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To Live and Die in L.A.
The Pelican Brief
Big
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Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 7
- Movies in this archive
- 9
Rewatchables episodes featuring John Heard’s films
The Pelican Brief
1993 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
Aired December 12, 2023
Displaying all 7 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
Recasting Couch
Melanie Griffith as Bianca; multiple Vukovich alternatives
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:26:53Read transcript
- Gary Sinise’s reported audition and recommendation of Petersen inform recasting alternatives: Sinise, Andy Garcia and John Malkovich, with Garcia considered too handsome and Pankow’s chase acting defended. — Bill Simmons
- Further Vukovich alternatives include Kelsey Grammer, Jeff Goldblum, Stanley Tucci, Will Patton, Michael Biehn and Bill Paxton, with age, height and attractiveness qualifications; Malkovich remains favored by one participant.
- Bianca recasting candidates include Melanie Griffith, Rosanna Arquette, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kelly McGillis and Daryl Hannah; dance credibility matters and Griffith is favored.
- More Vukovich recasts are David Patrick Kelly, Michael Madsen, James Remar, J. T. Walsh and John Heard, with Madsen considered too handsome.
Apex Mountain
Tulane, qualified; John Grisham
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:17Read transcript
- Tulane receives a qualified affirmative nomination. — Bill Simmons
- Grisham’s ability to sell unwritten ideas as films supports an affirmative selection. — Bill Simmons
- Conspiracy movies are rejected. — Bill Simmons
- The return-from-the-plane farewell hug loses to The Bodyguard. — Bill Simmons
- Edwin Newman is proposed, but his SNL hosting appearance offers a competing peak.
- A later Washington peak is preferred; the title is unclear in the transcript.
- Roberts’s Pretty Woman period is preferred, with Notting Hill and Erin Brockovich another strong stretch.
- Adult theaters are considered, with a later Nicholson theater scene offered as the counterexample.
- John Heard’s Big, Home Alone and After Hours roles displace this film.
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:37Read transcript
- The wheelchair gun expert is also a heat-check candidate. — Bill Simmons
- The suspicious bank clerk is a heat-check candidate. — Chris Ryan
- Fred Thompson is a heat-check candidate. — Chris Ryan
- Tobin Bell is a heat-check candidate for a single scene. — Chris Ryan
- The choice is transcribed Railsback; The Stunt Man and a Manson performance are recalled. No first name is supplied. — Chris Ryan
- John Heard is praised but considered underused; more scenes with him are desired. — Bill Simmons
Is This Movie Better With…?
J.T. Walsh as Paul; Danny Trejo as hotel clerk; Wayne Jenkins investigates
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:38:09Read transcript
- J.T. Walsh replacing John Heard is one better-with choice. — Bill Simmons
- Danny Trejo as the St. James hotel clerk is another better-with choice. — Van Lathan
- Wayne Jenkins investigating the missing child is the third better-with choice, illustrated through a hypothetical performance.
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:03Read transcript
- Heard's drunken Paul at the cocktail party is the overacting choice, with a passed-out guest also noted as excessive for an early work event. — Bill Simmons
Most Rewatchable Scene
Pizza guy scared off by the movie
In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 00:24:39Read transcript
- Family chaos at the start is enjoyable: Pesci shows up in the cop uniform, the Little Nero's pizza guy is introduced, Kevin is set up as a brat, and the chaos makes it plausible he gets left behind. — Chris Ryan
- Kevin shopping is a favorite: shoplifting the toothbrush, the coupon trip and sassy cashier exchange at the supermarket, and the Michael Jordan party he runs like a marionette. — Chris Ryan
- Kate and John Candy's polka king at the airport is a loved moment. — Chris Ryan
- Kevin's talk with the fake Santa is a low-key favorite; the actor is recognized from Armageddon and Groundhog Day, and the "you work for him" fake-out is praised as great writing. — Chris Ryan
- The church choir scene where the old neighbor explains his estrangement is the most holiday-centric moment and more affecting than remembered. — Chris Ryan
- The final robbery is a 22-minute tour de force of physical comedy that prefigures later torture-horror films; the reunion with O'Hara's arrival and the siblings' 30 seconds of interest is note perfect. — Chris Ryan
- The most obvious choice is the pizza delivery scared off by the movie Kevin plays ("Keep the change, you filthy animal").
- The opening's child-POV chaos sets the tone, and the setup for leaving Kevin behind (storm knocking out the alarm, the neighbor kid being counted, the pre-9/11 airport rush) is cleverly written and realistic. — Mina Kimes
- O'Hara and John Heard on the plane working out what they forgot, ending in the scream of Kevin's name, is one of the most iconic moments; the kids flying in coach is funny. — Sean Fennessey
- Kevin's first day home alone indulging kid fantasies (jumping on the bed, a giant sundae, Angels with Filthy Souls) is a favorite and sets up his parallel with the mom. — Mina Kimes
- The last robbery with paint cans is called the normie choice; the group leans toward earlier scenes, then goes with the pizza scene, which kids used to copy. — Chris Ryan
Displaying all 6 discussions
Films in the archive
After Hours
1985
Awakenings
1990
Big
1988
Home Alone
1990
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
1992
In the Line of Fire
1993
Snake Eyes
1998
The Package
1989
The Pelican Brief
1993