Opening eleven or twelve minutes, Let’s Go Crazy into Jungle Love, electrifying. Stage and stylized audience choreography make club a character; balcony synchronized dancers a favorite.
Take Me with You motorcycle and false Lake Minnetonka initiation memorable. Bad dialogue part of charm; purification request not explicit undressing instruction, cold-water danger reported.
Beautiful Ones romantic-rivalry scene called Prince greatest performance in the film and one of the great performances ever. Slow push into Apollonia reaction and intense commitment praised.
Wendy and Prince synchronized stage connection praised; Wendy iconic and an unusually good actor in this cast.
When Doves Cry montage leads through father material into Computer Blue; song reportedly supplied overnight. Clarence Williams performance improves, with darker characterization discussed.
Darling Nicky provokes Apollonia and Billy; Computer Blue transition follows album sequence and balances music with action.
Discovering fathers written music and working out Purple Rain loved; Morris family insult especially cruel.
Purple Rain dedication and song meet enormous buildup. Ending there possible, but encores and audience connection defended.
Final three-song ending selected, despite argument it could end at Purple Rain. Band relationship matters more than romantic resolution.
Other final choice is Apollonia/Morris date into Beautiful Ones, a personal favorite section of any eighties movie.

The most "year the movie came out" thing

Cassette boomboxes; haircuts; brass waterbed; domestic-violence plot; Apollonia–David Lee Roth relationship; concert editing and montage

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:00:59Read transcript

Most1984 excluding Prince candidates: cassette boomboxes, haircuts, brass waterbed, domestic violence plot and reported Apollonia/David Lee Roth relationship.
Editing form chosen: empty whip-pans connecting energy and single-frame collage distinctly eighties.

What’s Aged the Best?

Wendy and Lisa; performances; Modernaires; mirror gimmick; cable rewatchability; Jill scene; puffy shirt; Sex Shooter; music rivalries; Chappelle’s Prince; Minnesota music; The Time

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 01:02:54Read transcript

Wendy/Lisa acting, mockery, style and stage chemistry loved. Eponymous first album fantastic, a favorite B+ album; personal favorite part of Prince experience.
Convincing performances despite singing over recordings; Modernaire song liked and absence from album regretted, invented-word meaning debated.
Morris/Jerome mirror among best gimmicks without firm number-one rank; timeless comedy and gender presentation discussed.
Easy cable drop-in viewing; hilariously weak subpoena dialogue, stage gestures, puffy shirt linked to Seinfeld, Sex Shooter, Chappelle impersonation and Minnesota scene.
Minnesota music diversity and showing each Sex Shooter singer delivering her line admired; Apollonia dubbing and lack of singing experience reported.
Title reportedly chosen when director heard Purple Rain anthem at First Avenue concert.
Time underrated and charismatic, later revival recognized. The quoted review describes stagecraft; contrast with Prince partly disputed.

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

Slow push into Apollonia during “The Beautiful Ones”

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:15:52Read transcript

Slow push into Apollonia during Beautiful Ones chosen with agreement.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Weak acting; treatment of women; puppet; Modernaires’ ceiling; Morris–Jerome reaction shot; dialogue chemistry; Prince’s film career

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:16:29Read transcript

Bad acting enjoyed but weak; mistreatment of women central legacy, including dumpster, domestic violence and period joke. Psychological character logic defended without approving conduct.
Puppet ventriloquism odd and apparently dubbed versus dark and loved.
Des/Modernaires peak and album omission regretted. Morris/Jerome dancing at end undermines rivalry after cruel insult, compared with wrestling.
Prince/Apollonia reaction chemistry good but acting weaker. Later movie career criticized, Graffiti Bridge defended by other participant; Prince spiritual-intent quote and Wizard of Oz comparison reported.
Time and Busboys career potential regretted; Morris difficult behavior on set remains speculation.

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Woman thrown into the dumpster

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:25:29Read transcript

Woman thrown into dumpster chosen and called worst actor; movie-as-its-own-critic joke.

Is There a Better Title for This Movie?

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:26:03Read transcript

No better title proposed.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Prince over Michael Jackson as performer and at peak; Purple Rain over Thriller

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:26:19Read transcript

Prince preferred to Michael Jackson as performer and at peak; Purple Rain album over Thriller, movie above Michael creative work, Prince concert preferred.
Other participant never saw Michael live, recognizes great reports and faster concert grooves. Michael singing preferred, top-ten vocalist versus Prince top-fifty, with no comfortable overall answer.
Prince album catalogue wins. Dangerous personal favorite Michael album but Thriller best; Prince decade of masterpieces and Batman soundtrack defended.

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Billy Sparks

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:33:06Read transcript

Billy Sparks club owner selected for likable performance and timeless tracksuit.

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Billy

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:33:39Read transcript

Billy, Jerome, Jill and announcer candidates; Morris and Wendy/Lisa screen time eligibility doubted. Billy wins with agreement.

Apex Mountain

Prince; Apollonia; The Time; magazine masturbation; motorcycle riding in lifts; Lake Minnetonka; Minnesota sound disputed

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:39:19Read transcript

Prince all-time apex example; Apollonia and Time yes. Minnesota sound choice disputed through Jimmy/Terry/Janet comparison.
City/state conceivable with1987 Twins alternative; magazine behavior and First Avenue offered.
Clarence Williams III no; motorcycle lifts, Lake Minnetonka and customized Honda motorcycle yes. Model change during film observed.