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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.

17:50

Roger Ebert's review
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:17:50Read transcript
  • The stated score is two and a half stars. — Bill Simmons
  • The quoted review calls it a merely good thriller that rehashes familiar science-fiction ingredients for cynical times. — Bill Simmons
  • The panel gives the review an L and questions comparing the movie to Raiders of the Lost Ark.
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49:25

Casting What-Ifs

The studio preferred Charles Bronson or Tommy Lee Jones, then approached Nick Nolte and Jeff Bridges; Warren Oates wa...

The studio preferred Charles Bronson or Tommy Lee Jones, then approached Nick Nolte and Jeff Bridges; Warren Oates was first set for Brain.

This discussion recalls a choice from an earlier episode.

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:49:25Read transcript
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55:13

Half-Assed Internet Research

Narration, location work, the eye patch, Maggie’s death insert, James Cameron, Nick Castle, and Stephen Ford

Narration, location work, the eye patch, Maggie’s death insert, James Cameron, Nick Castle, and Stephen Ford

In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 00:55:13Read transcript
  • Jamie Lee Curtis is identified as the narrator. — Bill Simmons
  • Russell reportedly stayed in character but removed the eye patch between takes because it damaged his depth perception. — Bill Simmons
  • East St. Louis was selected for its old buildings, river, bridge, and blocks of fire-damaged rubble. — Bill Simmons
  • The Chain of Rocks Bridge was reportedly purchased for one dollar, and the city darkened ten blocks nightly for filming. — Bill Simmons
  • An eleven-year-old J. J. Abrams reportedly prompted the insert proving Maggie died, which Carpenter shot with Adrian Barbeau in their garage. — Bill Simmons
  • James Cameron worked on visual effects and cinematography before The Terminator and was considered the set genius. — Bill Simmons
  • Co-writer Nick Castle also played Michael Myers in Halloween. — Bill Simmons
  • Gerald Ford’s son Stephen Ford plays the Secret Service agent at the cockpit. — Bill Simmons
  • The appended interview says Snake’s eye patch was proposed as a visible, painful war injury and might also have a hidden futuristic function.
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1:00:14

Picking Nits

The unique fusion tape, terrorist flight attendants, Brain’s competence, escape pod, arena security, capsules, day–ni...

The unique fusion tape, terrorist flight attendants, Brain’s competence, escape pod, arena security, capsules, day–night timing, and Cabby trade

In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 01:00:14Read transcript
  • The president carries the only copy of a nuclear-fusion peace tape on a dangerous flight, with no backup. — Bill Simmons
  • Terrorist flight attendants apparently pass background checks and seize the aircraft. — Bill Simmons
  • Brain can make gasoline but struggles to locate an obvious tall-building landing point and delivers Snake into immediate capture.
  • The one-person escape pod leaves the president easy to seize and excludes Secret Service protection. — Bill Simmons
  • After the gladiator fight, guards inexplicably stop treating Snake as dangerous.
  • Romero is unfairly excluded from watching the fight. — Bill Simmons
  • The implanted charges dissolve and explode with implausible second-by-second precision.
  • The changing daylight seems inconsistent with the stated 24-hour mission. — Bill Simmons
  • Cabby’s casual hat-for-tape barter with Romero leaves the negotiation unexplained. — Bill Simmons
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1:05:35

Probably Unanswerable Questions

World War III, the liberation front, survival strategy, prison services, and the displaced people and sports teams of...

World War III, the liberation front, survival strategy, prison services, and the displaced people and sports teams of New York

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:05:35Read transcript
  • The panel asks what happened in World War III and infers the United States probably lost. — Bill Simmons
  • The National Liberation Front’s plans after crashing the plane and then losing the president remain unclear. — Bill Simmons
  • A hypothetical prisoner chooses the sewers or immediate cremation in real life, but imagines overthrowing the Duke in a movie version.
  • Another participant imagines building a pirate radio station funded by Chock Full o’ Nuts. — Chris Ryan
  • The prison’s electricity, plumbing, food, entertainment, gas, and the Duke’s governing services are questioned. — Chris Ryan
  • The fate of New York’s teams, residents, homes, and largest arena is explored without a firm answer. — Bill Simmons
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1:16:19

Producer review

Producer Craig praises the now-fashionable synth music and Russell, while his viewing partner rates it two out of four.

Producer Craig praises the now-fashionable synth music and Russell, while his viewing partner rates it two out of four.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:19Read transcript
  • The closing reaction says the synth music has become cool again and resembles what current listeners seek from electronic artists. — Craig Horlbeck
  • He argues there is no current Kurt Russell equivalent and that Russell still improves any production.
  • His viewing partner gives the movie two out of four and checks her phone, making it a middle-ground shared viewing.
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