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GoldenEye poster

GoldenEye

year 1995decade 90sdirector Martin Campbell
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Pierce Brosnan James Bond
Sean Bean Alec Trevelyan
Izabella Scorupco Natalya Simonova
Famke Janssen Xenia Onatopp
Joe Don Baker Jack Wade

GoldenEye | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanhost Sean Fennesseyproducer Craig Horlbeck
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Casting What-Ifs

Gibson; Grant; Fiennes; McGann; Hopkins; Rickman; Porizkova; Herzigová; Woo

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:13:22Read transcript
  • Brosnan’s Remington Steele contract reportedly prevented his earlier Bond casting; Dalton later declined a multi-film commitment, opening GoldenEye for Brosnan.
  • Casting What-Ifs reports Gibson, Grant and Fiennes discussions; Gibson’s age comparison is corrected to younger than Brosnan.
  • Law is a hypothetical timing alternative, Paul McGann is reported as a studio fallback, and the Zabka claim is plainly joking.
  • Casting discussion reports Hopkins and Rickman declining an older 006, and Porizkova/Herzigová declining Natalya; Scorupco divides opinion. Courteney Cox as Xenia is explicitly unverified and doubted.
  • John Woo reportedly declined directing; the hosts weigh losing Broken Arrow or Face/Off and praise Travolta’s villain turn.

The Craig Century Club

Ten to twenty minutes shorter

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:30:06Read transcript
  • Reported box office marks a major Bond hit; the 130-minute runtime is judged ten to twenty minutes too long, especially the delayed mission setup.

Roger Ebert's review

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:31:02Read transcript
  • Ebert’s three-star review is explicitly stated and its shaken-not-stirred ending admired; the hosts note his continued Connery preference.

Most Rewatchable Scene

The tank chase

In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 00:32:46Read transcript
  • The opening bungee jump and motorcycle-to-plane stunt are major scene candidates. The plane leap is a Dan Campbell candidate, with physical implausibility contrasted with convincing execution and Cruise comparisons.
  • The car race is a scene candidate; the evaluator is initially misidentified as Moneypenny then correctly identified as Caroline. The Ferrari’s superiority and workplace impropriety are discussed.
  • The baccarat scene prompts uncertainty about its rules and a personal anecdote about a skilled woman dominating a magazine-workers poker game.
  • Bond’s signature introduction, drink order and Moneypenny flirtation are scene highlights, with changing workplace norms discussed.
  • The steam-room fight and 006 reveal are scene candidates; the betrayal makes his explanatory speech more motivated. Bond’s orphan backstory prompts a Vertical Limit comparison.
  • The tank chase is the preferred scene for two hosts, praised for escalation and destruction while its operation, speed and tight turns are nitpicked.
  • Xenia’s tree death and Bond’s squeeze joke are praised as outrageous Austin Powers material.
  • The exploding pen, ladder fight and Boris freezing are scene candidates; the final structure evokes Fortnite.
  • The tank chase wins the majority, with the opening twelve minutes the dissenting choice. Bond meeting Jack Wade is a late minor scene candidate.

Picking Nits

Natalya’s survival; tank capabilities; gunfire escapes; slow exit; 006’s fall; missile crash

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:42:40Read transcript
  • Natalya repeatedly surviving destruction and reaching the city from Siberia are questioned.
  • The tank chase is the preferred scene for two hosts, praised for escalation and destruction while its operation, speed and tight turns are nitpicked.
  • Nitpicks include escaping many gunmen, Natalya surviving the explosion, tank capabilities, Bond’s slow exit, 006 surviving the fall and the missile/plane crash leaving the leads unharmed.

The most "year the movie came out" thing

BMW Z3; post-Soviet Russia; internet cafés; computers; workplace flirtation; theme-song team

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:49:11Read transcript
  • Most-1995 choices include post-Soviet Russia, internet cafés, computers, workplace flirtation and the theme-song team; BMW Z3 is the leading choice.
  • The Z3 marketing debut prompts Bill’s dislike of the design and a joking car-podcast/personal driving digression.
  • The driving anecdote concludes and the Z3 period answer is reaffirmed.

What’s Aged the Best?

Xenia; Russian villains; Joe Don Baker; product placement; Minnie Driver; poster; Brosnan; villain speeches

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:51:24Read transcript
  • Xenia’s lethal leg squeeze, overt sexual performance, Russian villains and Joe Don Baker’s later-career presence age best; his prior Bond role and Felix’s injury prompt uncertain recollections.
  • Organic product placement, Minnie Driver’s cameo and the poster are aged-best choices.
  • Brosnan’s balanced Bond is praised through NBA-center analogies; future Bond casting and Dua Lipa involvement remain speculation, with Elba, Kaluuya and Patel alternatives discussed.
  • Brosnan’s fit is contrasted with Hugh Grant; Liam Neeson is imagined as a tougher alternative. An oldest-Bond claim is also made, without independent verification.
  • Elaborate villain speeches instead of simply killing Bond are enjoyed despite implausibility, with the pen scene criticized; Bond’s post-explosion victory lap is admired.

Hans Gruber Scale Villain Ranking

Xenia: 9.5; 006: 7.5–8

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:59:48Read transcript
  • Villain ratings are Xenia nine-and-a-half and 006 roughly seven-and-a-half to eight, qualified by his fading menace and money motive.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Theme song; dinosaur rebuke; gadgets; score; passwords; serious Caribbean interlude

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:04:27Read transcript
  • The theme song and the misogynistic-dinosaur rebuke are aged-worst choices, followed by a football-injury digression. The discussion attributes the rebuke to Q; that attribution is retained as a podcast claim.
  • The gadget scene and score are criticized, especially the car-race music, with The Saint’s soundtrack offered as a better comparison.
  • Weak satellite passwords are an aged-worst choice, prompting recollections of early email names.
  • The serious Caribbean reflection is criticized as inconsistent with this Bond’s tone. A claim of only one sexual encounter is corrected by recalling Caroline.

Cringiest Quote

The frequent-flyer-mileage line

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:12Read transcript
  • The frequent-flyer-mileage line wins cringy quote; Cumming wins overacting, with Bean’s exaggerated head signal an alternative.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Data-driven M; Bond/006 prequel; Campbell directing every Brosnan film; Farrell as Bond

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:10:53Read transcript
  • Hottest takes include M anticipating data-driven management and a missed opportunity for a Bond/006 buddy prequel built on their chemistry.
  • Another hottest take argues Brosnan would rank second among Bonds if Campbell had directed all his films, praising Campbell’s energy and criticizing the sequels.
  • Bill’s hottest take proposes Farrell as a potential best post-Connery Bond. Hypothetical career trades and Neeson’s reported family objection follow.

Recasting Couch

Nolte as Jack Wade; Dennehy and Hoffman alternatives

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:33Read transcript
  • Recasting Couch proposes replacing Baker because of his earlier villain role, with Nolte favored and Dennehy/Hoffman alternatives; age and leading-man status are debated.

Female Sex-Killer Mount Rushmore

Xenia; Catherine Tramell; Sil; Amy Dunne

Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:20:46Read transcript
  • Craig’s female-sex-killer Mount Rushmore names Xenia, Catherine Tramell, Sil and Amy Dunne. Die Hard with a Vengeance, Mia Goth and horror alternatives are additions.

Half-Assed Internet Research

Canadian admiral; title origins; Perrier consumption; Bond kill count

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:22:19Read transcript
  • Research reports changing the admiral from American to Canadian, the title’s Fleming-estate and wartime origins, 90,000 Perrier cans and a claimed forty-seven Bond kills.

Apex Mountain

Brosnan; Scorupco; BMW Z3; Perrier qualified

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:40Read transcript
  • Brosnan receives an apex yes for reviving Bond, with Mamma Mia and The Thomas Crown Affair alternatives. A Hot Fuzz attribution is also made in the discussion, without independent verification.
  • Scorupco and the BMW Z3 receive apex yes answers.
  • GoldenEye’s song is called a possible worst Bond theme; better songs are debated. Janssen is assigned X-Men and Bond overall the Connery era versus Skyfall.
  • Baker’s apex is debated between Walking Tall and Mitchell/Mystery Science Theater; Perrier receives a tentative yes followed by sparkling-water comparisons.
  • Cumming is assigned The Traitors as a later apex, leading to hypothetical casting of Bill or Rachel Lindsay on that show and Survivor.

Just One Oscar

Campbell; editing/effects; bungee stunt performer

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:38:05Read transcript
  • One-Oscar choices are Campbell, editing/effects and the bungee stunt performer.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bond’s breakups; Xenia’s squeeze; Joe Don Baker’s name

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:38:17Read transcript
  • Unanswerable questions ask how Bond leaves partners between films, with ghosting and interpretations of his male chemistry discussed as speculation.
  • The physical plausibility of Xenia’s lethal squeeze is debated without verification.
  • Joe Don Baker’s memorable name prompts proposed Don middle names and speculation about his name’s origin, followed by Wings Hauser.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Governments change, lies remain; half of everything is luck

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:45:03Read transcript
  • Life-lesson candidates are half of everything is luck and governments change but lies remain, with the latter strongly endorsed.

Producer review

Sillier and more enjoyable than expected

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:47:17Read transcript
  • A first viewing follows experience only with the Daniel Craig Bond films and proves both better and worse than expected. — Craig Horlbeck
  • Seeing Austin Powers first makes the original style being parodied feel odd.
  • The whimsical gadgets contrast with the darker Craig era, but the attractive cast, travel, casinos and spectacle provide enjoyable escapism.
  • The opening was restarted so Liz could join the viewing after the first twelve minutes. — Craig Horlbeck

More from the conversation

Bill introduces Sean and Chris with current television recommendations before GoldenEye.
Approx. transcript time · 00:01:01Read transcript
Favorite Bond films differ: Bill lists Goldfinger, The Spy Who Loved Me, GoldenEye and Casino Royale by era; others favor From Russia with Love or Skyfall and defend Moonraker. GoldenEye’s balance of silliness and seriousness is praised.
Approx. transcript time · 00:02:14Read transcript
The hosts recall discovering Bond through theatrical releases and television marathons, debate continuity theories and remember Connery’s shadow over successors.
Approx. transcript time · 00:04:07Read transcript
Mission: Impossible and Bourne are argued to have advanced stunts and techno-thrillers beyond Bond, prompting a more psychological Craig era and speculation about the next reinvention.
Approx. transcript time · 00:07:44Read transcript
Craig’s first Bond connection is the GoldenEye video game and its music; Chris and Sean recall multiplayer sessions, while Bill preferred sports games.
Approx. transcript time · 00:09:38Read transcript
The game is described as a turning point for mainstream console shooters and a legacy potentially larger than the film; numerical sales claims remain reported discussion.
Approx. transcript time · 00:11:29Read transcript
The six-year gap, MGM ownership problems and later Amazon deals prompt discussion of film-business journalism and the need to get a new Bond film right.
Approx. transcript time · 00:14:52Read transcript
Villeneuve’s stature and unrealized director possibilities are discussed; Bond is compared with major superhero roles as a career-changing booking.
Approx. transcript time · 00:18:13Read transcript
Jessie Buckley’s singing and Hamnet performance prompt a recommendation for Wild Rose and debate over the decade’s best actress performance, including Blanchett in Tár.
Approx. transcript time · 00:19:59Read transcript
GoldenEye is praised for checking classic Bond boxes amid Cold War changes, with an effective villain; Broccoli’s decline, original story, CGI and a female M are discussed.
Approx. transcript time · 00:21:21Read transcript
Judi Dench’s casting and the two female leads are praised. Xenia is a top-five/top-ten individual claim, not a complete ranked list; Scorupco’s limited later career is flagged.
Approx. transcript time · 00:22:36Read transcript
Favorite Bond women include Barbara Bach, Talisa Soto, Pussy Galore, Eva Green and Britt Ekland’s Mary Goodnight; the list is informal and changes size.
Approx. transcript time · 00:24:12Read transcript
Janssen’s Melrose Place, Rounders, The Faculty, X-Men and Taken roles are recalled, with GoldenEye’s performance singled out.
Approx. transcript time · 00:25:11Read transcript
Xenia’s name and the gadgets are compared with Austin Powers, which the hosts believe drew heavily from GoldenEye.
Approx. transcript time · 00:26:27Read transcript
Bean’s Bond audition, 006’s betrayal motive and historical backstory are discussed, with Game of Thrones comparisons and joking sympathy for anti-English villains.
Approx. transcript time · 00:27:08Read transcript
Multiple script drafts, similarities to True Lies and Mission: Impossible and the Cold War time jump are discussed as development history.
Approx. transcript time · 00:28:56Read transcript
The title song is criticized as a mismatch of Tina Turner with Bono’s register despite strong collaborators.
Approx. transcript time · 00:48:30Read transcript
Cruise/Hanks cumulative standings and possible guest appearances are discussed, including a future four-person studio.
Approx. transcript time · 01:31:37Read transcript
Hacker portrayals prompt Olyphant and Fisher Stevens comparisons and a Gone in 60 Seconds scouting digression.
Approx. transcript time · 01:33:21Read transcript
A Sheridan television digression covers spinoffs, Landman pacing and speculative AI use; the hosts explicitly lack knowledge of his writing process.
Approx. transcript time · 01:41:33Read transcript
A possible Bond month is hypothetical, followed by Roger Moore criticism and a reported Penn/Fox acting anecdote.
Approx. transcript time · 01:46:19Read transcript
The hosts endorse Bond as date-movie escapism and close with thanks; abbreviated producer mentions require identity review.
Approx. transcript time · 01:48:36Read transcript