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Misery poster

Misery

107 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

James Caan Paul Sheldon
Kathy Bates Annie Wilkes
Frances Sternhagen Deputy Virginia
Richard Farnsworth Sheriff Buster
Lauren Bacall Marcia Sindell

On The Rewatchables (1)

The Rewatchablesaired July 5, 2022 host Bill Simmonshost Brian Koppelmanproducer Craig Horlbeck

Most Rewatchable Scene

The dinner scene is selected as most rewatchable, while the hobbling is treated as the famous signature scene

In the discussion (11)
  • The opening credits and car crash are nominated
  • Annie’s tomato-soup outburst is nominated
  • The wrong-paper confrontation and “Mr. Man” exchange are nominated
  • Paul’s first trip out of the room is nominated
  • The dinner and deliberately spilled wine are nominated, with debate about whether Paul planned the spill
  • Annie’s suicidal-rain speech is nominated
  • The hobbling is described as the most famous scene, though too painful to call most rewatchable
  • Buster arriving and being shot is nominated
  • The final fight and Paul’s concealed typewriter plan are nominated
  • The dinner scene is selected as most rewatchable for its writing, acting, and the wine spill
  • The manuscript-burning scene is added as one of the best and praised for setting up the ending

What’s Aged the Best?

“Mr. Man,” supporting-character texture, period publishing details, and the softened hobbling choice have aged well

In the discussion (8)
  • The “Mr. Man” line remains a long-running household joke
  • Annie Wilkes and Hannibal Lecter arriving in consecutive years is praised
  • Buster and Virginia’s marriage and Goldman-created sarcasm have aged well
  • Paul Sheldon’s period-authentic book-jacket photograph has aged well
  • Dom Pérignon and its associated line have aged well
  • The broken N key evokes enduring writer frustration
  • Paul Sheldon having Knicks floor seats is praised as a Goldman homage
  • Changing the book’s amputation to the film’s hobbling is judged a smart adaptation choice

What’s Aged the Worst?

The publishing-business lunch, painful hobbling, typewriter workflow, and slower rewatch pace have aged poorly

In the discussion (5)
  • A literary agent taking an author to the Four Seasons now feels implausible
  • The hobbling remains painfully difficult to watch
  • Writing and revising on a typewriter has aged poorly
  • One host finds the first hour slow on rewatch
  • Producer Craig says the movie did not feel slow on his first viewing

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

The inadequate search for Paul Sheldon is the weak link

In the discussion (3)
  • The search effort seems implausibly small for a famous author who vanished after checking out
  • Buster knowing the Wilkes estate but failing to connect Annie’s criminal history sooner is criticized
  • Buster going to Annie’s house alone is criticized

Is There a Better Title for This Movie?

No; Misery is considered an excellent title

In the discussion (1)
  • The existing title is retained, strengthened by the pig also being named Misery

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Kathy Bates gives the best Best Actress performance from 1990 through the episode’s present

In the discussion (4)
  • Kathy Bates is argued to have the best Best Actress performance across the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and early 2020s
  • Frances McDormand in Fargo, Halle Berry in Monster’s Ball, and Emma Stone in La La Land are offered as winning comparators
  • Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada, Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married, and Laura Linney in You Can Count on Me are offered as non-winning comparators
  • Charlize Theron in Monster is raised as another major comparator

Apex Mountain

Kathy Bates and the 1974 Jeep Cherokee are clear peaks; several other subjects are debated

In the discussion (8)
  • Kathy Bates is an immediate Apex Mountain choice
  • King of Comedy is selected as the apex movie about an obsessed fan
  • The Overlook Hotel is selected for Colorado
  • The Shawshank Redemption is favored as the apex Stephen King film, with The Shining and Stand by Me discussed
  • A Few Good Men is proposed for Rob Reiner, with When Harry Met Sally, The American President, and The Princess Bride also discussed
  • The 1974 Jeep Cherokee is judged at its apex
  • The 1966 Ford Mustang is judged not at its apex
  • Liberace is raised with the film’s memorable record-player line

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

A limited-series remake with two women is favored, with disagreement over whether it must remain period-set

In the discussion (4)
  • A seven-episode limited series with gender-flipped or same-sex leads is proposed
  • Two women are preferred as the remake’s leads
  • One view says it must remain a period piece because modern people are too findable
  • The opposing view says modern surveillance and devices could become part of the story

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

An unfiltered cigarette and the bloodied typewriter are chosen

In the discussion (3)
  • An unfiltered cigarette is selected
  • The typewriter, specifically with fake blood from the final fight, is selected
  • Brian Koppelman explains that his cigarette choice connects to a day spent with Stephen King, who rationed four cigarettes daily

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Check the weather, avoid a Mustang in a blizzard, own a local home, and maintain check-in routines

In the discussion (5)
  • “Do not have fans” is offered as the easy but impractical lesson
  • Check the weather and do not drive a 1966 Mustang in a blizzard
  • Mustangs are endorsed for California driving instead
  • A successful repeat visitor should buy a Colorado home
  • Travelers should check in before and after journeys so searches begin sooner

Mentioned in the podcast

No additional references have been linked yet.