Basic Instinct
1992 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Mallory Rubin · Van Lathan
Aired April 14, 2026
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Friday the 13th
Two for the Money
It's Complicated
It's Complicated
Disclosure
Disclosure
Disclosure
The War of the Roses
Internal Affairs
Film credit
Michael Douglas
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 8
- Movies in this archive
- 8
Rewatchables episodes featuring Michael Douglas’s films
Displaying all 8 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
Recasting Couch
Tom Hanks as Ned; young Sharon Stone as Alice; Kathleen Turner
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:24:48Read transcript
- Tom Hanks plays Ned in his funny Bosom Buddies mode, which would make it 100 times better, and a young Sharon Stone plays Alice.
- Kathleen Turner is floated, but the role is judged probably a little bit beneath her, and she is too sultry; in 1980 she would have caused chaos at a summer camp.
- Michael Douglas revealing in his autobiography an affair with Kathleen Turner during Romance in the Stone (as transcribed) surprised nobody, given their Han Solo and Princess Leia level chemistry.
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:22:15Read transcript
- Douglas wins overacting for escalating the final words of his shouted lines. — Mallory Rubin
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:33Read transcript
- The film’s cigarette smoking is an aged-best choice; Douglas wins the smoking award because smoking appears to unlock Nick’s other destructive impulses. — Van Lathan
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:54:11Read transcript
- Douglas’s repeated naked walks after the sex scene receive the William Petersen unnecessary-nudity award. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Edward Norton; Michael Douglas; Paul Verhoeven; Tracy Morgan
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:50Read transcript
- A darker psychosexual recast imagines Edward Norton and Michael Douglas under Paul Verhoeven.
- Tracy Morgan is a comic alternate younger lead. — Chris Ryan
Casting What-Ifs
Unverified Jake candidates: Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Michael Douglas, Tom Hanks
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:10:59Read transcript
- Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Michael Douglas and Tom Hanks are reported Jake candidates, but the reliability is explicitly doubted. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Sam Shepard, Tommy Lee Jones or Tom Hanks as Adam; Adam Brody as Harley; early Chris Pratt as a child
Flex pick · Mina Kimes
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:25:44Read transcript
- Nicholson or Harrison Ford might make viewers demand a romantic reunion, unlike Baldwin’s charming but unsuitable Jake. — Amanda Dobbins
- Sam Shepard is favored for Adam’s sensitive charisma; Dennis Quaid and Cruise are rejected.
- Tommy Lee Jones could play a blue-collar contractor; Dustin Hoffman offers a Kramer vs. Kramer callback but is judged too odd and insufficiently competitive romantically. — Mina Kimes
- Recasting was the flex already used. — Mina Kimes
- Michael Douglas is floated as Adam, with concern that his sexual charisma would overpower the role.
- Hanks is proposed as Adam and encouraged to take supporting romantic-comedy roles again.
- An early-career, funny Chris Pratt could improve one child role, although adding another NBC sitcom star might overload the cast.
- Adam Brody replacing Krasinski gains agreement; the earlier, charming Krasinski is nevertheless preferred.
Just One Oscar
Demi Moore (two choices); Michael Douglas (one)
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:35:05Read transcript
- Two Oscar choices go to Demi Moore. — Bill Simmons
- The other Oscar choice is Michael Douglas, praised for steadfast self-belief even when caught in compromising behavior. — Bill Simmons
- Tom's realization that he mistreated his assistant and subsequent apology are praised, along with the assistant's performance. — Bill Simmons
Apex Mountain
Sexual-harassment movies; actor Dennis Miller; 1991 Pahlmeyer; Miss Teenage New Mexico; Seattle setting
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 01:27:59Read transcript
- Michael Douglas is rejected for Apex. — Bill Simmons
- Moore's Apex is disputed among Disclosure, Indecent Proposal, and Ghost. The argument for this film centers on the record Striptease salary secured afterward, while opponents emphasize the films most associated with her. — Bill Simmons
- Sexual-harassment movies are affirmed as an Apex choice. — Bill Simmons
- Older Donald Sutherland is considered around Disclosure and Six Degrees of Separation, with Outbreak and Invasion of the Body Snatchers as alternatives. — Bill Simmons
- Virtual reality is rejected for Apex. — Bill Simmons
- Dennis Miller’s acting career is affirmed, with this film and The Net as the relevant stretch. — Bill Simmons
- The 1991 Pahlmeyer is an affirmative Apex choice. — Bill Simmons
- The Miss Teenage New Mexico pageant is an affirmative Apex choice because the hosts had not otherwise heard it mentioned. — Bill Simmons
- Seattle as a setting is affirmed in the context of its sports and technology rise, with a correction from Singles to Sleepless in Seattle during the discussion. — Bill Simmons
The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award
Douglas; Sutherland; Baker
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:26Read transcript
- Overacting: Michael Douglas is one choice, especially the angry power speech; a response argues that rage is appropriate to the character. — Bill Simmons
- Donald Sutherland is another overacting choice for cartoonish corporate menace and grabbing a subordinate during the crushing-Tom conversation. — Bill Simmons
- Dylan Baker is a third overacting choice for signaling his character's untrustworthiness immediately and insistently. — Bill Simmons
Who Won the Movie?
Douglas and Turner together; Turner if forced to choose
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:38:49Read transcript
- Douglas and Turner together are favored because their partnership makes the film; forced to pick one, Turner is preferred and agreed with because her part offers more range.
Podcast choices
- Speaker not identified
- Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner
Casting What-Ifs
Nick Nolte declined Peck; the extensive other-candidate list is treated skeptically.
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:10:23Read transcript
- Nick Nolte reportedly declined Dennis Peck for Another 48 Hrs.; Gere is considered essential despite a long and questionable list of other purported candidates.
- The untrusted candidate list includes Alec Baldwin, Tom Berenger, Jeff Bridges, Pierce Brosnan, Kevin Costner, Willem Dafoe, De Niro, Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Jeff Goldblum, Ed Harris, William Hurt, Don Johnson, Tommy Lee Jones, Michael Keaton, Nolte, Pacino, Christopher Reeve, Kurt Russell and Schwarzenegger. — Chris Ryan
Displaying discussions 1 - 12 of 39 in total
Films in the archive
Basic Instinct
1992
Disclosure
1994
Fatal Attraction
1987
Romancing the Stone
1984
The American President
1995
The Game
1997
The War of the Roses
1989
Wall Street
1987