Opening interrogation
Bus fight and bus/train crash
Marshals taking over the investigation
Dam pursuit and jump
Copeland’s capture
St. Patrick’s Day chase
Kimble calling Gerard from Sykes’s apartment
Subway fight
Cardiology-conference confrontation
Final Kimble/Gerard exchange
Mallory favors the dam chase
Chris favors the opening 24 minutes and 20 seconds
Bill favors the opening crash material; the definition of a single scene is debated

What’s Aged the Best?

Chicago, Ford, Jones and the ensemble

In the discussion (12)

Approx. transcript time · 00:42:08Read transcript

Chicago as a filming location
Seven-month shoot-to-release turnaround
Helen’s affection for Richard
Corporate-pharmaceutical villainy
Tommy Lee Jones’s improvised lines
Supporting cast, including Joe Pantoliano, Jane Lynch and Julianne Moore
Bearded versus clean-shaven Harrison Ford is debated
Nichols’s early villain cues
James Newton Howard’s score
Keeping Cosmo alive
Sela Ward
Kimble’s acts of kindness

The Big Kahuna Burger Award for Best Use of Food and Drink

Mr. Johnson’s egg sandwich

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 00:48:21Read transcript

Mr. Johnson’s egg sandwich is the clear pick

The Den of Thieves Benihana Award for Scene-Stealing Location

The dam; parade also mentioned

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 00:48:57Read transcript

The dam is chosen as the strongest location
The parade is an alternative

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

Parade; Kimble entering a dark tunnel

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 00:48:57Read transcript

Chris chooses the parade
Another pick is Kimble walking into the dark tunnel

Mallory Rubin Award: Did This Movie Need a Better Sex Scene?

Mallory proposes brief Helen flashbacks

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 00:49:26Read transcript

Mallory says yes to the category
She proposes recurring brief flashbacks of Richard and Helen that preserve the film’s pace

The Vincent Chase Award: Are We Sure This Character Is Actually Good at Their Job?

Charles Nichols

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 00:52:17Read transcript

Nichols’s failure to neutralize Kimble
Nichols’s denial of knowing a colleague
Pathology approvals dated after Lentz’s death
The implausible no-side-effects claim
Sykes killing the wrong person and failing again
The defense attorney is nominated; his shortcomings are deferred

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

The conspiracy’s murder plan

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 00:54:40Read transcript

Killing Kimble is questioned when professional sabotage or framing might suffice
The killer’s connection to the company is too conspicuous

What’s Aged the Worst?

Defense failures, disguise logic and sequels

In the discussion (11)

Approx. transcript time · 00:55:33Read transcript

Kimble’s legal defense
Forensic/DNA handling is criticized as dated
Failure to show Kimble testifying
Slow parallel prosthetics investigations
Oversized opening credits
Joe Pantoliano’s wig
Pre-CGI concealment of the actor’s arm
U.S. Marshals and later adaptations
Removal of Julianne Moore’s romantic subplot is debated and defended
People failing to recognize Ford’s distinctive face
The final Nichols/Kimble fight

Is There a Better Title for This Movie?

Keep The Fugitive

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:02:26Read transcript

The existing title is unanimously defended
A one-arm pun is floated as a joke

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

Ponytail, tunnel exchange and donut order

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:02:26Read transcript

The advice about Newman’s ponytail
Kimble’s innocence protest and Gerard’s response in the tunnel
Gerard’s coffee-and-donut order

Casting What-Ifs

Nolte, Baldwin, Hackman, Voight and Richard Jordan

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:02:53Read transcript

Walter Hill’s proposed Nick Nolte version
Alec Baldwin described as an early choice
Gene Hackman and Jon Voight considered for Gerard
Richard Jordan’s illness and replacement
Reshooting the party scene and Ford’s beard differences

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Harrison Ford’s interrogation performance — disputed

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:04:57Read transcript

Chris nominates Ford in the interrogation
Bill supports the choice
Mallory objects
The group clarifies that overacting is an admired quality on this podcast

Dr. Richard Kimble Inappropriate Body Award

Dr. Richard Kimble

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:05:47Read transcript

Ford’s muscular physique is judged unusually impressive for the surgeon character

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Ron Dean; honorable mentions for the ensemble

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:06:22Read transcript

Ron Dean is selected
Daniel Roebuck is an honorable mention
Joseph Kosala is identified as the other interrogating officer

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Copeland

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:07:04Read transcript

Copeland the convict is favored
Mr. Johnson is another candidate
Charles Nichols is rejected as too prominent

Recasting Couch

Ewan McGregor, Jake Gyllenhaal and others

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 01:07:34Read transcript

Ewan McGregor in a London version
Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Reynolds proposed, with objections
Scarlett Johansson proposed
Timothée Chalamet as a young prodigy is joked about
Jake Gyllenhaal receives support
Chris Rock as a 1993 marshal sidekick
Pre-Taken Liam Neeson as Nichols

What Would Tony Romo’s Director’s Commentary for This Movie Sound Like?

Tony Romo narrating the dam escape

The panel proposes a new category here.

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:10:32Read transcript

Introduced as a new category
Chris performs Romo-style narration of the tunnel and dam
A Philadelphia example is a tangent, not a second Fugitive outcome

Half-Assed Internet Research

Ford’s injury, the real train crash and Chicago filming

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:11:34Read transcript

Ford’s injured knee and incorporated limp
Six screenwriters and 25 drafts reported
A real train crash with a single practical attempt
North Carolina railroad location
Chicago locations and the actual 1993 parade
Cold conditions during parade filming

Apex Mountain

Tommy Lee Jones and Andrew Davis: yes

In the discussion (12)

Approx. transcript time · 01:13:31Read transcript

Harrison Ford: no
Ford playing Desmondo: yes as a joke
Ford’s doctor roles compared with Frantic
Tommy Lee Jones: yes
Joe Pantoliano: disagreement; The Sopranos favored instead
Pantoliano’s bad wigs: no
One-armed killers: yes
Andrew Davis: yes
Dutch men named Chuck: raised without a clear verdict
Chicago movies: disputed, with Ferris Bueller, Blues Brothers, Thief and The Dark Knight mentioned
Fugitives: O.J. Simpson offered instead
Characters named Cosmo: a strong year

Producer review

Craig Horlbeck calls it the number-one dad movie

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:19:06Read transcript

Craig says he loves the movie and calls it the number-one dad movie — Craig Horlbeck
He imagines appreciating it even more as a father — Craig Horlbeck

Picking Nits

Disguise, defense attorney and conspiracy logic

In the discussion (18)

Approx. transcript time · 01:19:40Read transcript

Craig questions Sykes’s security role and corporate fishing trips
Chris questions Kimble’s minimal disguise
Stolen clothes fitting Kimble is debated
Mallory questions the fundraiser’s swimsuit show
Kimble fails to request counsel promptly
Craig questions water falling on the gun
Nichols’s conference patter is missing
Mallory challenges the defense’s handling of Helen’s call and circumstantial evidence
Shaving a large beard with a disposable razor
Craig questions Kimble’s janitor performance
Gerard’s shooting choices in the courthouse
Nichols’s incriminating photos
A rollerblading nurse
Instant train-audio identification
Mallory corrects the earlier podcast’s too-handsome Jon Hamm objection
Craig asks why Kimble does not take the evidence straight to Gerard
Kimble helping patients is defended
Cosmo’s implausibly minor head wound

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

Untouchable versus Nichols or prison-doctor series

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:31:07Read transcript

Craig favors leaving the movie alone
A Breaking Bad-style Nichols origin series
A prison-doctor alternate path for Kimble

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Kill Sykes; rethink the one-arm story; defend the marriage

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:32:22Read transcript

The category is initially almost skipped but is then completed
Mallory argues Nichols should have Sykes killed
Chris argues Kimble’s one-armed-man account sounds incriminating
Craig has no prepared take
Bill proposes an attraction-based defense argument

Is This Movie Better With…?

Byron Mayo, Wayne Jenkins and Harling Mays

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:34:06Read transcript

Byron Mayo inserted into the hospital encounter
Wayne Jenkins as a marshal
Harling Mays treating Kimble after the dam

Just One Oscar

Skipped: Tommy Lee Jones already won

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:35:28Read transcript

The category is passed over because Jones already received an Oscar for the film

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Escape plan, Kimble’s fame, the cat and alternate futures

In the discussion (12)

Approx. transcript time · 01:35:51Read transcript

Effectiveness of the fake seizure escape
Craig asks how famous Kimble would become
How much cash Nichols gives Kimble
Mallory asks what happened to the Kimble family cat
Gerard as an NFL coach
Craig asks why the river cannot be dyed blue
A shared Chicago movie universe
Whether faster emergency dispatch could have saved Helen
The logic of the incriminating call
Kimble and the woman who offers him a ride
A twist making Kimble guilty after all
How quickly Sykes would be caught through social media

Best Double Feature

Presumed Innocent poster — Presumed Innocent

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:43:07Read transcript

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

Celebrity, medicine or private investigation

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:43:22Read transcript

Kimble becomes a celebrity bachelor
Kimble reconnects with Dr. Eastman
Loss of faith leads Kimble to private investigation
Courtside recognition
A new home with the surviving cat
Devlin McGregor’s liability and the drug’s future are debated

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Jacket, tissue slide, cash, prosthetic arm and clothing

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 01:45:20Read transcript

Green jacket
Liver tissue sample / pathology slide
Nichols’s cash
Prosthetic arm
Cook County ID
Nichols’s tennis pullover and Fila tracksuit
Newman’s ponytail is jokingly declined

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Get a capable lawyer; kindness while on the run

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:46:20Read transcript

Get a lawyer immediately and avoid Walter
Hiding in plain sight
Keep helping others even while on the run

Who Won the Movie?

Tommy Lee Jones / Harrison Ford

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:46:47Read transcript

Bill and Chris choose Tommy Lee Jones
Craig and Mallory choose Harrison Ford
The hosts explicitly call it a stalemate
Audience shouts are mixed and are not a measurable fan vote

Podcast choices

Bill Simmons: Tommy Lee Jones
Chris Ryan: Tommy Lee Jones
Craig Horlbeck: Harrison Ford
Mallory Rubin: Harrison Ford

More from the conversation

Live in Chicago, part of the Cold Weather Tour, revisiting an earlier Fugitive episode.

Approx. transcript time · 00:01:29Read transcript

The redirect-twist discussion recalls the earlier episode; it is retained as a discussion topic rather than invented as a new named category.

Approx. transcript time · 01:17:19Read transcript

Craig is introduced on stage explicitly as the producer before contributing to Picking Nits.

Approx. transcript time · 01:18:20Read transcript

The Fugitive | The Rewatchables

aired November 2, 2017

host Bill Simmons host Chris Ryan host Andy Greenwald

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