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Under Siege poster

Under Siege

year 1992decade 90sdirector Andrew Davisgenre Actiongenre Thriller

103 minutes

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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

Under Siege | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Kyle Brandtproducer Craig Horlbeck
Explore episodeClose episode

Roger Ebert's review

Ebert gave three stars; Siskel and Ebert gave two enthusiastic thumbs up.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:29:47Read transcript
  • Ebert called the formula obvious but said the movie started working for him.
  • Siskel called it one of the best moviegoing times of the year.

Casting What-Ifs

The segment was effectively skipped: no casting what-ifs were found beyond Seagal almost not starring.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:21Read transcript
  • No substantive casting alternative was located.

Half-Assed Internet Research

Research covered 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.
  • USS Alabama stood in for USS Missouri.
  • Mobile-area locations and framing made the limited water appear to be open ocean.
  • The script was reduced from an estimated $100 million version to a roughly $30 million production.
  • Seagal proposed incorporating the Pearl Harbor memorial and gathered ships.
  • Harrison Ford reportedly joined The Fugitive after seeing an Under Siege rough cut.
  • The production used a blackout barge and visual blocking to conceal the Alabama’s surroundings.

Picking Nits

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

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

Probably Unanswerable Questions

The panel asked whether Ryback or Seagal could cook, whether Seagal needed a ponytail, and how his action-hero physique worked.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:37:49Read transcript
  • Was Casey Ryback actually a good cook?
  • Did Seagal need his trademark ponytail?
  • How did Seagal’s unusual action-hero body coexist with total fight dominance?

Mentions across The Rewatchables

Double Feature

The Fugitive

The Rewatchables · aired February 6, 2024

The Package / Under Siege / Presumed Innocent / Enemy of the State

Approx. transcript time · 01:43:07Read transcript
Source 1