Which movie has the line, "All right, look, I want you to explain this to me like I'm a six year old, okay?"

In the 1993 movie, Philadelphia, the character of Joe Miller ( a trial attorney) played by Denzil Washington asks clients to explain their situation. Miller says: "All right, look, I want you to explain this to me like I'm a six year old, okay?"

Miller was talking to a new client (Mr. Finley) and is having a somewhat difficult time in getting him to come to grips with the challenges of what it may take for him to properly understand the prospects of starting a legal claim. Miller's question helped to gave the client the correct insight into what he should be telling Miller.

When you have a a conversation with a six or eight year old, who is very smart, you must always remember that the kid is just a kid. The child will think he/she knows things that he/she doesn’t actually know. As with any intelligent young person, the kid may take little tidbits of things that he/she does know and applies them to larger concepts. This often causes the kid to come to some conclusions that, while sometimes amusing, are completely and totally wrong.

As was done in the movie, It’s always important to realize how you exactly process the messages and information you are given by others. We should never assume that we have the same experiences and knowledge base as others (our clients).

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10 Comments

billyboy915

Horrible explanation, loaded with grammatical and punctuation errors.

William Laughlin

billyboy915, And spelling errors too. Check how Denzel is spelled in the explanation.

Sim Wood

In the film Philadelphia, the character Joe Miller (played by Denzel Washington) says the "explain it to me like a... " line four times in the film, various ages - 6;2;4;10. A final reference to his manner of talking is made, in respectful acknowledgement, by a juror in the closing arguments. First, in the opening scenes with another client: "Explain this to me like I'm a six year old, okay? The entire street is clear except for one small area under construction" Second, to Andrew, Tom Hanks' character: "Okay. Explain to me like I'm a two year old, because there's an element to this I can't get through my thick head: Didn't you have an obligation to inform your employer you had this dreaded, deadly, infectious disease?" Third, to Andrew's former employers. "Okay, Mr. Laird. Explain this to me like I'm a four year old: Did Andrew Beckett win your lawsuit for you or not?" Fourth, in the same case, to another person "Explain to me, if you can, Mr. Wheeler, this to me like I'm a ten year-old." His infectious theme is picked up by a member of the jury towards the end: MARINE JUROR (CONT.) "Could somebody please explain that to me... like I'm a six year old?" There's your fact checking, isn't the internet a wonderful thing. Certainly helps keep the (incorrect) mudslinging at bay