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‘Fatal Attraction’ With Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin, and Wesley Morris | The Rewatchables

August 20, 2019 · Fatal Attraction (1987) · Drama · Thriller · 1:49:26

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Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 7:48Glenn Close — Agreed that the underlying theme was producers didn't feel Glenn Close was sexy enough for the part and she had to prove she could be sexy
Mallory Rubin▶ 6:56Glenn Close — Discussed that there are many casting what-ifs for all roles, especially Alex and Dan, and focused on how Glenn Close had to prove she could bring sexuality to the role since nobody thought she could

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 42:56The sink sex scene (which he calls 'Mallory's sink-sack scene') and the dinner conversation where they discuss having an affair
Mallory Rubin▶ 43:19The sink sex scene - she breaks down the detailed mechanics of the water, dishes, and sexual positions in extensive detail
Wesley Morris▶ 44:05Supports the sink sex scene discussion, focusing on Michael Douglas's facial expressions during sex and Glenn Close's physical command of space, particularly in the elevator scene

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:05The boiling bunny joke (30 years of references), the meat packing district setting, and Dan's 'you're such a fucking asshole' face in the hospital
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:09:22The casting, especially Michael Douglas and Glenn Close's chemistry
Wesley Morris▶ 1:08:48The elevator scene and the dinner conversation scene where Alex lays it all out

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:11:45Burt Reynolds turned down the Dan Gallagher role, Christopher Reeve also turned it down, Andie MacDowell was considered for Beth Gallagher, Brian De Palma signed on but didn't want Michael Douglas so they chose Douglas over De Palma, John Carpenter was next choice but thought it was too close to Play Misery for Me
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:13:04Brian De Palma signed on but didn't want to do it unless they got rid of Michael Douglas
Wesley Morris▶ 1:12:01Provided analysis on why Christopher Reeve wouldn't have worked in the role, discussing how the movie requires spontaneity and physicality rather than moral struggle scenes

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 1:20:26The line about being 36 and running out of time to have children; elementary school pickup security being non-existent; old technology like landlines and operators; and the movie ripping off Play Misty for Me
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:21:49The absence of modern technology (doorbell cams, webcams would solve the plot instantly); Dan's behavior and lack of accountability; the representation of Alex's mental health
Wesley Morris▶ 1:20:461987 attitudes about pregnancy and age; the elementary school security as an indictment of whiteness (just letting any white woman pick up a child)

Joey Pants Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:24:38Stuart Pankin — Stuart Penkin (Michael Douglas' heavy friend who is dialed up and overacting throughout)
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:24:54Stuart Pankin — Stuart Penkin (agrees with Bill, specifically praising his overacting in the whisper scene in the law library)

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:27:46Michael Douglas — Yes for Michael Douglas (1987 with Fatal Attraction and Wall Street, wins Oscar for Wall Street), Yes for Anne Archer, Yes for Bedford New York, Yes for psychotic female villains, Yes for Adrian Lyne (director), Yes for cool elevators
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:31:37Adrian Lyne — Yes for Adrian Lyne as director (best movie he ever made, on heels of Nine and a Half Weeks), discusses psychotic female villains category noting it has a 'coaching tree' of imitators
Wesley Morris▶ 1:28:05Glenn Close — Yes for Glenn Close (biggest commercial movie though not her best performance - prefers Dangerous Liaisons the following year), Yes for Adrian Lyne as director, Yes for cool elevators

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:35:17How does Beth maintain her job while dealing with all the stalking incidents - assumes it happened on weekends
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:35:39Why doesn't Beth leave the house and make Dan stay in the place that was broken into by someone trying to harm them
Wesley Morris▶ 1:36:01Discusses the subtext about traditional gender roles and homemaker responsibilities explaining Beth's behavior, rather than identifying a specific plot hole

Picking Nits

Mallory Rubin▶ 1:36:31If you know someone is trying to come for you, you don't stay in the place that person just infiltrated
Wesley Morris▶ 1:36:38The character's belief that her 'bitch, come for me' phone call threat would actually work

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 1:41:20The quote sequence: 'I feel you. I taste you. I thank you. I touch you. Can you understand? Can you?' - noting it would cause him to get in a car accident
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:41:34Agrees with the same quote sequence, calling it 'so disturbing'
Wesley Morris▶ 1:41:37Specifically highlights 'I taste you' from the same sequence, calling it 'so good'

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:47:58Glenn Close

Movies Referenced (34)

Gone Girl (2014)

6 mentions · Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin▶ 11:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Wall Street (1987)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris▶ 19:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Dark Crystal (1982)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Basic Instinct (1992)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 19:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jagged Edge (1985)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris▶ 5:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Play Misty for Me (1971)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris▶ 39:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Black Rain (1989)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 19:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dangerous Liaisons (1988)

2 mentions · Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons▶ 1:28:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Indecent Proposal (1993)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 28:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jaws (1975)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 18:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Misery (1990)

2 mentions · Wesley Morris▶ 17:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (5)

Clint Eastwood

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris · Known for Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven▶ 39:29IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Brian De Palma

2 mentions · Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons · Known for Body Double, Dressed to Kill, The Bonfire of the Vanities▶ 1:13:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Adrian Lyne

1 mentions · Wesley Morris · Known for Jacob's Ladder, Indecent Proposal▶ 1:13:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Fincher

1 mentions · Mallory Rubin · Known for Se7en, Gone Girl, Zodiac▶ 1:26:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Carpenter

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Dark Star, Halloween▶ 1:13:13IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (53)

Glenn Close

52 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris, Mallory Rubin · Known for Fatal Attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy▶ 3:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Douglas

46 mentions · Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin · Known for Wall Street, Romancing the Stone▶ 4:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Anne Archer

27 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris, Mallory Rubin · Known for Fatal Attraction, Patriot Games▶ 15:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sally Field

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris · Known for Lincoln, Forrest Gump, Steel Magnolias▶ 1:10:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Harrison Ford

4 mentions · Mallory Rubin, Wesley Morris · Known for Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, The Fugitive▶ 24:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Will Smith

4 mentions · Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons · Known for Men in Black, I Am Legend▶ 26:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Christopher Reeve

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris▶ 1:11:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dominique Swain

3 mentions · Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons · Known for Face/Off, Alpha Dog▶ 29:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ivana Basic

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 19:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jagged Edge

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris · Known for Bad Company, Big Momma's House, Hardball▶ 5:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jodie Foster

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris · Known for The Silence of the Lambs, Taxi Driver▶ 1:28:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sally Kirkland

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Sting▶ 30:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (1)

Roger Ebert

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 30:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (2)

Michael Grantland

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Other Guys▶ 10:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Will Dearborn

1 mentions · Mallory Rubin · Known for Venom, The Killer▶ 55:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗