Plot hole: The scene in Central Park where Bud tapes Gekko never would have happened. Gekko's comments imply that he was unaware of Bud's arrest earlier that morning (not just that Gekko was unaware he was being taped). (1) Gekko makes comments that the Feds are pleased with, at least to some extent incriminating himself. (2) Gekko doesn't say something like: "OK, now you've been pinched, here's what you do." BUT - how in the world would Gekko not know of Bud's arrest? Even in the days before the internet, information spread like wildfire on Wall Street. All the brokers in Bud's office would be on the phones saying "they just arrested Gekko's broker!" Everyone on Wall Street, especially someone like Gekko, would find out, and far more quickly than the time it took to schlep Bud up to Central Park and strap a recorder on him.
Plot hole: When Ritchie appears at a pizza party sponsored by a local radio station, his manager Bob Keane is handing out copies of Ritchie's first album. In reality, the album had not been released until April 1959, two months after Ritchie's death. As the actual LP includes his biggest hit "Donna", Ritchie had not yet recorded (or even composed) the song in this part of the movie until a few scenes later.
Plot hole: In the kitchen, when Michael Douglas is preparing the hot water for the tea just before the final bathroom fight, there is a shot of him looking up at the ceiling and noticing the leaking water (obviously from the overflowing bathtub). But, he turns back toward the stove and continues to prepare the tea, instead of having an immediate reaction that something is wrong. It is not until the teapot whistles, and his wife screams, that he realizes something is wrong. He should have run up stairs as soon as he noticed the water leaking from the ceiling.
Plot hole: When Murphy is in the changeroom at the station, he learns that an officer has just died and that his funeral (according to the captain) would be the next day. There's simply no way a funeral can take place one day after someone's death. All the planning, prep work and getting the body released to the funeral home would take about a week...plus many other things. Simply cannot be done.
Plot hole: The police are on the trail of a known psychotic and mass murderer. When they turn up at the house of the mother superior, it's evident Ricky has been there, as the door has been cut open and kicked in. There is no way the other nun would have been able to freely enter the house without police escort, or even get out of the police car, as Ricky had not been located and apprehended. The house is a potential crime scene and she would not have been allowed in.
Plot hole: Senator Bunsen is introduced in the film as the President's Chief of Staff. As such, he would no longer be a sitting senator, and although he might be addressed as such, the newspaper lamenting his death would display his current title, not "Senator".
Plot hole: After the car burns, and they arrive at the motel, Neal only has $17.00 on him and nothing but melted credit cards, forcing him to give up his watch to help pay for the room. Del only has $2.00 but his watch doesn't quite flip the bill. At this point, between Neal and Del, they only have $2.00. However, when Neal invites Del into the room, so he doesn't freeze to death, they are eating Doritos and drinking shooters. Even in 1987 Doritos and a bunch of shooters must have cost more than $2.00. This is assuming Del didn't already have them in his trunk. But even if he did, at the end, Neal gets on his train, makes a return trip to find Del just where he thought he'd be, and then they'd both have to get back onto that train. After all, they both showed up at Neal's home. Once again, It would take money to get on that train. Four train fares with only $2.00. Neal's first trip, return trip, and Neal with Del for the last trip = four fares.
Suggested correction: Vinyls contain many songs, even small 45 rpm can contain 4 tracks; so one song might be forbidden or considered unacceptable, but not the rest.
Sacha ★