‹ All movies

The Rewatchables · December 25, 2023

Under Siege

host Bill Simmons host Kyle Brandt producer Craig Horlbeck

Weakest link: Split
Needle drop: Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”
Sequel or remake: No prestige-series remake

All 31 categories

Roger Ebert
Just one Oscar Tommy Lee Jones
Overacting Award Gary Busey

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award · 1:18:53

Two takes were preserved: Seagal would improve The Fugitive as Richard Kimble, and Tommy Lee Jones gives essentially the same performance in both movies.

Kyle Brandt: Seagal was proposed as a better Dr. Richard Kimble, with the action rewritten around him.

Bill Simmons: Tommy Lee Jones was argued to play essentially the same character in Under Siege and The Fugitive.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson · 1:43:45

“Don’t underestimate the cook”

Bill Simmons: A military cook may have a formidable background and should not be dismissed.

The film

Under Siege (1992)

Directed by Andrew Davis · Action

103 minutes

IMDb Letterboxd JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Steven Seagal Chief Petty Officer Casey Ryback

Tommy Lee Jones William Strannix

Gary Busey Commander Peter Krill

Erika Eleniak Jordan Tate

Colm Meaney Ernest Daumer

Patrick O'Neal Captain J.T. Adams

Michael Welden Lieutenant Ballard

Andy Romano Admiral Bates

Dale Dye Captain Nick Garza

Nick Mancuso Tom Breaker

Everything from the episode

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

33:02

Most Rewatchable Scene

The missile-launch hug; final kiss; Ryback and Tommy Lee Jones action passages

In the discussion (16)

Approx. transcript time · 00:33:02Read transcript

Ryback moving through the ship while the crew hangs on his every word was an opening candidate. — Bill Simmons
The galley confrontation and Seagal’s improvised Cajun affect were nominated. — Bill Simmons
Busey spitting into the bouillabaisse was nominated as a ruthlessly effective villain beat. — Bill Simmons
The hijackers’ first shootout, with Busey in drag and Strannix killing the ranking officer, was nominated. — Bill Simmons
Ryback escaping through the ceiling and immediately dispatching guards was nominated. — Bill Simmons
Ryback covering the captain’s body and attempting a quiet acting beat was nominated. — Bill Simmons
Strannix’s “welcome to the revolution” speech and the war-room reaction were nominated. — Bill Simmons
The microwave bomb and its invented five-second countdown were nominated. — Kyle Brandt
The reveal of Ryback’s elite SEAL history was nominated. — Bill Simmons
Ryback organizing an instant counterattack with the makeshift crew was nominated. — Bill Simmons
Ryback building a bomb from a grenade, condom, wire, oil, recorder, and knapsack was nominated. — Bill Simmons
The missile strike and awkward full-body celebratory hug were nominated. — Bill Simmons
The final Ryback–Strannix knife fight and their mutual-recognition exchange were nominated. — Bill Simmons
The joking deck finale, especially the infirmary and breakfast lines, was nominated. — Bill Simmons
The final forced-looking kiss was dissected as bizarrely rewatchable. — Kyle Brandt
One final choice was the missile-launch hug; another was the last-five-seconds kiss. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More Most Rewatchable Scene answers

59:27

What’s Aged the Best?

Entrances, Seagal’s accidental comedy and hand technique, the supporting character design, war-room celebrations, rut...

Entrances, Seagal’s accidental comedy and hand technique, the supporting character design, war-room celebrations, ruthless villains, and the Navy look

In the discussion (15)

Approx. transcript time · 00:59:27Read transcript

Ryback received a strong character entrance. — Bill Simmons
Strannix received a strong helicopter entrance. — Kyle Brandt
Jordan’s arrival established her failed-actress backstory efficiently. — Bill Simmons
Seagal’s non-jokes remain funny. — Bill Simmons
Seagal’s waving-hand fight technique remains visually distinctive. — Bill Simmons
The cheering war-room convention still works. — Bill Simmons
The villains’ decision to drown the trapped crew made them genuinely cruel. — Bill Simmons
The USS Missouri, Pearl Harbor, and Desert Storm details gave the action plot military-history texture. — Bill Simmons
“Wake up the president” was praised as enduring action-movie dialogue. — Bill Simmons
Busey’s “psychological evaluation” exchange was praised. — Bill Simmons
Bernie Casey’s presence and verbal exchanges with Strannix were praised. — Bill Simmons
Ryback’s improvised blowtorch outfit and DIY problem-solving were praised. — Bill Simmons
The hijackers’ food, booze, music, and visible enjoyment distinguished them from dour action villains. — Kyle Brandt
The Navy dress whites were praised as unusually flattering costuming. — Kyle Brandt
Wikipedia’s dry description of Under Siege II as “not as well received” amused the panel. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More What’s Aged the Best? answers

1:11:00

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

The emotional final salute

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:11:00Read transcript

The closing salute was selected, with Jordan’s Popeye-like outfit questioned. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot answers

1:12:51

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

Split: Jordan’s rapid competence; Seagal disappearing into the refrigerator

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:12:51Read transcript

Jordan’s transition from sedated cake performer to effective counter-coup participant strains plausibility. — Kyle Brandt
Seagal’s long absence from the action was argued as the larger rewatchability weakness. — Kyle Brandt

Share this discussion More The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film answers

1:14:48

What’s Aged the Worst?

Seagal’s conduct and final kiss, gratuitous nudity, Casey Ryback’s name, a visibly living dead captain, indoor smokin...

Seagal’s conduct and final kiss, gratuitous nudity, Casey Ryback’s name, a visibly living dead captain, indoor smoking, body doubles, and Busey’s later public image

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 01:14:48Read transcript

Seagal’s real-world conduct and the forced-feeling final kiss have aged poorly. — Bill Simmons
The era’s gratuitous action-movie nudity has aged poorly. — Bill Simmons
Casey Ryback sounds more like a sideline reporter than a Navy SEAL chef. — Bill Simmons
The captain visibly breathing and blinking as a corpse was criticized. — Bill Simmons
High-ranking officials smoking indoors during crisis meetings looked dated. — Bill Simmons
The obvious Tommy Lee Jones body double in the final fight was cited. — Kyle Brandt
Busey’s later public image was contrasted with his charismatic Lethal Weapon and Point Break era. — Kyle Brandt

Share this discussion More What’s Aged the Worst? answers

1:17:15

Is There a Better Title for This Movie?

Under Siege

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:17:15Read transcript

The marketing department wanted a three-word Seagal title and proposed The Last to Surrender. — Bill Simmons
The title could work in a trailer but was not preferred over Under Siege. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More Is There a Better Title for This Movie? answers

1:18:53

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Two takes were preserved: Seagal would improve The Fugitive as Richard Kimble, and Tommy Lee Jones gives essentially ...

Two takes were preserved: Seagal would improve The Fugitive as Richard Kimble, and Tommy Lee Jones gives essentially the same performance in both movies.

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:18:53Read transcript

Seagal was proposed as a better Dr. Richard Kimble, with the action rewritten around him. — Kyle Brandt
Tommy Lee Jones was argued to play essentially the same character in Under Siege and The Fugitive. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award answers

1:21:43

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Gary Busey

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:21:43Read transcript

Busey’s confrontation and betrayal lines were offered as the peak examples.

Share this discussion More The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award answers

1:21:59

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Dwayne Davis, remembered as Alvin Mack from The Program

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 01:21:59Read transcript

Private Nash from The Fugitive was nominated. — Bill Simmons
Glenn Morshower was nominated. — Bill Simmons
Nick Mancuso was nominated. — Bill Simmons
Colm Meaney was nominated. — Bill Simmons
Joe Kosala, recognized as Rosetti from The Fugitive, was nominated. — Kyle Brandt
Damian Chapa, recognized from Blood In Blood Out, was nominated. — Bill Simmons
Dwayne Davis won on the strength of The Program and other football roles. — Kyle Brandt

Share this discussion More The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award answers

1:24:02

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

The war-room officer describing Honolulu reaching 10,000 degrees

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:24:02Read transcript

A single apocalyptic line reading supplied the winning case. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance answers

1:28:37

Apex Mountain

Seagal, Erika Eleniak, and the June 1989 Playboy issue: yes

In the discussion (8)

Approx. transcript time · 01:28:37Read transcript

Seagal’s commercial and industry standing clearly declined after this film. — Bill Simmons
Busey’s apex was placed around Point Break, Under Siege, and The Firm, with The Buddy Holly Story as an earlier prestige high. — Kyle Brandt
Erika Eleniak was treated as an apex case. — Bill Simmons
The June 1989 Playboy issue was treated as an apex case because Under Siege and Home Alone preserved its fame. — Bill Simmons
“Voodoo Child” in Under Siege lost its apex case to its later NWO use. — Kyle Brandt
Casey Ryback was nominated as the apex movie cook who could also fight. — Kyle Brandt
Goodfellas’ prison cooking and Clemenza’s meatballs were competing movie-cook cases. — Kyle Brandt
Chef and Burnt were rejected because their cooks could not fight. — Bill Simmons