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The Rewatchables ·

2001: A Space Odyssey

year 1968decade 60sdirector Stanley Kubrickgenre Science fiction
host Bill Simmonsguest Steven Spielberghost Sean Fennesseyproducer Craig Horlbeck format Filmmaker guest
All 22 categories

Most Rewatchable Scene · 1:14:30

HAL reading the astronauts’ lips

Bill Simmons: Dawn of Man, including the apes and real-leopard encounter, is nominated.

Bill Simmons: The ape discovering the bone as a weapon and the ensuing rival-gang fight are nominated.

The film

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Directed by Stanley Kubrick · Science fiction

139 minutes

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Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Keir Dullea Dr David Bowman
Gary Lockwood Dr Frank Poole
William Sylvester Dr Heywood Floyd
Daniel Richter Moonwatcher
Leonard Rossiter Dr Andrei Smyslov
Robert Beatty Dr Ralph Halvorsen
Sean Sullivan Dr Roy Michaels
Douglas Rain the voice of HAL 9000
Frank Miller mission controller
Edwina Carroll lunar shuttle stewardess
Penny Brahms stewardess
Heather Downham stewardess
Ed Bishop Aries 1B lunar shuttle captain
Alan Gifford Poole's father
Ann Gillis Poole's mother
Maggie d'Abo stewardess (Space Station 5 elevator)
Chela Matthison Mrs Turner, Space Station 5 reception
Vivian Kubrick Floyd's daughter, "Squirt"
Kenneth Kendall BBC announcer

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

1:14:30

Most Rewatchable Scene

HAL reading the astronauts’ lips; HAL’s disconnection; the Clavius monolith sequence

HAL reading the astronauts’ lips; HAL’s disconnection; the Clavius monolith sequence

In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:30Read transcript
  • Dawn of Man, including the apes and real-leopard encounter, is nominated. — Bill Simmons
  • The ape discovering the bone as a weapon and the ensuing rival-gang fight are nominated. — Bill Simmons
  • Floyd and the astronauts inspecting the buried artifact is nominated. — Bill Simmons
  • Floyd’s meeting with the Russians is nominated as a second summit of rival groups. — Bill Simmons
  • The jogging scene, eating scene, and HAL interview are separate nominations. — Bill Simmons
  • HAL reading the astronauts’ lips is selected as one favorite, with the cut to HAL’s red eye called its best moment. — Steven Spielberg
  • HAL attacking Poole and Bowman beginning to disconnect HAL are nominated. — Bill Simmons
  • HAL saying “Stop, Dave,” expressing fear, and singing “Daisy” is praised as a character moment. — Bill Simmons
  • The Stargate approach and Bowman passing through stages of life are nominated.
  • The Clavius monolith scene, including the astronauts’ selfie, piercing signal, and cut to silence, is nominated. — Steven Spielberg
  • Bowman disconnecting HAL is selected as another participant’s favorite. — Bill Simmons
  • The spacecraft landing is praised for its 4K detail, design, and possible resemblance to an Egyptian head. — Steven Spielberg
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1:28:39

Gandolfini Butter on My Ass So It Pops in My Mouth Award

The film’s audacity, precision, music, and patient visual rhythms

The film’s audacity, precision, music, and patient visual rhythms

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:28:39Read transcript
  • The pleasure discussion centers on the movie’s audacity and willingness to withhold explanation.
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1:36:56

What’s Aged the Best?

HAL 9000; realistic space travel; solitary-astronaut stories

HAL 9000; realistic space travel; solitary-astronaut stories

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:36:56Read transcript
  • HAL 9000 is immediately agreed to be the easiest aged-best choice.
  • The movie’s influence on later lone-astronaut films and the realism of its space imagery are additional answers. — Bill Simmons
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1:41:35

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

The slow-motion ape discovering weapons and the bone match cut

The slow-motion ape discovering weapons and the bone match cut

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:41:35Read transcript
  • The slow-motion ape with the bone and the bone-to-satellite match cut are the leading shot choices. — Steven Spielberg
  • Spielberg credits Douglas Trumbull with teaching him effects techniques and discusses his own use of the dolly zoom. — Steven Spielberg
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1:49:33

The Slow Ride / Kid Cudi – Pursuit of Happiness Award for Best Needle Drop

The opening use of Also sprach Zarathustra

The opening use of Also sprach Zarathustra

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:49:33Read transcript
  • The opening music is selected without dispute. — Bill Simmons
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1:49:47

Sean Fennessey Award for Stealth Homage That Gives Every Movie Nerd a Criterion Orgasm

Later filmmakers’ borrowings from 2001

Later filmmakers’ borrowings from 2001

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:49:47Read transcript
  • The film is proposed as the inverse-category champion because so many later movies borrow from it. — Steven Spielberg
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1:51:09

What’s Aged the Worst?

The vanished intermission, Kubrick’s BBC-channel forecast, the possibility of shutting down AI, and modern inability ...

The vanished intermission, Kubrick’s BBC-channel forecast, the possibility of shutting down AI, and modern inability to disconnect

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:51:09Read transcript
  • The intermission is named as a theatrical convention that would not survive today. — Bill Simmons
  • Kubrick’s forecast of twelve BBC channels is checked against eleven current services and judged one short. — Bill Simmons
  • The notion that people could simply shut down AI is questioned, leading to an argument for regular days disconnected from digital life. — Steven Spielberg
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1:53:26

Steven Seagal shitting on himself award for most unbelievable anecdote from the actual film shoot

A dead horse painted as a zebra and other production stories

A dead horse painted as a zebra and other production stories

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:53:26Read transcript
  • A dead horse was reportedly painted as a zebra and had begun to smell during filming.
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1:53:26

Casting What-Ifs

Alternate casting and music contributors are discussed, with uncertainty preserved around Pink Floyd.

Alternate casting and music contributors are discussed, with uncertainty preserved around Pink Floyd.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:53:26Read transcript
  • Casting possibilities are reviewed as reported production history. — Steven Spielberg
  • Pink Floyd is said to have been approached for music, but the claim is explicitly doubted. — Bill Simmons
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1:56:36

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

HAL and Vivian Kubrick’s brief Bush-baby conversation

HAL and Vivian Kubrick’s brief Bush-baby conversation

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:56:36Read transcript
  • HAL is the leading short-impact performer choice. — Bill Simmons
  • Vivian Kubrick asking for a Bush baby is another participant’s choice.
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1:57:05

Recasting Couch

No added name actors

No added name actors

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:57:05Read transcript
  • They would not put any name actors in the movie. — Bill Simmons
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1:57:05

Half-Assed Internet Research

Names, effects-shot counts, Kubrick’s writing, tablets, a suffocation hazard, production costs, and Ligeti’s music ri...

Names, effects-shot counts, Kubrick’s writing, tablets, a suffocation hazard, production costs, and Ligeti’s music rights

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:57:05Read transcript
  • An astronaut name prompts a Janusz Kaminski anecdote, followed by reports that Kubrick approached other writers. — Bill Simmons
  • The 205 effects shots, tablet-prior-art dispute, endangered stuntman, set cost, and unauthorized Ligeti music are reported. — Steven Spielberg
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2:00:46

Apex Mountain

2001: Kubrick’s public breakthrough and the Big Bang for serious science-fiction cinema

2001: Kubrick’s public breakthrough and the Big Bang for serious science-fiction cinema

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 02:00:46Read transcript
  • The guest selects this as the point when the public discovered Kubrick. — Bill Simmons
  • The film is described as the Big Bang for serious science-fiction movies. — Steven Spielberg
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2:02:37

Cruise or Hanks?

Hanks overall; Cruise as Bowman and Hanks as Floyd; Cruise as the lead ape

Hanks overall; Cruise as Bowman and Hanks as Floyd; Cruise as the lead ape

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 02:02:37Read transcript
  • Hanks is selected because of his astronaut association with Apollo 13. — Bill Simmons
  • A second answer casts the transcript’s “Cruz” as Bowman and Hanks as Floyd.
  • The transcript’s “Cruz” is proposed as the lead ape for his physical commitment. — Bill Simmons
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2:03:30

Scorsese or Spielberg?

Spielberg

Spielberg

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 02:03:30Read transcript
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2:03:49

Picking Nits

Ape suits in 4K, HAL’s lip-reading, the title year, HAL’s tactical failures, and the G rating

Ape suits in 4K, HAL’s lip-reading, the title year, HAL’s tactical failures, and the G rating

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 02:03:49Read transcript
  • The ape suits, HAL’s lip-reading ability, and whether 2001 denotes a literal year are examined.
  • HAL’s failure to anticipate or prevent Bowman’s shutdown is challenged and then interpreted. — Steven Spielberg
  • The movie’s G rating is questioned and compared with Jaws.
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2:08:03

Just One Oscar

Kubrick: Best Picture and Best Director (the panel ignored the one-award premise); Douglas Trumbull: effects

Kubrick: Best Picture and Best Director (the panel ignored the one-award premise); Douglas Trumbull: effects

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 02:08:03Read transcript
  • Kubrick is chosen for picture and director, and Trumbull is added for special effects. — Bill Simmons
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2:08:29

Probably Unanswerable Questions

HAL’s breakdown, the monoliths’ origin, the moon-landing resemblance, and the disappearance of the name Hal

HAL’s breakdown, the monoliths’ origin, the moon-landing resemblance, and the disappearance of the name Hal

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 02:08:29Read transcript
  • The group offers competing explanations for HAL’s breakdown and asks who delivered the monoliths.
  • The moon-landing resemblance and whether the movie ruined the name Hal are raised.
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2:11:14

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Bowman’s spacesuit; HAL’s eye; the lost monolith

Bowman’s spacesuit; HAL’s eye; the lost monolith

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 02:11:14Read transcript
  • The guest says he bought Bowman’s spacesuit and donated it to the Academy Museum.
  • Peter Jackson is said to own HAL’s eye, while stories about destroyed props are questioned.
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2:13:06

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Never close your mind to an impossible possibility.

Never close your mind to an impossible possibility.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 02:13:06Read transcript
  • The agreed lesson is to remain open to impossible possibilities. — Bill Simmons
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2:13:45

Best Double Feature

A.I., Destination Moon, Disclosure Day, and The Shining

A.I., Destination Moon, Disclosure Day, and The Shining

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 02:13:45Read transcript
  • A.I. is chosen for its lineage and relationship with 2001. — Sean Fennessey
  • Destination Moon is chosen as an earlier scientifically credible lunar film. — Steven Spielberg
  • Disclosure Day is a promotional choice; The Shining is the backup Kubrick pairing. — Bill Simmons
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2:15:36

Who Won the Movie?

Stanley Kubrick

Stanley Kubrick

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 02:15:36Read transcript
Podcast choices
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More from the conversation

Steven Spielberg discusses his personal relationship with Kubrick, their creative exchanges, and Kubrick’s unrealized A.I. project.
Approx. transcript time · 00:56:52Read transcript
Modern digital tools are said to weaken the legend and tactile quality of the movie’s handmade effects, while also eliminating hundreds of practical-effects jobs; practical production on Project Hail Mary is offered as a hopeful counterexample.
Approx. transcript time · 01:46:28Read transcript