'25th Hour'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Wesley Morris of The New York Times to spend their last day together watching Spike Lee's 2002 film, '25th Hour,' starring Edward Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Rosario Dawson.
Cast
Edward Norton as Monty Brogan
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Jacob Elinsky
Barry Pepper as Frank Slaughtery
Rosario Dawson as Naturelle Riviera
Anna Paquin as Mary D'Annunzio
Brian Cox as James Brogan
Directed by: Spike Lee
Written by: David Benioff
Cinematography by: Rodrigo Prieto
Music by: Terence Blanchard
Notes
- Bill considers this one of the best movies of the last 20 years. He's been wanting to do this episode for a while and saved it for Wesley Morris.
- David Benioff's novel predated 9/11 – the book was already written when the attacks happened. Spike Lee chose to lean into the post-9/11 setting rather than remove it, making it the definitive 9/11 New York movie without being 'about' 9/11.
- Disney wanted to cut the bathroom mirror monologue but Spike Lee and Benioff refused. It's now considered the signature scene of the film.
- Edward Norton used his salary from Red Dragon to help produce the film. Made $23.9 million on a $5 million budget.
- Completely shut out of the 2003 Oscars – no nominations at all. Bill and Wesley are baffled by this.
Categories
Quote from Rog's review:
“Spike Lee finds the right note for every scene. He has made the best of his many films.”
Ebert put it on his Great Movies list and named it one of the best films of the decade.
- The bathroom mirror monologue – Norton's 'fuck you' speech running through every ethnic group and type of New Yorker. Disney wanted it cut. Now it's the movie's signature scene.
- The nightclub sequence – roughly 24 minutes of the three guys' last night out together.
- The opening scene with Monty finding the dog on the side of the road.
- The 9/11 elements – the way Spike Lee wove Ground Zero and post-9/11 New York into the fabric of the film. It's become THE signature 9/11 movie.
- Rodrigo Prieto's cinematography – gorgeous, moody work throughout.
- Terence Blanchard's score.
The Philip Seymour Hoffman/Anna Paquin teacher-student subplot – a teacher being attracted to his high school student plays very differently now.
- Brittany Murphy was considered for the Mary D'Annunzio role.
- Tobey Maguire originally bought the rights to the novel and was going to star as Monty Brogan.
CANCELLED – Bill and Wesley agree this is a 'movie of restraint.' Everyone is dialed in and understated.
Patrice O'Neal – one minute of screen time, great minute. Steals his scene completely.
Tony Siragusa – the former NFL defensive tackle shows up and is memorable.
- Edward Norton – though 'Fight Club' is his other peak. This is his most complete dramatic performance.
- 9/11 movies – this is THE one. The definitive post-9/11 film.
- Barry Pepper – between this and 61*, his apex moment.
Would making himself uglier really help Monty in prison? Bill argues the point isn't practical – it's about Monty wanting punishment and his friend giving him that.
Yes – the concept of a guy's last day before going to prison would make a great limited series. You could expand the backstory and the supporting characters' lives.
Spike Lee – made a masterpiece on a $5 million budget that became the definitive post-9/11 New York film.
- Is the movie better with Matt Damon in Barry Pepper's role?
- What happens when Monty gets out of prison?
Clockers – Bill calls '25th Hour' 'the B-side to Clockers' as Spike Lee New York crime films.