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Podcast Manager, The Ringer

Craig Horlbeck

Producer who contributes to the discussion. In the Chicago live episode, he chooses Harrison Ford.

Also referred to as Craig, Bangkok Craig, Craig Grobeck, Craig Gahau

Stats

Episodes credited in this archive
220
Movies in this archive
217
Producer credits
217
Attributed podcast choices
13

Across the table

Appearing on these Rewatchables episodes

Body Heat

1981 film

Bill Simmons · Mallory Rubin · Wesley Morris

Aired November 22, 2022

Cruising

1980 film

Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Wesley Morris

Aired November 8, 2022

American Gigolo

1980 film

Bill Simmons · Sean Fennessey · Mallory Rubin

Aired November 1, 2022

The Edge

1997 film

Bill Simmons · Van Lathan

Aired October 25, 2022

Pineapple Express

2008 film

Craig Horlbeck · Danny Kelly · Danny Heifetz

Aired October 18, 2022

Boogie Nights

1997 film

Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey

Aired September 27, 2022

Boogie Nights

1997 film

Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey

Aired September 27, 2022

Margin Call

2011 film

Bill Simmons · Ryen Russillo · Brian Koppelman

Aired September 20, 2022

Singles

1992 film

Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Van Lathan

Aired September 13, 2022

Saving Private Ryan

1998 film

Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey

Aired September 6, 2022

Tango & Cash

1989 film

Bill Simmons · Shea Serrano

Aired August 30, 2022

Displaying episodes 145 - 156 of 220 in total

Mentioned in discussions

Chef The Rewatchables
Chef

Producer review

Producer Craig loves the movie, its food content, social-media accuracy, parent-child dynamics, and grilled-cheese scene.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:24:00Read transcript
  • The producer says he has seen the movie many times and considers well-made food content exceptionally enjoyable. — Craig Horlbeck
  • He calls Chef one of the most accurate social-media movies. — Craig Horlbeck
  • The child understanding the emerging platform while the parent thinks Twitter is private is cited as especially accurate. — Craig Horlbeck
  • Carl’s rushed child drop-off is praised as a realistic parenting detail. — Craig Horlbeck
  • The cinematic grilled-cheese preparation and the kid’s understated approval capture the father-son relationship. — Craig Horlbeck
He Got Game

Producer review

About twenty-five minutes too long; dragging sex-worker scenes; Jesus’s unusually unprotected high-school life for a future top pick

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 02:01:21Read transcript
  • The producer explains that his parents' child-rearing years left him with a gap in 1990s movie knowledge.
  • He agrees that the film could be about twenty-five minutes shorter. — Craig Horlbeck
  • The eight-minute Milo Jobovich stretch is his clearest example of the excess length. — Craig Horlbeck
  • He is struck that a nationally known future top pick still attends school and plays in public without a protective structure. — Craig Horlbeck
  • The hosts answer that this reflects the pre-AAU and pre-social-media era.
  • LeBron is identified as the first high-school player whose fame felt nationally inescapable.
  • The later mixtape and social-media eras are described as distinct stages in high-school-player celebrity.
  • The closing explicitly credits producer Craig Horroback in the machine transcript. — Bill Simmons
Cape Fear

Producer review

Fantastic and very rewatchable except the difficult Lewis scene; an overqualified genre director is like The Menu’s cheeseburger

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:08Read transcript
  • Craig explicitly invited: fantastic and very rewatchable except difficult Lewis scene; overqualified director making genre film likened to cheeseburger in The Menu. — Craig Horlbeck
  • Craig prefers De Niro here to Pacino in Scent of a Woman, because he disappears into the character despite fame. — Craig Horlbeck
Cape Fear

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

Daughter imagined escaping to West Coast college or Seattle grunge; Cal, San Diego State and study-abroad / summer work possibilities.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:31:00Read transcript
  • Daughter imagined escaping to West Coast college or Seattle grunge; Cal, San Diego State and study-abroad / summer work possibilities.
  • Parents expected to divorce within year, sell house and split proceeds, with some to maid’s survivors. — Bill Simmons
  • Maid overnight presence explained by lack of ride home; how she was killed silently nearby remains unanswered, explicitly credited to Craig.
The Purge

Producer review

Better than expected; effective 85-minute confinement

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:36Read transcript
  • After Craig is invited to react, the discussion proposes staged Purge sports and acknowledges that spectators would also be at risk. — Chris Ryan
  • The reaction is more positive than expected despite the genre not being a favorite, praising the short runtime and confined setting as a twisted Home Alone. — Chris Ryan
  • The stranger’s presence is framed as a trolley problem, provoking competing responses about family protection and letting him stay. — Chris Ryan
Mission: Impossible – Fallout

What’s Aged the Best?

Action conventions, Paris, score and performers earn praise; Cavill and chemistry remain contested.

In the discussion (19)
Approx. transcript time · 00:41:10Read transcript
  • The fake threat to shoot Ethan’s friend is praised. — Bill Simmons
  • An Eyes Wide Shut connection is raised. — Chris Ryan
  • Alec Baldwin is praised. — Bill Simmons
  • The mission message is praised. — Bill Simmons
  • Paris is praised as a setting. — Bill Simmons
  • Ving Rhames is praised.
  • Ving Rhames’s wardrobe is praised.
  • The tracker trick is praised. — Bill Simmons
  • The theme and score are praised.
  • Cruise’s ankle injury and the reported expensive delay are discussed; the cost is a podcast claim.
  • The nuclear specialist is praised.
  • The plutonium itself is praised.
  • Baldwin’s lateral move is praised. — Chris Ryan
  • The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood speech provides a contrast with Cruise refusing to yield. Reported Man from Uncle casting and a planned Renner transition feed speculative motives for choosing a large handsome opponent. — Chris Ryan
  • Cavill is praised as awesome by some but Craig disputes his charisma and contribution, allowing that hidden identity may explain restraint. A defender values his sneaky presence and agrees to reconsider.
  • Vanessa Kirby is praised as the daughter of Vanessa Redgrave’s earlier character. — Chris Ryan
  • The nightclub sequence is praised.
  • Rebecca Ferguson and Michelle Monaghan are praised. — Bill Simmons
  • Cruise’s chemistry with the women is discussed favorably.
The Verdict The Rewatchables
The Verdict

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Pinball machine; powdered donut; doctor’s car

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:53:23Read transcript
  • The actual pinball machine is a memorabilia choice.
  • A1982 powdered donut is another choice.
  • Modern powdered donuts’ continued availability is debated,with Craig identifying packaged ones.
  • The doctor’s car is another memorabilia selection. — Chris Ryan
Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Picking Nits

Money and shared room, bathroom timing, driving duration, burnt-car safety, black eye and short overall ordeal.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:20:06Read transcript
  • Why spend75dollars on cab not own hotel room? Only-one-room and Neil pays correction debated; Craig correction acknowledged.
  • Neil money unresolved,extra50dollars room argued despite no vacancies; one traveler should sleep on floor. — Van Lathan
  • Dirty bathroom timing explained by deleted Del havoc after Neil enters shower. — Bill Simmons
  • StLouis–Chicago drive only4–4.5hours questioned against apparent12hours. — Van Lathan
  • Burnt car drivability/hot upholstery and freezing open vehicle/truck exposure implausible. — Bill Simmons
  • Burglar explained earlier; black eye reportedly Neil punches Del in unshown deleted scene, removal appropriate to character. — Craig Horlbeck
  • Craig invited nitpick:Tuesday–Thursday ordeal exaggerated,underwear since Tuesday is only day/36hours; leaving Monday would help. — Craig Horlbeck
Boogie Nights The Rewatchables
Boogie Nights

Producer review

The producer is directly invited, likes LA ensemble striving and asks old-versus-new adult film depiction; hosts see nostalgia and filmmaking ambition versus meaner video.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 02:44:07Read transcript
  • The producer is directly invited, likes LA ensemble striving and asks old-versus-new adult film depiction; hosts see nostalgia and filmmaking ambition versus meaner video.
  • Movie-house replica rentals proposed and liked with hypothetical cost/parties/wedding, not actual booking.
  • The producer is thanked for producing, full name Craig Horleback explicitly supplied and Chris Ryan/Sean Fennancy/Dylan Burkey thanked; ending-show/Viking-funeral jokes remain jokes. — Bill Simmons
Tango & Cash

Producer review

Craig enjoys the distinct simplicity, cheese and stars of 1980s action films.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:20:25Read transcript
  • The addressed response finds older action films refreshing and treats Lethal Weapon as a favorite, unlike The Grey Man. — Craig Horlbeck
  • The discussion contrasts distinctive older stars with interchangeable modern casting and films driven by intellectual property.
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:01:15Read transcript
  • Producer Craig’s invited response finds Stallone’s comedy unsuccessful in contrast with his action roles; the other response strongly objects. — Craig Horlbeck
  • Stallone’s awkward comedy may itself be entertaining. Willis is proposed, countered as another Cash rather than a Tango, then defended as capable of a rich suited character. — Bill Simmons
  • Harrison Ford and Michael Douglas are proposed; Douglas lacks the desired physical size, while Ford has it.
  • Schwarzenegger’s comic ability is disputed, and the final preference keeps Stallone. — Bill Simmons
Displaying discussions 73 - 84 of 110 in total

Flex picks

Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:32:14Read transcript
  • Craig introduces the Vincent Chase flex for Catherine: her planning is admired but excessive stabbing, abandoned weapons and disregard for evidence are criticized; her authorial quality is debated using bestseller and review-blurb clues. — Bill Simmons
  • The counterargument says Catherine gets away with everything; an ice-pick search before bed becomes a joking hypothetical. — Chris Ryan
Eddie and the Cruisers

The Bam Out of Bayo 83 Point

Sal Amato

The panel proposes a new category here.

Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:43:47Read transcript
  • An explicit flex selects Sal for the Bam Adebayo unexpected-performance category, praising his smooth nightclub command. — Bill Simmons
  • Craig confirms that his earlier Sal Amato choice was the Bam Adebayo flex, explicitly connecting the category with the 83-point game. — Bill Simmons
Sicario The Rewatchables
Sicario

Franchise Tag: Should This Movie Have Sequels?

Protect Sicario from sequels; continuation disputed

The panel proposes a new category here.

Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:27:20Read transcript
  • Craig introduces a Movie Franchise Tag flex proposing that a small annual group of films, including Sicario and The Devil Wears Prada, be protected from sequels.
  • Chris counters that once Sicario’s sequel exists the series should continue, while a prestige television version is discussed and Del Toro’s participation doubted.
  • The franchise-tag proposal expands to Sinners, Barbie and Oppenheimer with disagreement; Limitless is explicitly exempted and its television series recalled.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

References You Missed as a Child

Love Boat; Crying Game; Star Trek; Binaca; Claude Rains; Poltergeist; Tone Lōc; Miami Vice; Connery

Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:29Read transcript
  • Craig introduces the Millennial Missed Reference Power Ranking flex, beginning with Love Boat, Crying Game, Star Trek and Binaca references; it is not yet a numbered ten-entry list. — Craig Horlbeck
  • Craig’s missed-reference flex continues with Binaca, Claude Rains, Poltergeist, Tone Lōc, Miami Vice and Connery. Zach dislikes the exorcised-demons punchline and also missed several references when young. — Craig Horlbeck
  • The hosts defend dated cultural references as entertaining later discoveries, contrasting Wayne’s World 2 relying on a whole-film Doors parody. — Bill Simmons
Zodiac The Rewatchables
Zodiac

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

The Zodiac is judged surprisingly bad at his job because victims survive and he leaves conspicuous clues.

Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:52:32Read transcript
Zodiac The Rewatchables
Zodiac

Is There a Porn Parody of This Movie?

The Zodiac Killer starring John Holmes

Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:51:35Read transcript
  • The category asks whether the movie has a porn parody. — Craig Horlbeck
  • The title The Zodiac Killer and John Holmes are identified.
  • The premise casts Holmes as a cop hunting a killer.
  • Its 63-minute runtime is compared with the Century Club benchmark.
Another 48 Hrs.

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

“If shit was worth something, poor people would be born with no assholes”

Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:26:51Read transcript
  • The poverty-and-excrement line is the selected quote. — Craig Horlbeck
  • The old-football-bet explanation and request to talk black people stuff are additional favorite lines. — Chris Ryan
Halloween II

Unintentional Comedy Award

The paramedic making injured Laurie take a “big step” into the ambulance

Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:47Read transcript
  • Laurie has been unable to walk, yet receives no stretcher and must put weight on the injured ankle.
  • Jimmy’s extreme injured acting is an additional low-key overacting joke; an alternate TV ending puts him beside Laurie in the ambulance. — Bill Simmons
Displaying flex picks 13 - 24 of 35 in total