‹ All people
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
The Pelican Brief
The Pelican Brief
An Officer and a Gentleman
In the Line of Fire
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 12
- Movies in this archive
- 12
Rewatchables episodes featuring Denzel Washington’s films
The Pelican Brief
1993 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
Aired December 12, 2023
Displaying all 12 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:43Read transcript
- Dawson is the clear internal choice for one Oscar. — Bill Simmons
- Sean Connery, Albert Brooks, Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, and Vincent Gardenia make the real supporting field too competitive. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:59:36Read transcript
- Swap Annabella Sciorra and Nancy Travis: Sciorra's passion and contrast with Peck would strengthen Raymond's marriage story.
- Christopher Reeve is an intriguing against-type option; Don Johnson has the right appeal, though his acting range is questioned. Harrison Ford is another preferred alternative.
- Denzel Washington could play Peck, but the racial dynamics would make a substantially different movie.
- Ryan Gosling is the modern Peck choice, with Murder by Numbers recalled as evidence he can play a villain.
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:42:06Read transcript
- Who won: Denzel receives the explicit choices and final agreement; Demme is proposed and rejected. Later repetitions recap the same selection rather than adding voters. — Bill Simmons
Podcast choices
What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?
Penn cap; case disk; Denzel’s coats
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:41:36Read transcript
- Memorabilia: Andy’s Penn cap, the case disk, and Denzel’s coats.
Apex Mountain
Jonathan Demme; direct-to-camera dialogue; Springsteen in film; evil Robards
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:54:46Read transcript
- Most Rewatchable Scene: the opening Philadelphia montage and Springsteen song, with documentary-like camera interaction. Chris calls it a possible opening-credits Apex; Bill ranks the song among Springsteen’s best, and Wesley compares the montage to local Action News.
- The opening direct-to-camera Hanks–Washington confrontation is recalled as a scene nominee. — Wesley Morris
- Apex: Denzel rejected; Hanks’s adjacent early 1990s plateau is discussed with Forrest Gump preferred. Demme is affirmed after comparison with Silence of the Lambs; Banderas’s earlier Spanish/art-house career is preferred.
- Apex affirms direct-to-camera dialogue, Springsteen’s use in film and evil Robards. Gay 1990s films and Philadelphia films are rejected; cartoon homophobia faces a Talented Mr. Ripley alternative, and the fictional Stallion Showcase prompts a joke rather than a clear award.
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:24:19Read transcript
- Casting what-ifs: Daniel Day-Lewis and Michael Keaton reportedly declined Andy; Bill Murray and Robin Williams were considered for a more comic Joe before Denzel. — Bill Simmons
- Casting what-ifs: John Leguizamo reportedly chose Super Mario Bros.over Miguel; James Woods was considered for Wheeler. Springsteen initially offered existing Tunnel of Love before writing a new song.
The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Joe Miller is the lead
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:24:04Read transcript
- Hottest take: this is Denzel/Joe Miller’s movie rather than Hanks’s, despite the Best Actor award. — Chris Ryan
Most Rewatchable Scene
Joe’s family conversation; Andy’s promotion; Dr. J cameo
In the discussion (15)
Approx. transcript time · 00:54:46Read transcript
- Most Rewatchable Scene: the opening Philadelphia montage and Springsteen song, with documentary-like camera interaction. Chris calls it a possible opening-credits Apex; Bill ranks the song among Springsteen’s best, and Wesley compares the montage to local Action News.
- The opening direct-to-camera Hanks–Washington confrontation is recalled as a scene nominee. — Wesley Morris
- Andy’s brief call to his mother is praised for efficiently revealing illness, severity, openness and her suppressed grief. — Chris Ryan
- The senior-associate promotion scene contrasts the old-boys celebration with scrutiny of Andy’s forehead lesion. — Bill Simmons
- Andy asking Joe to represent him is praised for Joe’s fearful reaction and attention to touched objects, the firing flashback, and Andy’s devastated stillness after rejection. One host calls it his favorite. — Bill Simmons
- The library discrimination scene, with Tracey Walter’s librarian and Joe joining Andy’s legal research, is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- Dr.J’s cameo and the partners’ subsequent villainous strategy conversation are nominated; Robards’s full commitment is admired despite caricature.
- Opening arguments and the courtroom material are praised, especially Steenburgen’s repeated fact formulation and Denzel’s speech. — Bill Simmons
- The Maria Callas opera scene is nominated and initially awarded Great Shot Gordo for the overhead camera and red lighting. Wesley objects to red’s association with hell for a gay character; Bill reads passion for life instead.
- Andy’s testimony about excellent lawyering and justice, the flashback to office jokes, and the attack on his sexual history build to the lesion reveal. — Bill Simmons
- The lesion scene is considered manipulative but effective: Wesley weighs its audience and warning function, while Chris sees a strong courtroom tactic. Wheeler’s testimony is another nominee. — Wesley Morris
- The hospital farewell, the oxygen-mask gesture, individual family goodbyes and Neil Young ending are praised as exceptionally sad final minutes. — Bill Simmons
- Wesley chooses Joe’s private conversation with his wife about gay acquaintances. His confident tirade, apron, bottle and food feel lived-in, and learning his attractive aunt is lesbian punctures his certainty.
- Chris chooses Andy’s promotion scene for Demme’s unsettling head-on framing and authentic wood-paneled club culture, compared with Trading Places’ banquet sequence. — Chris Ryan
- Bill chooses Dr.J’s cameo, with Andy asking Joe to take the case as runner-up. — Bill Simmons
Who Won the Movie?
John Grisham (two choices); Denzel Washington; conspiracies
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:37:33Read transcript
- John Grisham receives two explicit final choices after a provisional Shepard suggestion.
- Denzel Washington is chosen for crossing into self-sufficient top-tier stardom. — Sean Fennessey
- Conspiracies are chosen as the enduringly rich subject of the film.
Podcast choices
- Speaker not identified
- John Grisham
- Speaker not identified
- John Grisham
- Speaker not identified
- Conspiracies
Pete Berg Award for Underacting, a.k.a. the Ambien Award for the Sleepiest Actor
Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington
The panel proposes a new category here.
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:33Read transcript
- A new Julia-and-Denzel underacting variation is proposed for both leads, with Darby’s car-bomb reaction acknowledged as an exception. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Stone, unresolved DeMorne name or Arquette as Lynette; Quaid, Hanks or Reinhold as Sid; Dennis Quaid as Mayo; later-era Denzel as Foley
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:06:38Read transcript
- The cast is largely considered untouchable; Sharon Stone and The performer transcribed as DeMorne (identity unresolved) are proposed for Lynette, with continued admiration for Lisa Blount. — Bill Simmons
- Randy Quaid is proposed for Sid. — Chris Ryan
- Judge Reinhold is proposed for Sid. — Chris Ryan
- Tom Hanks is proposed for Sid, with enthusiasm for an Oklahoma accent. — Bill Simmons
- Dennis Quaid is proposed as a plausible alternative Mayo. — Bill Simmons
- A later-era Denzel Washington is proposed as an especially strong Foley, explicitly outside the original casting period. — Bill Simmons
- Denzel's military filmography is recalled in support of the hypothetical Foley casting; A Soldier's Story and Adolph Caesar's sergeant are praised. — Bill Simmons
- Rosanna Arquette is a late Lynette recasting proposal. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Pullman, Baldwin or Mulroney as Al; Ridgely or Hall as president; Washington, Gyllenhaal, Crowe and Larson for a modern version
In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 01:06:30Read transcript
- Redford as Frank opposite Hoffman as Mitch is an imagined All the President’s Men reunion. — Bill Simmons
- Bill Pullman is suggested as Al and receives agreement. — Chris Ryan
- William Baldwin is also suggested as Al. — Chris Ryan
- Robert Ridgely is proposed to make the largely anonymous president more memorable. — Bill Simmons
- Philip Baker Hall is another proposed president. — Bill Simmons
- Dermot Mulroney is proposed instead of Dylan McDermott, though the problem is judged a mismatch between actor and character. — Chris Ryan
- Denzel Washington is proposed for a modern Frank; a fictional disgrace could replace the Kennedy history. — Chris Ryan
- Gyllenhaal is proposed as a modern Mitch. — Chris Ryan
- Gosling is questioned as insufficiently explosive for Mitch. — Chris Ryan
- A Washington–Russell Crowe reunion is floated, with concern about Crowe’s physical suitability. — Bill Simmons
- Brie Larson is proposed for a better role in a modern version. — Bill Simmons
- A more vulnerable, self-deprecating treatment of Washington’s age would be appealing. — Bill Simmons
- Laura Linney is mentioned as another possible casting fit. — Bill Simmons
Displaying discussions 13 - 24 of 101 in total
Films in the archive
American Gangster
2007
Crimson Tide
1995
Flight
2012
He Got Game
1998
Inside Man
2006
Man on Fire
2004
Philadelphia
1993
Remember the Titans
2000
The Equalizer
2014
The Pelican Brief
1993
Training Day
2001
Unstoppable
2010