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The Rewatchables · March 29, 2022

Panic Room

host Bill Simmons host Chris Ryan host Sean Fennessey producer Craig Horlbeck

What aged best: The cast, title sequence, subtle diabetes setup, Kristen Stewart, and specific dialogue
Casting what-if: Nicole Kidman originally played Meg before injury led to Jodie Foster
What aged worst: The propane survival, treatment of the ex-husband, and police response

All 17 categories

Dion Waiters Award Jared Leto
Overacting Award Jared Leto

Most Rewatchable Scene · 45:10

The propane attack and phone retrieval

Bill Simmons: The robbers arriving at the house is nominated as a rewatchable sequence

Bill Simmons: Meg discovering the intruders on the surveillance feed and calculating how to reach her daughter is nominated

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie? · 1:38:06

Raoul’s ski mask, the panic room, bearer bonds, and propane tank

Raoul’s ski mask, the panic room, bearer bonds, and propane tank are chosen

The film

Panic Room (2002)

Directed by David Fincher · Thriller

112 minutes

IMDb Find on JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Jodie Foster Meg Altman

Kristen Stewart Sarah Altman

Forest Whitaker Burnham

Jared Leto Junior

Dwight Yoakam Raoul

Patrick Bauchau Stephen Altman

Ian Buchanan

Andrew Kevin Walker Sleepy neighbor (cameo)

Ann Magnuson

Paul Schulze

Mel Rodriguez

Nicole Kidman Stephen’s girlfriend (voice; uncredited)

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

35:59

Casting What-Ifs

Nicole Kidman originally played Meg before injury led to Jodie Foster

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 00:35:59Read transcript

Nicole Kidman began filming as Meg but aggravated a knee injury and was replaced by Jodie Foster — Chris Ryan
Fincher is said to have reshaped Meg from Kidman’s more glamorous reading toward Foster’s practical, political portrayal — Bill Simmons
Foster reportedly became available after Russell Crowe’s injury halted a film she was directing, then her pregnancy complicated this production — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More Casting What-Ifs answers

1:13:52

Casting What-Ifs

Hayden Panettiere and Maynard James Keenan were reportedly earlier choices

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:13:52Read transcript

Hayden Panettiere is reported as an earlier choice for Sarah before Kristen Stewart — Bill Simmons
Maynard James Keenan is reported as the first offer for Raoul before Dwight Yoakam — Sean Fennessey
Henry Rollins is proposed as an alternate Raoul

Share this discussion More Casting What-Ifs answers

1:17:34

Recasting Couch

Anthony Hopkins, Michael Douglas, Ted Levine, and several Heat actors

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:17:34Read transcript

Anthony Hopkins and Michael Douglas are proposed for the ex-husband — Bill Simmons
Ted Levine is proposed for Raoul — Bill Simmons
Henry Rollins, Fickner, Seismore, Valcimer, Wes Studi, and Jon Voight are among further Raoul ideas — Bill Simmons

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1:19:38

Half-Assed Internet Research

Production facts cover Stewart’s growth, repeated takes, the set, camera work, cinematography, home-video release, an...

Production facts cover Stewart’s growth, repeated takes, the set, camera work, cinematography, home-video release, and a Runaways connection

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:19:38Read transcript

Kristen Stewart reportedly grew more than three inches during production — Bill Simmons
The medical bag floor-slide is jokingly estimated to have required many takes
The brownstone set is reported to have taken 15 weeks and $6 million to construct — Bill Simmons
The film’s camera movement combined previsualization, animation, and shot footage — Chris Ryan
Darius Khondji reportedly left as cinematographer and Conrad Hall took over — Sean Fennessey
A Jodie Foster, Cherie Currie, Kristen Stewart and Joan Jett casting connection is traced across Foxes, Panic Room, and The Runaways — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More Half-Assed Internet Research answers

1:27:22

Picking Nits

Missed escapes, the phone plan, recovery, robber attire, and neighbor response

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:27:22Read transcript

Meg is criticized for failing to retrieve and use a phone during several openings
The 911 hold is questioned, then defended by a producer using a police-officer parent as a source — Bill Simmons
Meg’s ability to wire phone lines and recover rapidly after wine and medicine is questioned — Bill Simmons
Roe falling down two floors and getting up fresh is questioned — Bill Simmons
Burnham wearing his security-company uniform during the break-in is questioned
Whether a neighbor would recognize and answer a flashlight SOS is debated