Rewatchables Reference

• The hobbling scene – one of the most famous scenes of the 1990s.
• Bill's pick: The dinner scene – Annie possibly spills the wine intentionally, great acting and writing.
• The tomato soup scene – the first time we see she's crazy, the 'effing pig feed' rant.
• Paul's first time getting out of the wheelchair and exploring the house.
• The burning of the manuscript scene.
• Buster showing up and getting shot through the chest.
• The final fight – Paul measures with the typewriter, swings his broken leg to trip Annie.
• Paul falls asleep holding the knife and wakes up to Annie's face lit by lightning.

• 'Mr. Man' – Bill and his wife have been using it as a running joke for 20 years.
• Annie Wilkes and Hannibal Lecter as back-to-back-year great thriller characters (1990 and 1991).
• The Farnsworth/Sternhagen marriage subplot – great in limited screen time.
• The hobbling change from chopping (the book) to hobbling was really smart.
• The 'N' key not working on the typewriter – writer PTSD.
• Marc Shaiman's score.

• The hobbling scene itself – how painful it is to watch.
• Writing on a typewriter.
• The pacing is a little slow for rewatching.
• The book agent taking you to the Four Seasons for lunch – the four-star book business is 'ridiculous' now.

The Paul Sheldon search party situation – this is supposedly one of the biggest, most famous writers alive, he checks out of a known hotel, and there's barely any search effort.

The happy opening credit song with trumpets.

When Paul falls asleep holding the knife, wakes up, and Annie's face appears as lightning flashes – camera pushing up.

Bill: Kathy Bates in Misery is the best Best Actress performance of the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, or this decade. The most famous character performance. Over Frances McDormand in 'Fargo', Charlize Theron in Monster, and all others.

• Paul Sheldon was offered to William Hurt (twice), Kevin Kline, Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, Dustin Hoffman, De Niro, Pacino, Richard Dreyfuss, Gene Hackman, Robert Redford – all turned it down.
• Warren Beatty was seriously pursued but wouldn't play a crippled loser.
• Jack Nicholson was also tried.
• Richard Gere was Goldman's ideal choice but was so 'dead' nobody even mentioned his name.
• For Annie: Anjelica Huston and Bette Midler both passed.
• Goldman's insight: stars bring history with them – Kathy Bates being unknown was crucial.

No overacting – Kathy Bates is perfect. 'She threw a perfect game.'

• Richard Farnsworth as the sheriff.
• Frances Sternhagen as the sheriff's wife – known as Cliff Clavin's mom from Cheers.

• Robin Williams as Paul Sheldon – Koppelman's pick, 'would have been incredible.'
• Robert Duvall as Paul Sheldon – Bill's pick.
• For Lauren Bacall's agent role: Faye Dunaway or Jane Fonda.
• Philip Baker Hall in the Richard Farnsworth sheriff role.

• James Caan showed up hungover one day; all scenes unusable. Reiner lied about 'a problem at the lab.'
• Stephen King said Annie Wilkes is his favorite character he's ever written.
• Kathy Bates was a big rehearsal person, Caan was not – Reiner found middle ground.
• Broadway adaptation in 2015 with Bruce Willis and Laurie Metcalf.
• The fake legs were gelatin with wire for bending; holes in the bed for Caan's real legs.
• Rob Reiner has an uncredited appearance as the helicopter pilot.

• Kathy Bates: No question, this is her apex.
• Crazy obsessed fans in a movie: King of Comedy is the top, but Misery is up there.
• Colorado in a movie: The Overlook Hotel ('The Shining') is probably its apex.
• Stephen King movies: Shawshank Redemption.
• Rob Reiner: 'A Few Good Men' or 'When Harry Met Sally'.

• Annie said she followed Paul's car, but in the opening credits there is no car behind him at any point.
• Villains keeping scrapbooks of their evil deeds – always ludicrous.
• Paul is rich and famous – why is he staying in a hotel in Colorado? He should own a place there.
• Paul had a knife and fell asleep. Bill: 'I am up all night. What I'm not doing is falling asleep.'
• The pooping/peeing situation for someone bedridden for six months is barely addressed.

• Limited series, flip the genders (two women) or make it same-sex.
• Bill's pitch: modern 2022, all-female Misery.
• Koppelman notes you'd have to deal with cell phones and findability in a modern setting.

• How did Annie get out of jail after killing all those babies as 'the dragon lady'?
• Why wasn't there a bigger search party for one of America's most famous authors?
• What does Paul Sheldon miss in the sports world while trapped?

• Koppelman: The unfiltered cigarette on the table.
• Bill: The typewriter with blood on it from the final scene.

• Don't have fans.
• Don't drive a 1966 Mustang during a blizzard.
• Check the weather before you leave your lodge.
• Have a routine where you check in with people before and after you leave someplace.

• Bill and Koppelman agree: King of Comedy and Misery.
• Also considered: 'Stand By Me' (double Reiner/King), Dead Zone (double King).

Kathy Bates, no doubt. Koppelman adds Rob Reiner as well.

• Craig Horlbeck (first-time viewer): 'I'll never see Kathy Bates the same way again. She terrified me probably more than any character I can remember.'
• Praised James Caan's ability to play Annie's game while clearly terrified.