‘Trading Places’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan
May 16, 2023 · Trading Places (1983) · Comedy · 1:38:29 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsEddie Murphy — Eddie Murphy - Trading Places launches Eddie to the stratosphere, making him probably the biggest black movie/TV person after this movie▶ 4:49
Chris RyanEddie Murphy — Eddie Murphy's 1980-1984 run as one of the great four-year runs in American pop culture▶ 4:09
Van LathanEddie Murphy — Both Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd seem to be peaking - they're young, hungry, in their creative sweet spot▶ 7:16
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes including Randolph and Mortimer's chemistry, the gorilla scene with Beaks, and various rich guy moments like the door waiting scene and the Constance Fry song▶ 41:00
Chris RyanRich guy moments including the dinner scene where Louis tells Coleman to have the dessert▶ 43:09
Van LathanThe scene where Billy Ray finally proves his worth to the Dukes with the Kung Fu grip▶ 40:40
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsThe big ending with the orange juice short selling scheme - that audiences don't need to fully understand the mechanics for it to work dramatically▶ 45:30
Van LathanDiscussed understanding the commodities trading after watching The Big Short, focusing on how the crop report serves as an important plot device▶ 46:11
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsHow much money did they actually invest? They're on an island and in a boat but might have just been vacationing, not made three hundred million dollars▶ 47:56
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Bill SimmonsCrepe Suzette (that Coleman made for dessert but was told to go eat and puts in the garbage)▶ 50:31
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsThe train scene - citing issues with Beaks flying/riding train with passengers, not recognizing everyone, and the blackface▶ 52:00
Chris RyanSupports the train scene criticism, noting it was unnecessary and could have been handled differently▶ 55:11
Van LathanAgrees the train scene is problematic, focusing extensively on the blackface controversy and broader 1980s content issues▶ 52:20
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsUse of racial slurs, Jamie Lee Curtis nude scene impact, EF Hutton references, World Trade Center 'kill or be killed' line▶ 57:04
Chris RyanDan Aykroyd's gross Santa Claus scene with salmon (traumatized him as a child) and blackface▶ 1:00:03
Is There a Better Title?
Chris RyanNo, Trading Places is better than the original screenplay title 'Black and White'▶ 1:02:42
Best Quote
Van LathanMortimer's incredulous response about half the money being from him - '$2.50. I gave you that.'▶ 1:03:10
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsTrading Places is the most underrated Christmas movie and is a better Christmas movie than Home Alone▶ 1:07:13
Chris RyanEddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd should also be arrested for insider trading and market manipulation after stealing the crop report▶ 1:05:04
Van LathanChevy Chase would have killed in Dan Aykroyd's role - considering him as a recasting choice▶ 1:06:06
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsRichard Pryor — Provided extensive casting information including Richard Pryor/Gene Wilder originally cast, Eddie Murphy replacing Pryor, Paramount not wanting Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis being Landis's choice, Don Ameche replacing Ray Milland, G. Gordon Liddy originally cast as Beeks, and Rick Moranis/Dave Thomas originally as baggage handlers▶ 1:10:11
Chris RyanRichard Pryor — Made observations about Richard Pryor's unique reason for not being able to do the film (setting himself on fire) and noted the trend of buddy movies going to the Caribbean▶ 1:10:24
Van LathanG. Gordon Liddy — Expressed enthusiasm for G. Gordon Liddy as Beeks casting what-if and noted Eddie 'fucked over' Gene Wilder by not wanting to work with him▶ 1:11:58
Is This Movie Better With
Chris RyanProposed Wayne Jenkins interacting with Ophelia during the T-bill conversation, imagining him as a financial advisor.▶ 1:28:35
Just One Oscar
Chris RyanEddie Murphy — Initially agrees with Eddie but questions if it should be Best Supporting Actor vs Lead Actor, and considers the script as an alternative▶ 1:29:27
Movies Referenced (51)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Alone (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:07:00 |
| Philadelphia (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Van Lathan, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:14:58 |
| Coming to America (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 4:18 |
| Halloween (1978) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | ▶ 15:38 |
| They Live (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:23:37 |
| Die Hard (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 1:07:03 |
| Creed (2015) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:21:12 |
| Frozen (2013) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:21:29 |
| Ghostbusters (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 13:45 |
| Lights Out (2016) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 42:01 |
| Running Scared (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:15:30 |
| The Blues Brothers (1980) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 4:35 |
Directors Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Landis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | The Blues Brothers | ▶ 3:23 |
| John Hughes | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, The Breakfast Club | ▶ 8:52 |
| Frank Capra | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | It's a Wonderful Life, It Happened One Night | ▶ 12:14 |
Actors Referenced (64)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie Murphy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 76 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | The Nutty Professor, Beverly Hills Cop II | ▶ 2:10 |
| Dan Aykroyd | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | Ghostbusters | ▶ 4:34 |
| Jim Belushi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | ▶ 4:35 | |
| Richard Pryor | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 5:06 | |
| Jamie Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | Cold Mountain | ▶ 18:16 |
| Chevy Chase | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation | ▶ 15:04 |
| Ralph Bellamy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | His Girl Friday, Trading Places | ▶ 20:42 |
| Jamie Lee Curtis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | True Lies, Everything Everywhere All at Once | ▶ 15:35 |
| Frank Oz | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 56:50 | |
| Bill Duke | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Predator, Commando | ▶ 1:14:26 |
| Gene Wilder | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Young Frankenstein | ▶ 1:10:11 |
| Julia Roberts | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Pretty Woman, My Best Friend's Wedding | ▶ 1:30:40 |
Writers Referenced (7)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Ray | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 20 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | Captain Phillips, The Hunger Games | ▶ 11:08 |
| Jeffrey Katzenberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Shrek, Just Like Heaven | ▶ 39:43 |
| Timothy Harris | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Trading Places | ▶ 22:37 |
| Thorne Smith | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 22:27 | |
| Andrew Cosby | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 5:18 | |
| Jamie Curtis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | ▶ 35:35 | |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 25:33 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry Ackroyd | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, United 93 | ▶ 1:06:28 |