November 22, 2022
'Body Heat'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin, and the New York Times' Wesley Morris wipe the sweat off their brows and grab a snow cone as they revisit Lawrence Kasdan's sweltering neo-noir erotic thriller 'Body Heat,' starring William Hurt, Kathleen Turner, and Ted Danson.
Cast
William Hurt as Ned Racine
Kathleen Turner as Matty Walker
Richard Crenna as Edmund Walker
Ted Danson as Peter Lowenstein
Mickey Rourke as Teddy Lewis
Directed by: Lawrence Kasdan
Written by: Lawrence Kasdan
Notes
- $9 million budget, made $24 million at the box office.
- Considered the first modern erotic thriller, taking classic 1940s/50s noir and adding explicit sexuality. Most compared to Double Indemnity.
- Kathleen Turner's first film role – she had been a soap opera actress. Approximately 27 years old during filming.
- Christopher Reeve was offered the William Hurt role but turned it down, saying he didn't think he'd be convincing as a seedy lawyer.
- George Lucas guaranteed to cover any budget overruns because he believed in Kasdan so strongly.
- Hurt and Turner allegedly introduced themselves naked to each crew member to make everyone comfortable filming love scenes.
- Originally set in New Jersey, not Florida. The move to Florida was crucial for the oppressive heat atmosphere.
- Lawrence Kasdan's incredible run: in 3 years he wrote Empire Strikes Back, 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', Continental Divide, and wrote/directed 'Body Heat'.
- The final scene subtitles reveal: the man with Matty on the beach says 'it is hot' – implying she's running the same con again.
- Part of 'Naughty November' on the podcast (with 'American Gigolo', 'Cruising', and 'Blow Out').
Categories
Roger Ebert's review
Quote from Rog's review:
“Women are rarely allowed to be bold and devious in the movies. Turner's interest in Body Heat announces that she is the film's center of power.”
- On Ned: Ebert noted 'It's important that the man not be a dummy. He needs to be smart enough to think of the plan himself.'
- The hosts discussed how Ebert recognized the film as a modern noir masterpiece from the start.
Most re-watchable scene
- The first meeting at the outdoor concert/bandstand – 'You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man.'
- The bar scene with the body temperature dialogue – 'My temperature runs a couple degrees high, around 100.'
- The chair through the glass door – Ned breaking in while Matty watches.
- Mickey Rourke's first scene with Bob Seger playing.
- The yearbook reveal at the end.
- The island ending.
What aged the best?
- The sex scenes and their editing – snippets rather than extended sequences.
- Pre-Cheers Ted Danson's performance.
- The fire/heat/sweat motifs throughout.
- The 1964 Corvette Roadster.
- The wind chimes.
- The score by John Barry.
- The flirting dialogue.
What aged the worst?
- Ned's fake-looking beard at the end.
- Some of William Hurt's post-death personal revelations.
Most cinematic shot
- The ending reveal – camera slowly tilts to reveal Matty is on a tropical beach, showing she got away with everything.
- Ned in the car looking in the rearview mirror before the bomb goes off.
- The chair through the door shot showing Matty standing inside, electrified, waiting.
Weak link of the movie
The child actress playing the niece (Denise).
Over-acting award
Richard Crenna – specifically his 'I would kill a motherfucker' line at dinner.
Best "that guy"
J.A. Preston as Oscar (also the Judge in 'A Few Good Men' – 'I believe I've earned it').
Best "heat check" performance
- Mickey Rourke as Teddy – 'No brainer. Easily.'
- Shoutout to Ted Danson as well.
The hottest take award
Kathleen Turner was snubbed for Best Actress at the 1982 Oscars. Should have replaced Marsha Mason.
Casting what-ifs
Christopher Reeve was offered the Ned role and turned it down.
Re-casting couch
- 2022 version: Sydney Sweeney as Matty Walker, Miles Teller as Ned Racine.
- All-Black Cast: Lupita Nyong'o and Daniel Kaluuya (or Michael B. Jordan).
Apex Mountain
- Kathleen Turner – Romancing the Stone, not 'Body Heat'.
- William Hurt – his run from Altered States through Accidental Tourist (8 years) is 'one of the great IMDb runs.'
- Lawrence Kasdan – Big Chill (1983).
- Wind chimes – Apex Mountain for chimes in a movie.
Picking nits
- How does Matty escape the boathouse explosion?
- Matty going to Teddy (Ned's contact) to learn bomb-making is sloppy for a supposed mastermind.
- Ned forgets to put Edmund's glasses on the body.
- No air conditioning in 1981 Florida.
- She told Ned where she went to high school (Wheaton) – sloppy for someone running a long con.
(Probably) unanswerable questions
- How many men has Matty conned before Edmund and Ned?
- Why didn't 'Body Heat' 2 happen? The ending sets it up.
- Did this movie invent the Lifetime Network, or was that 'Fatal Attraction'?
Best double feature for this movie
- Bill: 'Body Heat' + 'The Big Chill' (William Hurt / Kasdan double feature).
- Wesley: 'Body Heat' + Crimes of Passion (Kathleen Turner double feature).
What memorabilia would you want (or not want!) from the movie?
- Bill: The 1964 Corvette Roadster.
- Mallory: Wind chimes or Edmund's glasses.
- Wesley: 'I don't want anything from this movie. It's too wet.'
Best (or worst!) life lessons from the movie
- When there are 330 red flags with a person, stop talking to them.
- 'Ned, someday your dick is going to lead you into a very big hassle.'
Who won the movie?
Kathleen Turner – unanimous, 'no brainer.'