HOST PROFILE

Wesley Morris

A transcript-based look at what Wesley Morris praised, questioned, and talked about most.

Transcripts identified25

Positive takes74

Critical takes4

Named opinions98

WHO SHOWS UP AROUND THEM

Frequent cohosts and people they praise

Select a face to see what the connection means. Cohost counts come from transcript-identified speakers.Explore every connection

WMTaste profileWesley Morris

PEOPLE THEY PRAISE

Who gets the most positive mentions

Adrian Lyne3 total mentions · 0 mixed

3 02

Ang Lee2 total mentions · 0 mixed

2 03

Anna Deavere Smith2 total mentions · 0 mixed

Carl the janitor2 total mentions · 0 mixed

Daniel Kaluuya2 total mentions · 0 mixed

2 06

Fran Drescher2 total mentions · 0 mixed

2 07

Kathleen Turner2 total mentions · 0 mixed

2 08

Lawrence Kasdan2 total mentions · 0 mixed

2 09

Anne Hathaway1 total mention · 0 mixed

1 10

Bill Nunn1 total mention · 0 mixed

A positive mention is a transcript note marked favorable or strongly favorable and tied to Wesley Morris.

WHERE THEY PUSH BACK

People drawing mixed or critical comments

Bill Cosby1 total mention · 0 positive

David Denby1 total mention · 0 positive

The Safdie brothers1 total mention · 0 positive

This counts comments about a performance or body of work. It is not a personal approval rating.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Representative opinions

Each note links back to the episode where it appeared.

Loved it25th Hour · 2002

nightclub sequence

Wesley says the nightclub stretch is the movie’s best sequence and the most rewatchable part.

About 8 min into the transcript

Loved it25th Hour · 2002

Clockers

Wesley uses Clockers as a benchmark Spike Lee film and says 25th Hour feels like a cousin to it.

About 0 min into the transcript

Loved itA Time to Kill · 1996

Sandra Bullock

Ultimately praises her as a special star who can carry major movies and play well with others.

About 64 min into the transcript

Loved itAnd Justice for All · 1979

legal-system critique

Reads the movie as a devastating system movie about corruption and human failure.

About 8 min into the transcript

Loved itAnd Justice for All · 1979

the plate-throwing breakdown

Finds Tambor’s emotional collapse astonishing because it pivots from comedy to moral panic.

About 32 min into the transcript

Loved itBeverly Hills Cop · 1984

Beverly Hills Cop as a star vehicle

Says Murphy is unusually present and quiet, not waiting to steal scenes in an actorly way.

About 0 min into the transcript

Loved itBeverly Hills Cop · 1984

Taggart and Rosewood

Sees the duo as a big reason the sequel works because their interplay is already seeded here.

About 48 min into the transcript

Loved itBlow Out · 1981

John Travolta

Says the movie depends on Travolta's lightness and stardom to work in a way few actors could manage.

About 8 min into the transcript

Loved itBlow Out · 1981

tactile analog filmmaking

Loves the manual, tactile world of film equipment and analog work, contrasting it with digital convenience.

About 8 min into the transcript

Loved itBody Heat · 1981

Body Heat’s sex scenes

Wesley says the movie has the exact kind of irresistible, destructive sexuality the genre needs.

About 0 min into the transcript

Loved itBody Heat · 1981

Kathleen Turner

Wesley treats Turner as a rare kind of star who can credibly make men risk everything.

About 16 min into the transcript

Loved itBody Heat · 1981

Kasdan’s screenplay

Wesley praises the screenplay for hiding the con while letting the audience think Ned is in charge.

About 112 min into the transcript

THEIR SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT

Debates tied to Wesley Morris

25th Hour

How much character depth the film needs

The characters already exist as characters rather than archetypes, but the movie still failed to make him feel much for them.

25th Hour

Whether the film’s restraint helps or hurts

The restraint is admirable but also makes the movie feel slightly underwhelming.

25th Hour

Whether the ending should include the fantasy montage

It could be cut, though he ultimately does not mind it much.

25th Hour

Best 2002 awards-movie omissions

He agrees the film was ignored and argues the Academy did not know what to do with Spike Lee.

A Time to Kill

Is McConaughey’s performance the best moment of his career?

It may be his best in a bigger scene, but he generally works better in smaller doses.

A Time to Kill

How much does the movie’s racial framing undercut it?

A lot; the Black family should be the center and the movie is morally frustrating.

A Time to Kill

Is the final verdict believable?

It makes little legal sense but is emotionally revealing about white empathy.

And Justice for All

Is the film really a courtroom movie or a broader system/conspiracy movie?

It belongs with 1970s conspiracy and corruption movies more than a standard legal drama.

ARCHIVE RECORD

Every appearance and movie category

The sections below use the existing episode catalog. The profile above comes only from transcript evidence.

Appearances25

Hanks decisions0

Cruise decisions4

First appearance2018

Every appearance

She's the One1996 · Romance / Comedy · 2026-07-13Cruise Sinners2025 · Horror · 2025-08-17Cruise Brokeback Mountain2005 · Western / Romance · 2025-07-28Cruise Purple Rain1984 · Musical · 2024-08-27Cruise Philadelphia1993 · Thriller / Drama · 2024-01-23OPEN And Justice For All1979 · Drama / Mystery · 2023-07-20OPEN My Cousin Vinny1992 · Comedy / Legal · 2023-07-18OPEN A Time To Kill1996 · Drama / Thriller · 2023-07-11OPEN Body Heat1981 · Noir / Drama · 2022-11-22OPEN Blow Out1981 · Thriller / Mystery · 2022-11-15OPEN Cruising1980 · Crime / Thriller · 2022-11-08OPEN The Player1992 · Comedy / Crime · 2022-04-12OPEN Rachel Getting Married2008 · Drama · 2022-02-08OPEN Focus2015 · Crime / Comedy · 2021-11-16OPEN Coming To America1988 · Comedy / Romance · 2021-02-18OPEN Unfaithful2002 · Romance / Thriller · 2020-09-15OPEN 25th Hour2002 · Drama · 2020-07-16OPEN Boomerang1992 · Romance / Comedy · 2020-05-26OPEN Higher Learning1995 · Drama / Romance · 2020-02-19OPEN The Breakfast Club1985 · Drama / Teen · 2020-02-13OPEN Beverly Hills Cop1984 · Action / Comedy · 2019-09-16OPEN Do The Right Thing1989 · Drama / Comedy · 2019-08-26OPEN Fatal Attraction1987 · Thriller / Drama · 2019-08-20OPEN Creed2015 · Drama / Sports · 2018-03-14OPEN Get Out2017 · Horror / Thriller · 2018-02-27OPEN