‹ All movies
Sudden Death poster

Sudden Death

year 1995decade 90sdirector Peter Hyamsgenre Actiongenre Thriller

110 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Jean-Claude Van Damme Darren McCord
Powers Boothe Joshua Foss
Raymond J. Barry Vice President Daniel Bender
Dorian Harewood Matthew Hallmark
Whittni Wright Emily McCord
Ross Malinger Tyler McCord
Faith Minton Carla
Paul Mochnick Andrew Ferrara
Audra Lindley Angeline Ferrara
Jack Erdie Scratch
Kate McNeil Kathi McCord
Jeff Howell Usborn
Raymond Laine Mullard
Kane Hodder Murphy
Brian Smrz Demsky
Ed Evanko Baldwin
Bernard Canepari Jefferson
Bill Dalzell George Spota
Steve Aranson Dooley
Jennifer D. Bowser Joan Cometti
Brian Delate Thomas Blair
Milton E. Thompson Sergeant Kurtz
Jay Caufield Brad Tolliver
Bill Clement Pre-game announcer
Mike Lange Himself / play-by-play announcer
Luc Robitaille Himself
Paul Steigerwald Himself / color commentator

Sudden Death | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Kyle Brandtproducer Craig Horlbeck
Explore episodeClose episode

Roger Ebert's review

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:22:49Read transcript
  • Ebert’s two-and-a-half-star review is read; its description of the mascot victim as a man is corrected to a woman.

Most Rewatchable Scene

Van Damme playing goalie

In the discussion (25)
Approx. transcript time · 00:24:30Read transcript
  • The opening fire and dead girl are rejected as rewatchable-scene material; the rescue staging is criticized as confusing and grim.
  • The divorced-parent birthday conflict evokes a personal childhood memory of competing treats and sports tickets.
  • The family scene produces anxiety for one viewer but enjoyment for another.
  • The luxury-suite exposition is a scene candidate, with escalating period-by-period ransom demands and the watch-price correction highlighted.
  • The mascot kitchen fight is praised as bizarre, funny and effective; the costume’s physical limitations make the opponent’s success astonishing.
  • The mascot fight is placed second among hypothetical most-ridiculous 1990s action scenes, with another Sudden Death scene reserved for first; no full top-ten list is supplied.
  • Hallmark rescuing McCord and then being punched is a scene candidate; the apparently obvious future betrayal and the unrealistically casual response to the punch are discussed.
  • Armed terrorists delaying a clear shot is criticized as an escape-enabling trope.
  • The water-gun attack and Hallmark’s burned-face return are scene candidates, with the makeup compared to Cape Fear.
  • McCord effortlessly jumping down arena seating rows is praised as physically remarkable.
  • Van Damme’s save, punch and the announcer’s strange-night observation are favorite parts of the goalie sequence.
  • Changing into the goalie’s equipment to hide from nearby pursuers is criticized as unexplained and impossibly time-consuming, while remaining wonderfully absurd.
  • A sideline reporter investigating the goalie and being killed is proposed as an additional comic action beat.
  • The short-handed penalty situation and last-second tying goal are criticized as implausible and poorly explained after the film’s earlier attention to hockey detail.
  • The two roof fights are rewatchable-scene candidates.
  • The prolonged helicopter crash is a scene candidate, with repeated screaming angles and the villains’ collective evil laugh enjoyed.
  • Van Damme playing goalie is the agreed most-rewatchable scene, compared favorably with famous sports-movie moments.
  • The save is admired, with a wish that the goalie sequence had lasted longer.
  • The family pickup scene is disliked for the hostile son and ex-wife.
  • The family’s lack of excitement about Game Seven tickets is considered implausible.
  • The feverish goalie’s continued use and unattended oxygen treatment are questioned.
  • The goalie voluntarily leaving Game Seven is criticized as contrary to hockey’s competitive ethos.
  • McCord’s homemade weapons and decision to use the roof rather than the elevator are questioned.
  • The rooftop leap and swing while holding explosives are considered implausibly precise, yet riveting.
  • The henchman nicknamed Drunk Bono gives away the entire plan after two punches despite insisting he is a professional.

Rickman Villain Scale

Rickman 10; Jones 9; Lithgow 8; Oldman 7; Hopper 6; five open; Bogosian 4; Booth 3; Passenger 57 villain 2; Toy Soldiers villain 1

In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:29:30Read transcript
  • Booth’s villain is disputed: initially called fine, then criticized as insufficiently charismatic and lacking the comic timing needed for sarcastic threats.
  • Rickman in Die Hard receives 10 out of 10.
  • Tommy Lee Jones in Under Siege receives 9 out of 10.
  • Lithgow in Cliffhanger receives 8 out of 10.
  • Hopper in Speed receives 6 out of 10.
  • Bogosian in Under Siege 2 receives 4 out of 10.
  • Booth receives 3 out of 10.
  • Passenger 57 villain receives 2 out of 10.
  • The Toy Soldiers villain’s performance is mocked despite affection for the film; zero is floated after the initial one-out-of-ten score.
  • Toy Soldiers villain receives 1 out of 10.
  • Oldman in Air Force One receives 7 out of 10.
  • The five-out-of-ten slot remains unfilled.

Apex Mountain

Van Damme’s acting (qualified)

In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 00:39:47Read transcript
  • Stadium-step running is considered for Apex but rejected in favor of the log-carrying athlete in Vision Quest.
  • Booth is rejected for Apex; Tombstone, Deadwood and earlier work are uncertain alternatives, while his memorable name is praised.
  • Bloodsport is proposed as Van Damme’s Apex for launching the run; Universal Soldier is raised as another major success.
  • Van Damme’s peak remains in the earlier run rather than this film; playing twins is another proposed marker, with the film title confused in the discussion.
  • The Penguins are rejected as an Apex choice.
  • Ross Malinger is rejected here in favor of Sleepless in Seattle.
  • Dorian Harewood is rejected as an Apex choice.
  • Hockey movies are rejected here in favor of Miracle.
  • Arenas-in-danger movies and Die Hard imitations receive negative Apex judgments.
  • Van Damme’s acting is jokingly called his peak and literal Apex Mountain during the cocaine discussion; this is an acting-specific remark.

What’s Aged the Best?

Darren McCord; Drunk Bono; action tropes; French conversation; vice-president line; doomed hostage; child acting; Van Damme; ESPN hockey

In the discussion (14)
Approx. transcript time · 00:48:58Read transcript
  • The incongruity of the name Darren McCord is an aged-best choice.
  • The henchman nicknamed Drunk Bono is an aged-best choice.
  • The familiar instruction that a superior ought to see something is an aged-best action trope.
  • A villain casually shooting one hostage to establish seriousness is an aged-best trope.
  • Instant enormous bank transfers are enjoyed as an absurd action-movie convention.
  • The surprise villain reveal and immediate explanatory speech are enjoyed, while the rich-villain boast is called a terrible line.
  • The wisecracking technical specialist is an additional enjoyed trope, recognized as a Die Hard imitation.
  • Van Damme speaking French to Luc Robitaille is an aged-best choice.
  • The line asking how agents lost the vice president is enjoyed.
  • The obviously doomed annoying hostage, here the mayor’s wife, is an aged-best choice.
  • Booth’s complaint about a frightened hostage moaning is enjoyed as an outrageous line.
  • The child performances are called so bad they can become an aged-best pleasure; their exposure to the film’s violence prompts discomfort.
  • Van Damme’s performance is praised as possibly his best acting, focused sincerely on saving his children rather than sex, splits or nudity.
  • The ESPN Stanley Cup presentation is an aged-best choice.

The Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie

“Dead heroes get the best funerals”; “Nobody does anything if it’s right. They only do it if you make them”; “Would you like it if I filled your little mouth with spiders?”; “Can somebody make this cow stop moaning?”

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:38Read transcript
  • Booth’s complaint about a frightened hostage moaning is enjoyed as an outrageous line.
  • Dead heroes get the best funerals is a best-quote candidate.
  • Nobody does anything if it’s right; they only do it if you make them is a best-quote candidate.
  • Would you like it if I filled your little mouth with spiders is a best-quote candidate.
  • The complaint about the moaning hostage is another best-quote choice, though its wording is not confidently recalled here.

IMDb Credits Over/Under

Four credits; guess over 7.5 (proposal)

The panel proposes a new category here.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:53:13Read transcript
  • An IMDb-credits over-under game is proposed: the daughter’s actress has four credits against a 7.5 line, while the guess is over; one credit is an Arsenio sketch.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Dead-child opening; guns at stadium; crowd; missing Lemieux; score; unseen fall; substitute players; Booth;555numbers; locker room; violence

In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 00:57:30Read transcript
  • The dead girl opening is an aged-worst choice for its disturbing eyes and rushed imitation of Cliffhanger’s emotional setup.
  • Machine guns entering a sporting event is an aged-worst element.
  • The Game Seven crowd is criticized as too subdued and willing to evacuate for the stakes and city.
  • Lemieux’s absence is an aged-worst complaint, with illness and reluctance to participate floated as uncertain explanations.
  • The score is an aged-worst choice.
  • The unseen rooftop fall is criticized as an apparent budget-saving omission.
  • The replacement hockey players are criticized as visibly below NHL quality, with the lockout offered as production context.
  • Booth’s performance is reiterated as an aged-worst choice.
  • 555 phone numbers are disliked.
  • The Penguins locker room is criticized as cheap-looking.
  • The blunt, indiscriminate violence, including killing people before children and spouses, is judged especially harsh on rewatch.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Attend this game; a new baseball or lacrosse action film

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:04:23Read transcript
  • The hot take favors attending this fictional sporting event above all others: Game Seven overtime plus surviving an extraordinary incident would create a lifelong story.
  • The Natural’s pennant-winning game is a competing event-attendance choice, with The Longest Yard also appealing.
  • A1995 football version imagines Van Damme replacing Jason Sehorn at cornerback and breaking up a pass.
  • Replacing punter Sean Landeta is an alternative football version, titled Coffin Corner; current overtime rules undermine the title Sudden Death.
  • A new stadium-terrorism movie starring the Rock at a baseball game is proposed.
  • Professional lacrosse is another proposed setting that might welcome the publicity.
  • The World Series of Poker is another joking setting.

Casting What-Ifs

Schwarzenegger, Stallone or Willis as McCord; Woods as Foss

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:52Read transcript
  • Schwarzenegger reportedly declined while making True Lies and Junior.
  • Stallone reportedly declined because of script quality, which is questioned given Daylight.
  • Willis reportedly declined while making Die Hard with a Vengeance.
  • James Woods reportedly rejected the villain role; he is considered a better fit around his Lester Diamond performance.

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Agent recognized from Shawshank and The Truman Show

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:11:11Read transcript
  • Raymond J. Barry is an initial that-guy favorite as vice president.
  • Audra Lindley is recognized as Mrs. Roper and receives a that-guy mention.
  • The agent recognized from Shawshank and as Truman’s father becomes the that-guy winner; his actor name is not supplied.

Recasting Couch

James Caan, Kelsey Grammer or George Wendt as Foss; Tupac as Hallmark

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:23Read transcript
  • James Caan is proposed as the villain, but another view thinks he would have fit ten years earlier rather than at this career stage.
  • Kelsey Grammer is proposed as an evil Frasier-style villain.
  • George Wendt is proposed as an evil Norm-style villain; sitcom performers turning sinister is an appealing idea.
  • Tupac is proposed as Hallmark, with doubt about buying him as a federal agent in 1995.

Half-Assed Internet Research

Baldwins’ roof premise and films; Robitaille classes; lockout filming; extras and cutouts;36 deaths

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:43Read transcript
  • Karen Baldwin reportedly developed the premise around the Civic Arena’s retractable roof.
  • Howard Baldwin’s film company and other hockey films are discussed alongside his financial failure with the Penguins.
  • Robitaille reportedly attended acting classes with Karen Baldwin before joining the Penguins.
  • The lockout prevented filming the intended NHL opener; exhibition and minor-league games were tried before substitute players in jerseys were used.
  • About 2,000 extras and cardboard spectators reportedly filled the arena; the cutouts are considered convincing.
  • The reported body count is 36, after a guess of 30.
  • The Penguins announcers are reported to be the real announcers, using their authentic catchphrases.
  • The other hockey films attributed to Baldwin’s company are Mystery Alaska, Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story, and Odd Man Rush.

Picking Nits

Job respect; overtime deadline; Foss name; son’s concern; Hallmark delay; goalie identity and equipment; daughter hostage; hanging; concussion

In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:17Read transcript
  • The lack of respect for an arena fire-engineer job is questioned.
  • Overtime delaying the explosions is questioned because that exception was not part of the villain’s stated plan.
  • The villain’s name Joshua Foss is said never to be spoken and is criticized alongside McCord’s name.
  • The son’s lack of concern for his missing sister is questioned, with jokes about future psychological damage.
  • Hallmark repeatedly failing to kill McCord before talking is criticized.
  • Teammates failing to notice that McCord has replaced their goalie is questioned.
  • The unattended sick goalie’s fate and the time needed to exchange equipment remain questions.
  • Booth taking the daughter while escaping is questioned as needless added risk.
  • The young daughter hanging on and pulling herself up over a fatal drop is considered physically and emotionally implausible.
  • McCord making the save while concussed compounds the absurdity; the commentator’s joke about his children feeling the hit is criticized.
  • Having McCord score too is imagined as the only missing escalation of the hockey joke.

Just One Oscar

Stunt performers; Luc Robitaille (joke)

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:35Read transcript
  • The stunt performers are the Oscar choice, with Robitaille receiving a joking acceptance-speech alternative.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Game protest/replay; goalie fate; McCord’s hockey celebrity or hidden identity

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:24:13Read transcript
  • The sick goalie’s possible death is raised as an unanswerable question.
  • Chicago protesting McCord as an illegal player and demanding a forfeit is proposed.
  • Resuming the interrupted game or restarting it entirely are debated.
  • A neutral Detroit venue is proposed because arena repairs would take weeks.
  • McCord might become a sports-media celebrity and receive a hockey tryout.
  • Alternatively his goalie substitution might remain an early-internet mystery until reporting reveals it.

The Andy and Red – Zihuatanejo Award for What Happens the Next Day?

Hockey-stat dispute; celebrity; family reunion

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:28:01Read transcript
  • Whether McCord receives official hockey statistics is questioned; an unauthorized MMA participant is offered as an argument against it.
  • McCord is imagined as a national celebrity appearing on talk shows and reconciling with his ex-wife.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Foil a terrorist attack to win back your children

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:29:33Read transcript
  • Foiling a terrorist attack is the life lesson for winning back children who think their father is a loser.
  • The 52-second interval from helicopter explosion to credits is compared with Cliffhanger’s 84 seconds.

Producer review

Joyful, cheesy 1990s entertainment

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:30:56Read transcript
  • Cliffhanger is favored among the earlier action episodes as a legitimately good and entertaining movie.
  • The film is enjoyed as turn-off-your-brain 1990s action, prompting a wish for a dedicated free channel.
  • Baywatch is another affectionate 1990s time capsule, with a clip-sharing channel proposed.

More from the conversation

The film is praised as an astonishingly real rather than imagined action spectacle, though its first thirty minutes could be shorter.
Approx. transcript time · 00:02:43Read transcript
The premise is described as Die Hard crossed with Cliffhanger at a Stanley Cup final, escalating stakes with Game Seven, the vice president and the hero’s children.
Approx. transcript time · 00:03:15Read transcript
The film reportedly began as a parody but became an earnest action movie while retaining spoof-like elements.
Approx. transcript time · 00:04:29Read transcript
The NHL’s willingness to license a stadium-terrorism story is considered extraordinary; Black Sunday and Jerry Maguire are comparisons for less permissive modern sports leagues.
Approx. transcript time · 00:06:00Read transcript
Van Damme’s firing from Predator, kickboxing background and limited acting range precede the breakout Bloodsport and rapid run of action films.
Approx. transcript time · 00:07:54Read transcript
Sudden Death is seen as near the end of Van Damme’s major theatrical run, between Street Fighter and the disappointing Quest and Double Team.
Approx. transcript time · 00:09:24Read transcript
Van Damme’s reported cocaine use is discussed; an Arsenio appearance is speculatively interpreted as possible evidence, not established intoxication.
Approx. transcript time · 00:09:57Read transcript
A combative Letterman interview, repeated marriages and later bipolar diagnosis are recounted.
Approx. transcript time · 00:10:42Read transcript
Van Damme’s unpredictable public persona is contrasted with Seagal’s reputation; a relationship with Street Fighter co-star Kylie Minogue is recalled.
Approx. transcript time · 00:11:29Read transcript
Van Damme is praised for allowing his characters to be badly beaten before recovering, unlike Seagal’s near-invulnerable screen persona.
Approx. transcript time · 00:12:19Read transcript
A Stallone interview reportedly describes Van Damme challenging Seagal to fight at a1997 party and afterward; Seagal is said to have avoided it.
Approx. transcript time · 00:12:57Read transcript
A hypothetical action-star fighting tournament favors Van Damme’s actual skills and flexibility; Schwarzenegger’s bulk and Seagal’s ability are questioned.
Approx. transcript time · 00:13:59Read transcript
The hypothetical tournament expands to Chong Li, Drago, the Rock and Chuck Norris; Van Damme and the Rock are imagined finalists while Statham is dismissed.
Approx. transcript time · 00:15:21Read transcript
Drago’s intimidating physicality and Van Damme’s vulnerability are praised; affectionate imitation helped define the1985–1995 action-star era.
Approx. transcript time · 00:16:54Read transcript
Darren McCord is mocked as an implausible name for Van Damme’s accented Pittsburgh fire inspector; unchanged pre-casting script names are a speculative explanation.
Approx. transcript time · 00:18:18Read transcript
Other Van Damme character names are compared: Frank Dux is corrected as a real person’s name; Devereaux and Boudreaux fit better than Sloan or McCord.
Approx. transcript time · 00:19:39Read transcript
Double Impact’s sexual jokes and Double Team’s poor quality are recalled; a production oral history involving Van Damme and Rodman is desired.
Approx. transcript time · 00:21:02Read transcript
Tying extortion deadlines to the hockey game’s progress is praised as a fun storytelling device.
Approx. transcript time · 00:21:53Read transcript
The film reportedly opened one week after Heat, with a$35million budget and$64million gross.
Approx. transcript time · 00:22:30Read transcript
McCord beating the henchman nicknamed Drunk Bono is a scene candidate; the supposed professional immediately revealing the plan is mocked.
Approx. transcript time · 00:34:43Read transcript
McCord’s movement over arena seats is admired while fans remain focused on the game.
Approx. transcript time · 00:39:30Read transcript
The hockey announcers reportedly play themselves and use their real catchphrases.
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:37Read transcript
Under Siege2’s frequent cable play and Heigl’s role prompt a tangent, with the character relationship left uncertain.
Approx. transcript time · 01:27:40Read transcript
Recognition for action-film podcast appearances is humorously contrasted with professional sports-media work.
Approx. transcript time · 01:32:40Read transcript
Van Damme’s celebrity is compared with Seagal, Statham and Fast-era Vin Diesel; Friends, red-carpet kicks and awkward talk-show appearances illustrate his fame.
Approx. transcript time · 01:33:26Read transcript
The closing explicitly credits producer Craig Horleback.
Approx. transcript time · 01:35:32Read transcript