‘The Verdict’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey
December 13, 2022 · The Verdict (1982) · Drama · 1:58:09
Categories
Half-Assed Internet Research
Chris RyanSidney Lumet director quote from behind-the-scenes video on YouTube: 'the case only serves as an instrument by which a man saves himself'▶ 5:54
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsThe opening credits scene with Paul Newman drinking and playing pinball, and Frank goes to see the Cardinal scene where he realizes how neatly three goes into 210▶ 52:29
Chris RyanJames Mason exposition scene where he's talking to the 20 people, laying out the entire situation▶ 54:24
Sean FennesseyThe opening scene with Newman looking at the newspaper, circling things, with the shot glass and his hand shaking - shows everything about who this person is▶ 53:29
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Chris RyanDiscussed Charlotte Rampling drinking Bushmills and smoking cigarettes in the bar scene▶ 1:11:31
Sean FennesseyAgreed the judge sipping clam chowder was disgusting but didn't offer alternative pick▶ 1:08:33
Great Shot Gordo Award
Bill SimmonsThe Polaroid developing shot - 25 seconds of watching the photo develop, representing the character getting clarity▶ 1:18:57
Den of Thieves Benihana Award
Bill SimmonsSuggested the bar, courthouse, or hospital - noted the courthouse is 'fucking cool'▶ 1:20:19
Chris RyanHospital - specifically the halls where he's walking with Gruber and the doctor's lounge▶ 1:20:24
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsDeborah's sister (Roxanne Hart) - called her performance 'just a debacle as an actor' and compared her to 'somebody from TV movie of the week in 1976'▶ 1:21:10
Best Quote
Chris RyanMultiple quotes including 'He's a good man. He's the prince of fucking darkness. He'll have people testifying they saw her water skiing and marble. Now look, Frank, don't fuck with this case' and James Mason's 'Welcome back' line▶ 1:26:09
Overacting Award
Sean FennesseyMilo O'Shea — Suggested Milo O'Shea, saying 'He's basically acting like a Muppet on the show'▶ 1:29:29
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsJack Warden — Newman: no; Jack Warden: Shampoo (1975) leading to his great era 75-82; Mamet: Glengarry Glen Ross; Lindsay Crouse: this movie (The Verdict); Boston Movies: Good Will Hunting▶ 1:34:34
Chris RyanCharlotte Rampling — Lindsay Crouse: House of Games (though notes she made dozens of international films); Charlotte Rampling: this movie was 'a comet screaming across the sky' though The Night Porter is her best-known international film; Trial Movies: leans toward A Few Good Men▶ 1:35:23
Sean FennesseySidney Lumet — Sidney Lumet: Network (most juice and major category nominations); Trial Movies: discusses A Few Good Men and 12 Angry Men but doesn't definitively pick one▶ 1:34:53
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsWayne Jenkins, Danny Trejo, Catherine Hahn, Steve Buscemi, Sam Jackson, JT Walsh, or Philip Baker Hall▶ 1:45:04
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill SimmonsInitially jokes with 'Counter the first offer' and 'pay off all the witnesses', then settles on 'don't give up' as the real life lesson from the movie's monologue▶ 1:54:40
Movies Referenced (45)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Judge (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 46:43 |
| Gandhi (1982) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 32:28 |
| Cool Hand Luke (1967) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 16:01 |
| 12 Angry Men (1957) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 43:56 |
| Good Will Hunting (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 3:30 |
| All the President's Men (1976) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 26:10 |
| Goodfellas (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:37:46 |
| Man on Fire (2004) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 45:43 |
| The Departed (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 3:33 |
| The Sting (1973) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 8:50 |
| Avatar (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 52:03 |
| Black Adam (2022) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 52:55 |
Directors Referenced (9)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney Lumet | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 29 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | 12 Angry Men | ▶ 5:46 |
| George Clooney | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | The Ides of March, Michael Clayton | ▶ 26:48 |
| David Brown | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | The Player, Cocoon, Deep Impact | ▶ 21:15 |
| Steven Spielberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan | ▶ 19:27 |
| Arthur Hiller | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 21:06 | |
| Rob Reiner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | This Is Spinal Tap, The Wolf of Wall Street | ▶ 1:51:24 |
| Tom Brady | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | The Hot Chick | ▶ 1:04:37 |
| Warren Beatty | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Heaven Can Wait | ▶ 44:32 |
| Woody Allen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Annie Hall | ▶ 1:12:49 |
Actors Referenced (53)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Newman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 84 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Road to Perdition, The Verdict | ▶ 2:27 |
| Robert Redford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 35 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | The Natural, Ordinary People, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid | ▶ 16:22 |
| James Mason | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 22 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | North by Northwest | ▶ 6:31 |
| Jack Warden | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 20 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | 12 Angry Men, All the President's Men, While You Were Sleeping | ▶ 6:30 |
| Charlotte Rampling | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 7:33 | |
| Milo O'Shea | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Verdict | ▶ 56:04 |
| Frank Sinatra | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | From Here to Eternity | ▶ 1:16:41 |
| Meryl Streep | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Out of Africa | ▶ 33:10 |
| Denzel Washington | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 27:54 | |
| Bruce Willis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Die Hard, Pulp Fiction | ▶ 1:15:59 |
| Crazy Town | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Something's Gotta Give | ▶ 3:35 |
| Dustin Hoffman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Rain Man, Tootsie, Midnight Cowboy | ▶ 32:46 |
Writers Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Mamet | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | House of Games | ▶ 20:58 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 31:28 | |
| Bob Woodward | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | All the President's Men | ▶ 26:10 |
| Andy Greenwald | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:45 | |
| Don Schlitz | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Notting Hill, It Could Happen to You, King Richard | ▶ 53:05 |
| Kevin Donahue | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | A Bug's Life | ▶ 56:55 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Other Guys | ▶ 1:00:37 |