What’s Aged the Worst?
No DNA; Beth's ID photos; Gus murder sequence and case wrap-up; Hazel Dobkins subplot; LGBT depictions; no condoms; Nick's fashion; SFPD depiction
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:03Read transcript
- The case would be solved in five minutes with DNA technology; per the hosts, Eszterhas later admitted omitting DNA was a mistake, though he wrote it in the 80s.
- The ID photos linking Elizabeth Garner to Lisa Hoberman are her current photo and one with a blonde wig, which is called bad for a $50 million movie.
- The Gus murder sequence and the wrap-up with the blonde wig and clippings is a bad six minutes that ends abruptly, though forgiven.
- It is wondered whether the filmmakers were unsure of the third act, given rewrites and Eszterhas's return.
- The Hazel Dobkins subplot is a nonsensical red herring that does not pay off.
- The sexual assault on Beth does not play well, though it is noted it was already considered bad in 1992.
- The LGBT depictions: the hosts say the film was protested by gay rights activists during production, and the suspected or actual killers are gay or bisexual characters.
- Despite the AIDS-era motivation mentioned earlier, the sex scenes involve no condoms, and it is played as a joke.
- Nick's fashion and the SFPD's depiction also age poorly: the raincoat-size evidence, possibly planted evidence, Beth left on Nick's case, and Nick's four shootings in five years.