Home/Episodes/An Officer and a Gentleman
‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey
November 14, 2023 · An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) · Drama · Romance · 1:36:50 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
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Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsThe movie starts with Zack's dad lying between two naked women after apparent group sex as Zack's graduation present▶ 12:40
Sean FennesseyOn rewatch, didn't expect to see that much of Robert Loggia's lower torso in the opening scene▶ 13:02
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsDebra Winger turned down six monster movies including Raiders, Romancing the Stone, Broadcast News, Bull Durham, Fabulous Baker Boys, and League of Their Own - she was the most in-demand under-35 actress for 8 years▶ 17:41
Chris RyanThere's a lot of candid production responses about this movie, and Gere is historically difficult to work with - modern equivalent might be Paul Mescal▶ 14:26
Sean FennesseyRichard Gere and Debra Winger have mirrored careers - both have good taste and find good filmmakers but keep picking movies that don't work for those directors▶ 14:42
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsWhen Mayo goes into Foley's room and hits the broom, leading to the torture weekend where Foley tries to get his D-O-R but Mayo refuses to quit▶ 34:18
Chris RyanAgrees with Bill's pick - the scene where Mayo refuses to give his D-O-R and endures Foley's torture weekend▶ 35:17
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsHair shaving scenes in movies, Pat Benatar's 'Treat Me Right' rooting the movie in 1982, politically incorrect military running songs, and the opening and closing credits▶ 46:59
Chris RyanThe ending where he comes back sweeping her off her feet while the music is pumping and everybody in the factory is cheering▶ 47:50
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsLynette dumping Sid - the brutal breakup scene where she goes from wanting to get married to saying she's not pregnant and never wanted to get married in three minutes▶ 52:34
Chris RyanThe Sid storyline - calling it the weak link and noting there seems to be a scene missing from his rapid breakdown▶ 53:50
Sean FennesseyThe trap the pilot strategy - the lifestyle of building your entire social life around getting pregnant from a pilot to have your life set▶ 55:47
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Chris RyanI kind of love Lynette and really don't mind where she's coming from - she's a straight shooter▶ 57:18
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsJeff Bridges — Discusses John Denver claim as ridiculous, mentions Jeff Bridges turned down lead for Against All Odds, notes Travolta turned down role, Gear beat out Bridges/Hamlin/Reeve, Costner auditioned, Sigourney Weaver and Anjelica Huston wouldn't have been right for Paula, Jennifer Jason Leigh dropped out for Fast Times, Jack Nicholson said no to Foley, Mandy Patinkin was rejected as 'too ethnic'▶ 1:00:27
Chris RyanHarry Hamlin — Notes Harry Hamlin missing this role was big career difference, agrees De Mornay was way too hot, mentions De Mornay/Meg Ryan/Geena Davis auditioned, comments that casting decisions feel very Don Simpson-esque▶ 1:01:36
Sean FennesseyJennifer Jason Leigh — Jennifer Jason Leigh could have been good as Paula but not as good as Debra Winger, agrees Rebecca De Mornay was way too hot▶ 1:01:59
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsRichard Gere — Yes for Richard Gere, Debra Winger (Terms of Endearment), David Keith, Louis Gossett Jr., and Private Benjamin for military training movies▶ 1:15:17
Chris RyanFull Metal Jacket — Initially questioned Full Metal Jacket over Private Benjamin but ultimately agreed with Sean's position▶ 1:16:47
Sean FennesseyFull Metal Jacket — Full Metal Jacket for military training movies over Private Benjamin▶ 1:15:43
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsWhirly taunting Foley from the boat when torturing Mayo seemed like it was in a different movie - everyone's supposed to be terrified of Foley but Whirly is talking shit to him▶ 1:18:34
Bill SimmonsThe hotel clerk casually telling Mayo that Sid is in room 14 without mentioning he just watched Sid swallow a ring▶ 1:18:51
Bill SimmonsNeeded one more character that Zach is training with - felt like they were one light, which made the final pin ceremony less impactful▶ 1:20:45
Bill SimmonsAge questions with Zach - the cutoff is 32 but everyone seems like adults in their late 20s/early 30s, and Zach seems 35. Should have mentioned he's right under the cutoff▶ 1:22:23
Chris RyanThe timing in the final two-thirds is confusing - unclear how much time passes between scenes, especially with Zach and Paula's relationship timeline▶ 1:19:36
Chris RyanDid Zach ever actually learn math or did Sid do it all for him? Now he's supposed to be a fighter pilot who doesn't know math▶ 1:21:44
Chris RyanWorkplace liability in final scene - Zach starts kissing Paula's neck while she's operating heavy machinery, she could have lost a hand▶ 1:21:58
Sean FennesseyIn the final scene, everyone has abandoned their post and there's absolute anarchy in the paper factory▶ 1:22:12
Best Double Feature
Bill SimmonsFull Metal Jacket — Suggested Full Metal Jacket as what the others were thinking▶ 1:29:24
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Chris RyanSit, adjust, pray, attack - from the mess hall scene where Sid and Zach sit down to their trays▶ 1:30:58
Movies Referenced (49)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Metal Jacket (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 21:33 |
| Top Gun (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 4:40 |
| La La Land (2016) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 8:37 |
| The Ring (2002) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 0:11 |
| Gandhi (1982) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 16:47 |
| Pretty Woman (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 11:31 |
| Terms of Endearment (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 17:23 |
| Mary Poppins (1964) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:25:35 |
| Proof of Life (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 25:00 |
| Any Which Way You Can (1980) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:16:15 |
| Casablanca (1942) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 8:00 |
| Days of Heaven (1978) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 14:13 |
Directors Referenced (10)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Hackford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 13:12 | |
| Stanley Kubrick | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon | ▶ 25:22 |
| Francis Ford Coppola | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Apocalypse Now, The Godfather Part II | ▶ 15:09 |
| Billy Wilder | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | The Apartment, Some Like It Hot | ▶ 1:10:23 |
| Herbert Ross | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:17:21 | |
| John Cassavetes | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Rosemary's Baby | ▶ 5:04 |
| Luis Labrador | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Watchmen, I Am Legend | ▶ 15:41 |
| Norman Jewison | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | In the Heat of the Night, Moonstruck | ▶ 1:08:29 |
| Quentin Tarantino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, From Dusk Till Dawn | ▶ 1:29:32 |
| Sidney Lumet | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | 12 Angry Men | ▶ 15:05 |
Actors Referenced (90)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debra Winger | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 20 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Terms of Endearment, An Officer and a Gentleman, Rachel Getting Married | ▶ 2:17 |
| Dire Straits | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Hot Fuzz, Spy Game | ▶ 19:46 |
| Pat Benatar | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Deadpool 2, The Italian Job | ▶ 42:56 |
| Richard Gere | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Pretty Woman, An Officer and a Gentleman | ▶ 2:17 |
| Don Simpson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Days of Thunder, Beverly Hills Cop, The Rock | ▶ 4:35 |
| Grace Zabriskie | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Armageddon, Wild at Heart | ▶ 47:59 |
| Keith David | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | They Live, Armageddon | ▶ 1:32:28 |
| David Keith | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | An Officer and a Gentleman, Behind Enemy Lines, Daredevil | ▶ 22:29 |
| Meryl Streep | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Out of Africa | ▶ 18:06 |
| Michael Douglas | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Wall Street, Romancing the Stone | ▶ 11:06 |
| Rebecca De Mornay | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Risky Business | ▶ 1:02:05 |
| Sharon Stone | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Basic Instinct, Casino, The Quick and the Dead | ▶ 17:46 |
Writers Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 25:41 | |
| Douglas Day Stewart | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | An Officer and a Gentleman | ▶ 1:08:34 |
| Nancy Meyers | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | It's Complicated, Something's Gotta Give, Private Benjamin | ▶ 1:17:15 |
| Nicholas Sparks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Safe Haven | ▶ 8:57 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | The Other Guys | ▶ 35:25 |
| Christophe Legal | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 17:31 |