Is the movie better with Matt Damon in the Barry Pepper part? Reasons: whether he would be better, whether it is a fun new role for him, and whether a Rounders-reunion cast with Norton, Hoffman and Spike Lee raises its Oscar ceiling; this is asked while liking Pepper. — Bill Simmons
A reply: Damon changes the stakes and would require fleshing the character out more; Pepper became a better actor as the decade went on. — Wesley Morris
Another view: it is probably a longer movie but taken more seriously as an awards movie because of the names. — Bill Simmons
Pepper's career is reviewed, with his run ending after this period; playing a role in Battlefield Earth alongside Travolta is called a red flag, but he is called a good actor and great in this movie. — Bill Simmons
What is the Hoffman character's Monday like? Awkward, probably handing in his resignation. — Bill Simmons
Will Rosario Dawson's character be waiting when Monty gets out in seven years? The answer is no, she is long gone, and the dad is probably dead. — Bill Simmons
What is her job? It is unclear; maybe a waitress, maybe a student, since she was 17 when they met, the same age as the Anna Pacquin character. — Wesley Morris
For Ed Norton, coming off Red Dragon into this movie is considered, but because this film was not very successful the answer moves from "probably Fight Club" to "It's definitely Fight Club," since he had the most juice after Fight Club, which came a year after his American History X nomination. — Wesley Morris
Afterward his choices seemed like diminishing returns, including the in-between Hulk movie rather than the Angley version with Eric Bona. — Wesley Morris
Norton is called one of the best and for a while the most exciting actor, but the pressure to make good choices and the needs of ego and career locked him into a pattern; Birdman let him lean into that ego. — Wesley Morris
Movies where 9/11 is a character is a yes: this is called the signature 9/11 movie even though it is not about 9/11, a no-brainer. — Bill Simmons
Barry Pepper is saved for later; his run from 1998 to 2002 (Saving Private Ryan, Enemy of the State, 61, Knock Around Guys, 25th Hour) leads to "his Apex Mountain was probably 61," after which he seemed headed for leading roles that never came. — Bill Simmons
Reynolds’ decision to attend and order the public murder of a sitting congressman merely to advance surveillance legislation and his career is judged absurd. — Bill Simmons
The coincidence of a wildlife camera capturing the murder, followed by Jason Lee reviewing the footage, is criticized as flimsy. — Bill Simmons
Clayton behaves too aggressively in the first mafia meeting and appears implausibly bad at labor lawyering.
Barry Pepper nearly matching a bicycle on foot and Clayton outrunning a Camaro are criticized as impossible human speed. — Chris Ryan
Clayton intentionally setting himself on fire in a closet and escaping without major burns is challenged. — Bill Simmons
The lingerie-store security footage being rotated and enhanced in three dimensions is called the most implausible technology in the film. — Bill Simmons
The cat and dog are judged to consume too much plot attention.
Carla’s quick reconciliation with Clayton, despite his earlier affair and continued lies, is judged unconvincing. — Bill Simmons
