February 15, 2021
'Sleeping With the Enemy'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Van Lathan set sail off the coast of Cape Cod in order to find a missing 1991 movie called 'Sleeping With the Enemy' starring Julia Roberts, Patrick Bergin, and Kevin Anderson.
Notes
- $19 million budget, made $175 million domestic – 7th biggest movie of 1991.
- Broke the record for highest domestic opening for a female-centric film ($13 million opening weekend). Ended Home Alone's 12-week run atop the box office.
- The beach house was built from scratch on Shell Island, South Carolina (not Cape Cod). They had to promise to tear it down and restore the environmentally sensitive beach grass zone afterward.
- Film was initially rated NC-17 due to the sex scene; it was cut down to R.
- When Patrick Bergin hits Julia Roberts and she hits the marble floor, she actually hit her head and got a real black eye – visible in the next scene.
- Julia Roberts caused a controversy after calling Abbeville, SC 'a living hell and horribly racist.' A group of SC citizens took out a rebuttal ad in Variety.
- The role was originally written for Jane Fonda. Kim Basinger turned it down.
- Patrick Bergin suggested using Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique as the creepy recurring music – it's about a young man who dreams of killing his girlfriend under the influence of opium.
- The movie launched/cemented the 'From Hell' genre era (1987-1993): 'Fatal Attraction', Pacific Heights, Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Single White Female, The Good Son, etc.
Categories
Roger Ebert's review
Quote from Rog's review:
“A slasher movie in disguise, an upmarket version of the old exploitation formula where the victim can run but she can't hide.”
Most re-watchable scene
- The bus scene where Laura shares the apple and tells her story in third person for the first time (Van Lathan).
- The sailing accident through the funeral to the flashback escape reveal (Bill Simmons).
- The ending – Laura realizes he's in the house when the Berlioz music is playing, towels straightened, cans rearranged.
What aged the best?
- The Cape Cod beach house – spectacular movie house, one of the best ever (actually built on Shell Island, SC).
- The movie title – 'Sleeping with the Enemy' is iconic.
- Julia Roberts looking fantastic – apex Julia from a looks standpoint.
- The VersaClimber – 20 years later became a massive fitness craze via LeBron James.
- 'We all forget things. That's what reminding is for' – still a perfect red-flag litmus test line.
What aged the worst?
- The Berlioz song not doing well on Spotify these days.
- The West Side Story scene introducing the new love interest – hasn't aged well.
- The domestic violence awareness gap – pre-OJ, the YWCA lady accepts the 'gymnastics bruises' excuse.
Casting what-ifs
- Jane Fonda was originally written for the Julia Roberts role.
- Kim Basinger turned down the part.
Best "that guy"
Kevin Anderson (the boyfriend / drama teacher Ben).
Over-acting award
Patrick Bergin – the only candidate, dials it up 1000 different times.
Best "heat check" performance
The casting director – for the heat check of not casting a single Black person in the entire movie.
Re-casting couch
- Recast the boyfriend with young Brad Pitt (Thelma and Louise era).
- Early George Clooney (pre-ER, with a mullet) – 'the movie's better with Mullet George Clooney'.
Half-assed (internet) research
- Based on a 1987 novel by Nancy Price.
- Julia Roberts racial controversy in Abbeville, SC during filming.
- Roberts got a real black eye hitting the marble floor during the domestic violence scene.
- Director Joseph Ruben said Julia was 'on the edge of hysteria' for the five days shooting the violence scene.
Apex Mountain
- Hot Julia Roberts – Bill says this is her apex from a looks standpoint; Van argues 'My Best Friend's Wedding'.
- Patrick Bergin – had this and Robin Hood in the same year (1991).
- From Hell movies – 'Fatal Attraction' probably holds the apex, but this cemented the genre.
Picking nits
- No storm warnings before the boat trip? Even in 1991 weather reports could predict storms.
- The timeline makes no sense – the entire escape and new life happens in about two weeks based on her visible scab.
- Why flush the ring down the toilet? She could have thrown it in the ocean.
- Cape Cod to Boston commute geography doesn't add up for the husband's daily drive.
Sequel, prequel, prestige TV or untouchable?
Could definitely be remade as a 10-episode Netflix show – would help explain some plot holes.
(Probably) unanswerable questions
- How long did the boyfriend and Laura date after the murder?
- Did LeBron James discover the VersaClimber by watching this movie?
- Did Laura inherit the husband's money? She was technically still alive and never divorced.
What memorabilia would you want (or not want!) from the movie?
- The VersaClimber, or the half-eaten apple from the bus scene (Van Lathan).
- The statue from their wedding that the husband throws through the window (Bill Simmons).
Who won the movie?
Julia Roberts – making a mediocre movie the 7th highest-grossing film of 1991 is a remarkable achievement.