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Body Heat

year 1981decade 80sdirector Lawrence Kasdan

117 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

William Hurt Ned Racine
Kathleen Turner Matty Walker
Richard Crenna Edmund Walker
Ted Danson Peter Lowenstein
J.A. Preston Oscar Grace
Mickey Rourke Teddy Lewis
Jane Hallaren Stella
Lanna Saunders Roz Kraft
Michael Ryan Miles Hardin
Larry Marko Judge Costanza
Kim Zimmer Mary Ann Simpson
Thom J.Sharp Michael Glenn
Meg Kasdan Woman at opening

Body Heat | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Mallory Rubinguest Wesley Morrisproducer Craig Horlbeck theme Naughty November
Explore episodeClose episode

Most Rewatchable Scene

Ned and Matty’s first meeting

In the discussion (19)
Approx. transcript time · 00:06:20Read transcript
  • Matty physically leading Ned by his penis is praised as an unusually literal metaphor for erotic-thriller desire.
  • Breaking through the glass while Matty watches is praised as an erotic act in itself.
  • The initial concert encounter is a scene candidate for repeated sexually charged verbal exchanges.
  • The bar encounter is praised because Matty effectively announces her danger while Ned mistakes being chosen for a compliment.
  • The chair-through-glass sequence is praised for Matty’s stillness, camera perspectives through the door and an almost horror-like quality.
  • Teddy’s first appearance is a scene candidate for charismatic delivery and unusually wise warnings to Ned.
  • The cocaine inscription is corrected to Teddy’s second scene, distinguishing it from the first appearance.
  • The murder is enjoyed as a noir set piece, including the shouted warning that the husband has a gun.
  • The will assessment is praised for revealing Matty through the camera’s movement and for everyone producing cigarettes after a smoking request.
  • Peter and Oscar’s visit warning Ned to stay away from Matty is a scene candidate; his attraction and her imminent inheritance make the advice ineffective.
  • Ned’s freezer-side conversation with Peter and Oscar is praised for believable old-friend familiarity and his attempt to recast greed as a reason to pursue Matty.
  • Peter explaining the situation while Ned begins to realize his nightmare is another scene candidate.
  • The boathouse confrontation and island ending are nominated, with boathouse nitpicks deferred.
  • The chair-through-glass sequence is a final scene preference.
  • Marianne’s gazebo scene is added as a scene candidate.
  • The yearbook reveal is praised as satisfying.
  • Teddy’s first scene is a personal favorite, qualified because it excludes the central pair.
  • The bar encounter is a provisional final preference.
  • The first meeting receives a number-one choice and subsequent agreement.

What’s Aged the Best?

Turner’s voice; fire, heat and sweat; sex montage; score; Corvette; gazebos; boathouses; grabs; Danson; small touches; yearbook; Florida; influence; awkward dinner

In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:19:42Read transcript
  • Turner’s voice contributes to a sensory film world of smoke, fog, sweat and clothing peeled from bodies.
  • Recurring fire, heat and sweat motifs and the escalating before-and-after sexual montage are praised.
  • John Barry’s score is praised.
  • Ned’s 1964 Corvette Roadster is praised as almost a character, compared with Hurt’s Porsche in The Big Chill.
  • Gazebos and boathouses are praised as useful movie settings.
  • The two penis grabs are singled out, with a reportedly wider open-matte version making the window-side grab clearer.
  • Pre-Cheers Danson’s playful dancing and physicality are praised, though his energy seems to belong in another kind of movie.
  • The awkward three-person dinner is enjoyed, but inviting a stranger to join a married couple is considered implausible by another view.
  • Small touches of lightness are praised: the boy smoking in the bathroom and the sassy waitress create a lived-in town.
  • The yearbook resolves the mystery through the true name, photograph and stated ambition to become a con artist.
  • Florida’s thick, gothic humidity is considered crucial despite a reported earlier New Jersey setting.
  • The film’s influence on sweaty thrillers is praised through Wild Things and Heaven’s Prisoners.

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Corvette; wind chimes; Edmund’s glasses

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:57:35Read transcript
  • The wind chimes are an early memorabilia selection.
  • The Corvette is a memorabilia choice.
  • Wind chimes are reaffirmed as a memorabilia choice.
  • Edmund’s glasses are another memorabilia choice.
  • Another response rejects every item as too wet.

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

Tropical ending; Matty behind broken glass; rearview mirror

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:12Read transcript
  • The final camera reveal of Matty’s tropical escape is praised; whether it originated the getaway ending is left uncertain.
  • Matty waiting inside after the glass-door break is another cinematic-shot choice.
  • Ned looking in the rearview mirror while awaiting the explosion is praised for simultaneously watching events and himself.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Ned’s beard; troubling Hurt stories

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:02Read transcript
  • Ned’s final beard is criticized, with disagreement about whether it is fake or real.
  • Troubling stories about Hurt after his death are mentioned without details.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Turner over Mason; remove Hepburn’s legacy Oscar

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:22:35Read transcript
  • Turner is proposed for an Oscar nomination instead of Marsha Mason. The complete nominee comparison lists Hepburn for On Golden Pond, Keaton for Reds, Mason for Only When I Laugh, Sarandon for Atlantic City and Streep for The French Lieutenant’s Woman; Mason’s performance is defended in reply.
  • Another view would remove Hepburn, calling her fourth Oscar a legacy award.

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:26:04Read transcript
  • J.A. Preston as Oscar is the chosen that-guy, recognized as the judge in A Few Good Men.
  • Preston’s subsequent small television roles and lack of similar opportunities are criticized as an example of Hollywood racism, contrasting his trajectory with the film’s other breakout actors.

Apex Mountain

1964 Corvette Roadster; wind chimes; rule against perpetuities

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:32:47Read transcript
  • Turner is rejected here in favor of Romancing the Stone.
  • Hurt is rejected here; a claim of multiple Oscars is corrected to one for Kiss of the Spider Woman.
  • Kasdan’s directorial debut is considered a possible peak, but The Big Chill and his 1983 run are preferred for their larger success and nomination.
  • Crenna is considered among Body Heat, First Blood and The Rape of Richard Beck; First Blood receives the selection.
  • The 1964 Corvette Roadster receives an affirmative apex judgment.
  • Wind chimes receive an affirmative apex judgment, followed by an objection that their setup is not paid off.
  • Early 1980s South Florida is floated tentatively, without a firm comparative conclusion.
  • The rule against perpetuities receives a definite affirmative apex judgment.

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

All-Black cast: Nyong’o with Michael B. or Kaluuya

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:43:40Read transcript
  • An all-Black remake is emphatically endorsed, with Nyong’o and Michael B. proposed; the surname is not supplied.
  • Dwyane Wade as the husband is a joking addition.
  • Daniel Kaluuya is proposed as an alternative male lead, prompting debate over British versus American casting.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Heed red flags and warnings about desire

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:50:04Read transcript
  • Heeding many red flags and the warning about sexual desire causing trouble are endorsed; “You shouldn’t wear that body” is rejected as terrible advice.