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‘Unforgiven’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey

August 1, 2022 · Unforgiven (1992) · Drama · Western · 1:46:50

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 40:44Multiple 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
Sean Fennessey▶ 43:31Scenes 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

Great Shot Gordo Award

Bill Simmons▶ 46:56Discussed 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

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 1:03:00The era when you could just leave your kids alone for three weeks

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 1:03:40Agrees with the child abandonment scene - 'It's pretty tough. They grew him fast back then.'
Chris Ryan▶ 1:03:08The 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

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:01Will takes the shot mid massacre - he's three or four killings in and stops to drink, asking 'What is this? Is this Bullet?'

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:17Greeley's Saloon

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:21The Schofield Kid actor, James Wolvert

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:01No, Unforgiven is perfect (rejecting Whore's Gold as alternative)
Chris Ryan▶ 1:14:52No, Unforgiven is better than the other alternatives

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:04Either deserves got nothing to do with it, or it's a hell of a thing killing a man
Chris Ryan▶ 1:15:25I'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
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:15:10Deserves got nothing to do with it (agrees with another host's pick as the most remembered/quoted line)

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:16:50Little Bill's philosophy to share for the town (no firearms, no vigilantes, no assassins) was reasonable and he had good ideas behind his rules
Chris Ryan▶ 1:17:53There'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
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:18:38This is the movie Clint actually deserved Best Director for, unlike makeup wins - it's his best or near-best work

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:20:12John 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
Chris Ryan▶ 1:20:17Cuba Gooding Jr. — Questioned Jeremy Irons casting validity, suggested Cuba Gooding Jr. and Kiefer Sutherland for Schofield Kid (though noted Kiefer too old)
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:23:49Mark Wahlberg — Discussed Sam Rockwell (too young) and agreed Mark Wahlberg would fit the energy needed for Schofield Kid character

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:24:11Japanese remake called Unforgiven (2013) starring Ken Watanabe; Clint changed opening voiceover to text; Henry Bumstead built Big Whiskey set in 32 days
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:24:56Compared the fresh-built look to There Will Be Blood, noting how Little Bill's house looks newly constructed with fresh wood

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:25:08Clint Eastwood — Yes for post-prime Clint Eastwood - Unforgiven is his apex, better than Million Dollar Baby
Chris Ryan▶ 1:25:25Clint Eastwood — Agrees on Clint - this and In the Line of Fire were peak fame for under-45 audience
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:25:45Clint Eastwood — Supports the Clint discussion, notes the incredible 13-month run of Unforgiven, In the Line of Fire, Perfect World

Hall of Fame Plaque

Bill Simmons▶ 1:29:28Believes 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
Chris Ryan▶ 1:29:59Shows 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
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:29:34Agrees 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

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:30Unforgiven — The movie (not Clint)
Chris Ryan▶ 1:34:32Unforgiven — The movie (agreeing with another host)

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:35Wayne Jenkins, Danny Trejo, Catherine Han, Steve Buscemi, Sam Jackson, JT Walsh, Philip Baker Hall
Chris Ryan▶ 1:35:05Wayne Jenkins as Louisville Daggett

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:35:47Thinks Popeye from French Connection is probably Hackman's greatest role/performance, with Crimson Tide as personal favorite
Chris Ryan▶ 1:36:15Lists top contenders as Popeye, The Conversation, and this role (Unforgiven), mentions Hoosiers and Behind Enemy Lines
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:36:03Crimson Tide guy - says this is a better role than Popeye and goes with Crimson Tide as top pick

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:37:40The Outlaw Josey Wales — Mentions both Outlaw Josie Wales (father's suggestion) and High Plains Drifter as options
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:37:44High Plains Drifter — High Plains Drifter - paired because both films are violent, intense, and morally ambiguous

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:40:20Bad shit just happens, try to stay out of the way
Chris Ryan▶ 1:40:14Deserves got nothing to do with it
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:40:04Some people never change

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:40:31Clint Eastwood — Clint Eastwood wins because of the Oscars and cementing his legacy, though Gene Hackman was compelling this time around
Chris Ryan▶ 1:40:57Mentioned being surprised that Hackman's role was larger than remembered, but didn't give a definitive pick
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:40:50Gene Hackman — Supports the Gene Hackman argument, noting that Hackman's performance becomes more apparent with multiple viewings

Movies Referenced (82)

Dirty Harry (1971)

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 4:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Crimson Tide (1995)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 35:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cry Macho (2021)

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 5:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 11:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Pale Rider (1985)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 4:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

High Plains Drifter (1973)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 11:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

In the Line of Fire (1993)

4 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:25:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Predator (1987)

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 55:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bad Boys (1995)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 47:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Every Which Way But Loose (1978)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 10:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Malcolm X (1992)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 21:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Firm (1993)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 35:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (6)

Clint Eastwood

63 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven▶ 3:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Fincher

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Se7en, Gone Girl, Zodiac▶ 11:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Don Siegel

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Dirty Harry, Escape from Alcatraz▶ 9:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Ritchie

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for The Golden Child, Fletch▶ 1:37:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sergio Leone

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Once Upon a Time in America, Once Upon a Time in the West▶ 9:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Spike Lee

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It▶ 25:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (53)

Gene Hackman

31 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for The French Connection, The Royal Tenenbaums, Unforgiven▶ 3:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Al Pacino

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather▶ 19:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Billy Crystal

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Forget Paris, City Slickers, When Harry Met Sally...▶ 25:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Morgan Freeman

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Se7en, Driving Miss Daisy, Million Dollar Baby▶ 3:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Will Ferrell

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Blades of Glory▶ 27:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jack Nicholson

7 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Chinatown, As Good as It Gets, The Departed▶ 19:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Saul Rubinek

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Unforgiven, True Romance▶ 44:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Larry Bird

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Space Jam, Celtic Pride, Blue Chips▶ 6:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Richard Harris

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Unforgiven, Gladiator▶ 3:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Marisa Tomei

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for My Cousin Vinny, The Wrestler▶ 20:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

River Phoenix

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for My Own Private Idaho, Stand by Me, The Mosquito Coast▶ 11:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Burt Reynolds

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Boogie Nights, Smokey and the Bandit, Striptease▶ 10:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (5)

David Webb Peoples

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Unforgiven, Blade Runner, 12 Monkeys▶ 52:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Malcolm X

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for Malcolm X▶ 21:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sara Gran

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 11:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Julie Siege

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 23:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Peter Morwood

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:00:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗