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‘8MM’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan

November 24, 2020 · 8MM (1999) · Crime · Drama · Mystery · 1:28:11

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Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 35:09David Fincher — Fincher almost directed this

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 37:28Multiple scenes: Second scene with Nick Cage and the missing girl's mom (Amy Morton) where she makes dinner and he asks about choosing to know vs. not knowing; First Phoenix scene reading 'Anal Secretary'/Truman Capote; Second/third Phoenix-Cage scenes in parking lot and watching snuff films; Nick Cage calling Gandolfini while spying; The big confrontation scene in the last 45 minutes
Chris Ryan▶ 38:52Supports the dinner scene discussion, noting the unspoken attraction and sadness, and comments on various Phoenix scenes but doesn't give specific definitive picks
Van Lathan▶ 39:21Discusses the dinner scene between Cage and the mother, analyzing how he represents hope to her while she represents loss to him, calling it strong and grounding for the rest of the movie

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 55:36Phoenix's three rules of life quote, the Clevelander hotel, and Anthony Heald as the scumbag lawyer
Chris Ryan▶ 57:16Mentions having 'a huge depression about this guy's character' but the statement is cut off
Van Lathan▶ 56:51Agrees about Anthony Heald's performance, particularly his comfort with depravity and ability to play characters who associate with dangerous people

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 59:58Porn now compared to porn in the late 90s - the movie makes less sense in 2020 because everything would be done on the internet
Chris Ryan▶ 1:00:09Agrees that porn/technology changes make the movie outdated - it would basically be like a hacker movie now with people trying to figure out who was downloading what
Van Lathan▶ 1:00:40Acknowledges porn has changed dramatically, sharing personal anecdote about having to call someone on the phone to order VHS tapes in college, contrasting with modern accessibility

Joey Pants Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:05:54Nicolas Cage — Initially nominated the tall blonde Swedish guy in S&M outfit from seedy shop scene, but later said 'you guys convinced me' about Nick Cage
Chris Ryan▶ 1:06:29Norman Reedus — Initially considered Amy Morton or Norman Reedus, but acknowledged another host's pick was superior
Van Lathan▶ 1:06:34Norman Reedus — Considered Norman Reedus and the lawyer guy, praised another host's deep cut pick, but didn't give final definitive answer

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:59Eddie drives a Stutz Blackhawk, a prestigious 70s/80s car owned by Elvis and Sinatra, too expensive for his scumbag character

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:09:20No for Cage (peak was after Oscar win), No for Schumacher, No for Joaquin Phoenix, No for Gandolfini (too early in Sopranos), No for Chris Bauer, Yes for seedy porn shops cinematically, Yes for snuff film movies, Yes for fake recreated seedy LA/Times Square
Chris Ryan▶ 1:09:55Chris Bauer — Notes Chris Bauer is mostly known as Sabaka and face not seen except at end
Van Lathan▶ 1:09:47James Gandolfini — Agrees Gandolfini's apex was at peak of Sopranos when he was one of biggest stars in world, agrees on snuff film movies apex

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:23:13Joaquin Phoenix — Phoenix as the winner, with Machine as 1B - praises Phoenix's 35 minutes as 'who the fuck is that? It's just awesome'
Chris Ryan▶ 1:20:58Joaquin Phoenix — Phoenix - calls him 'far and away the best part of the movie' who gives it edge and reality
Van Lathan▶ 1:21:53Joel Schumacher — Joel Schumacher officially, but 'in my heart of hearts' gives it to Machine as a great scary movie horror villain

Movies Referenced (49)

Fargo (1996)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 18:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Batman (1989)

4 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 34:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gladiator (2000)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 17:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Game (1997)

4 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 29:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Enemy of the State (1998)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 1:13:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

True Romance (1993)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 17:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

A Time to Kill (1996)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 34:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Con Air (1997)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 6:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Funny Games (2007)

2 mentions · Van Lathan▶ 27:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ghost Rider (2007)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 8:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 8:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joker (2019)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 23:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (9)

Joel Schumacher

13 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for The Phantom of the Opera, 8MM▶ 5:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Fincher

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for Se7en, Gone Girl, Zodiac▶ 29:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Anal Arasu

6 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 40:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Bay

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Armageddon▶ 11:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Colorado

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Hancock▶ 37:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mel Gibson

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Braveheart, Conspiracy Theory▶ 1:05:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Mann

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans▶ 1:00:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Oliver Stone

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Born on the Fourth of July, Platoon, JFK▶ 1:26:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Verhoeven

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for RoboCop▶ 1:04:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (50)

James Gandolfini

14 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Enough Said, Get Shorty▶ 6:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Catherine Keener

11 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Being John Malkovich, The 40-Year-Old Virgin▶ 12:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Nicolas Cage

10 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Face/Off, Leaving Las Vegas▶ 2:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joaquin Phoenix

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for Walk the Line, Gladiator▶ 6:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Russell Crowe

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind▶ 1:04:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

George C. Scott

4 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Patton▶ 16:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Amy Morton

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Up in the Air, 8MM, Rookie of the Year▶ 18:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Anthony Heald

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Silence of the Lambs▶ 6:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cali Swag District

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chris Bauer

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 17:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Meat Loaf

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Fight Club▶ 1:10:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Norman Reedus

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 19:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (4)

Andrew Kevin Walker

10 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for The Killer, Se7en▶ 5:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Truman Capote

3 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons · Known for Breakfast at Tiffany's▶ 25:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 18:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tommy Lee

1 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Vanilla Sky▶ 1:00:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗