie could be her apex due to $175M box office, though her career got spotty after. Also gave definitive picks for fake Cape Cod houses, from hell movies, Cedar Falls Iowa, and Yager haircut
Van Lathan▶ 1:05:49My Best Friend's Wedding — My Best Friend's Wedding for hot Julia Roberts - thinks that's the best she ever looked, more mature and curvier

Picking Nits

Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:31Weather reports should have predicted the storm (not a surprise in 1991), all characters huddled on front of boat (basic boat safety violation), and sailing at night makes no sense - why would anyone accept that invitation
Van Lathan▶ 1:09:40The timeline doesn't work - she still has a visible scar from Patrick Bergen hitting her when dining with Mullet Hero, meaning her entire escape, travel to Iowa, house setup, and meeting him happened in just 10 days to 2 weeks

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:19:03Julia Roberts — Julia Roberts won the movie
Van Lathan▶ 1:19:00Julia Roberts — Julia Roberts won the movie

Movies Referenced (33)

Fatal Attraction (1987)

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 6:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robin Hood (2010)

8 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 11:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Beach (2000)

6 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 3:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Money Train (1995)

5 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 20:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

5 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 1:05:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

American Psycho (2000)

3 mentions · Van Lathan▶ 1:13:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Higher Learning (1995)

3 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 1:24:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Pretty Woman (1990)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 3:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Taken (2008)

3 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 3:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

West Side Story (1961)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 49:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Batman (1989)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 11:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fargo (1996)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 59:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (4)

George Clooney

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for The Ides of March, Good Night, and Good Luck., Michael Clayton▶ 58:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Duke

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Fantastic Four: First Steps▶ 1:02:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kevin Costner

1 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves▶ 12:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mel Gibson

1 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Braveheart, Conspiracy Theory▶ 47:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (55)

Julia Roberts

29 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Pretty Woman, My Best Friend's Wedding▶ 2:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

LeBron James

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Hustle▶ 44:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Vin Diesel

6 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons · Known for The Fast and the Furious, Guardians of the Galaxy▶ 3:22IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jermaine Fowler

5 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Sorry to Bother You▶ 1:22:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Evander Holyfield

4 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Grudge Match▶ 44:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Barry White

3 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons · Known for Argylle, Money Talks, Mean Streets▶ 6:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Brad Pitt

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Fight Club, 12 Monkeys, Mr. & Mrs. Smith▶ 58:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Christopher Reeve

3 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Superman, Superman II▶ 24:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Glenn Close

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Fatal Attraction, The Wife, Guardians of the Galaxy▶ 9:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kevin Anderson

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Sleeping with the Enemy▶ 42:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Ealy

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Think Like a Man▶ 15:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mike Yager

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 45:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (2)

Hector Berlioz

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Original Sin▶ 53:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 25:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗