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Before Sunrise
No Way Out
Twister
The Longest Yard
Manchester by the Sea
Road House
Road House
Creed
Creed
Creed
Die Hard with a Vengeance
Die Hard with a Vengeance
Marathon Man
Heaven Can Wait
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Death Wish
Star Wars: A New Hope
Someone to Watch Over Me
Minority Report
Blue Chips
Editorial Director, The Ringer
Chris Ryan
Chris Ryan is listed by The Ringer as editorial director.
Also referred to as Chris, CR, Christopher Ryan, Sierra
Stats
- Episodes credited in this archive
- 286
- Movies in this archive
- 271
- Attributed podcast choices
- 46
Recently watched on Letterboxd
Across the table
Appearing on these Rewatchables episodes
Forrest Gump
1994 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey · Mallory Rubin
Aired February 13, 2024
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
1989 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey · Van Lathan
Aired December 19, 2023
Displaying episodes 85 - 96 of 286 in total
Mentioned in discussions
Flex pick · Chris Ryan
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:03:40Read transcript
- Julie Delpy wins the explicit Chris Ryan flex for smoking at the cafe, though more actual puffs are desired. — Bill Simmons
- Jesse taking a drag, getting his own cigarette and lighting it from hers is admired as authentic smoker behavior. — Bill Simmons
Jesse in Before Sunrise Award for the Character Who Should Have Smoked but Didn’t
Jesse; probably Céline too
The panel proposes a new category here.
Flex pick · Chris Ryan
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:01:37Read transcript
- Chris explicitly selects the category as his flex after Bill invites him to restore a cut category. — Chris Ryan
- Chris remembers Jesse as a smoker and argues that Hawke's real-life smoking makes the omission puzzling. — Chris Ryan
- The 1995 European setting and the smoking poet make the absence of cigarettes especially conspicuous.
- The lack of smoking now makes the movie feel unexpectedly modern.
- Julie Delpy is also proposed as someone who would plausibly smoke. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:36:49Read transcript
- A Chris Collinsworth call is performed using Patrick Mahomes-style praise for Gumb’s preparation. — Chris Ryan
- A Tony Romo call is performed around the tuck and “Goodbye Horses.”
- Doris Burke is explicitly selected for an analytical call of Gumb’s long preparation. — Bill Simmons
- Joe Buck is proposed for five-word scene descriptions. — Bill Simmons
What Would Tony Romo’s Director’s Commentary for This Movie Sound Like?
Chris Collinsworth; Tony Romo; Bill Raftery; Doris Burke
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:25:01Read transcript
- Chris Collinsworth and Tony Romo are imagined narrating the flirtation and twist; Bill Raftery is also proposed.
- Doris Burke is added as another imagined commentator.
Casting What-Ifs
Spielberg; Hanks; Sorvino; Brooks
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:56Read transcript
- Spielberg was reportedly attached to direct before executive-producing; de Bont arrived after leaving Godzilla over creative differences. — Bill Simmons
- Hanks reportedly prepared for the Bill role before passing and recommending Paxton.
- Sorvino reportedly declined Melissa because she would not dye her hair. — Bill Simmons
- A Garth Brooks-as-Jonas possibility is raised with explicit uncertainty about its credibility. — Chris Ryan
- Dwight Yoakam or Chris Gaines is imagined as stunt casting for Jonas.
What Would Tony Romo’s Director’s Commentary for This Movie Sound Like?
Chris Collinsworth is favored over Tony Romo.
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:45Read transcript
- Tony Romo and Chris Collinsworth are proposed for football commentary over the movie. — Bill Simmons
- Collinsworth is favored for explaining the repeated success of Split Right on Two. — Bill Simmons
Is This Movie Better With…?
Chris from The Town, Vincent Hanna or Sergeant Dignam.
In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:55Read transcript
- Thanos is jokingly offered while the hosts test-drive the add-one-character category; he is not accepted as the result. — Bill Simmons
- Chris from The Town is imagined meeting Lee at a bar.
- Vincent Hanna is imagined conducting the police interview.
- Wayne Jenkins is retained as a named candidate in the recurring better-with prompt. — Bill Simmons
- “Danny Treo” is retained exactly as rendered by the machine transcript as a named candidate; the possible identity is not independently normalized. — Bill Simmons
- Sam Jackson is retained as a named candidate in the recurring better-with prompt. — Bill Simmons
- J. T. Walsh is retained as a named candidate in the recurring better-with prompt. — Bill Simmons
- Byron Mayo is retained exactly as rendered by the machine transcript as a candidate; the identity is not independently normalized. — Bill Simmons
- Harley Mays is retained exactly as rendered by the machine transcript as a candidate; the identity is not independently normalized. — Bill Simmons
- The machine transcript renders another entry as “evil laughing, Ramon Raymond”; that uncertain candidate wording is preserved without inferring an identity. — Bill Simmons
- “Philip Bakerall” is retained exactly as rendered by the machine transcript as a named candidate; the possible identity is not independently normalized. — Bill Simmons
- Sergeant Dignam from The Departed is proposed as the hockey coach and enthusiastically accepted. — Chris Ryan
- Chris from The Town is considered for addition to the recurring fictional-character pool. — Bill Simmons
The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Dalton gentrifies the bar; the greatest villain line ever; Wesley may have a point.
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:06Read transcript
- Chris prefers the dangerous old Double Deuce and calls Dalton a gentrifier whose cleanup turns it into a family chain restaurant. — Chris Ryan
- Kyle calls Jimmy's prison taunt the greatest villain line ever: a few words suddenly establish a terrifying history. The group wants a Jimmy prison prequel. — Kyle Brandt
- A deliberately contrarian defense credits Wesley with building Jasper's businesses and asks whether Dalton is the villain; the protection-money objection is answered by calling it Wesley's town. — Bill Simmons
What’s Aged the Best?
Famous bouncers, caged bands, recruiting the best, extravagant destruction, Swayze, Elliott, Healey and the throat rip.
In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 00:44:57Read transcript
- Chris chooses the apparently cocaine-fueled men at the opening bar and their 'moose lips' dialogue. — Chris Ryan
- Kyle loves the pre-internet fame of bouncers, imagining trading cards, Cooler Illustrated and a fantasy league despite the premise's implausibility. — Kyle Brandt
- Bands protected by cages and the action-film premise of recruiting 'the best' share a top preference. — Bill Simmons
- The gratuitous monster-truck destruction of the dealership exemplifies beloved expensive action excess, even though Wesley's villainy is already clear. — Kyle Brandt
- Sam Elliott's hair is another choice. — Bill Simmons
- Elliott's timeless appearance and ability to call someone 'mijo' remain appealing; Swayze himself is missed, and Kevin Tighe's shift from Emergency! lead to character actor is appreciated. — Bill Simmons
- The closing song When the Night Comes Falling and swimming-hole ending are praised; the singer is clarified as Jeff Healey rather than Swayze. — Kyle Brandt
- Shirtless tai chi, Jimmy Reno, uncertainty about whether Dalton is a first or last name, 'Nobody wins a fight' and the nipple-to-nipple invitation all retain appeal.
- The hero's hidden Memphis past is an appealing trope, though his shame needs explanation; the hosts imagine a missing confession scene. The throat-rip move still shocks. — Bill Simmons
- Julie Michaels's stunt background and later Point Break fight, the Family Guy tribute and Jeff Healey's performance are additional pleasures. — Bill Simmons
- Swayze's effortless cigarette flick and drifting smoke are praised as hall-of-fame movie smoking, despite the real-life tragedy discussed. — Bill Simmons
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Apollo’s third fight; Adonis’s job; Rocky’s son; Tone Trump photo; Mary Anne’s wealth
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:34:56Read transcript
- Rocky says Apollo won their private third fight. Bill doubts whether he is sparing the son’s feelings; Van thinks Apollo probably won. The uncertainty remains unresolved. — Bill Simmons
- Nitpicks/unanswerable: Adonis’s financial-services job and work history are unclear, and weekend Tijuana boxing seems incompatible with managing clients’ money; Don Johnson is an appealing adviser-name joke.
- Unanswerable: would Creed’s breakthrough uplift Philadelphia during poor Eagles and Sixers seasons? His Los Angeles–Philadelphia–Liverpool route is jokingly the reverse of Chris’s family migration.
- Unanswerable: why does Rocky’s son not visit during chemotherapy, and did Tone Trump retain or post his photograph with Adonis after their fight? — Bill Simmons
- Unanswerable: Adonis as the success of Philadelphia’s Process is a sports joke; Mary Anne’s wealth and his privileged upbringing are discussed without a firm financial answer.
Mount Rushmore for Philadelphia Movies
The Sixth Sense; Rocky; Blow Out; Trading Places; Super Bowl 52 joke addition
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:29:50Read transcript
- Chris’s Philadelphia movie Mount Rushmore names The Sixth Sense, Rocky, Blow Out and Trading Places, then adds Super Bowl 52 as emphatic number one, a sports-event joke beyond the four-film set. — Chris Ryan
The Big Kahuna Burger Award for Best Use of Food and Drink
Cheesesteak first date
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:50:37Read transcript
- Chris chooses the Meek Mill training montage and adds the cheesesteak first date as a particularly Philadelphia scene; the date also wins the food award.
Displaying discussions 25 - 36 of 119 in total
Flex picks
Ratso Rizzo I’m Walking Here Award for Most New York Quote
“They don’t allow dump trucks on the FDR”
Flex pick · Chris Ryan
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:25Read transcript
- A new Ratso Rizzo I’m Walking Here award for most New York quote is proposed as a second flex. — Chris Ryan
- Candidates include Zeus rejecting Jesus, the cab passenger’s medallion threat, and Zeus’s refusal to handle a white man’s problems above 110th Street. — Chris Ryan
- The exchange ending with dump trucks being prohibited on the FDR is the favorite. — Chris Ryan
When I Would Have Died
Water-jug puzzle; St. Ives riddle
Flex pick · Chris Ryan
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:00Read transcript
- The water-jug puzzle would be fatal to the flex picker; another response finds that manageable but doubts remembering St. Ives after one fast recital. — Chris Ryan
When I Would Have Died
The bathroom entrapment and revelation of dental tools
Flex pick · Chris Ryan
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:56:22Read transcript
- One participant says the bathroom entrapment would be the likely death point, possibly by drowning or self-harm to avoid torture. — Chris Ryan
- Another participant also chooses the bathroom because the window offers no escape. — Chris Ryan
- The dental tools and Szell’s accent are said to be enough to cause a fatal panic or prompt a request for immediate death.
Flex pick · Chris Ryan
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:24Read transcript
- The explicitly invited first-name contributor chooses the firing award: Joe bikes on the freeway, Warden misses game day, the lovers cannot conceal the affair or kill Joe effectively, Christie abandons principles, and the angels kill Joe twice.
- Responses agree broadly and add the coach ignoring a clinically dead quarterback. The angels-as-demons remark recalls the earlier horror theory.
Mallory Rubin Award: Did This Movie Need a Better Sex Scene?
Grodin and Cannon sex scene
Flex pick · Chris Ryan
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:06:34Read transcript
- An explicit CR flex invitation introduces the need for a Grodin/Cannon scene, contrasting her appeal with his full-pajama never-nude presentation. — Chris Ryan
- The film’s PG restraint and chaste central kiss are noted; a PG13 assumption is corrected as anachronistic. The film is said to cry out for a sex scene, with jokes about Beatty’s restraint. — Chris Ryan
The Sean Penn “I Brought My Own Pack” Award for Excellence in On-Screen Smoking
The segment proposes that Ronnie or Jillian should have smoked to fit 1977 Indiana.
The panel proposes a new category here.
Flex pick · Chris Ryan
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:46Read transcript
- The flex proposal argues that Ronnie smoking constantly would make her more period-authentic and relatable. — Chris Ryan
- Jillian is also proposed as a smoker because smoking would have been common in 1977 Indiana.
I Used to Fuck Guys Like You in Prison Award for Craziest Quote
Jeff Goldblum's shouted threat and demand for money
Flex pick · Chris Ryan
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:47:36Read transcript
- A censored threat shouted by Goldblum's attacker is the first quote candidate. — Chris Ryan
- The attacker's shouted demand for money is the alternate quote candidate. — Bill Simmons
The Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie
Han Solo’s rejection of an all-powerful Force
Flex pick · Chris Ryan
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:46:47Read transcript
- The selected line says the speaker has crossed the galaxy without seeing proof that a mystical field controls destiny. — Chris Ryan
- The quotation was used as a senior yearbook quote at a Quaker school.
The Vincent Chase Award: Are We Sure This Character Is Actually Good at Their Job?
The New York police are the flex choice.
Flex pick · Chris Ryan
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:51:59Read transcript
- Knowing the killer yet failing to detain him or protect Claire makes the department look incompetent; the bathroom assault should itself prompt action. — Bill Simmons
The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Pre-cogs for gambling; prevent the affair first; restore pre-crime despite errors
Flex pick · Chris Ryan
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:13:24Read transcript
- The pre-cogs are proposed as cinema’s ultimate gambling tool; exploiting markets or taking Agatha to a casino is imagined instead of using the gift only to prevent murder.
- Preventing the triggering affair rather than waiting to interrupt murder is proposed from Howard’s perspective, while ordinary emotional freedom complicates that argument.
- An explicitly invited Craig flex becomes a hottest take defending restoration of pre-crime despite a proposed two-percent error rate; civil-liberty costs and utilitarian reasoning are debated.
Flex pick · Chris Ryan
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:05:46Read transcript
- An explicitly invited CR flex selects Peter Stormare’s surgeon for the Teddy KGB Award for Actor Doing His Own Thing; earlier memorable roles are recalled.
- Stormare is praised for improving small roles and dominating the anesthetized Cruise’s scene with his own eccentric performance.
Cruise or Hanks?
Hanks initially; Cruise reconsidered as Pete or Happy
Flex pick · Chris Ryan
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:40:46Read transcript
- Hanks receives the initial choices; Cruise is doubted as someone who would be involved in college basketball. — Chris Ryan
- Cruise could instead play Happy with Les Grossman or evil Jerry Maguire energy. — Bill Simmons
- A further flex invitation leads to jokes about Cruise teaching Neon footwork in hidden platform shoes and being lifted to dunk. — Bill Simmons
- Cruise as Pete with Jerry Maguire energy is reconsidered favorably, especially for the final broken-man speech; present-day Cruise becomes a possible choice. — Bill Simmons
Displaying flex picks 25 - 36 of 41 in total
From other episodes
Sourced picks from episodes not yet fully included in the archive.
The Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie
Han Solo’s speech rejecting a mystical force controlling his destiny
Flex pick · Chris Ryan
Transcript excerpt · Targeted transcript check; recording not verified
Star Wars: A New Hope — Part Two
· May 6, 2025