Probably Unanswerable Questions
Matt Damon in the Barry Pepper role; the Hoffman character's Monday; whether Monty's girlfriend waits; her job
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:32:34Read transcript
- Is the movie better with Matt Damon in the Barry Pepper part? Reasons: whether he would be better, whether it is a fun new role for him, and whether a Rounders-reunion cast with Norton, Hoffman and Spike Lee raises its Oscar ceiling; this is asked while liking Pepper.
- A reply: Damon changes the stakes and would require fleshing the character out more; Pepper became a better actor as the decade went on.
- Another view: it is probably a longer movie but taken more seriously as an awards movie because of the names.
- Pepper's career is reviewed, with his run ending after this period; playing a role in Battlefield Earth alongside Travolta is called a red flag, but he is called a good actor and great in this movie.
- What is the Hoffman character's Monday like? Awkward, probably handing in his resignation.
- Will Rosario Dawson's character be waiting when Monty gets out in seven years? The answer is no, she is long gone, and the dad is probably dead.
- What is her job? It is unclear; maybe a waitress, maybe a student, since she was 17 when they met, the same age as the Anna Pacquin character.