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The Saint

116 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Val Kilmer Simon Templar
Adam Smith Young Simon Templar
Elisabeth Shue Dr. Emma Russell
Rade Šerbedžija Ivan Petrovich Tretiak
Valery Nikolaev Ilya Ivanovich Tretiak
Henry Goodman Dr. Lev Naumovich Botvin
Alun Armstrong Inspector Teal
Michael Byrne Yuri Vereshagin
Yevgeni Lazarev President Karpov
Irina Apeksimova Aleksa "Frankie" Frankeyevich

The Saint | The Rewatchables

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What’s Aged the Best?

The volatile, talented on-set personality is nostalgically defended.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:11:05Read transcript
  • A participant misses the difficult-star mystique, comparing Kilmer with Russell Crowe and temperamental musicians; this is an opinion, not endorsement of verified incidents.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

The Saint should have become a multi-film franchise.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:14:16Read transcript
  • The title, disguise gimmick, lead and origin story are considered enough for many location-based sequels; an earlier release might have changed the competitive landscape.
  • Mission Impossible is acknowledged as the stronger competing product with better masks and a more compelling central star.

The most "year the movie came out" thing

Smashing Pumpkins and the computer evoke1997.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:32:27Read transcript
  • Negotiating with criminals on an old computer while playing Smashing Pumpkins, then resuming them during a car chase, is the period choice.

Most Rewatchable Scene

The frozen-river escape and Thomas’s seduction are the personal choices.

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:40:50Read transcript
  • The microchip heist, mustache removal while falling and implausibly safe truck landing are enjoyed.
  • Thomas’s accent, dinner, expensive wine and staged injury seduction are memorable, though the tactic’s real-world appeal is doubted.
  • The cold-fusion lecture is engaging to one speaker but awkward and juvenile to the other, who questions the scientist’s characterization.
  • The mouse-race club and impersonating Tretiak to his face are favorites.
  • Emma finding Simon and saying she would have given him the formula is nominated.
  • The river chase, underwater danger and Emma warming Simon are a personal scene preference.
  • The tunnel escape, embassy run, roulette and cold-fusion rally are additional candidates.
  • Thomas the artist’s seduction is the other final personal pick.

The most "year the movie came out" thing

The Nokia9000 Communicator wins over other1997 cues.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:56Read transcript
  • The soundtrack, primitive Internet presentation and competing spy movie are mentioned; the expensive clamshell phone/computer is the personal winner.
  • The other participant switches from Smashing Pumpkins to the phone.

What’s Aged the Best?

Post-Soviet villains, heist devices, disguises and embassy runs are pleasures.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:57:29Read transcript
  • Chaotic1990s Russia, familiar villain casting, laser security and orders to capture the woman alive are enjoyed.
  • Saint-name aliases are praised; the unexplained Klan image is noticed and interpreted as shorthand villain signaling, not a coherent plot element.
  • Disguises, villain props, the Evans production credit, cold fusion and embassy sprints are enjoyed.

What’s Aged the Worst?

The orphanage opening, dated Internet and limited stunts are criticized.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:05:04Read transcript
  • The child’s death at the opening is unwanted and insufficiently connected to becoming a thief; skipping the first seven minutes is suggested.
  • Dated Internet scenes and Noyce blaming the Kilmer casting are criticized; Crowe might have made a stronger but less memorable film.
  • Studio resistance to additional disguises is regretted, and the stunts look limited by2025 standards.

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Little clear overacting; Emma’s nervous bathroom behavior is the best candidate.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:00Read transcript
  • The speakers initially find little and suggest underacting instead; freezing Simon is a stretch because distress is justified.
  • Elizabeth Shu acting as if she has never kissed a boy, fixing her hair and repeating that this is happening, is a little much.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Shue is proposed as the greatest screen kisser.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:32Read transcript
  • This film, Cocktail, Karate Kid and Leaving Las Vegas support a personal greatest-ever assessment, praised by the other host.

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Tretiak’s actor, Tommy Flanagan and Ilya are discussed.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:04Read transcript
  • The Taken2 villain and scarred crew member are nominated; the latter is identified as Tommy Flanagan, whose known name raises an eligibility doubt.
  • Ilya is another candidate; his actor’s first name and Val nickname are discussed without settling the full name.

Apex Mountain

Kilmer’s1995 Batman/Heat year is preferred.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:39Read transcript
  • This film is rejected as his apex in favor of1995.

Apex Mountain

The electronic scene and cold fusion receive support; other apex cases are limited.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:51Read transcript
  • Batman-era Kilmer is preferred; Shue’s earlier awards moment and Mission Impossible’s disguise success count against this film.
  • Moscow films remain undecided; the electronic scene, Orbital, Sneaker Pimps and Moby receive support.
  • Cold fusion is called an apex cultural moment; a Wikipedia statement about no accepted theoretical model prompts the speakers to describe it as impossible. This is their interpretation, not independently verified science.

Cruise or Hanks?

Cruise is the obvious choice.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:08Read transcript
  • Cruise is chosen despite his franchise displacing The Saint.

Is This Movie Better With…?

Gus Johnson calling the warming scene.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:26:30Read transcript
  • An excited sports call of Emma warming Simon is performed and endorsed.
  • A Peter Schrager television-laughter idea is floated but explicitly needs more work.

Just One Oscar

The theme or score is the tentative choice.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:28:13Read transcript
  • The theme/score is proposed; the car horn playing the theme gets an amused response.