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The Rewatchables ·

Escape From New York

year 1981decade 80sdirector John Carpentergenre Science fictiongenre Action
host Bill Simmonshost Shea Serranohost Chris Ryanproducer Craig Horlbeck
All 16 categories

Most Rewatchable Scene · 25:48

Split: the gladiator match

Bill Simmons: The Hawk briefing is praised for revealing Snake’s decorated military past and criminal sentence through an absurd rescue proposition and clipped sarcasm.

Lee Van Cleef’s earring and severe presentation deepen Hawk’s villainous authority.

The film

Escape From New York (1981)

Directed by John Carpenter · Science fiction

99 minutes

IMDb Find on JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Everything from the episode

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

25:48

Most Rewatchable Scene

Split: the gladiator match; the opening setup

Split: the gladiator match; the opening setup

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 00:25:48Read transcript
  • The Hawk briefing is praised for revealing Snake’s decorated military past and criminal sentence through an absurd rescue proposition and clipped sarcasm. — Bill Simmons
  • Lee Van Cleef’s earring and severe presentation deepen Hawk’s villainous authority.
  • Snake landing a one-seat glider on the World Trade Center is praised despite questions about how the president would have escaped with him. — Bill Simmons
  • The first Duke sighting, chandelier Cadillac, stolen car, and run down Broadway form another favored action passage. — Bill Simmons
  • The Duke firing repeatedly around the president while forcing his slogan is singled out as an absurd high point. — Bill Simmons
  • Romero’s finger-delivery countdown establishes how strange prison society has become. — Bill Simmons
  • The gladiator match is selected for its unexplained entrance, Ox Baker reveal, nail-studded bats, live music, and cross-cut rescue attempt. — Bill Simmons
  • The bridge escape and president killing the Duke complete a favored finale sequence. — Bill Simmons
  • The map-like opening that raises the prison walls wins another ballot for producing immediate physical excitement.
  • The sewer attack and Chock Full o’ Nuts abduction are praised for making every surface in Manhattan feel dangerous. — Chris Ryan
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40:18

What’s Aged the Best?

Frank Doubleday’s Romero, the score, deleted material, fatal catchphrase, military base, Kurt Russell, and soundtrack

Frank Doubleday’s Romero, the score, deleted material, fatal catchphrase, military base, Kurt Russell, and soundtrack

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:40:18Read transcript
  • Romero is praised as perfectly balanced between an extreme look and an ordinary accountant-like voice. — Bill Simmons
  • His first-line physical flourish and the finger exchange remain memorable. — Bill Simmons
  • The deleted bank-robbery opening is valued as an extra seven minutes for fans. — Bill Simmons
  • Every character who tells Snake they heard he was dead eventually dies, creating a recurring kiss-of-death phrase. — Bill Simmons
  • The Gulf Fire plane and the Duke’s car are added to the list of designs that still hold up. — Bill Simmons
  • Hawk’s military installation and its sweeping helicopter-preparation shots remain an unimproved dystopian base design. — Chris Ryan
  • Kurt Russell’s Snake performance is judged capable of making him a star even if released today. — Chris Ryan
  • The synth score remains futuristic, frightening, and musically influential. — Bill Simmons
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45:16

What’s Aged the Worst?

Post-2001 imagery, the president, romance beat, tattoo, huge phone, fight sounds, and inert radar display

Post-2001 imagery, the president, romance beat, tattoo, huge phone, fight sounds, and inert radar display

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:45:16Read transcript
  • A presidential aircraft flying toward a New York skyscraper plays differently after 2001. — Bill Simmons
  • Donald Pleasence is judged an implausible American president because of his accent and shifty Nixon-like manner. — Bill Simmons
  • A possible sexual pause with the Chock Full o’ Nuts woman is debated as either unappealing or understandable given Snake’s isolation and limited time. — Bill Simmons
  • Snake’s tattoo is criticized as hastily designed, though its roughness is defended as period-appropriate.
  • Hawk’s future cell phone is comically enormous. — Bill Simmons
  • The exaggerated fist-fight sound effects have dated.
  • The radar operator claims Snake entered a building even though the screen’s blinking light does not move.
  • The appended interview says the president’s foreign accent was intentional because the story is set in the future, directly qualifying the panel’s accent criticism.
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51:58

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Frank Doubleday

Frank Doubleday

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:51:58Read transcript
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51:58

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Frank Doubleday

Frank Doubleday

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:51:58Read transcript
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51:58

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Frank Doubleday

Frank Doubleday

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:51:58Read transcript
  • Adrian Barbeau and Isaac Hayes are strong short-performance alternatives. — Bill Simmons
  • Ernest Borgnine is praised as a famous older actor enjoying the role.
  • Doubleday wins for moving from terror to insecurity, dying with strange physical precision, and adding expressive gestures throughout. — Bill Simmons
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58:03

Apex Mountain

Ox Baker and dystopian New York movies

Ox Baker and dystopian New York movies

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:58:03Read transcript
  • Kurt Russell is debated between this breakout and later peaks around Tango & Cash, Backdraft, Tombstone, and other roles. — Bill Simmons
  • Escape from New York is treated as the moment Russell became the guy even if it was not his biggest-star phase. — Chris Ryan
  • Making Escape from L.A. is floated as a possible Russell apex because he had enough power to revive the character. — Bill Simmons
  • Ox Baker receives a yes. — Bill Simmons
  • Adrian Barbeau is rejected in favor of her years on Maude. — Bill Simmons
  • John Carpenter receives Halloween as his apex. — Bill Simmons
  • The year 1997 is rejected as a cultural apex. — Bill Simmons
  • Dystopian New York films receive a clear apex verdict here. — Bill Simmons
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1:08:34

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

A modern series (with practical-effects risk); Catalina; Escape to New York

A modern series (with practical-effects risk); Catalina; Escape to New York

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:34Read transcript
  • A 2020 series offers many advantages, but modern effects may erase the practical magic that distinguishes the original from Escape from L.A.
  • Catalina Island is proposed as a California prison society for a series. — Bill Simmons
  • Escape to New York would invert the premise by making Manhattan the only safe, supplied area in a ruined country. — Chris Ryan
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1:16:11

Who Won the Movie?

Kurt Russell

Kurt Russell

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:11Read transcript
Podcast choices
Speaker not identified
Kurt Russell
Speaker not identified
Kurt Russell
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