The Rewatchables: ‘Scent of a Woman’ With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan

Published 2022-08-22; 1:35:16 by the feed.

Awards and segments (99)

Double feature

  1. pick Dog Day Afternoon: Another big Pacino performance that the hosts say his later impressions grew out of.
    “I had Dog Day afternoon.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:22:21
  2. pick The Chocolate War: A great prep school movie that is also about turning on your friends.
    “I'm going to go Chocolate War, which is just a really great prep school movie that had come out in 88 and people should check it out if they haven't seen it.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:22:23

Most rewatchable scene

  1. pick Philip Seymour Hoffman's George feeling out Charlie after the dean talks to them
    “I love Hoffen feeling out Charlie.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:27:44
  2. floated Hoffman's George working Mrs. Hunsacker for a hug
    “Not fully a rewatchable scene unto itself, but worth mentioning is the way that he talks to the old woman, Mrs. Hunsacker.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:30:20
  3. floated Slade's airplane scene
    “Next one is the airplane scene, which you mentioned earlier.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:30:49
  4. floated Slade takes Charlie to the Oak Room
    “It's a really smart scene, because, and it's not the most rewatchable scene, but it sets up everything that's going to happen in a really good way.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:31:38
  5. runner-up The Thanksgiving dinner at the Slade house
    “Thanksgiving dinner is just flat out. One of the best 8 minutes. It's probably going to be my pick.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:32:02
  6. floated The tango with Donna
    “And I'm always going to watch the Tango scene, if I'm flipping channels, if it's about to happen.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:43:18
  7. floated The Ferrari scene, including the negotiation with Freddie at the dealership
    “The Ferrari scene.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:35:43
  8. floated Charlie saves Slade, the Chris O'Donnell crying scene
    “Next one is Charlie, save Slade, the famous Chris O'Donnell cry scene.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:37:45
  9. pick The second half of the boarding school hearing, after Slade shows up
    “Yeah, I mean, I probably have the 2nd half of the courtroom scene just because it's so riveting, uh, and it is really like the dramatic sort of apex of the movie.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:42:58
  10. floated The teacher hitting on Slade at the end
    “Uh, the last scene is a small one, but I love when the teacher hits on Slade when it comes full circle or half circle.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:42:34

Ebert review · Reading Roger Ebert's review of the film.

  1. pick Scent of a Woman: Three and a half stars; the hosts' Ebert reader is rendered as Raj in the transcript.
    “Our guy Raj, he's back after some rough weeks on the rewatchables, 3.5 stars.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:23:49

Vincent Hanna / Saul Rubinek / Partridge overacting award · The most over-the-top performance in the film.

  1. winner Al Pacino as Frank Slade: Frank Slade could be the name of the category; the I'm in the dark here scene is the example.
    “Yeah, I mean, you could probably put Frank Slade as the name of this category.”
    unknown · 1:04:16

Best That Guy · The best familiar face from a smaller role.

  1. nominee Unnamed actor as Willie, the colonel's brother: He doesn't know the actor but calls him a that guy.
    “The colonel's brother, Willie.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:05:05
  2. nominee Gene Canfield as Manny the chauffeur
    “Manly the chauffeur, played by Gene Canfield.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:05:10
  3. winner Nicholas Sadler as Harry, the ringleader kid
    “And then I think the winner is the ringleaner kid.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:05:17
  4. winner Todd Luiso as one of the trio of kids: Chris has seen him in Jerry Maguire, The Rock, Apollo 13 and High Fidelity.
    “I'm going with Todd Luiso, who was, uh, he's the other...”
    Chris Ryan · 1:05:35
  5. nominee Rebhorn as Mr. Trask
    “I think, I mean, Reb Horn's the that guy, isn't he?”
    unknown · 1:04:59
  6. nominee Ron Eldard as Trent: Debated whether he counts, since he was the star of stuff, and a friend's boyfriend on Friends.
    “He's he's Ron Eldard.”
    unknown · 1:04:48

Dion Waiters Award for the biggest heat check · A small part that makes a big impact.

  1. winner Gabrielle Anwar as Donna: He thinks she is unbelievable in the tango scene.
    “I want to say Gabrielle Anwar, because of the tango scene, I think she's unbelievable in that scene.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:06:14
  2. nominee Gene Canfield as Manny the chauffeur: He likes how the likable chauffeur works without going wrong.
    “I really love Manny the chauffeur.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:06:19
  3. winner Bradley Whitford as Randy: Says he basically ended up playing that guy nine other times.
    “I would go with Woodford.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:06:49
  4. nominee Unnamed actor as Freddie the Ferrari guy
    “Gabrielle Anwar, the tango scene, Freddie the Ferrari guy, Is Hoffman eligible or no?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:06:00

Apex Mountain · Whether a thing from the movie sits at the top of its mountain.

  1. pick Pacino movies built around a blind character
    “Movies built around a blind character?”
    unknown · 1:10:03
  2. pick Chris O'Donnell: He felt like the biggest young actor in the world after this movie.
    “It felt like he was the biggest young actor in the world after this movie.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:10:10
  3. pick Rebhorn: A big scene in a pretty big movie, probably his biggest part in a big movie.
    “This is probably his biggest part in a big movie.”
    unknown · 1:10:24
  4. pick The 1989 Ferrari Mondial
    “The 1989 Ferrari Monday LT Cabriolet.”
    unknown · 1:10:56
  5. pick Horrible Thanksgivings in a movie
    “Horrible Thanksgivings in a movie.”
    unknown · 1:11:08
  6. pick The Ranger chokehold
    “Apex Mountain for the Ranger chokehold?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:11:43
  7. pick 90s hunk actors crying (McConaughey in A Time to Kill)
    “That made that him crying in that courtroom scene made him an A plus listener.”
    unknown · 1:12:01
  8. pick The Oak Room
    “Might actually be apex bound for the oak room.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:12:29

Best Racehorse Name · The best name from the movie for a racehorse.

  1. winner John Daniels: Offered three choices: Scent of a Woman, Ferrari Freddy, John Daniels.
    “John Daniels, I thought, was a great racehorse.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:12:54

Mallory Rubin Award (did it need a better sex scene) · Whether the movie needed a better sex scene.

  1. pick A sex scene with Frank and the escort: Both say no; they only wanted a glimpse through the window.
    “Absolutely not.”
    unknown · 1:13:06

Picking Nits · Nitpicks of a film they love.

  1. pick A blind man driving the Ferrari through Manhattan: Called the biggest nitpick of the movie.
    “It is definitely the biggest nitpick of this movie.”
    unknown · 0:37:23
  2. pick Everyone in the school would know who did the prank
    “Would everyone in the school know who did the prank?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:13:16
  3. pick Slade sees everything like a bat despite being blind
    “I already asked you how Slade was able to somehow see everything like a bat, even though he is blind.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:13:21
  4. pick Why Gabrielle Anwar's character is named Donna
    “Why is Gabriel Anwar named Donna?”
    Chris Ryan · 1:13:41
  5. pick Where in New York the Ferrari could drive so many blocks without a stop sign or a pedestrian
    “So forget about the improbability of a blind guy driving a Ferrari.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:14:18
  6. pick Baird's disciplinary process, a public hearing in front of the whole school
    “I have some questions about Baird's disciplinary process.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:14:54
  7. pick The disgraced officer who plans to kill himself in full dress uniform trope: Pulled from A Few Good Men, same year; Chris answers with Colonel Markinson.
    “One of my nitpicks is, and this is also pulling from another film from the same year, a few good men, is the trope of disgraced military officer who decides to take his own life while wearing his full dress uniform.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:16:24
  8. pick Why Trask popped the milk balloon on his own car
    “Why did Rebhorn pop the balloon?”
    Craig Horlbeck · 1:30:21
  9. pick How the boys hijacked the PA system and rigged a balloon of milk in 1992
    “A had to hijacked the PA system.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:30:49
  10. pick The job-posting bulletin board and the long Karen Rossi family sequence
    “Yeah, I guess that could be a nitpick.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:51:56

Sequel, prequel, prestige TV · The sequel, prequel, or prestige TV show they would make from the movie.

  1. pick Prestige TV: an HBO-style episode, like episode 3 of The Chair: He says the plot would only be a B plot of a modern TV episode.
    “But, um, yeah, this would have been like episode 3 of the chair.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:17:34
  2. pick A White Lotus-style prep school show with the three boys, more Sugar Bush and Thanksgiving
    “That probably would be how it goes. White Lotus with those 3 guys.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:17:49

Oscar pick · Who should have won or been nominated.

  1. winner Denzel Washington as Malcolm X: If you redo the best actor year, it goes to Denzel.
    “It probably goes to Denzel.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:16:08
  2. pick Al Pacino as Frank Slade: His fix: Denzel best actor and Pacino best supporting actor.
    “It's like you give Denzel best actor and you give Pacino best supporting actor.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:16:12
  3. winner Al Pacino: The just-one-Oscar question for this movie.
    “All right, uh, just one Oscar who gets it, Pacino.”
    unknown · 1:16:42

Casting what-ifs · Almost-castings and recasts.

  1. pick Matt Damon and the cast of School Ties: The whole School Ties cast auditioned for Charlie; Damon told the Chris O'Donnell script story.
    “Every single kid in the cast.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:21:00
  2. pick Jack Nicholson as Frank Slade: Offered and turned it down, then did A Few Good Men; unclear whether better or worse, probably darker.
    “Belatedly agreed, but in the meantime, Jack Nicholson was offered Colonel Slade turned it down.”
    unknown · 1:01:32
  3. pick Sylvester Stallone as Frank Slade: Stallone claimed to Conan in 1997 that he turned it down; they can't picture it.
    “But according to an interview with Conan O'Brien, 1997, slash Stallone claim that he turned down the role of Colonel Frank Slade.”
    unknown · 1:02:19
  4. pick Philip Seymour Hoffman as George: He auditioned five times, and Paul Thomas Anderson wrote Scotty J after seeing him.
    “So Hoffman said, um, he had to audition 5 times to get the part of George.”
    unknown · 1:02:52
  5. pick Chris Rock as Charlie: Rock wanted the part and thought Charlie should be black.
    “went out for this role and then later was like, I think it did need to be me, but I think this movie would have been more interesting if Charles was played by a black guy.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:03:44
  6. nominee Leonardo DiCaprio as Charlie: He thinks the ceiling goes up.
    “Leo in this scene, I think, I think the, I think the ceiling of this movie goes up.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:07:36
  7. nominee Matt Damon as Charlie: More interested in Damon, but he seems too smart for the part.
    “I would probably be more interested in seeing Damon in this role.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:07:50
  8. winner Chris O'Donnell as Charlie: He looks like a kid from the sticks on a scholarship, better than young Affleck.
    “I actually think Chris O'Donnell for this part is better than young Affleck.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:08:37

What if it were made today · How the movie would be different if made now.

  1. pick Charlie played as a black character: In 2022 there is no question Charlie is black, and Slade is more self-aware.
    “In 2022, if they make this movie now, there's no question he's black.”
    unknown · 1:20:48

Pick a nit about what aged the best · What has aged best about the movie.

  1. pick The Oscar debates, starting with Pacino versus Denzel
    “But I do feel like the Oscars, this is really when people started arguing about them in a real way.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:45:29
  2. pick Roles every actor in an age group is after: Primal Fear and Dead Poets Society are other examples; they say that doesn't happen much anymore.
    “These certain roles where all the actors around the same age group know, like, this will be the world that changes my life.”
    unknown · 0:47:48
  3. pick The Oscar-bait running joke (Rain Man through Nell)
    “Another one, Sage the best, is between this and Rain Man a few years ago, this starts the running joke about here's how you actually win an Oscar.”
    unknown · 0:46:29
  4. pick A really good New York movie, the Waldorf Astoria and the Oak Room
    “I think it's just like low-key a really good New York movie.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:48:18
  5. pick A person with a disability and superhuman powers
    “I had one more wood stage the best is when somebody has a disability, but then has superhuman powers that defies.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:48:56
  6. pick Thomas Newman's score
    “Phenomenal score in this movie.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:43:28

Best Needle Drop · Best use of a song or music in the film.

  1. nominee Evangeline as the Dolly Parton song on Slade's radio
    “I have Evangeline, the Dolly Parton song that he turns on in his radio.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:49:25
  2. winner Thomas Newman's score
    “I mean, there's really not other than Thomas Newman really wins this.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:49:28

Big Kahuna Burger Award · Best use of food or drink.

  1. winner John Daniels, and Slade making them take the minibar inventory
    “Just John Daniels, that whole thing, I thought was... When he makes them take the inventory of the minibar.”
    unknown · 0:49:36

Den of Thieves Benihana Award (scene-stealing location) · Scene-stealing location.

  1. nominee The Waldorf Astoria
    “It's got to be either the Waldorf Waldorf Astoria or the Oak room.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:49:46
  2. winner The Oak Room
    “Yeah, I think it's the Oak room.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:49:53

Gordo Award for most cinematic shot · Most cinematic shot.

  1. winner Two-shot of the men at the table when the verdict is announced, with the crowd standing behind: He says it's a pretty straightforward visual movie.
    “It's like a 2 shot of those 2 guys sitting at the table when they announced the verdict and he goes, woo-ah.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:50:00

Butch's Girlfriend Award · The weak link of the film.

  1. winner Everything after the redheaded teacher talks to Slade: The movie should have ended there.
    “I think the movie should end after the redheaded teacher talks to Slade.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:50:16
  2. winner The extended Karen Rossi family sequence: He doubts the film needed so much time with the family whose house Charlie works at.
    “Uh, I wonder whether or not we needed such an extensive experience with uh, what is it?”
    Bill Simmons · 0:50:56

What aged the worst · What has aged the worst about the movie.

  1. pick Slade asking everyone for an escort from the moment he checks in
    “I feel like early 90s, late 80s, anything went.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:52:27
  2. pick First class on the plane looking cheap and unfancy
    “It just made me think how 1st class in airplanes in the early 90s was now we no way that would be the 1st class.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:53:00
  3. pick The amount of whiskey Slade has on a 45-minute flight
    “I think the other thing, though, is I just can't get over the amount of whiskey he has on a 45 minute flight where he's just like, have her come back and it's like, we're descending now, by the way.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:53:07
  4. pick Charlie being the star halfback of Baird is dropped in quickly: Also might be a nitpick; they debate whether Slade was kidding.
    “It's just very quickly that Charlie was the star halfback of Baird.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:53:55
  5. pick Frank Slade's behavior at holiday dinners
    “Um, just generally, if like Frank's laid at holiday dinners seems just like a nightmare.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:55:15

Ron Burgundy Award (best time for a pee break) · The best time for a pee break.

  1. winner The scene after Thanksgiving dinner where Slade loads the gun: About six minutes he considers an automatic cut.
    “My choice, after the Thanksgiving dinner, the load in the gun scene, which I think is just an automatic cut.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:55:55

Was there a better title · Whether the movie had a better title available.

  1. pick Scent of a Woman: Doesn't think so.
    “I actually don't think so.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:56:30
  2. pick An Amputated Spirit as a title: Floats it as a joke alternative.
    “I liked it. I had an amputated spirit, but I don't think that would have played as well.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:56:32

Best Quote · The best quote from the movie.

  1. winner Frank Slade on the ladies
    “The day we stop looking, Charlie, is the day we die.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:56:46

Steve A. Smith Hottest Take Award · A contrarian take on the movie.

  1. pick Scent of a Woman is not one of Pacino's best eight performances, maybe not top ten: He ranks Godfather 1 and 2, Dog Day, Heat, Serpico, Scarface and others above it but loves how much fun Pacino has.
    “This isn't one of Pacino's 8 best performances.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:58:23
  2. pick Karen Rossi: She abandoned the blind man she was supposed to care for to a teenager over Thanksgiving.
    “Oh, I think that, yeah, Karen Rossi should be ashamed of herself.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:01:03
  3. pick Al Pacino as Frank Slade: Did not enjoy the movie; says the modern Pacino impressions ruin it and Pacino is actively bad.
    “I think Pacino is actively bad in this movie.”
    Craig Horlbeck · 1:27:08
  4. pick Chris O'Donnell as Charlie: Says both leads are one note and O'Donnell is a meek, indecisive kid.
    “I don't even think O'Donnell was that good.”
    Craig Horlbeck · 1:29:04

Unanswerable questions · Open questions the film leaves behind.

  1. pick How many drinks a day Slade was up to: Guesses eight or nine doubles a day, about 16 shots.
    “I was going to do this for unanswerable questions, but how many how many drinks a day do you think Slade was up to?”
    Bill Simmons · 0:53:19
  2. pick Should the movie have ended right after the teacher hits on Slade: Yes.
    “Should this movie have ended right after the teacher hits on him?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:18:48
  3. pick How Charlie should have handled the hearing: Should have just said he saw three kids run off and not seen who they were.
    “All he had to do was say, I definitely saw 3 kids.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:20:14
  4. pick Would the film work with a black Charlie
    “So, Chris Rock said he wanted to audition for this role and they didn't even let him audition.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:20:30

Zihuatanejo Award (what happened the next day) · What became of the characters after the movie ends.

  1. pick Frank Slade: Slade is destitute after spending a $100,000 weekend; the disability checks he saved are gone.
    “Um, so this guy's fucking destitute now, right?”
    Chris Ryan · 1:22:41
  2. pick Frank Slade and the redheaded teacher: They date, move in, and it probably ends after a few drunk days and repeated LBJ stories.
    “At least 2 dates, they move in, but then he gets super drunk one day because he drinks 16, 16 drinks a day.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:24:35
  3. pick Charlie's 300 dollar pay compared with Manny's tip
    “Well, here's what it is more frustrating.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:23:49

Memorabilia · A prop or item from the movie they would own.

  1. pick Slade's custom suits
    “No, I'd probably take the custom suits.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:25:33
  2. pick Slade's cane
    “I think the cane would be cool.”
    unknown · 1:25:36
  3. pick Old-school valise luggage
    “I was going to say I also liked his like old school like when people used to have like valise luggage.”
    unknown · 1:25:45

Coach Finstock Award for best life lesson · The best life lesson from the movie.

  1. pick Don't be a snitch
    “I mean, obviously don't be a snitch.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:25:57
  2. winner The day we stop looking is the day we die
    “The day we stop looking is the day we die.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:26:13

Who won the movie · Who came out ahead in the movie.

  1. winner Al Pacino
    “The, uh, who won the movie, Pacino?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:26:21
  2. nominee Philip Seymour Hoffman: Would put him very high up; a lot of seeds were planted for him.
    “Yeah, but I would just say watching it this time, like I would put Hoffman very high up.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:26:25

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