Home/Episodes/Someone to Watch Over Me
‘Someone to Watch Over Me’ With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan
April 29, 2025 · Someone to Watch Over Me (1987) · Crime · Drama · Romance · 1:30:30 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsLorraine Bracco — Discusses Lorraine Bracco's casting and mentions she was unknown before this role, then discusses Mimi Rogers' casting and mentions she lost Face/Off to Sharon Stone as another casting what-if▶ 21:54
Chris RyanLorraine Bracco — Agrees that Bracco was great casting choice and discusses how Mimi Rogers could have had a bigger career, comparing her potential to Susan Sarandon▶ 26:16
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsOpening credits with Sting, opening cop party, walking around Claire's apartment when Berenger gets lost and ends up in the closet, going to the Guggenheim and tie shopping▶ 34:18
Chris RyanAgrees with the cop party scene, noting the storytelling about the promotion and how it goes from afternoon to 2am▶ 36:23
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsMultiple picks including: cop daughters who marry cops, cops calling wives 'the old lady', Lorraine Bracco scenes knowing Goodfellas is coming, two-way mirrors for perp ID, Mike's 80s Jets sweatshirt with collar, New York pronunciation of 'idea' as 'idear', and Barringer's bachelor friend's apartment with bunk beds▶ 48:32
Chris RyanKoontz the cop having a little stud earring - thinks guys should just start wearing them again▶ 48:01
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Chris RyanAgrees with criticism of the last 10 minutes, particularly questioning the illogical plot decisions and character strategies▶ 55:47
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsClaire having a painting of herself, fake punch sound effects, Jerry Orbach's over-the-top Oscar-baiting performance in hospital scene, and Venza's implausible party infiltration while being a wanted fugitive▶ 57:20
Chris RyanThe fake punch sound effects and inappropriate workplace behavior (captain asking personal questions about Mike's relationship)▶ 57:59
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsThis movie had all the tools to be the greatest erotic thriller of all time, even better than Fatal Attraction as a blueprint▶ 59:51
Chris RyanVenza is the best thing that ever happened to Mike and Ellie - his dangerous entrance saved them from a life of recrimination and financial stress, showed them what's important, and reinvigorated their relationship▶ 59:10
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsReferences Queen Mary research and mentions having done Mimi Rogers research, but states he doesn't have any extra stuff to share▶ 1:09:05
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsTom Berenger — Berenger - Platoon; Mimi Rogers - this movie; Bracco - Goodfellas; Arturus - Fugitive; Ridley Scott - Gladiator; Guggenheim museum in movies - this movie; Rich hot socialite characters - uncertain between this movie and Talented Mr. Ripley▶ 1:09:16
Chris RyanTom Berenger — Agreed on Berenger - Platoon; Queens movies - Coming to America is the best; Rich hot socialite characters - Talented Mr. Ripley (Gwyneth Paltrow's Marge)▶ 1:09:19
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsVenza's legal status is confusing (unclear if he's out on bail or case is closed); Claire would never be with Neil (he's not compelling enough); Claire saying 'I have to go for a pee' is too crude for her character; Joey should have murdered Claire in the bathroom instead of just threatening her▶ 1:13:51
Chris RyanVenza's motivations and plan are unclear; witness protection wouldn't work the way shown (Claire would be in secure location, not her apartment); Joey should have just killed Claire in the bathroom instead of threatening her▶ 1:13:37
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsDoris Burke — Doris Burke (DB) - suggests her commenting on Mike walking the streets of New York battling his moral conscience about marriage versus adultery▶ 1:19:12
Chris RyanWilford Brimley — Wilford Brimley in the firm - delivers an elaborate crossover bit mixing The Fugitive with A Few Good Men references▶ 1:18:37
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsHow loaded was Claire? (family money, parents died in helicopter crash, inherited wealth). Claire as one of the great catches in movie history? What do Claire's next three boyfriends look like after this trauma?▶ 1:19:35
Chris RyanClaire has generational wealth like the Gettys, had a bad relationship with Neil as rebound, would be difficult to approach, next boyfriends would be Italian count or going for the stars after nearly being murdered▶ 1:19:40
Movies Referenced (39)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platoon (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 16:55 |
| Goodfellas (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 22:46 |
| Black Widow (2021) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:25:11 |
| Alien (1979) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 14:19 |
| Blade Runner (1982) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 14:16 |
| Fatal Attraction (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 8:35 |
| The Apartment (1960) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 13:26 |
| Basic Instinct (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:02:59 |
| Don't Say a Word (2001) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 58:34 |
| The Fugitive (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 53:55 |
| The Interview (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 11:23 |
| The Sting (1973) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 29:37 |
Directors Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridley Scott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 20 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Martian, Blade Runner | ▶ 10:31 |
| Iyi Tubi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Ex Machina, World War Z | ▶ 2:12 |
| Sean Penn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Mystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking | ▶ 14:08 |
| Tony Scott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | Unstoppable, True Romance | ▶ 13:08 |
Actors Referenced (61)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mimi Rogers | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 37 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Lost in Space | ▶ 6:25 |
| Lorraine Bracco | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Goodfellas | ▶ 6:33 |
| Tom Berenger | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Platoon, Inception, The Big Chill | ▶ 6:52 |
| Tom Cruise | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Top Gun, Minority Report | ▶ 23:32 |
| Steve Winwood | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 46:22 | |
| Roberta Flack | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | Play Misty for Me | ▶ 29:32 |
| Sharon Stone | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Basic Instinct, Casino, The Quick and the Dead | ▶ 25:30 |
| Susan Sarandon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Dead Man Walking | ▶ 26:13 |
| Jagged Edge | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Big Momma's House, Hardball | ▶ 1:25:02 |
| Jessica Chastain | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Zero Dark Thirty, Molly's Game | ▶ 28:09 |
| Mary Astor | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | The Maltese Falcon | ▶ 52:14 |
| Michael Douglas | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Wall Street, Romancing the Stone | ▶ 25:58 |
Writers Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 30:56 | |
| Taylor Sheridan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | Hell or High Water, Wind River | ▶ 19:57 |
| Tony Behringer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | No Hard Feelings, Draft Day | ▶ 31:02 |
| George Gershwin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 29:16 | |
| Howard Franklin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Name of the Rose | ▶ 30:19 |