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The Legend of Billie Jean The Rewatchables September 9, 2025

Helen Slater is disputed; Christian Slater is rejected, while Honda Elite scooters and self-haircuts are endorsed.

In the discussion (9)

Approx. transcript time · 01:05:11Read transcript

Helen Slater prompts debate among this film, Supergirl and The Secret of My Success, with box-office failures weighed against the Michael J. Fox opportunity.
City Slickers is counteroffered; expectations for Slater are compared to Elizabeth Shoe and Kelly Preston, with a hypothetical Working Girl role.
Christian Slater is rejected.
Honda Elite scooters are endorsed and Lou Reed’s 1985 advertisement is recalled.
Billie Jean’s self-haircut is called unmatched and immediately iconic, leading to COVID haircut memories.
Peter Coyote is weighed against Ken Burns narration and E.T.; E.T. is preferred.
Billie Jeans prompt comparison of the film, song and tennis player, with uncertainty about the filmmakers’ reaction to the shared name and a Billy the Kid interpretation.
Fair being fair and short-haired women are proposed; specific haircut memories remain uncertain.
Sturby Beach and Corpus Christi movies are endorsed; Yeardley Smith’s apex is The Simpsons, Barry Tubb’s Top Gun, and Keith Gordon’s Christine; Joan of Arc has other peaks.

The Legend of Billie Jean The Rewatchables September 9, 2025

The villain, mall exchanges, young cast, music and assorted 1980s conventions are praised.

In the discussion (10)

Approx. transcript time · 00:42:21Read transcript

Mr. Piat is praised as a disgusting, well-drawn villain whose souvenir business fits his rapid merchandising.
Mall exchanges gone wrong work well with hiding places, chases and escalators.
Young Christian Slater, the haircut phenomenon and the TV interviewer dismissing a woman’s perspective are highlighted.
Shoplifting with IOU notes and the unrelated Slaters looking like siblings are enjoyed.
Hiding in an empty suburban mansion is a favored device, compared with Beverly Hills Cop II.
Cruel teenage villains such as Hubie’s crew, Pretty in Pink bullies and Johnny Lawrence are recalled, with their late realizations.
Characters offended by a low ransom value are enjoyed, including Lloyd’s reaction to $10,000.
The money-lets-you-get-away-with-anything line and Lloyd’s hostage plan as a ploy to stay near Billie Jean are praised.
Mark [transcribed Saffin] is credited with score work and the golf-course song; Win in the End from Teen Wolf is recalled.
Stranger Things is suspected of drawing on this film, E.T., Goonies and The Karate Kid, including the haircut and music.

Say Anything... The Rewatchables June 10, 2020

John Cusack beat Christian Slater after Robert Downey Jr. declined; Jennifer Connelly, Elisabeth Shue, Pamela Adlon, Julia Roberts, Dick Van Dyke, Lawrence Kasdan, and Richard Dreyfuss figure in other casting or directing possibilities.

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:04:32Read transcript

Cusack beat Christian Slater for Lloyd, while Robert Downey Jr. turned the role down.
Jennifer Connelly and the actress rendered Elizabeth Shoe auditioned for Diane.
Pamela Adlon auditioned for the friend role played by Amy Brooks, and Julia Roberts was also considered.
Dick Van Dyke met Crow and James Brooks about playing Diane’s father before John Mahoney was cast.
The director rendered Lawrence Kasten had been set to direct but stepped away from Crow’s personal project.
Richard Dreyfuss read the script and wanted to play Lloyd.

Displaying all 3 discussions

1985

1985 film

Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan

Aired September 9, 2025

Displaying 1 episode