Stephen Baldwin, Jeff Bridges, Johnny Depp, Ellen DeGeneres and Halle Berry
In the discussion (6)
- The hosts report Stephen Baldwin, Jeff Bridges and Johnny Depp passed on Jack
- An earlier comic-relief Annie was reportedly written with Ellen DeGeneres in mind
- Halle Berry reportedly declined the revised Annie role
- The panel thinks Bullock’s charm was essential
- John McTiernan, Renny Harlin and Quentin Tarantino are discussed as directors who passed
- These casting stories are reported research, not independently confirmed here
The tires, surveillance camera, gasoline and bus-jump physics
In the discussion (11)
- Could Jack shoot the tires before the bus reaches fifty?
- Others counter that Hopper would have blown up the bus if the tires had been shot out, since he had a camera inside
- Would Jack answer the payphone immediately after his friend’s bus explodes?
- Why puncture a fuel tank to hold onto the bus, and why does the gasoline smell never matter?
- A participant defends the bus stopping for a regular passenger, comparing it to his own father's habits as a driver
- Would the blast killing Helen also destroy a tire?
- The airport tire spikes appear to have little lasting effect
- Hopper’s repeated Wildcat clue is interpreted as taunting
- The uninterrupted 1994 video feed is questioned, while onboard cameras are defended as possible
- Harry entering a bomber’s home without anticipating a trap is criticized
- The bus could not survive either the jump or the landing
Oscars, stunt stories, script changes and the bus jump
In the discussion (11)
- The hosts report wins for sound editing and sound mixing
- A claim that Reeves did ninety percent of his stunts is read
- The surprise-Jaguar-jump anecdote is challenged as likely publicity exaggeration
- An early script reportedly made Harry the villain
- Joss Whedon is credited with script-doctor dialogue including Gigantor
- Bullock reportedly learned to drive a bus
- River Phoenix’s death during filming reportedly caused scheduling accommodations for Reeves
- The freeway gap used early visual effects
- The bus-jump idea reportedly came from de Bont scouting unfinished freeway
- The practical jump reportedly traveled beyond expectations and destroyed a camera
- These remain podcast-reported production claims
☆★☆★☆★☆★
Roger Ebert’s review is discussed: 4 stars
In the discussion (2)
- The panel reports four out of four stars for Speed and his description of gripping a companion’s forearm
- They separately report three stars for Speed 2, to their surprise
Freeways, Nicolas Cage and action-movie titles
In the discussion (6)
- Was 1994 the greatest summer for Los Angeles freeways because of Speed and the O.J. chase?
- Nicolas Cage as Jack would be more erratic and less reassuring
- The panel prefers Reeves in Speed and Cage in Con Air or Face/Off
- Which action movie has the greatest title?
- Die Hard, The Terminator and Speed are defended, with Cliffhanger and First Blood also nominated
- Minimum Speed is reported as an earlier title
Casting What-Ifs