The Pelican Brief poster
The Pelican Brief

What’s Aged the Worst?

Scandal response, disputed; runtime; Culp casting, disputed; dated media; Callahan; frightened whisper; Morgan search

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:57:26Read transcript
  • Diminished public capacity for scandal is proposed, but others argue the killings would still dominate coverage.
  • The 141-minute runtime and repeated surveillance shots are excessive.
  • Robert Culp’s presidential casting divides opinion: more prominent alternatives are proposed, while his television persona is defended as appropriate.
  • Floppy disks and expandable files mark the film’s dated technology.
  • Porn theaters have largely disappeared.
  • Callahan’s conduct as a professor is criticized.
  • Darby’s sustained frightened whisper becomes a one-note performance choice.
  • The Curtis Morgan search takes too long and its intermediate steps feel far-fetched.