Most Rewatchable Scene · 32:05
The North End heist
The opening bank robbery is nominated.
Bill Simmons: The pre-robbery meeting and practical details are praised.
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30:18
32:05
1:03:09
1:10:03
1:11:32
1:17:29
1:18:38
1:19:06
1:22:50
1:25:49
1:27:45
1:29:27
1:33:37
1:38:09
1:41:04
1:42:43
1:46:30
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Roger Ebert
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Dion Waiters Award
Blake Lively
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“That Guy” Award
Slaine
The Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie · 1:38:09
“There goes college soccer”
Bill Simmons: The Jack Clark line is nominated.
Cast
Selected cast credits · Film reference
Ben Affleck
Douglas "Doug" MacRay
Rebecca Hall
Claire Keesey
Jon Hamm
Special Agent Adam Frawley
Jeremy Renner
James "Jem" Coughlin
Blake Lively
Krista "Kris" Coughlin
Chris Cooper
Stephen "Big Mac" MacRay
Pete Postlethwaite
Fergus "Fergie" Colm
Slaine
Albert "Gloansy" MacGloan
Owen Burke
Desmond "Dez" Elden
Titus Welliver
Det. Dino Ciampa
Everything from the episode
In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.
30:18
Roger Ebert's review
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:30:18Read transcript
- Ebert awarded The Town three stars. — Bill Simmons
- The review praised Jeremy Renner’s performance and Ben Affleck’s direction. — Bill Simmons
32:05
Most Rewatchable Scene
The North End heist
The North End heist
In the discussion (18)
Approx. transcript time · 00:32:05Read transcript
- The opening bank robbery is nominated.
- The pre-robbery meeting and practical details are praised. — Bill Simmons
- Claire working the safe and Doug calming her are praised. — Bill Simmons
- Claire walking blindfolded to the water and the title card are praised.
- Doug asking Jim for help without explaining why is nominated.
- Jim shooting the attackers’ legs and “there goes college soccer” are praised.
- Doug, Claire, and Jim’s lunch encounter is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- Doug covering Jim’s neck tattoo is highlighted. — Bill Simmons
- Doug and Jim’s post-lunch confrontation is nominated.
- The North End robbery is an early leading choice and receives two final votes. — Bill Simmons
- The construction-detail cop looking away is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Doug and Jim’s cemetery fight is nominated. — Ryen Russillo
- Doug confronting Fergie and learning about his mother is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- Hamm interrogating Blake Lively at Sully’s is nominated.
- The Fenway heist and shootout receive Russillo’s final vote. — Ryen Russillo
- Doug killing Fergie is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- Hamm interrogating Affleck is nominated as the movie’s Heat diner scene. — Chris Ryan
- Bill and Chris make the North End robbery their final choices.
1:03:09
What’s Aged the Best?
Charlestown detail, accents, Lively, the theatrical ending, Renner, the cop looking away, and local texture
Charlestown detail, accents, Lively, the theatrical ending, Renner, the cop looking away, and local texture
In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 01:03:09Read transcript
- The Jack Clark Red Sox line is praised as specific local humor.
- Affleck’s Boston accent is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Blake Lively’s “why am I always the one getting used?” delivery is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Lively’s performance is defended. — Bill Simmons
- The decision not to use the ending where Doug dies is praised. — Bill Simmons
- The Old Sully’s and New Sully’s locations are praised. — Bill Simmons
- The “not fucking around crew” phrase is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Hamm’s “national organization” intimidation is praised. — Ryen Russillo
- The Boston dating scene is judged accurately captured. — Ryen Russillo
- Fergie’s bodyguard’s 02129 tattoo is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Doug watching Bones is praised as character detail. — Bill Simmons
- Pete Postlethwaite’s Fergie speech is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Jeremy Renner’s performance is selected as the overall aged-best answer.
1:10:03
Blake Lively Story Time
Two research anecdotes cover Lively’s month with Charlestown locals and her surprise that Affleck knew Matt Damon.
Two research anecdotes cover Lively’s month with Charlestown locals and her surprise that Affleck knew Matt Damon.
The panel proposes a new category here.
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:10:03Read transcript
- The panel explicitly proposes Blake Lively Story Time as a new category for this episode. — Bill Simmons
- Lively reportedly spent a month with Charlestown locals in apartments and bars. — Bill Simmons
- Affleck recalled Lively asking how he knew “Jason Bourne” after seeing Damon’s childhood home. — Bill Simmons
- The anecdote is interpreted as a generational break from the Matt-and-Ben publicity era. — Bill Simmons
1:11:32
What’s Aged the Worst?
Helicopter shots, Hamm’s accent, prison material, Heat echoes, law-enforcement logic, escape mechanics, and generic s...
Helicopter shots, Hamm’s accent, prison material, Heat echoes, law-enforcement logic, escape mechanics, and generic shirts
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 01:11:32Read transcript
- The movie uses too many overhead helicopter shots. — Bill Simmons
- Hamm’s brief mock-Boston accent is debated as intentionally bad.
- The Chris Cooper prison scene is considered emotionally inert by one host. — Bill Simmons
- Several surveillance and shootout beats directly echo Heat. — Bill Simmons
- The film’s redemptive ending for Doug is questioned given the violence.
- The FBI’s inability to secure charges or block escape routes is questioned. — Chris Ryan
- Doug escaping in an MBTA uniform while carrying money is questioned. — Bill Simmons
- Generic Boston-themed T-shirts are criticized.
- The film’s treatment of its murderers is considered harder to defend in a current context.
1:17:29
Casting What-Ifs
Adrian Lyne nearly directed; Mark Wahlberg was wanted for Jim before Casey Affleck suggested Jeremy Renner.
Adrian Lyne nearly directed; Mark Wahlberg was wanted for Jim before Casey Affleck suggested Jeremy Renner.
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:17:29Read transcript
- Adrian Lyne was considered as director. — Bill Simmons
- Affleck originally wanted Mark Wahlberg for Jim. — Bill Simmons
- Wahlberg was unavailable while making The Fighter. — Bill Simmons
- Casey Affleck suggested Jeremy Renner after working with him. — Bill Simmons
- Renner had completed The Hurt Locker before The Town’s release.
1:18:38
The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award
Slaine
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:38Read transcript
- Slaine is identified as the Fenway-heist ambulance driver and a Gone Baby Gone performer. — Bill Simmons
- His authentic, unforced Boston presence is praised.
- Slaine is selected.
1:19:06
The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award
Jon Hamm’s interrogation intensity; Pete Postlethwaite and Titus Welliver
Jon Hamm’s interrogation intensity; Pete Postlethwaite and Titus Welliver
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:06Read transcript
- Pete Postlethwaite’s Fergie is nominated.
- Jon Hamm is nominated for repeatedly entering scenes at maximum intensity.
- The Affleck interrogation is treated as Hamm’s would-be showcase clip.
- Titus Welliver is nominated. — Bill Simmons
1:22:50
The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance
Blake Lively
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:22:50Read transcript
- The panel keeps the Dion Waiters name rather than changing it to Fred VanVleet. — Bill Simmons
- Blake Lively is selected for extraordinary impact in roughly four scenes. — Bill Simmons
- Jeremy Renner is ruled too central.
- Fergie is offered as an alternative.
1:25:49
Most Improbable Fenway Park Scene Ever
The 2004 Red Sox comeback
The 2004 Red Sox comeback
The panel proposes a new category here.
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:25:49Read transcript
- The panel explicitly creates Most Improbable Fenway Park Scene Ever. — Bill Simmons
- The Town’s Fenway heist is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- Drew Barrymore crossing the field in Fever Pitch is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- Moonlight Graham appearing on the scoreboard in Field of Dreams is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- The real 2004 Red Sox comeback is selected. — Bill Simmons
1:27:45
Half-Assed Internet Research
The Melrose bank location, prison filming, and the disputed Charlestown bank-robbery statistics
The Melrose bank location, prison filming, and the disputed Charlestown bank-robbery statistics
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:27:45Read transcript
- A former MassBank branch in Melrose was used for the opening robbery. — Bill Simmons
- The Chris Cooper scene was filmed at MCI Cedar Junction, reportedly a first for the prison. — Bill Simmons
- The trailer claimed more than 300 annual bank robberies centered in Charlestown. — Bill Simmons
- Contemporary Massachusetts robbery statistics were much lower. — Bill Simmons
- Charlestown residents objected to the portrayal. — Bill Simmons
- The source book was set in the mid-1990s, when the reputation fit better. — Bill Simmons
1:29:27
Apex Mountain
Blake Lively: yes
Blake Lively: yes
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:29:27Read transcript
- Rebecca Hall is judged below her commercial apex.
- Hall’s casting and look are praised as right for Claire. — Ryen Russillo
- A personal Rebecca Hall anecdote is recounted. — Bill Simmons
- Fenway Park is assessed after two World Series titles and as a film location.
- Charlestown’s historical apex is jokingly placed in the Revolution.
- Blake Lively is judged at her apex by one host and defended by the others.
1:33:37
Picking Nits
Chris’s DWI timing, heist disclosure, sibling casting, Claire, voices, uniforms, hockey, and rink funding produce dis...
Chris’s DWI timing, heist disclosure, sibling casting, Claire, voices, uniforms, hockey, and rink funding produce distinct nitpicks.
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:33:37Read transcript
- Chris is thrown out of the Fenway hotel and gets a DWI almost immediately.
- Chris knowing and disclosing the Fenway plan is confusing without deleted scenes. — Bill Simmons
- Renner and Lively’s physical mismatch as siblings is questioned. — Bill Simmons
- Jim not killing Claire is questioned.
- Claire’s exposure to the investigation should make her a larger police target. — Bill Simmons
- Claire should recognize Doug’s voice from the robbery.
- Doug’s abrupt end as a third-round Bruins pick is questioned.
- The ice-rink donation funded with stolen money is questioned.
1:38:09
The Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie
“There goes college soccer”
“There goes college soccer”
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:38:09Read transcript
- The Jack Clark line is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- “There goes college soccer” is selected. — Bill Simmons
- “Oxy, guns—it’s like townie Christmas” is nominated. — Chris Ryan
- The surveillance-photo barbecue line is nominated. — Chris Ryan
- Doug’s critique of the guard who thinks he is special forces is nominated. — Ryen Russillo
1:41:04
Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake
A ten-episode series could use the four-hour material and deepen Hamm, Jim, Chris, and Doug’s hockey story.
A ten-episode series could use the four-hour material and deepen Hamm, Jim, Chris, and Doug’s hockey story.
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:41:04Read transcript
- The director’s cut already approaches limited-series length. — Bill Simmons
- A series could expand Jim’s backstory. — Bill Simmons
- A series could expand Hamm’s character and interest in Claire.
- A Krista Coughlin-focused episode is proposed. — Bill Simmons
- A minor-league hockey episode for Doug is proposed.
1:42:43
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Uniforms, the rink, Shine’s future, Fenway cash, role swaps, and Doug’s hockey ability
Uniforms, the rink, Shine’s future, Fenway cash, role swaps, and Doug’s hockey ability
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:42:43Read transcript
- Where did the gang get all the official uniforms?
- How did Claire establish the rink with stolen money? — Bill Simmons
- What happens to Shine Coughlin as a teenager?
- Why would Red Sox ownership show Fenway as easy to rob?
- Would swapping Blake Lively and Rebecca Hall improve the film?
- Would swapping Affleck and Renner improve the film? — Bill Simmons
- How good at hockey was Doug? — Bill Simmons
- Would a local Bruins draft pick be too recognizable to become a bank robber?
1:46:30
Who Won the Movie?
Split: Jeremy Renner; Ben Affleck; Boston
Split: Jeremy Renner; Ben Affleck; Boston
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:46:30Read transcript
- Jeremy Renner is selected by one host without hesitation. — Bill Simmons
- Ben Affleck is selected for directing and launching his next career phase.
- Boston is selected as the third answer. — Ryen Russillo
- A long Revolutionary-era anecdote argues that the city’s combative identity spans centuries. — Ryen Russillo