THE REWATCHABLES · July 28, 2020
A 1990 romance / fantasy directed by Jerry Zucker, covered in the complete Rewatchables archive.
ON THIS EPISODE
FROM THE CONVERSATION
WHY IT WORKS
WHAT DID NOT WORK
SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO
The erotic pottery sequence is treated as the movie's most famous and most rewatchable scene.
About 48 minThe attack and immediate ghost realization are praised as tense and well staged.
About 40 minOda Mae's first major scene is praised as a comic turning point.
About 32 minThe bank transfer scene is praised for Whoopi's timing and Goldwyn's sweaty panic.
About 1:04The ending is described as emotionally devastating and still effective despite the effects.
About 32 minThe hosts debate whether the body-switch scene works better as Whoopi or as Swayze inside Whoopi.
About 1:12WHERE THEY DISAGREED
Bill SimmonsSwayze is the best case because he embodies the era and makes the movie work.
Chris RyanWhoopi is the best case because the movie does not work without her and she is unforgettable.
Amanda DobbinsWhoopi is the clearest winner because she has the biggest and most memorable performance.
Bill SimmonsThe movie's binary heaven/hell model is basically what the afterlife is like.
Chris RyanQuestions whether purgatory or a council fits the movie's logic.
Amanda DobbinsSuggests the rules are unclear and tied to unfinished business.
Amanda DobbinsA modern version would likely keep Whoopi on screen for the dance scene.
Chris RyanKeeping the switch may preserve the emotional focus on Sam and Molly.
Bill SimmonsThinks 1990 audiences would not have been ready for the same-sex body-switch presentation.
Says the movie was the ultimate date movie and helps explain its huge success.
Opening minutesArgues the theatrical experience, especially with a romantic partner, was magical.
Opening minutesSays the modern date movie no longer inspires this mix of romance, crying, comedy, and action.
Opening minutesTreats Swayze's five-film run as close to an all-time great star stretch.
About 8 minSays Swayze's combination of toughness and sensitivity made him uniquely appealing.
About 8 minCredits her haircut and crying as core to the movie's success.
About 16 minSays her arrival provides the movie the exact change-up it needs.
About 32 minCalls the pottery scene the obvious choice despite its outrageous sexual innuendo.
About 48 minLikes the tense sequence where Sam sees his body and starts using ghost powers.
About 40 minSays the bank sequence is peak Whoopi and one of the movie's funniest stretches.
About 1:04Admits the ending still works emotionally despite the rough effects.
About 32 minSays Moore's crying is so effective that it makes viewers cry too.
About 16 minArgues Ghost gives the best movie depiction of heaven and hell, even if that sounds absurd.
About 48 minPraises Goldwyn for being an ideal smarmy villain who still may have been typecast by the role.
About 1:12The episode treats Ghost as part of an era when movies stayed in theaters for months and were watched repeatedly on VHS.
Opening minutesThe hosts argue Ghost helped prove that love stories could become massive mainstream hits.
About 16 minSwayze's mix of athleticism, sensitivity, and sexual charisma is treated as the movie's key ingredient.
About 8 minThe film is discussed as a love story about saying goodbye and continuing beyond death.
About 16 minWhoopi Goldberg is praised for grounding the movie without turning it into a sketch.
About 32 minThe film reportedly made over $500 million worldwide on a $22 million budget.
Opening minutesGhost won two Oscars, including Best Original Screenplay and Whoopi Goldberg's Supporting Actress Oscar.
About 24 minBill says the film stayed in theaters for about four months.
Opening minutesThe pottery scene was reportedly improvised and the pot falling apart became part of the shot.
About 48 minBill says the ghost sound effects were made from babies crying slowed down and reversed.
About 1:12Bill says the film was released on video and LaserDisc in March 1991 and set rental/sales records.
About 1:12Bill says Patrick Swayze was offered the role only after multiple other actors reportedly passed.
About 1:20Amanda says Demi Moore's haircut functioned as a crucial reinvention in the movie.
About 16 minUsed as a benchmark for modern rom-coms and VHS staples.
About 8 minReferenced as another Swayze romance phenomenon and VHS staple.
About 8 minCompared to Ghost as a huge romantic blockbuster with long theatrical legs.
About 8 minAnother 1990 romance hit used to frame Ghost's success.
About 16 minUsed to show Swayze's charisma among a young ensemble.
About 8 minPart of Swayze's 87-91 run and evidence of his action-romance duality.
About 8 minUsed as the last great entry in Swayze's peak run.
About 8 minReferenced in relation to belief in ghosts and afterlife storytelling.
About 56 minReferenced as another afterlife-themed Rewatchables possibility.
About 48 minUsed as an example of a failed or overly earnest afterlife movie.
About 40 minMentioned as another sentimental movie that goes wrong.
About 40 minCompared to Whoopi's performance as a late-arriving emotional force.
About 32 minUsed as a comparison for Kevin Kline's sweet, vulnerable persona.
About 1:20Referenced as another Tony Goldwyn role.
About 1:12Used to praise Matthew McConaughey's crying ability.
About 32 minThe hosts keep arguing over whether purgatory, heaven, and hell work like a legal system or a binary choice.
About 48 minThe repeated 'her shoulders' joke underscores the Rita Miller bank scene.
About 1:04The hosts keep praising Moore's tears as if they are a signature weapon.
About 16 minThe conversation repeatedly returns to how Swayze taught the hosts about sex, movement, and charisma.
About 8 minThe hosts frame Ghost and Dirty Dancing as formative movies for understanding romance and sex.
About 8 min“I cried both times.”Opening minutes
“This was the greatest date movie of all time.”Opening minutes
“You will believe.”Opening minutes
“What a crock of shit.”About 1:04
“I am Swayze.”About 1:12
MAKE IT A MOVIE NIGHT
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Three movies to watch before Ghost, and three to watch next.
ON THE MIC
Bill SimmonsThe Rewatchables
Chris RyanThe Rewatchables
Amanda DobbinsThe RewatchablesREWATCH FAVS
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