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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.

29:47

Roger Ebert's review

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 00:29:47Read transcript

Ebert called the formula obvious but said the movie started working for him. — Bill Simmons
Siskel called it one of the best moviegoing times of the year. — Bill Simmons

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1:21:21

Casting What-Ifs

No casting what-ifs; Seagal almost did not star

In the discussion (1)

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

No substantive casting alternative was located.

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1:25:23

Recasting Couch

Samuel L. Jackson replacing Gary Busey

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:25:23Read transcript

Joey Pants was suggested to deepen the film’s Fugitive DNA. — Bill Simmons
An early-career Samuel L. Jackson was proposed for Krill/Busey’s role. — Bill Simmons

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1:26:35

Half-Assed Internet Research

Erika Eleniak’s E.T. appearance, Alabama shooting locations, budget-saving rewrites, Seagal’s Pearl Harbor idea, and ...

Erika Eleniak’s E.T. appearance, Alabama shooting locations, budget-saving rewrites, Seagal’s Pearl Harbor idea, and the film persuading Harrison Ford to make The Fugitive

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 01:26:35Read transcript

Eleniak’s first feature role was the girl Elliott kissed in E.T. — Bill Simmons
USS Alabama stood in for USS Missouri. — Bill Simmons
Mobile-area locations and framing made the limited water appear to be open ocean. — Bill Simmons
The script was reduced from an estimated $100 million version to a roughly $30 million production. — Bill Simmons
Seagal proposed incorporating the Pearl Harbor memorial and gathered ships. — Bill Simmons
Harrison Ford reportedly joined The Fugitive after seeing an Under Siege rough cut. — Bill Simmons
The production used a blackout barge and visual blocking to conceal the Alabama’s surroundings. — Bill Simmons

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1:32:50

Picking Nits

The takeover plan, surprise-party cover, one-woman entertainment plan, haircuts, accents, cake logic, pills, injury c...

The takeover plan, surprise-party cover, one-woman entertainment plan, haircuts, accents, cake logic, pills, injury continuity, ovens, and payment

In the discussion (12)

Approx. transcript time · 01:32:50Read transcript

The ease with which armed terrorists boarded a nuclear battleship was the central nit. — Bill Simmons
A surprise party was judged too flimsy a cover for activity on a nuclear battleship. — Bill Simmons
Flying in only one entertainer for the party seemed implausible. — Bill Simmons
Several sailors lacked expected military haircuts. — Bill Simmons
Colm Meaney’s American accent disappears in later scenes. — Bill Simmons
Jordan apparently slept inside the cake without hearing the gunfire. — Kyle Brandt
It was unclear whether Busey drugged Jordan or she simply took too many seasickness pills.
Ryback’s water injury disappears in the next scene. — Bill Simmons
The galley uses a gas-style oven even though the Navy reportedly uses electric appliances around shipboard weapons. — Bill Simmons
Jordan’s exact job in the attack plan remained unclear. — Kyle Brandt
The amount Jordan was promised for the cake appearance was debated. — Bill Simmons
Whether Jordan was ever paid remained unanswered. — Bill Simmons

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1:37:49

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Could Ryback or Seagal cook? Did Seagal need a ponytail? How did his action-hero physique work?

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:37:49Read transcript

Was Casey Ryback actually a good cook? — Bill Simmons
Did Seagal need his trademark ponytail? — Bill Simmons
How did Seagal’s unusual action-hero body coexist with total fight dominance? — Bill Simmons