Home/Episodes/The Pelican Brief
‘The Pelican Brief’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Amanda Dobbins
December 12, 2023 · The Pelican Brief (1993) · Crime · Drama · Mystery · 1:42:23 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
What's Aged the Best
Amanda DobbinsReferences something that 'has aged the best out of all of the things in the movie' but criticizes the portrayal of the Middle Eastern terrorist character as 'not great'▶ 25:49
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsThe two judge murders (nursing home and gay movie theater), Julia piecing together the Pelican Brief, she throws the theory at Sam, library research scene, and Sam's car blowing up after he says 'Miss Shaw, you take my breath away'▶ 34:59
Chris RyanAgreed with Bill's picks and added commentary about Tucci in the theater scene and quoted dialogue from the piecing together scene▶ 35:15
Sean FennesseyExpressed enthusiasm for the library research scene, calling Julia Roberts in a library 'one of my great fantasies'▶ 36:53
Best Quote
Bill SimmonsSomething related to Julia and a scene with John Hurd getting killed/Tucci trying to kill Darby▶ 37:08
Great Shot Gordo Award
Bill SimmonsThe camera staying on the mirror on the hotel closet and then the closet slightly moves as Camel comes in▶ 37:28
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Amanda DobbinsWhat's the storage plan for Tucci's toupee? He wears it jogging, removes it for the gay club, then has it back at Dulles - is it the same one and where does he keep it?▶ 47:09
Bill SimmonsSuggested Tucci might have had multiple toupees to solve the storage question, but mostly facilitated discussion of disguises rather than posing specific unanswerable questions▶ 47:38
Chris RyanDid Kamal have his gay porn theater disguise outfit planned in advance, or was it improvised? Also, where did he store his gun between murders?▶ 46:10
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsThe movie's 141-minute runtime - questions why it's so long and three minutes longer than All the President's Men▶ 1:01:25
Chris RyanOur capacity to be scandalized - doesn't think people would be as scandalized by the conspiracy in 1993 given events like January 6th▶ 57:46
Sean FennesseyDisagrees with Chris - points to Clinton affair and OJ trial as examples that people could still be scandalized in the 1990s, suggests the scandal capacity hasn't changed that much▶ 58:06
Ron Burgundy Flute Award
Amanda DobbinsThe outdated technology references like 'your computer's gone, so are your floppy disks and your red expandable files'▶ 1:04:00
Bill SimmonsThe opening eight minutes - three minutes of pelican credits plus another four minutes where nothing happens until Tucci gets the envelope▶ 1:02:55
Chris RyanDefends the movie structure, noting they need to set up Gray in the first 40 minutes even though he shouldn't be in it until Darby calls▶ 1:03:17
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Amanda DobbinsAre we sure it wasn't the CIA? The CIA may have actually been behind the conspiracy, using Matisse as a decoy▶ 1:12:38
Bill SimmonsThe movie would be unquestionably better in 1993 with Sandra Bullock instead of Julia Roberts - it's not good acting from Roberts▶ 1:11:29
Chris RyanVictor Matisse should have hired more assassins - if he's one of the most powerful businessmen in the world, he can only afford Camel and Woodison as assassins with no safeguards▶ 1:10:45
Sean FennesseyJulia Roberts is wildly miscast and misused in this movie - the role needed a quieter actor like Jennifer Jason Lee▶ 1:11:22
Casting What-Ifs
Chris RyanDiscussed how Grisham had major stars wanting his movie roles, and noted both Julia and Denzel did method preparation▶ 1:15:25
Overacting Award
Amanda DobbinsJulia Roberts — Agrees with the underacting assessment but notes Julia Roberts' car bomb scene as an exception where she does overact with shaking and screaming reactions▶ 1:16:33
Bill SimmonsJulia Roberts — Creates 'underacting award' for Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington, noting they underplay most of their performances except for specific scenes▶ 1:16:20
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsJulia Roberts won Best Actress in 2000, then presented Denzel's Best Actor award the next year; Alan Pakula died tragically in highway accident when pipe went through windshield; William Goldman praised Pakula highly▶ 1:19:03
Sean FennesseyDocumentary 'Alan Pakula Going for Truth' available on Amazon featuring interviews with major stars from his films including Redford, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts▶ 1:19:37
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsJulia Roberts — Discussed multiple people but seemed to lean toward Julia Roberts being at her apex after Pretty Woman▶ 1:21:13
Chris RyanJulia Roberts — Agreed with others on Julia Roberts and discussed Denzel not being at his apex yet▶ 1:21:05
Sean FennesseyDenzel Washington — Denzel Washington not at his apex - he's a major box office draw but not quite huge by himself yet▶ 1:21:07
Is This Movie Better With
Amanda DobbinsJ.T. Walsh — Agrees with JT Walsh pick and appreciates Wayne Jenkins impressions from previous episodes▶ 1:31:14
Bill SimmonsByron Mayo - performs elaborate impression with romantic/conspiratorial dialogue▶ 1:31:20
Chris RyanJ.T. Walsh — JT Walsh as Matisse, also Wayne Jenkins - performs detailed Wayne Jenkins impression▶ 1:30:36
Just One Oscar
Sean FennesseyByron Mayo — Byron Mayo might have deserved one if they found a way to work him in▶ 1:32:31
Best Double Feature
Sean FennesseyThe Parallax View — The Parallax View by Alan J. Pakula (primary pick) and also mentions Hardcore▶ 1:35:42
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill SimmonsIf you find out about a giant government conspiracy, just keep it to yourself - not worth it▶ 1:37:57
Chris RyanDisagrees with Bill's lesson, suggesting Bill himself would sprinkle conspiracy theories on podcasts rather than keep them to himself▶ 1:38:08
Who Won the Movie
Sean FennesseyDenzel Washington — Denzel Washington - crossed from A to A+ star and never had to rely on another movie star again▶ 1:38:35
Movies Referenced (37)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Alone (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 1:21:42 |
| Oppenheimer (2023) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:40:34 |
| All the President's Men (1976) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 20:26 |
| Philadelphia (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 14:42 |
| Pretty Woman (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 6:05 |
| Crimson Tide (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 53:58 |
| Days of Heaven (1978) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 45:53 |
| Don't Worry Darling (2022) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 1:18:00 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 33:41 |
| Forrest Gump (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 2:50 |
| Pulp Fiction (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 27:02 |
| Runaway Jury (2003) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 24:08 |
Directors Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan J. Pakula | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | All the President's Men | ▶ 10:18 |
| Kevin Costner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | ▶ 14:51 |
| Herbert Ross | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 8:06 | |
| Jayson Clute | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Titanic, American Psycho | ▶ 28:25 |
| Robert Mulligan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | To Kill a Mockingbird | ▶ 28:04 |
| Tony Scott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Unstoppable, True Romance | ▶ 52:55 |
Actors Referenced (53)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denzel Washington | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 47 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 3:31 | |
| Stanley Tucci | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 24 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Amanda Dobbins | Spotlight | ▶ 19:13 |
| Kevin Brief | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 19 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 3:07 | |
| Sam Shepard | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins, Chris Ryan | Black Hawk Down | ▶ 27:30 |
| Julia Roberts | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | Pretty Woman, My Best Friend's Wedding | ▶ 3:29 |
| Mike Tirico | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Jerry Maguire | ▶ 1:21:59 |
| John Lithgow | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins | The World According to Garp, Cliffhanger | ▶ 27:12 |
| Robert Redford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins | The Natural, Ordinary People, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid | ▶ 9:55 |
| Thomas Callahan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Chris Ryan, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 38:17 | |
| Eddie Murphy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Nutty Professor, Beverly Hills Cop II | ▶ 16:32 |
| Adam Driver | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Amanda Dobbins | ▶ 1:18:18 | |
| Chuck Yeager | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 44:50 |
Writers Referenced (7)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Grisham | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Bill Simmons, Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey | Runaway Jury, A Time to Kill | ▶ 3:52 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 31:41 | |
| Tom Holland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Child's Play | ▶ 1:17:44 |
| Jim Garrison | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | JFK | ▶ 1:13:28 |
| Nora Ephron | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Amanda Dobbins | Julie & Julia, When Harry Met Sally... | ▶ 25:35 |
| Paul Schrader | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | First Reformed | ▶ 1:07:35 |
| Taylor Worst | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:02:54 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon Willis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | The Godfather Part II | ▶ 10:05 |