‘Unforgiven’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey
August 1, 2022 · Unforgiven (1992) · Drama · Western · 1:46:50
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes including the second campfire scene with Clint and Morgan Freeman discussing being farmers and firing guns, English Bob meeting Little Bill, Little Bill explaining how to rate killers to Bo Champ, and Clint and Delilah scene▶ 40:44
Sean FennesseyScenes leading up to English Bob vs Little Bill confrontation, particularly Little Bill at the whorehouse after Delilah is cut and English Bob on the train discussing presidents vs queens▶ 43:31
Great Shot Gordo Award
Bill SimmonsDiscussed the split diopter shot with her in front and him in back, and praised the blocking in the final saloon scene where viewers always know where they are spatially▶ 46:56
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsAgrees with the child abandonment scene - 'It's pretty tough. They grew him fast back then.'▶ 1:03:40
Chris RyanThe scene where the father leaves very young children (including a nine-year-old) alone for weeks/a month to take care of themselves and pets▶ 1:03:08
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Bill SimmonsWill takes the shot mid massacre - he's three or four killings in and stops to drink, asking 'What is this? Is this Bullet?'▶ 1:07:01
Best Quote
Bill SimmonsEither deserves got nothing to do with it, or it's a hell of a thing killing a man▶ 1:15:04
Chris RyanI've killed women and children, and I feel just about everything that walks or crawled at one time or another. And I'm here to kill you, little Bill, for what you did to Ned▶ 1:15:25
Sean FennesseyDeserves got nothing to do with it (agrees with SPEAKER_00's pick as the most remembered/quoted line)▶ 1:15:10
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsLittle Bill's philosophy to share for the town (no firearms, no vigilantes, no assassins) was reasonable and he had good ideas behind his rules▶ 1:16:50
Chris RyanThere's a version of this movie that could be told as Little Bill's story, where halfway through a crazy dying gunslinger shows up - like Cobra Kai flipped around▶ 1:17:53
Sean FennesseyThis is the movie Clint actually deserved Best Director for, unlike makeup wins - it's his best or near-best work▶ 1:18:38
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsJohn Malkovich — Mentioned Coppola met with Malkovich for William Money, Jeremy Irons for English Bob. For recasting Schofield Kid: River Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, Leo as good options; Keanu Reeves as worst case; Mark Wahlberg as possibility▶ 1:20:12
Chris RyanCuba Gooding Jr. — Questioned Jeremy Irons casting validity, suggested Cuba Gooding Jr. and Kiefer Sutherland for Schofield Kid (though noted Kiefer too old)▶ 1:20:17
Sean FennesseyMark Wahlberg — Discussed Sam Rockwell (too young) and agreed Mark Wahlberg would fit the energy needed for Schofield Kid character▶ 1:23:49
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsJapanese remake called Unforgiven (2013) starring Ken Watanabe; Clint changed opening voiceover to text; Henry Bumstead built Big Whiskey set in 32 days▶ 1:24:11
Sean FennesseyCompared the fresh-built look to There Will Be Blood, noting how Little Bill's house looks newly constructed with fresh wood▶ 1:24:56
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsClint Eastwood — Yes for post-prime Clint Eastwood - Unforgiven is his apex, better than Million Dollar Baby▶ 1:25:08
Chris RyanClint Eastwood — Agrees on Clint - this and In the Line of Fire were peak fame for under-45 audience▶ 1:25:25
Sean FennesseyClint Eastwood — Supports the Clint discussion, notes the incredible 13-month run of Unforgiven, In the Line of Fire, Perfect World▶ 1:25:45
Hall of Fame Plaque
Bill SimmonsBelieves this is Clint Eastwood's Hall of Fame plaque movie, emphasizing the directing and acting combination ('he Otanied it'). Later suggests it's either Dirty Harry or this movie depending on which version of Clint you prefer▶ 1:29:28
Chris RyanShows confusion about the format of the category (whether they choose or the person chooses their own plaque), but engages in the discussion without giving a definitive position▶ 1:29:59
Sean FennesseyAgrees this could be Eastwood's Hall of Fame plaque movie, noting that 'everything changed after that movie' referring to The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Shows confusion about whether they or Eastwood chooses the plaque▶ 1:29:34
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsWayne Jenkins, Danny Trejo, Catherine Han, Steve Buscemi, Sam Jackson, JT Walsh, Philip Baker Hall▶ 1:34:35
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsThinks Popeye from French Connection is probably Hackman's greatest role/performance, with Crimson Tide as personal favorite▶ 1:35:47
Chris RyanLists top contenders as Popeye, The Conversation, and this role (Unforgiven), mentions Hoosiers and Behind Enemy Lines▶ 1:36:15
Sean FennesseyCrimson Tide guy - says this is a better role than Popeye and goes with Crimson Tide as top pick▶ 1:36:03
Best Double Feature
Bill SimmonsThe Outlaw Josey Wales — Mentions both Outlaw Josie Wales (father's suggestion) and High Plains Drifter as options▶ 1:37:40
Sean FennesseyHigh Plains Drifter — High Plains Drifter - paired because both films are violent, intense, and morally ambiguous▶ 1:37:44
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsClint Eastwood — Clint Eastwood wins because of the Oscars and cementing his legacy, though Gene Hackman was compelling this time around▶ 1:40:31
Chris RyanMentioned being surprised that Hackman's role was larger than remembered, but didn't give a definitive pick▶ 1:40:57
Sean FennesseyGene Hackman — Supports the Gene Hackman argument, noting that Hackman's performance becomes more apparent with multiple viewings▶ 1:40:50
Movies Referenced (68)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dirty Harry (1971) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 4:15 |
| Crimson Tide (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 35:19 |
| Million Dollar Baby (2004) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 11:59 |
| High Plains Drifter (1973) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 11:46 |
| In the Line of Fire (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:25:25 |
| Predator (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 55:34 |
| Bad Boys (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 47:18 |
| Every Which Way But Loose (1978) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 10:31 |
| Malcolm X (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 21:30 |
| There Will Be Blood (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 58:40 |
| True Romance (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 47:09 |
| American Sniper (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 12:07 |
Directors Referenced (7)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clint Eastwood | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 63 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven | ▶ 3:02 |
| David Fincher | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Se7en, Gone Girl, Zodiac | ▶ 11:38 |
| Don Siegel | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | Dirty Harry, Escape from Alcatraz | ▶ 9:05 |
| John Huston | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Chinatown | ▶ 13:39 |
| Michael Ritchie | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Fletch | ▶ 1:37:09 |
| Sergio Leone | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Once Upon a Time in America, Once Upon a Time in the West | ▶ 9:05 |
| Spike Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It | ▶ 25:14 |
Actors Referenced (54)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gene Hackman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 31 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | The French Connection, The Royal Tenenbaums, Unforgiven | ▶ 3:04 |
| Al Pacino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather | ▶ 19:48 |
| Billy Crystal | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | City Slickers, When Harry Met Sally... | ▶ 25:51 |
| Morgan Freeman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Se7en, Driving Miss Daisy, Million Dollar Baby | ▶ 3:05 |
| Will Ferrell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Blades of Glory | ▶ 27:54 |
| Jack Nicholson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Chinatown, As Good as It Gets, The Departed | ▶ 19:46 |
| Saul Rubinek | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Unforgiven, True Romance | ▶ 44:52 |
| Larry Bird | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Space Jam, Blue Chips | ▶ 6:10 |
| Richard Harris | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Unforgiven, Gladiator | ▶ 3:06 |
| Marisa Tomei | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | My Cousin Vinny, The Wrestler | ▶ 20:10 |
| River Phoenix | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | My Own Private Idaho, Stand by Me, The Mosquito Coast | ▶ 11:59 |
| Burt Reynolds | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Boogie Nights, Smokey and the Bandit, Striptease | ▶ 10:12 |
Writers Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Webb Peoples | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Unforgiven, Blade Runner, 12 Monkeys | ▶ 52:56 |
| Malcolm X | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Malcolm X | ▶ 21:30 |
| Sara Gran | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 11:59 | |
| Julie Siege | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 23:56 | |
| Peter Morwood | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:00:43 |