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‘Cape Fear’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey

March 28, 2023 · Cape Fear (1991) · Crime · Drama · Thriller · 1:43:25 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 2:54Steven Spielberg — Steven Spielberg was originally supposed to direct Cape Fear before it was traded to Scorsese for Schindler's List - describes this as one of the great movie trades of all time that worked out for both directors
Chris Ryan▶ 3:51John Williams — Imagines a John Williams score for the Spielberg version would have been incongruous - mimics the Jurassic Park theme playing over Max Cady doing sit-ups in jail
Sean Fennessey▶ 3:47Martin Scorsese — Cannot imagine the Steven Spielberg version and is thankful Martin Scorsese directed it instead - calls Scorsese 'our favorite sick fuck' who knows how to show what's demonic about souls

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 30:22Migs (the FBI agent/partner character) given the Dion Waiters Award, and suggests Migs may deserve his own category

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 43:52Max Cady fending off three hitmen - the bike chain fight scene
Chris Ryan▶ 45:47The whole night where they're waiting for Cady to show up with the teddy bear, and he shows up dressed as the maid and kills Joe Don Baker
Sean Fennessey▶ 46:09The scene between Joe Don Baker when he gets made by Cady, then they meet outside the diner and have their one-on-one confrontation

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 49:30The Simpsons parody episode 'Cape Feare' which is considered one of the five or six best Simpsons episodes; anytime the bad guy kills the family dog in a movie; Max's tattoo reveals in jail being some of the best tattoo work ever seen in a movie; widescreen TVs making the movie look incredible after being hard to watch on cable
Chris Ryan▶ 50:44At 45 years old, seeing a dog in a movie and knowing the clock is ticking; Martin Scorsese shooting athletic activities, specifically praising the racquetball scene; De Niro's line about moving to California to teach earthquake preparedness
Sean Fennessey▶ 49:52The 'Bake them away, toys' joke from The Simpsons Cape Fear parody episode; taking Juliette Lewis over other famous people who wouldn't have been right for the role

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Chris Ryan▶ 57:16Joe Don Baker pouring Pepto-Bismol into a mug of bourbon (Jim Beam) - with runner-up being Jessica Lange seasoning fried chicken for Nolte

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 57:52The houseboat scene, and also the scene when he walks out of prison toward the camera
Chris Ryan▶ 58:18The scene after the first heist when he takes his keys and says 'I'll teach you about loss,' with the pullback shot as Katie walks away
Sean Fennessey▶ 58:33The upside-down phone call scene

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 59:59Ileana Douglas's character (Lori) deciding not to testify against Cady after the assault - finds it implausible given the police would still pursue him
Chris Ryan▶ 1:00:25Disagrees with Bill's take as a weak link; defends the logic, noting Mitchum's character implies she should 'take care of this privately' and her reasoning about being mocked by police is heartbreaking
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:00:34Disagrees it's a weak link; argues Bill's critique applies a '2023 lens' to a 1991 film and that her reason for not coming forward is valid, tying into Cady's calculated psychology

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:51No better title exists for this movie

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:55Either 'Every man carries a circle of hell around their head like a halo' or 'If you hang on to the past, you die a little every day.'

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:02Robert De Niro is indisputably the greatest 'maniac' actor ever (citing Travis Bickle, Rupert Pupkin, Lucifer, Gil Renard, Neil McCauley, Al Capone, Dwight, Max Cady, Jimmy Conway) — no contest versus Pacino or anyone else.
Chris Ryan▶ 1:05:20Max Cady did what the marriage counselor couldn't — his terrorizing brought Sam and Lee's marriage back together, essentially acting as an (highly unorthodox) marriage counselor.
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:05:36Sam and Lee should have broken up — Sam would've been happier with Lori (the racquetball lady); staying together just left them with shared lifelong trauma.

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:54The claim that Sarah Jessica Parker was cast and then fired is false internet research; Scorsese has said she was the first person they cast. Also notes ~500 actresses auditioned, Drew Barrymore and Reese Witherspoon were both 15 during filming, and Diane Keaton was considered for the wife role but didn't get it ('Thank God').
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:09:30Glad Drew Barrymore wasn't cast due to her different energy; notes Barrymore called missing the role one of her greatest disappointments.

Overacting Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:42Jessica Lange — Jessica Lange for her screaming performance, particularly the 'Why did you bother?' scene and blaming scenes
Chris Ryan▶ 1:11:06Jessica Lange — Jessica Lange for the extended smoking and face-touching sequences and overall manic behavior
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:11:04Jessica Lange — Agrees Jessica Lange's performance is excessive 'even for a movie like this'

Racehorse Name Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:18:49"Hospital Job"

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:25:32Listed the utility players (Wayne Jenkins, Danny Trejo, Catherine Han, Steve Buscemi, Sam Jackson, J.T. Walsh, Philip Baker Hall) and suggested Bernthal could also play the Joe Don Baker part
Chris Ryan▶ 1:24:45Wayne (Jenkins) could play Jessica Lange's boss at the graphic design firm
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:25:19J.T. Walsh should be in this movie, suggests Bernthal could play Katie instead

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:32:00Agrees the marriage is doomed ('It's so fast. It's a wrap. It's done'); says the daughter goes to college on the West Coast to avoid coming home; says they'd definitely sell the house; explains the maid stayed late only because Sam would normally drive her home
Chris Ryan▶ 1:31:46Questions whether Nolte and Lange's marriage survives; concludes they're divorced within a year, and wonders who keeps the Essex house (concludes they'd sell it given two murders happened there); also raises how Katie killed the maid without anyone hearing despite her being 10 feet away bloody in the hallway
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:32:09Jokes the daughter could go to San Diego State; doesn't commit to a firm answer on the maid murder question ('No, I don't know')

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:33:47No matter how bad a person is, they still deserve fair legal representation; jokingly adds 'don't bury the evidence when you're representing somebody'
Chris Ryan▶ 1:33:51Leave town / get the fuck out when accused of something no one can feasibly hang on you
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:33:58Quotes Max Cady's 'I am as large as God, God is as small as I' line, i.e. read your scripture; also notes that even with an unfair trial, Cady still committed the crime and is the bad guy

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:36Robert De Niro — De Niro
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:34:37Robert De Niro — De Niro - agrees that Max Cady is such an iconic figure, though usually picks the director

Movies Referenced (75)

Goodfellas (1990)

10 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 6:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Heat (1995)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 14:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Walking Tall (2004)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 46:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Angel Heart (1987)

4 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:07:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Wick (2014)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:36:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Miami Vice (2006)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 1:15:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Taxi Driver (1976)

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 38:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Casino (1995)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 14:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Frankenstein (2025)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 14:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joker (2019)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:27:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mad Dog and Glory (1993)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 14:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Problem Child (1990)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 47:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (13)

Martin Scorsese

36 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Taxi Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Streets▶ 2:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Steven Spielberg

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan▶ 2:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Don Baker

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Blade Runner, RoboCop▶ 45:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Barry Jenkins

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for If Beale Street Could Talk, Moonlight, Aftersun▶ 1:24:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Brian De Palma

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Body Double, Dressed to Kill, The Bonfire of the Vanities▶ 56:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

George Miller

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Mad Max: Fury Road, The Road Warrior, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga▶ 21:13IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ingmar Bergman

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Wild Strawberries, The Seventh Seal▶ 37:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

James Ivory

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Call Me by Your Name, A Room with a View, The Remains of the Day▶ 21:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jonathan Demme

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, Rachel Getting Married▶ 5:29IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Bay

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Armageddon▶ 13:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sidney Lumet

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, 12 Angry Men▶ 21:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Steve McQueen

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for 12 Years a Slave, Shame▶ 1:36:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (80)

Robert De Niro

46 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Cape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver▶ 2:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Nick Nolte

27 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Warrior▶ 2:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joe Don Baker

18 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for GoldenEye, Congo, Cape Fear▶ 1:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jessica Lange

16 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Tootsie, The Postman Always Rings Twice▶ 2:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Juliette Lewis

13 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Cape Fear, Natural Born Killers▶ 18:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bill Murray

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Lost in Translation, Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom▶ 32:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Migs Govea

9 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Ocean's Eight, Motherless Brooklyn▶ 30:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Reese Witherspoon

9 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Wild, Walk the Line, Legally Blonde▶ 48:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert Mitchum

9 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Out of the Past, The Longest Day, The Night of the Hunter▶ 18:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gregory Peck

8 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for To Kill a Mockingbird, Roman Holiday▶ 18:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert E. Lee

8 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for Trading Places▶ 41:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Anthony Hopkins

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for The Silence of the Lambs, Nixon▶ 5:29IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (10)

Charles Manson

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood▶ 16:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Damien Chazelle

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Whiplash, La La Land, First Man▶ 37:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Peter Bart

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Revenge of the Nerds, Fun with Dick and Jane, Youngblood▶ 8:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 2:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Milton

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 1:07:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Nancy Meyers

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for It's Complicated, Something's Gotta Give, Private Benjamin▶ 21:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Nora Ephron

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Julie & Julia, When Harry Met Sally...▶ 21:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ryan Coogler

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Black Panther, Creed▶ 1:37:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Thomas Harris

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Rising, Manhunter▶ 5:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Wesley Strick

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Cape Fear▶ 1:20:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Freddie Francis

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for The Elephant Man, The Straight Story, Glory▶ 7:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗