Opening travel and Samuel's expressive child performance are admired; a child-actor Oscar is proposed and the intensity is less straightforward in adult roles. — Bill Simmons
The bathroom murder excels through the stall switch, tiny hands, eyes and hat retrieval, the latter compared to Indiana Jones. — Mallory Rubin
Recognizing Glover's photograph is praised for silence, slow motion, eye contact and Book lowering the finger. — Mallory Rubin
The parking-garage shootout and blood reveal provide smart thriller action, with the elevator motorist adding comedy. — Mallory Rubin
Eli's gun conversation supplies a moving moral argument about hands and hearts, compared to Gandalf's restraint. — Mallory Rubin
The barn dance is the easiest scene choice and an exceptional personal favorite; it also receives the needle-drop award. — Mallory Rubin
The barn dance embodies desire through awkwardness, sweat, lighting and near-kisses; Ford reportedly chose the song, performed as a cover because original rights were unavailable. — Mallory Rubin
The barn raising makes communal work riveting, integrates Ford's carpentry, and conveys rivalry and gossip through lemonade and lunch gestures. — Mallory Rubin
The bath invitation communicates Rachel's confidence and defiance while Book hesitates; lightning, the mirror and the open door make desire visible. — Mallory Rubin
Punching the bully is a satisfying conventional 1980s beat following news of the partner's death; Book openly distinguishes his methods from Amish ones. — Mallory Rubin
The final invasion uses Samuel, livestock and the silo effectively; the surviving chief's surrender is an unusual moral collapse rather than routine violent death. — Bill Simmons
Glover was reportedly originally to die by mule, changed to a shooting at Ford's request; Book's use of farm knowledge pays off earlier scenes. — Mallory Rubin
The climax is the other final scene preference for spatial clarity, renewed thriller tension and the near miss before Book's planned departure; Schaefer likely learns the location only after the bully incident. — Mallory Rubin
The barn dance and final confrontation remain split preferences. — Bill Simmons

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44:54

The Slow Ride / Kid Cudi – Pursuit of Happiness Award for Best Needle Drop

Wonderful World during the barn dance

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 00:44:54Read transcript

The barn dance is the easiest scene choice and an exceptional personal favorite; it also receives the needle-drop award. — Mallory Rubin
The barn dance embodies desire through awkwardness, sweat, lighting and near-kisses; Ford reportedly chose the song, performed as a cover because original rights were unavailable. — Mallory Rubin

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53:16

Explicit Desire Stare

Rachel’s bath invitation

The panel proposes a new category here.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 00:53:16Read transcript

A proposed Amish Rachel stare-down category would recognize an unmistakably explicit invitation to intimacy. — Bill Simmons

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56:06

Picking Nits

Gunshot survival and recovery; unheard child; ineffective garage attack; spending criminal proceeds

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 00:56:06Read transcript

Whether corn would kill is questioned, with suffocation, debris and inability to escape offered in defense; the greenhouse death in another film is compared. — Mallory Rubin
Racial profiling is objectionable, and surviving blood loss and infection with a poultice strains belief. — Bill Simmons
Book's rapid recovery to heavy carpentry, lifting and fighting is implausible. — Mallory Rubin
The killers should hear Samuel urinating, and his swift evasive instincts are questioned while admired. — Mallory Rubin
Samuel's unspoiled instincts could explain his quick response to danger. — Bill Simmons
McPhee should bring backup and finish the garage attack given the money at stake. — Mallory Rubin
How corrupt officers could spend such a large fortune without attracting attention is unresolved; retirement or hidden investments are suggested. — Bill Simmons

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1:00:22

The most 1985 thing

Electronic score

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:00:22Read transcript

The coffee-commercial reference is a period candidate and reportedly references Ford missing that advertisement role. — Mallory Rubin
Elaine's appearance and deleted Donkey Kong scene date the film; hiding a paper address would fail in a modern digital system. — Mallory Rubin
The electronic Maurice Jarre score is the stated most-1985 choice, admired but strongly of its era. — Bill Simmons

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1:04:30

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

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:04:30Read transcript

No better sex scene is needed: the film's purpose is longing and buildup, with intercourse after the kiss inferred rather than shown. — Mallory Rubin
Imagined solo or later marital-sex postscripts are jokes; the restraint remains preferred. — Mallory Rubin

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1:06:30

What’s Aged the Best?

Screenplay restraint; Ford holding a kitten; dirty cops; Ford’s career; lighting; cast; milking scene; dialogue-free ...

Screenplay restraint; Ford holding a kitten; dirty cops; Ford’s career; lighting; cast; milking scene; dialogue-free farewell

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:06:30Read transcript

The screenplay choices and Ford holding the kitten are aged-best selections; the kitten image is requested as funeral imagery. — Bill Simmons
Dirty cops losing their principles, Ford's run, visual restraint, Dutch-master lighting and inexperienced supporting players are aged-best choices. — Mallory Rubin
Haas's unexpected later place in DiCaprio's social circle is noted with basketball-role comparisons. — Mallory Rubin
The early milking scene, its teat joke and calling Book English remain funny. — Bill Simmons
Godunov's life and early death are discussed; Amish observers reportedly watched but would not appear, with Mennonites among the extras. — Bill Simmons
The dialogue-free final romantic farewell is preferred to the scripted explanation. — Mallory Rubin

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1:12:12

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

Corn silo murder

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:12:12Read transcript

The corn murder is the food winner over the milking scene. — Mallory Rubin

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1:12:33

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

Sponge bath; Book over the car roof; Samuel’s eyes through the door

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:12:33Read transcript

The sponge bath, Book over the car roof and Samuel's eyes through the door are cinematic-shot candidates; the eye shot is reportedly soft-focused and Weir pressed the child for greater fear. — Mallory Rubin

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1:14:11

Chest Rockwell / Brock Landers Award for Best Character Name

John Book

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:14:11Read transcript

John Book is the character-name winner. — Mallory Rubin

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1:14:22

Did This Movie Need a Random Sports Scene?

Amish catch or touch football; games with Samuel

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:14:22Read transcript

A random sports scene could show Book and Daniel playing catch or Amish touch football, with Samuel bonding, shuffleboard or darts alternatives. — Bill Simmons

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1:15:01

The Sean Penn “I Brought My Own Pack” Award for Excellence in On-Screen Smoking

John Book smoking beside the car after the climax

Flex pick · Mallory Rubin

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:15:01Read transcript

The smoking flex selects Book casually smoking beside the car after the climax. — Mallory Rubin

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1:15:44

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

Rachel’s quick romantic transition; Book’s insufficient concern for Carter and Elaine

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:15:44Read transcript

Rachel seemingly moves on too quickly after her husband's death; the counterargument says Daniel pursues her and Ford's appeal is exceptional, while conceding limited visible mourning. — Mallory Rubin
Book shows insufficient urgency about danger to Carter and Elaine; protecting Samuel explains some caution but does not eliminate the risk. — Mallory Rubin

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1:18:46

What’s Aged the Worst?

Amish beards; Oscar results; racial profiling; disputed laughing kiss

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:18:46Read transcript

Amish beards, that year's Oscar results and racially profiling T-bone are aged-worst choices. — Mallory Rubin
Laughing during the slow-motion kiss is criticized; the defense reads it as joy and feral desire rather than ridicule. — Bill Simmons

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1:21:21

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

John Book

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:21:21Read transcript

Book is the bad-at-job choice because hiding endangers his partner, family and Amish hosts without a clear plan. — Bill Simmons

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1:21:51

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Eli’s laugh after the milking joke

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:21:51Read transcript

Eli's exaggerated laugh after the teat line is the tentative overacting choice; the other response finds no candidate in such an understated film. — Bill Simmons

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1:22:10

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

A western rather than a cop movie; John Book as Ford’s richest role

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 01:22:10Read transcript

The film is argued to be a western and love story with cops, rather than fundamentally a cop movie. — Mallory Rubin
The other response agrees that the police plot is mostly machinery, without the usual station scenes. — Mallory Rubin
John Book is proposed as Ford’s richest and hardest role, above Indiana Jones and Han Solo. — Bill Simmons
Redford is considered less sexually convincing, while Pitt or mid-to-late-2000s DiCaprio might manage the role. — Bill Simmons
The difficulty of combining action, romance and rapport with a child is agreed, though not necessarily the number-one ranking. — Bill Simmons
Crowe is another possible performer, with Proof of Life cited and his magnetism debated. — Bill Simmons
Book, Han Solo and Indiana Jones are proposed as parallel peaks rather than a single best role, with Kimble added as a possibility. — Mallory Rubin

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1:26:53

Casting What-Ifs

Robert Redford; David Cronenberg; Burt Reynolds; uncertain Isabella Rossellini report

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:26:53Read transcript

Redford reportedly sought the lead but producers feared disruptive rewrites; Cronenberg reportedly declined directing. — Bill Simmons
Reynolds reportedly wanted the part then withdrew; a Rossellini offer is treated as uncertain research. — Bill Simmons
Ford reportedly doubted McGillis before Weir persuaded him; whether this reflected her personally or inexperience is unresolved. — Bill Simmons

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1:28:39

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Carter’s actor

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:28:39Read transcript

Carter's actor, remembered from Another 48 Hrs., is the That Guy choice. — Mallory Rubin

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1:28:46

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Danny Glover; Patti LuPone

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:28:46Read transcript

Danny Glover and Patti LuPone split the heat-check choices, with Elaine's forceful line supporting LuPone. — Bill Simmons

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1:29:41

Recasting Couch

Geena Davis; Michelle Pfeiffer considered

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:29:41Read transcript

Geena Davis is supported as alternate Rachel; Pfeiffer is considered but her knowingness may conflict with the role. Lancaster/York is regarded as irreplaceable setting. — Bill Simmons

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1:31:02

Half-Assed Internet Research

Role preparation; barn raising; silo safety; boycott; Kurosawa’s admiration

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:31:02Read transcript

Ford researched Philadelphia homicide while McGillis lived with an Amish widow and seven children; Ford deliberately avoided Amish research to preserve Book's ignorance. — Bill Simmons
Character-based excuses for research are compared with Rupert Grint's homework anecdote, followed by sexual jokes. — Mallory Rubin
The barn raising expanded from a paragraph; the silo actor reportedly had a hidden scuba regulator, prompting concern and jokes about danger. — Bill Simmons
An Amish religious-freedom organization reportedly urged boycott; Kurosawa's admiration is celebrated. — Bill Simmons

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1:33:14

Apex Mountain

Amish movie characters; corn silos; sponge baths; evil Danny Glover; Lukas Haas

In the discussion (8)

Approx. transcript time · 01:33:14Read transcript

Ford's Apex is tentatively this prestige breakthrough after earlier franchise peaks, because of the Oscar nomination and first-choice status. — Bill Simmons
McGillis peaks at Top Gun instead. — Mallory Rubin
Amish film characters receive an affirmative Apex; evil Philadelphia police remains uncertain. — Bill Simmons
Corn silos and sponge baths receive affirmative Apex support; corn generally is less certain. — Bill Simmons
The upper-body-only bath and Book's toileting while injured raise practical questions. — Mallory Rubin
Evil Glover receives affirmative Apex with Shooter an alternative; Godunov peaks at Die Hard. — Bill Simmons
Haas receives affirmative acting support then a joking later social-life alternative; train-station murder goes to Blow Out and Mortensen to Aragorn. — Mallory Rubin
Weir's Apex is Dead Poets Society rather than Witness, given subsequent clout and lasting impact. — Mallory Rubin

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1:36:14

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Jacob’s death; unshown intimacy; later relationships; adapting to Amish life

In the discussion (10)

Approx. transcript time · 01:36:14Read transcript

The upper-body-only bath and Book's toileting while injured raise practical questions. — Mallory Rubin
Jacob's cause of death is unknown; an orchestrated accident is jokingly proposed then doubted because Daniel appears incapable of violence. — Mallory Rubin
Illness compounded by inadequate treatment is another speculative explanation, with intentionally absurd remedy jokes. — Bill Simmons
Sex after the kiss is affirmed on the basis of the screenplay and DVD essay, despite not being shown. — Mallory Rubin
The location of that intimacy is unknown; grass, a grave, an unfinished barn and the dance barn are imagined alternatives. — Mallory Rubin
Whether Daniel could satisfy Rachel after Book is questioned. — Mallory Rubin
Continued contact between Book and Samuel is hoped for and considered likely, with a return visit potentially unsettling the marriage. — Bill Simmons
A later letter reporting Eli's death from poor treatment is a joke. — Mallory Rubin
Living Amish is appealing only in selected respects: Book and fresh food attract, while losing television does not; cream in coffee prompts a digression. — Mallory Rubin
Electricity, religion, showers, sports and media would obstruct adapting to Amish life; the initial belief there is no coffee is corrected by the movie's coffee scene. — Mallory Rubin

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1:39:14

Cruise or Hanks?

Cruise; Hanks

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:39:14Read transcript

Cruise and Hanks initially split; Hanks feels more like a Philadelphia cop, and Cruise's existing McGillis chemistry is a drawback. — Bill Simmons

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1:40:12

Scorsese or Spielberg?

Spielberg

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:40:12Read transcript

Spielberg is agreed; a darker Scorsese version intrigues, but the reported rejection is doubted and a supposed personal explanation is a joke. — Mallory Rubin

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1:40:51

What role would Philip Seymour Hoffman play?

Eli

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:40:51Read transcript

Hoffman could play a younger Eli. — Bill Simmons

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1:46:17

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

Untouchable

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:46:17Read transcript

The film is untouchable: expanding to television would lose its economical tension. — Bill Simmons

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1:46:41

Is This Movie Better With…?

Wayne Jenkins

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:46:41Read transcript

Wayne Jenkins could join the corrupt cops from nearby Baltimore, leading to an imagined impression. — Mallory Rubin

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1:47:35

Just One Oscar

Harrison Ford; Best Picture

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:47:35Read transcript

Ford's acting and the film itself split the one-Oscar preferences. — Bill Simmons

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1:54:36

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

Rachel courts and eventually marries Daniel while remembering Book

The panel is imagining how this might look in the future.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:54:36Read transcript

Rachel is expected to court then marry Daniel while remembering Book, compared to Titanic's lifelong remembered romance. — Bill Simmons

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1:55:07

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Birdhouse

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:55:07Read transcript

The birdhouse is the final memorabilia choice over a sponge, hats, bonnet, toy and car; the tombstone suggestion is a joke. — Mallory Rubin

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1:56:02

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

There’s never only one way

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:56:02Read transcript

There’s never only one way is the agreed life lesson. — Bill Simmons

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1:56:09

Best Double Feature

The Mosquito Coast

The Mosquito Coast

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:56:09Read transcript

The Mosquito Coast is the double feature for consecutive Ford/Weir collaborations and a very different Ford character. — Mallory Rubin

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1:56:50

Who Won the Movie?

Harrison Ford

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:56:50Read transcript

Harrison Ford receives both explicit winner choices. — Mallory Rubin

Podcast choices

Speaker not identified: Harrison Ford
Speaker not identified: Harrison Ford

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1:56:59

Producer review

Unavailable: Craig is on vacation

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:56:59Read transcript

The producer review is unavailable because Craig is on vacation; a later response is hoped for. — Bill Simmons

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More from the conversation

Mallory Rubin joins an in-person one-on-one episode during one-word movie month.

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

Witness is a top-ten and possibly top-five personal favorite; John Book is considered an unmatched screen attraction, while McGillis holds particular teenage-viewing appeal.

Approx. transcript time · 00:02:21Read transcript

Witness establishes Ford as a prestigious leading man outside franchises after an exceptional 1980–85 run; Mosquito Coast is admired despite its commercial stumble.

Approx. transcript time · 00:03:15Read transcript

Older leading men were aging out while Hanks and Cruise were not yet ready, leaving Ford ideally positioned for the part.

Approx. transcript time · 00:04:40Read transcript

Ford's appeal combines action, warmth, eccentricity, expressive hands and credibility in varied roles; his long later career and relaxed public persona are admired.

Approx. transcript time · 00:05:44Read transcript

His private life seemed less exposed than later stars'; retrospective sexual anecdotes are discussed with skepticism about their exaggerated frequency.

Approx. transcript time · 00:09:09Read transcript

His sole Oscar nomination is considered inadequate; Witness, Raiders, Blade Runner, Working Girl and The Fugitive are debated as worthy roles.

Approx. transcript time · 00:11:48Read transcript

Awards claims must account for specific competition and contemporary reception; Blade Runner gained stature later and the Fugitive year was exceptionally strong.

Approx. transcript time · 00:13:15Read transcript

Out of Africa's awards dominance is disputed; Witness's wins are corrected from cinematography/editing to screenplay/editing, and Weir's direction is strongly praised.

Approx. transcript time · 00:16:05Read transcript

Visual storytelling, the lowered pointing finger and removal of explanatory closing dialogue trust viewers to read emotion without exposition.

Approx. transcript time · 00:18:28Read transcript

Book's goodbye to Samuel is moving because of small gestures rather than advice; the restrained barn raising shows communal life without importing big-city energy.

Approx. transcript time · 00:20:58Read transcript

Daniel remains sympathetic rather than a stock rival, and the closing departure conveys the likely future marriage without an explicit conversation.

Approx. transcript time · 00:22:38Read transcript

The immersion in Amish life explains why outside violence threatens the community.

Approx. transcript time · 00:24:42Read transcript

Pacifism and violence remain in tension: Book respects the community but cannot surrender his own methods permanently.

Approx. transcript time · 00:25:26Read transcript

The morning-after conversation clarifies that intimacy would force a permanent choice; moving to Baltimore is imagined as an alternative.

Approx. transcript time · 00:26:52Read transcript

The three-act structure transforms thriller into rural recovery and then invasion, keeping a fish-out-of-water contrast while switching whose world is unfamiliar.

Approx. transcript time · 00:28:05Read transcript

Weir's American debut shares tenderness, patient framing and visual introspection with Dead Poets Society.

Approx. transcript time · 00:30:32Read transcript

McGillis's sudden success and coffee-shop encounter with Ford and Weir are recounted; casting had sought someone without modern knowingness.

Approx. transcript time · 00:31:42Read transcript

Glover's villainy is especially effective when he calmly washes his hands after murder.

Approx. transcript time · 00:32:31Read transcript

Godunov's contrast with Die Hard and Mortensen's small debut lead to an extended Lord of the Rings digression and hypothetical future viewing plans.

Approx. transcript time · 00:33:08Read transcript

The script reportedly grew from an unproduced Gunsmoke story and met resistance over both cop-film familiarity and Amish subject matter; sustained word of mouth is praised.

Approx. transcript time · 00:35:15Read transcript

Ford's own favorite performance is pondered; K-19 accents and the Jack Ryan films become comparisons.

Approx. transcript time · 00:37:06Read transcript

A modern distracted child might miss the murder while on a device.

Approx. transcript time · 00:41:28Read transcript

Threatened shunning reinforces cultural difference and prompts workplace/Game of Thrones jokes.

Approx. transcript time · 00:48:40Read transcript

Book's unseen private response is imagined as masturbation, not an event shown on screen.

Approx. transcript time · 00:53:38Read transcript

Substituting almond milk made coffee less enjoyable; heavy cream is recommended conversationally.

Approx. transcript time · 01:53:00Read transcript

Closing thanks give first names or unclear ASR names, insufficient to establish unambiguous producer identities.

Approx. transcript time · 01:57:17Read transcript

Mentions across The Rewatchables

Recorded movie reference

Top Gun

The Rewatchables · aired July 23, 2019

Witness is listed in the sourced research for this episode. The precise discussion has not been linked yet.

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