Summary
Overview
Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas, and June Diane Raphael dive into the 1995 erotic thriller 'Jade,' directed by William Friedkin and written by Joe Eszterhas. The hosts discuss the bizarre plot involving wealthy sex scandals, blackmail, and murder, featuring David Caruso as a district attorney, Linda Fiorentino as the mysterious title character, and Chaz Palminteri as a suspicious husband. They explore the film's awkward sexual politics, confusing narrative, terrible car chases, and deeply uncomfortable visual choices, including an infamous pubic hair collection scene.
Introduction and Amazon Review Breakdown
Paul opens the episode by letting an enthusiastic Amazon reviewer describe the film instead of doing his usual breakdown. The review captures the essence of this erotic thriller about millionaires, orgies, blackmail, and a mysterious woman named Jade. The hosts immediately dive into their memories of the film and the era of 90s erotic thrillers, with June expressing her deep nostalgia for watching these adult dramas with her parents.
- Paul uses an Amazon review from 2001 to describe the film instead of his usual breakdown
- The reviewer describes it as having millionaires in orgies, blackmail, a mysterious woman called Jade, and great car chases
- June immediately declares this her favorite movie ever, experiencing muscle memory of watching similar films with her parents
- Jason notes David Caruso left NYPD Blue for this film and another called Kiss of Death
" It's a nice movie. If you like Basic Instinct or Bound, Eyes Wide Shut, which are better, you might like this one. There are millionaires taking part in orgies and having sex like most of us would like but are afraid of and then there's someone blackmailing them. "
" I feel like they shot the outline. Like, I don't feel like they wrote a full script. I feel like they shot the treatment of the movie. It's so just broad strokes. "
The Infamous Crime Scene and Pubic Hair Collection
The hosts are disturbed by one of the film's most shocking plot points: a collection of silver boxes filled with women's pubic hair found at the murder scene. Paul reveals this detail may be based on producer Robert Evans' real-life habits. They discuss how this grotesque detail is introduced but never plays a meaningful role in the investigation, along with other bizarre evidence like massage oil, sex pillows, and Wolfgang Puck frozen pizzas in the bedroom.
- The murder scene features a collection of engraved silver boxes filled with pubic hair displayed on a side table
- Paul reveals rumors that producer Robert Evans kept similar collections in real life
- Police find sex toys, an inflatable sex pillow with detailed instructions, and Wolfgang Puck frozen pizza in the bedroom
- The pubic hair evidence is introduced but never becomes relevant to solving the crime
" When this movie delivers that as one of the first plot points of the film I was like oh my there's Robert Evans going you know what would be interesting is if he hang on Paul do you not have one of those "
" They are chock full of pubes. They are like... It's like opening up a... I genuinely feel sick. I'm not kidding. "
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