No one in my family had seen this movie, a fact that I told everyone at our thanksgiving dinner was appalling. I said it’s a must watch, and we should watch it tonight, if people are ok watching a kind of dark movie. Then 5 minutes in I remembered it was 25 times bleaker than I had remembered it and proceeded to ruin everyone’s thanksgiving night (I had a blast though)
The short tracking shot of Freeman as he walks into the apartment for the intro dinner is so good. Efficient. You can see him analyzing it like a crime scene. Or an alien planet. It's clear that he doesn't get invited into people's homes for a meal very often.
I'm still reading, but have to just mention I'm glad Pacino wasn't in it- Freeman was perfect, and I love the line Pitt got to say. If Pacino was in it he wouldn't have been able to use "Serpico gotta go". I also love what you say about his tie, but I also like to think that maybe he didn't have another tie and he wanted to make a good impression wearing one and hoped no one would look closely.
Shea my wife is very prim and proper and has led a largely sheltered film-watching life. I believe I've introduced her to a number of films for the first time. And I'm not talking deep cuts. Like, I don't think she's ever seen Ghostbusters.
Anyway, way back when we were dating, we were picking out a movie to watch. I guess I owned Seven, as this was back when owning 50 DVDs was a personality. I wanted to watch it and she, having never seen or heard of it, asked me to describe it. I didn't want to spoil the plot too much, being that the topic is what it is, so I described it as a suspense film.
Anyway, after traumatizing her for 2 hours and 10 minutes, I thought she was gonna hit me. Honestly, I can't remember if she even finished it. She may have bailed at like murder #2.
Well, I had to let her know that I was reading this and I brought this up again (now probably a full 10 years later) and she just said "oh, you mean the movie you described as 'a classic detective whodunnit that will have you on the edge of your seat with suspense and mystery??'"
Had to share that. Tbh, not an entirely misleading description.
I did this with my wife and The Father. I thought it had some comedy elements for some reason (it doesn’t). Cut to the end of the movie and we’re both in tears with her saying “some comedy. Idiot.”
Btw I’m the same jdm242424 across platforms. Lol. I feel like I know you at this point with the large number of replies we have to one another on here and Twitter and YouTube so I figured I’d formally connect my screen name to my real name 👍
This was the funniest part for me. A random British voice reading Shea's writing and mispronouncing random words every few minutes lol. I listened to it once, but then went back and read the whole thing too
I need your voice reading this at least once a quarter. If it requires me upgrading to Founder level and dodging questions from my wife on why I just spent however much it takes then so be it. 🫠😭😂
I feel like Jordan Poole wouldn’t stop to look around corners. I think it’s James Harden: looks good when it doesn’t matter, but comes up short in the clutch.
Loved everything about this article. The layout, the writing, the Footnotes video, the screengrabs to help illustrate points. Despite being about one of the bleakest movies ever made, I smiled pretty much the entire time I was reading it. Can't wait for every future installment.
Thanks a ton, man. We went through a bunch of different versions of the layout trying to get it exactly right. I'm really proud of it, and really happy that people seem to be enjoying it.
I never noticed until I rewatched it this week. Once I noticed how goofy his first tie was though, I noticed how goofy all of them were. It really stands out once you see one.
Somerset researching in the closed library while the security guards are playing cards and Bach plays is one of my very favorite scenes in any movie. His meticulousness and patience in finding the books and sources which eventually lead to them finding John Doe mirrors the meticulousness and patience John Doe has in planning the murders.
Aaannnddd this is why I blindly give Shea my money. What a great thing this is, I hope it goes on for a very long time.
I feel we are helping fund his kids college fund and I will gladly do it!!!! Shea has never disappointed
100%. Anything he puts out it’s definitely shut up and take my money GIF time. He’s never disappointed me.
Literally never!
I knew this was going to be incredible and somehow it was even better than that. YAY, SHEA!!
No one in my family had seen this movie, a fact that I told everyone at our thanksgiving dinner was appalling. I said it’s a must watch, and we should watch it tonight, if people are ok watching a kind of dark movie. Then 5 minutes in I remembered it was 25 times bleaker than I had remembered it and proceeded to ruin everyone’s thanksgiving night (I had a blast though)
🤣🤣🤣
The short tracking shot of Freeman as he walks into the apartment for the intro dinner is so good. Efficient. You can see him analyzing it like a crime scene. Or an alien planet. It's clear that he doesn't get invited into people's homes for a meal very often.
This is great.
“I’d like to point out right here that this movie was in theaters at the same time as Toy Story.” Laugh out loud funny
Amazing to consider which direction to go for this double feature option.
I'm still reading, but have to just mention I'm glad Pacino wasn't in it- Freeman was perfect, and I love the line Pitt got to say. If Pacino was in it he wouldn't have been able to use "Serpico gotta go". I also love what you say about his tie, but I also like to think that maybe he didn't have another tie and he wanted to make a good impression wearing one and hoped no one would look closely.
So true. Morgan Freeman is perfect in this. Would have been a different movie.
Shea my wife is very prim and proper and has led a largely sheltered film-watching life. I believe I've introduced her to a number of films for the first time. And I'm not talking deep cuts. Like, I don't think she's ever seen Ghostbusters.
Anyway, way back when we were dating, we were picking out a movie to watch. I guess I owned Seven, as this was back when owning 50 DVDs was a personality. I wanted to watch it and she, having never seen or heard of it, asked me to describe it. I didn't want to spoil the plot too much, being that the topic is what it is, so I described it as a suspense film.
Anyway, after traumatizing her for 2 hours and 10 minutes, I thought she was gonna hit me. Honestly, I can't remember if she even finished it. She may have bailed at like murder #2.
Well, I had to let her know that I was reading this and I brought this up again (now probably a full 10 years later) and she just said "oh, you mean the movie you described as 'a classic detective whodunnit that will have you on the edge of your seat with suspense and mystery??'"
Had to share that. Tbh, not an entirely misleading description.
I did this with my wife and The Father. I thought it had some comedy elements for some reason (it doesn’t). Cut to the end of the movie and we’re both in tears with her saying “some comedy. Idiot.”
This is pretty awesome! She will never forget this interaction and you'll always have a hilarious story.
TL;DR Good movie.
Incredible work, Shea. There needs to be a pillow intervention for you at some point.
I say "John Doe has the upper hand" to myself in my best morgan freeman voice at least once a week
lol same. Awesome essay here, Shea. It was pretty funny to have the British AI voice read this thing to me as well. “Fucking hell, man”
THERE'S A BRITISH AI VOICE THAT READS THIS????? lol what the hell
It’s pretty great actually but if you wanna record the audiobook version I know we would all be on board for that 👍
Btw I’m the same jdm242424 across platforms. Lol. I feel like I know you at this point with the large number of replies we have to one another on here and Twitter and YouTube so I figured I’d formally connect my screen name to my real name 👍
Agree 100%
This was the funniest part for me. A random British voice reading Shea's writing and mispronouncing random words every few minutes lol. I listened to it once, but then went back and read the whole thing too
I need your voice reading this at least once a quarter. If it requires me upgrading to Founder level and dodging questions from my wife on why I just spent however much it takes then so be it. 🫠😭😂
I feel like Jordan Poole wouldn’t stop to look around corners. I think it’s James Harden: looks good when it doesn’t matter, but comes up short in the clutch.
"Looks good when it doesn't matter, but comes up short in the clutch" is a lovely way to describe Detective Mills, lol.
Weekly? You're doing this weekly???
Loved everything about this article. The layout, the writing, the Footnotes video, the screengrabs to help illustrate points. Despite being about one of the bleakest movies ever made, I smiled pretty much the entire time I was reading it. Can't wait for every future installment.
Thanks a ton, man. We went through a bunch of different versions of the layout trying to get it exactly right. I'm really proud of it, and really happy that people seem to be enjoying it.
Shea, this is a brilliant write up. How did I never notice the cartoon ties? Such a great little character detail. Thanks so much.
I’ve seen this movie 50 times and never noticed the ties. You git me again, Shea.
I never noticed until I rewatched it this week. Once I noticed how goofy his first tie was though, I noticed how goofy all of them were. It really stands out once you see one.
Same here ! Shea so observant
Yes i never noticed the ties before but cartoon tie evolution to black tie really shows how Mills worldview changed
Shea’s humor never misses
Somerset researching in the closed library while the security guards are playing cards and Bach plays is one of my very favorite scenes in any movie. His meticulousness and patience in finding the books and sources which eventually lead to them finding John Doe mirrors the meticulousness and patience John Doe has in planning the murders.