Costner is reported as the original Lovell choice — Bill Simmons
Hanks is said to have declined Jumanji — Bill Simmons
Travolta requested Lovell and was declined; Premiere is cited for losing Gene to Harris as well — Bill Simmons
Cusack, Swayze, Pesci and Moranis are listed online for Fred Haise, with Pesci and Moranis explicitly doubted — Bill Simmons
Brad Pitt reportedly chose Seven over Swigert — Bill Simmons
Kilmer is also reported to have declined Swigert — Bill Simmons
Sinise reportedly chose Mattingly when offered his pick of roles — Bill Simmons
The Grammer and Christopher Lloyd stories for Gene are explicitly disbelieved — Bill Simmons

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10:40

Roger Ebert's review

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 00:10:40Read transcript

The panel reports Ebert’s four-star rating — Bill Simmons
They discuss his praise for technical clarity and extraordinary work under pressure — Bill Simmons
They discuss his sense that reducing space ambitions cost America part of its vision — Bill Simmons

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1:23:06

Recasting Couch

Gene Hackman, Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore and a Flight crossover

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:23:06Read transcript

Hackman is considered for Gene but Harris’s performance is defended
Pitt is considered as a higher-star-power Swigert without displacing Hanks
Cruise as Swigert would be fun, though his crisis of confidence might be hard to believe
Moore is imagined delivering Marilyn’s defiant line
Bill proposes Denzel’s troubled pilot from Flight in the Swigert part
These are hypothetical recasts, distinct from reported casting history

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1:26:17

Half-Assed Internet Research

Zero-gravity filming, practical sets and the origins of Failure Is Not an Option

In the discussion (10)

Approx. transcript time · 01:26:17Read transcript

Spielberg is credited with suggesting parabolic-flight filming — Bill Simmons
The actors filmed in brief zero-gravity intervals during long flights — Bill Simmons
Full-size modules and a chilled set are reported — Bill Simmons
The splashdown was reportedly filmed in a Universal lot lake — Bill Simmons
The USS New Orleans substituted for the unavailable Iwo Jima — Bill Simmons
Bacon praises Hanks’s intensive astronaut training — Bill Simmons
Failure Is Not an Option is reported as wording created for the movie, later used by Kranz as a book title — Bill Simmons
Mission-control leadership is said to have been consolidated, leaving Glynn Lunney out; the transcript renders the name imperfectly — Bill Simmons
Marilyn’s lost ring is said to have been recovered in real life — Bill Simmons
Bacon’s repeated Jack/Jackie character names are listed across seven productions — Bill Simmons

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1:36:40

Picking Nits

Not enough smoking, children watching reentry and floor salad

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:36:40Read transcript

The panel thinks a 1970 control room and home would have contained more smoking
Changed dialogue and astronauts arguing are acknowledged as dramatic liberties
Allowing very young children to watch potentially fatal reentry is questioned
Mary Haise is given little to do
Women are seen putting spilled salad back into its bowl

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1:40:50

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Would Mattingly’s presence change the accident, and would Cameron make a better film?

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:40:50Read transcript

Does this have an unusually high number of white speaking roles?
Would the malfunction still happen with Mattingly instead of Swigert?
Would Mattingly have noticed a warning before stirring the tanks?
Which astronaut is best at the job?
James Cameron directing would change the spacecraft emphasis, exposition and mission-control balance
The panel concludes Howard was well suited to the historical and ensemble requirements

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1:43:37

Best Double Feature

First Man, Gravity, The Martian and Rocky IV

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:43:37Read transcript

First Man is proposed as a contrasting portrait of ambition, marriage and reaching the moon
Gravity is another double-feature choice
The Martian is chosen for another problem-solving survival story
Craig adds Rocky IV for the Cold War/American-competition theme

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1:47:55

Producer review

Craig finds Apollo 13 warmer and more effective than on previous watches

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:47:55Read transcript

Craig reports not having seen it in ten to fifteen years — Craig Horlbeck
He praises the practical Los Angeles production and the warmth of Hanks and Howard — Craig Horlbeck
The last hour had him standing and pacing despite knowing the ending — Craig Horlbeck
Family scenes and the child’s door question land more strongly now — Craig Horlbeck
He comes away with renewed appreciation for Hanks — Craig Horlbeck

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