Categories & segments

Rocky II The Rewatchables
Rocky II

Probably Unanswerable Questions

The pet store, Gazzo, betting, Apollo’s schedule, and whether Rocky loves boxing

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:43:00Read transcript
  • Whether Adrian’s pet store ever has customers is questioned. — Bill Simmons
  • The Mafia bookie’s disappearance before Rocky III is attributed speculatively to violence or prosecutions.
  • Whether Rocky was an attractive five-to-one bet is debated.
  • Whether Rocky actually loves boxing is asked; the group sees him as trapped by limited alternatives. — Bill Simmons
Rocky II The Rewatchables
Rocky II

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Beast aftershave, the fake nose, Apollo’s trunks and gloves, cars, and snow-cone machine

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:46:34Read transcript
  • The Beast aftershave bottle is selected. — Bill Simmons
  • Rocky’s removable fake broken nose is proposed. — Bill Simmons
  • Apollo’s trunks and gloves are proposed.
  • One of the cars is proposed.
  • The snow-cone machine is proposed.
Two for the Money The Rewatchables
Two for the Money

Most Rewatchable Scene

First Sports Advisors broadcast (two choices); Gamblers Anonymous meeting (one choice)

In the discussion (22)
Approx. transcript time · 00:30:40Read transcript
  • The college-quarterback opening with long hair is a scene candidate. — Chris Ryan
  • Movie quarterbacks repeatedly scramble, spin and absorb multiple hits; the move seems more likely to cause injury in reality. — Bill Simmons
  • The hero must carry the ball rather than let a receiver take the glory; a desperate sideline throw is offered as a more realistic current alternative. — Bill Simmons
  • Every Sports Advisors show scene is praised, with a wish for more of them. — Chris Ryan
  • The gambling-rehab speech argues gamblers lose to feel alive. — Cousin Sal
  • Two responses reject wanting to lose and prefer winning their bets.
  • The gamblers’ meeting is a shared favorite scene. — Bill Simmons
  • The televised psych-system pitch is enjoyed and compared with contemporary proprietary betting models.
  • The John Anthony direct-camera pitch shifts from an exaggerated persona to intimate conversation and could run longer. — Bill Simmons
  • The psych-system presenter is preferred for picks over the overly attractive potential snake-oil salesman. — Bill Simmons
  • Breaking from the scripted pitch works, and Walter tells the director to let it continue.
  • The argument about dysfunctional childhoods is a scene candidate, including an outrageous paternal description that may have been improvised. — Bill Simmons
  • The Gamblers Anonymous intrusion is another final scene choice, especially calling the attendees lemons and then handing out a business card. — Bill Simmons
  • The first Sports Advisors broadcast is chosen, and the initial gambling-again voter explicitly switches to that choice. — Bill Simmons
  • Walter’s first hard sell to Brandon is a scene candidate. — Bill Simmons
  • Brandon developing his John Anthony voice is a scene candidate. — Bill Simmons
  • The shirtless workout is treated as an obligatory star showcase rather than realistic boiler-room behavior.
  • The wealthy client’s introduction and impressive house are a scene candidate. — Bill Simmons
  • John Anthony winning a million-dollar over thanks to an intern is a scene candidate. — Chris Ryan
  • Brandon’s abrupt losing streak follows his request for a larger share; the extreme all-or-nothing records are questioned. — Bill Simmons
  • The declaration of gambling again is the initial personal scene choice.
  • The final Hail Mary bad beat is another praised scene.
Two for the Money The Rewatchables
Two for the Money

The most 2005 thing

Fax machines; premium-phone touts; dot-com plans; gambling restrictions; television arrays; headsets

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:48:07Read transcript
  • Fax machines and the old Sports Advisors television format mark the period. — Bill Simmons
  • A Scud/Desert Storm line and a casual Trump hair joke mark the period; a connection to USFL rights is only speculation. — Bill Simmons
  • Sports betting remains illegal in most states, and watching multiple games requires separate televisions. — Cousin Sal
  • Oversized telemarketer headsets mark the period. — Chris Ryan
  • The NFL reportedly barred movie advertisements during its games for the first week. — Chris Ryan
  • Walter’s plan to build a dot-com business around John Anthony marks the period.
  • Brandon’s initial job is interpreted as recording content for a multipurpose premium-phone service, including celebrity trivia. — Bill Simmons
Two for the Money The Rewatchables
Two for the Money

What’s Aged the Best?

Stu Feiner inspiration; New York arrival; dialogue; physique; Russo casting; petty rival; slicked-back hair; Southie

In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:51Read transcript
  • The character’s reported basis in Stu Feiner is an aged-best choice, with the real personality’s continuing visibility noted. — Chris Ryan
  • A newcomer’s arrival in New York has a Wizard of Oz quality; the toilet-mouth insult, family-dysfunction dialogue and Winged Foot difficulty are praised. — Chris Ryan
  • McConaughey’s physique is an aged-best choice. — Bill Simmons
  • Piven’s pettiness and Pacino’s pep talks hold up. — Bill Simmons
  • Russo is believably Walter’s partner while also a possible match for the younger lead.
  • Russo’s husband is corrected from director to screenwriter; the director’s style is considered appropriate.
  • The three leads’ struggling hairlines are enjoyed, and Jerry Sykes resembles Ari Gold working for a phone hotline. — Chris Ryan
  • Piven seems to have retained his Entourage character; Ari Gold would suit a money-related tout name. — Cousin Sal
  • More Ari-style film appearances would be welcome, even at the expense of showing acting range. — Bill Simmons
  • Slicked-back hair as a shorthand for a changed identity is praised through a Miami Vice comparison. — Bill Simmons
  • Kevin Chapman and the character name Southie are praised. — Bill Simmons
  • A green-screen Las Vegas location or mathematics laboratory for the psych-system presenter is a missed comic opportunity. — Bill Simmons
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