‘Se7en’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Chris Ryan
September 22, 2020 · Se7en (1995) · Crime · Drama · Mystery · 1:29:06 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes including the Tuesday library research scene with opera music, the dinner scene at Mills' apartment, the SWAT raid, the car ride with John Doe, and the ending - ultimately settles on the car ride as his pick▶ 36:49
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsThe credits sequence designed to look like a serial killer made them, the seven deadly sins concept as the killer's strategy, the unnamed city setting that feels like hell, not showing Gwyneth's head in the box, and Brad Pitt's facial expression when he realizes what's in the box▶ 47:52
Chris RyanThe incredible credit sequence that immediately establishes the grotesque world, Brad Pitt's character hating reading and needing CliffsNotes, and Fincher's sound design making the city feel authentically scary with constant urban noise▶ 48:32
Sean FennesseyThe Somerset character as God's loneliest man - a cynical detective who lives alone and needs a metronome to sleep, and the industrial/S&M music of the era including Nine Inch Nails that perfectly captured the dark tone▶ 53:35
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsVal Kilmer — Presents the casting what-ifs but focuses positively on Val Kilmer as John Doe: 'That would have been fucking awesome. He could have done it.' Dismisses Stallone as Mills and questions credibility of some casting rumors.▶ 1:01:56
Chris RyanSylvester Stallone — Dismissive of Stallone casting claim, suggesting 'Sly Stallone has been going into Wikipedia pages and adding his name' to movies he wasn't really considered for▶ 1:00:48
Sean FennesseyVal Kilmer — Skeptical of Stallone casting rumor calling it 'half-assed' and questions his involvement in prestige dramas. Enthusiastic about Val Kilmer as John Doe doing it 'as Doc Hollywood'▶ 1:01:04
Dion Waiters Award
Chris RyanKevin Spacey — Agreed Spacey might be the dictionary definition but didn't state a clear preference▶ 1:05:22
Sean FennesseyListed multiple contenders including Richard Schiff (asshole lawyer), Roundtree (press conference scene), Reggie/Kathy (coroner report), and Gwyneth Paltrow, but didn't make a definitive pick▶ 1:05:32
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsPresents multiple trivia facts: Brad Pitt's real injury, John Doe's books cost $15,000 and took 2 months, diner location shared with Training Day, Gwyneth's face appears briefly before gunshot, skinny actor Michael Reed McKay weighed 98 pounds▶ 1:07:33
Chris RyanConnects Gwyneth's brief appearance to Fight Club's cigarette burn technique, calling Gwyneth 'like a cigarette burn'▶ 1:08:28
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsMorgan Freeman — Morgan Freeman - Yes, after Seven (not Shawshank). Had the most juice after this movie which paved the way for giant paychecks▶ 1:09:47
Chris RyanMorgan Freeman — Expressed doubt about Freeman's 1989 being Apex Mountain, suggested the moment before Robin Hood as potential peak▶ 1:10:18
Sean FennesseyMade joking responses about decapitations (French Revolution) and deadly sins (Dante) but no serious picks for actors▶ 1:11:44
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsMultiple questions: favorite deadly sin (envy), can you chew your own tongue off, did the dog die, what does Somerset do in next 24 hours▶ 1:23:31
Chris RyanDeadly sin discussion participant, believes dogs weren't killed but probably neglected▶ 1:23:37
Who Won the Movie
Chris RyanDavid Fincher — Fincher, but Freeman almost shares it with him due to his excellent performance as a guide through the world▶ 1:25:42
Movies Referenced (57)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fight Club (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:08:28 |
| Alien (1979) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 11:34 |
| Casino (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 4:44 |
| The Killer (2023) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 9:01 |
| True Romance (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 10:45 |
| Zodiac (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 3:33 |
| Unforgiven (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 31:10 |
| Apollo 13 (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 5:36 |
| Braveheart (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 22:41 |
| Goodfellas (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 23:33 |
| Killing Them Softly (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 29:09 |
| Legends of the Fall (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 11:18 |
Directors Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mel Gibson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Braveheart, Lethal Weapon 3, Conspiracy Theory | ▶ 22:59 |
| Michael Mann | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans | ▶ 3:43 |
| Chris Noonan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 22:59 | |
| Jeremiah S. Chechik | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation | ▶ 1:02:29 |
| Michael Radford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 23:04 | |
| Mike Figgis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Leaving Las Vegas | ▶ 23:04 |
Actors Referenced (42)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Pitt | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 41 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Fight Club, 12 Monkeys, Mr. & Mrs. Smith | ▶ 2:38 |
| Morgan Freeman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 24 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Se7en, Driving Miss Daisy, Million Dollar Baby | ▶ 2:40 |
| Kevin Spacey | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 22 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | L.A. Confidential, The Usual Suspects, American Beauty | ▶ 4:51 |
| Gwyneth Paltrow | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 21 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Shakespeare in Love | ▶ 2:41 |
| John Doe | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 19 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Road House | ▶ 7:51 |
| Leland Orser | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Taken, Se7en | ▶ 16:37 |
| Richard Roundtree | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:05:40 | |
| Sigourney Weaver | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Avatar, Alien | ▶ 10:30 |
| Val Kilmer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | The Doors, The Saint, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang | ▶ 1:01:53 |
| Billy Bob Thornton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Sling Blade | ▶ 5:29 |
| Denzel Washington | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:00:20 | |
| Heartless Bastards | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Safe Haven | ▶ 29:04 |
Writers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Kevin Walker | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Killer, Se7en | ▶ 33:32 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 35:51 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Reed | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | On Her Majesty's Secret Service | ▶ 1:08:49 |