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'And Justice For All' With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Wesley Morris

July 21, 2023 · And Justice for All (1979) · Crime · Drama · Thriller · 1:55:24

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Hall of Fame Plaque

Bill Simmons▶ 3:46Discusses 1979 as 'one of the Hall of Fame years' and emphasizes Pacino as 'one of the most important actors of the 70s, in the running for one of the most important actors of the last 50 years'
Sean Fennessey▶ 3:54Lists the incredible 1979 film lineup including Apocalypse Now, Manhattan, Alien, Kramer vs. Kramer and calls it 'a special time' and describes the film as 'a major bridge movie' in Pacino's career
Wesley Morris▶ 5:52Emphasizes the movie's genius and unpredictability, stating 'I just can't believe how good this movie is' and discusses its relevance to contemporary issues about truth-telling and systemic corruption

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 44:50Multiple scenes: opening sequence with Pacino in jail, Pacino-Christine Lahti flirting/Chinese food date, Tambor laughing scene about rape charge, helicopter scene, plate throwing scene with Tambor, Arthur attacking the car scene, Fleming's photos, Fleming admitting guilt
Sean Fennessey▶ 52:28Arthur attacking the car scene as pivotal moment where Pacino becomes the shouting actor he's known for, plus discussion of Pacino-Strasberg scenes and helicopter sequences
Wesley Morris▶ 50:43Plate throwing scene analyzing the metaphor of 'plate spinning' as lawyer juggling cases, Arthur's car attack scene for its moral breakdown, and Fleming confession scene as commentary on white male entitlement

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 1:02:35Late 70s soundtracks with swervy saxophones and congo beats; Pacino ad-libbing anecdote and Strasberg's advice; Barry Levinson's first Baltimore movie connecting to The Wire; trans representation handled with dignity for 1979; Jeffrey Tambor and Christine Lahti's first movies
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:03:19Trans character having dignity and perspective; the movie's commentary on wasting time on petty crimes in the justice system; Jeffrey Tambor and Christine Lahti's debuts plus Craig T. Nelson's first movie; Al Pacino's riveting jury performance vs Craig T. Nelson's poor opening statement
Wesley Morris▶ 1:03:24Trans character representation working because Arthur believes in their humanity; the movie being a good jury movie; the jury being riveted by Al Pacino's amazing acting

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:39Chinese food date

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:58The judge tells him 'I did it' - questions the realism of the bad guy confessing at the end
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:09:37Engages with Bill's theory about the mistrial but focuses more on defending the movie's structure rather than identifying weak elements
Wesley Morris▶ 1:09:24Discusses the judge's confession as a power play but doesn't seem to view it as the weakest element; mentions Christine Lahti's lawyer character who 'stands for nothing'

Movies Referenced (38)

Rocky (1976)

5 mentions · Wesley Morris, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 4:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

A Few Good Men (1992)

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris▶ 58:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

A Time to Kill (1996)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 19:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Being There (1979)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 4:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Charlie's Angels (2000)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 31:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 36:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Primal Fear (1996)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris▶ 2:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Godfather (1972)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 6:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

All the President's Men (1976)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 12:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Breaking Away (1979)

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 4:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 6:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 36:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (4)

Barry Levinson

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris · Known for Rain Man, Wag the Dog▶ 5:33IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mike Nichols

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris · Known for The Graduate▶ 36:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Norman Jewison

2 mentions · Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey · Known for In the Heat of the Night, Moonstruck▶ 5:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Leslie Libman

1 mentions · ▶ 0:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (9)

Al Pacino

10 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Wesley Morris · Known for Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather▶ 4:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jack Warden

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Wesley Morris · Known for 12 Angry Men, All the President's Men, While You Were Sleeping▶ 19:33IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lee Strasberg

2 mentions · Wesley Morris, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Godfather Part II, And Justice for All▶ 46:22IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Alan Arkin

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Argo, Little Miss Sunshine, Glengarry Glen Ross▶ 37:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bruce Willis

1 mentions · Wesley Morris · Known for Die Hard, Pulp Fiction▶ 1:12:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Elando Baltimore

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 14:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lorry Ayers

1 mentions · Wesley Morris · Known for Orphan▶ 57:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Jordan

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Space Jam, He Got Game▶ 1:11:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Keaton

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Spotlight, The Founder▶ 45:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (1)

Robert Carrington

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 32:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗