What’s Aged the Best?
Trial-ending structure; Dawson salute; Bacon; walk-and-talk; baseball relaxation; Impala; airmen; Guantanamo resonance; early Cruise
In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:49:18Read transcript
- Ending immediately after the trial avoids an unnecessary coda of congratulations, romance and supporting-character resolutions.
- The Kaffee–Dawson relationship’s recovery culminates in the emotionally effective final salute, despite its corniness.
- Bacon’s exceptional supporting work is praised as a career turn toward elevating another lead rather than competing with Cruise as a star.
- Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jr. sharing the courtroom anticipates their Jerry Maguire partnership.
- Kaffee and Ross’s hallway conversations exemplify the developing Sorkin walk-and-talk trademark.
- Relaxing with baseball, a bat and a Hawaiian shirt without constant online distractions is admired.
- Kaffee’s 1963 Chevrolet Impala is praised.
- Airmen O’Malley and Rodriguez are cited as highly consequential characters without dialogue.
- Sutherland reportedly struggled to drive the Humvee and hit Marines during takes, leading Noah Wyle to replace him as the driver; the story is received with incredulity.
- Guantanamo Bay as a site of corrupt conduct is described as continuing to resonate, with the wording of aged-best itself questioned.
- Early 1990s Cruise is warmly remembered despite later discomfort around aspects of his public persona.
- Kaffee’s Nintendo atop the television is belatedly praised as authentic to 1992.