'A Time to Kill' With Bill Simmons and Wesley Morris
July 11, 2023 · A Time to Kill (1996) · Crime · Drama · Thriller · 1:42:19
Categories
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsSandra Bullock is the hottest she's ever been in a movie - she looks great and is throwing 100 miles an hour in this film▶ 18:42
Wesley MorrisAgrees about Sandra Bullock and emphasizes how 'fleshy' and attractive everyone looks, particularly praising both Sandra Bullock at peak sexiness and Ashley Judd throwing in the high 90s▶ 18:50
Most Rewatchable Scene
Wesley MorrisSamuel L. Jackson and Matthew McConaughey's scene in the jail cell where Jackson gives his speech about white hands and Jake being his secret weapon▶ 43:29
Den of Thieves Benihana Award
Wesley MorrisAcknowledges the courtroom looks good but raises concerns about the historical implications of the two-tier design in the South▶ 52:31
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsRoark's character/storyline - her pointless arc of coming to town, working the case, affair with married man, getting tied to tree and left to die, then appearing bruised in hospital▶ 58:08
Wesley MorrisAgrees with Roark critique, suggests scenes were likely cut due to audience testing because she was seen as a home wrecker▶ 59:14
Is There a Better Title?
Wesley MorrisShould have been named after the town, because the movie is really about what life was like in this town where everyone knows everyone▶ 59:37
Best Quote
Bill SimmonsYes, they deserve to die and I hope they burn in hell (agrees it's tough to top)▶ 1:00:51
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsVal Kilmer — Discusses Val Kilmer being offered the lead (declined), thinks too much Kilmer history would hurt the film vs McConaughey's fresh presence. Notes Kevin Costner considered for Jake but wanted control, and Bruce Dern originally chosen for Judge Noose▶ 1:09:27
Wesley MorrisVal Kilmer — Could see Val Kilmer in the role and thinks he would have been good, but suggests Kilmer may have had good taste in declining. Notes Paul Newman's declining showed good taste due to distasteful message. Mentions Woody Harrelson wanted Jake role but Grisham vetoed it▶ 1:09:38
Joey Pants Award
Bill SimmonsAnthony Heald — Lists multiple candidates: John Deal, Anthony Heald, Joe Seneca from The Verdict, Patrick McGuhan, and Latanya Richardson (Sam Jackson's wife)▶ 1:10:48
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsMatthew McConaughey auditioned for Freddie Lee Cobb but lobbied for Jake; movie plot from Grisham witnessing 1984 rape victim testimony; Sutherland wanted Lucien more drunk but Schumacher vetoed; McConaughey and Nicky Cat both in Dazed and Confused▶ 1:13:37
Wesley MorrisDiscussed why Hollywood stopped adapting John Grisham books despite there being 30 of them available▶ 1:14:27
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsMatthew McConaughey — McConaughey: Dallas Buyers Club Oscar win leading into True Detective era (Magic Mike, Wolf of Wall Street period); Sam Jackson: Jackie Brown (1997); Grisham: 1993-1997 period; Sandra Bullock: Not yet, will be The Blind Side Oscar win▶ 1:15:24
Wesley MorrisMatthew McConaughey — McConaughey: Agrees with Dallas Buyers Club/True Detective era; Sam Jackson: Agrees with Jackie Brown; Grisham: Agrees with 1993-1997 period; Sandra Bullock: The Blind Side Oscar win▶ 1:15:35
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsJake drunk driving - if he got arrested for DUI it would have thrown him in jail for years and fucked up the case▶ 1:34:09
Wesley MorrisAshley Judd's lack of reaction to their house being blown up - she just shows up in his office like a dream with no scene of her demanding answers about what happened or why they're now homeless▶ 1:33:41
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsJ.T. Walsh — Believes JT Walsh should have been in the movie, possibly as Judge News if they wanted a younger actor.▶ 1:35:08
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Wesley MorrisKiefer Sutherland is better as anti-hero; Neil's dad is worse than KKK head; but Kurtwood Smith in Robocop is least favorite performance▶ 1:35:36
Just One Oscar
Bill SimmonsSamuel L. Jackson — Initially suggests McConaughey, then considers Sam Jackson for Best Supporting Actor▶ 1:37:12
Best Double Feature
Bill SimmonsTo Kill a Mockingbird — To Kill a Mockingbird (agreed with SPEAKER_00's suggestion)▶ 1:37:45
Wesley MorrisTo Kill a Mockingbird — Considered Green Book and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, but settled on To Kill a Mockingbird▶ 1:37:41
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Wesley MorrisThe best way to beat racism is to use racism to your advantage - a wild and depressing lesson▶ 1:39:09
Who Won the Movie
Wesley MorrisMatthew McConaughey — Matthew McConaughey (agrees and emphasizes he came from nowhere)▶ 1:40:15
Movies Referenced (47)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double Jeopardy (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons | ▶ 19:58 |
| Primal Fear (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | ▶ 2:57 |
| Nope (2022) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons | ▶ 14:08 |
| Pulp Fiction (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | ▶ 8:13 |
| Sleepers (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons | ▶ 5:29 |
| Dazed and Confused (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | ▶ 12:57 |
| Die Hard (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | ▶ 8:23 |
| The Judge (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons | ▶ 29:26 |
| Wall Street (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | ▶ 12:21 |
| While You Were Sleeping (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Wesley Morris | ▶ 17:41 |
| Chef (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 47:39 |
| Dallas Buyers Club (2013) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 12:33 |
Directors Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Schumacher | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | The Phantom of the Opera, 8MM | ▶ 6:44 |
| Ben Affleck | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Argo, Gone Girl, The Town | ▶ 1:03:13 |
| Ezra Edelman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons | ▶ 4:19 | |
| Kevin Costner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | ▶ 1:10:09 |
| Dante Briggins | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Wesley Morris | ▶ 45:03 | |
| Jacob Hair | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Wesley Morris | ▶ 1:07:52 |
Actors Referenced (70)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew McConaughey | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 72 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club, Magic Mike | ▶ 2:32 |
| Sandra Bullock | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 31 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | The Proposal, Miss Congeniality, Speed | ▶ 2:30 |
| Ashley Judd | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | Double Jeopardy, Kiss the Girls | ▶ 8:56 |
| Julia Roberts | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons | Pretty Woman, My Best Friend's Wedding | ▶ 14:05 |
| Kiefer Sutherland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | Phone Booth | ▶ 8:59 |
| Donald Sutherland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | ▶ 9:23 | |
| Kevin Spacey | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | L.A. Confidential, The Usual Suspects, American Beauty | ▶ 2:33 |
| Brenda Fricker | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | A Time to Kill, So I Married an Axe Murderer | ▶ 9:05 |
| Oliver Platt | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | 2012, Bicentennial Man | ▶ 9:12 |
| Chris Cooper | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | American Beauty | ▶ 9:25 |
| Tom Cruise | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | Top Gun, Minority Report | ▶ 9:51 |
| Paul Newman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons | Road to Perdition, The Verdict | ▶ 11:24 |
Writers Referenced (7)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Grisham | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | Runaway Jury, A Time to Kill | ▶ 3:10 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | ▶ 6:29 | |
| Akiva Goldsman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Wesley Morris | A Beautiful Mind | ▶ 25:18 |
| Doug Hutchinson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 38:13 | |
| Aaron Sorkin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris | A Few Good Men | ▶ 5:23 |
| Ryan Murphy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Wesley Morris | ▶ 4:14 | |
| Ted Jessup | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Ted 2 | ▶ 1:35:53 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Wesley Morris | The Other Guys | ▶ 1:17:38 |