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Scent of a Woman
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Top Gun: Maverick
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Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
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Aliens
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Speed
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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
So I Married an Axe Murderer
1993 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey
Aired October 17, 2023
A Bronx Tale
1993 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey · Van Lathan
Aired September 19, 2023
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
1989 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey
Aired June 20, 2023
Displaying episodes 109 - 120 of 220 in total
Mentioned in discussions
The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Pacino is actively bad; his performance plays like a parody
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:24:15Read transcript
- The producer says he did not enjoy the movie and calls Pacino actively bad. — Craig Horlbeck
- He says the performance feels like a parody of someone playing a blind role and blames Pacino for dialing it up too far. — Craig Horlbeck
- He also says Chris O'Donnell is not very good and calls both central performances one-note. — Craig Horlbeck
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 02:03:04Read transcript
- Sean selects PTA as writer, director, producer, conceiver, and career-transforming author of the whole work. — Sean Fennessey
- The other two hosts choose Day-Lewis because no substitute could reproduce the singular performance or the movie’s rewatchability.
- Craig evaluates the arguments without declaring his own candidate, and the panel acknowledges that PTA may own the film’s longer historical legacy.
Podcast choices
- Speaker not identified
- Daniel Day-Lewis
- Speaker not identified
- Daniel Day-Lewis
Producer review
Craig praises the movie’s cross-generational appeal
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:48:05Read transcript
- Craig is explicitly invited for closing thoughts — Chris Ryan
- He argues the movie unites viewers across generations — Chris Ryan
- The hosts agree and discuss the broadly enthusiastic response — Chris Ryan
The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film
The underused supporting pilots; Phoenix divides the room
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:55:14Read transcript
- Bill wants more from Jay Ellis and Manny Jacinto
- Bob’s characterization and second-seat duties are questioned
- Bill considers Phoenix underdeveloped and imagines a Michelle Rodriguez-like presence
- Chris likes Phoenix and values her relationship with Rooster
- Craig is explicitly invited to break the tie and says she was good
- The discussion distinguishes the performance from the amount of character development
- The lack of a larger comic supporting personality is noted
What’s Aged the Worst?
The publishing-business lunch, painful hobbling, typewriter workflow, and slower rewatch pace
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:56:29Read transcript
- A literary agent taking an author to the Four Seasons now feels implausible — Bill Simmons
- The hobbling remains painfully difficult to watch — Brian Koppelman
- Writing and revising on a typewriter has aged poorly — Bill Simmons
- One host finds the first hour slow on rewatch — Bill Simmons
- Producer Craig says the movie did not feel slow on his first viewing
Producer review
Loved it; favorite moment is the house takeover
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:06:50Read transcript
- Producer Craig, born years after the film’s release, loved both films though he is unsure the sequel beats the first. — Craig Horlbeck
- His favorite Eddie moment is stealing the Andersons’ house. — Craig Horlbeck
Picking Nits
Unnoticed powers; slow Mary Jane recognition; outburst at Uncle Ben; Harry dating Mary Jane; Harry's spider flirting; gun in drawer
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:25Read transcript
- After webbing the tray and flipping over Flash in front of the school, no one, including Mary Jane, figures out he is Spider-Man. — Van Lathan
- Mary Jane only connects the kisses at the cemetery, after more than a year of obvious clues. — Charles Holmes
- Peter blows up at Uncle Ben for no reason when he is only being dropped at the library. — Van Lathan
- Harry dating Mary Jane without telling Peter is criticized; Craig is asked whether that is acceptable and the answer is obviously not. — Van Lathan
- Peter is called a nerd by Harry, who then uses his spider facts to flirt with Mary Jane. — Charles Holmes
- Harry pulling a gun from a drawer in the Osborn mansion is questioned, countered by the argument that Norman sells weapons to the military. — Van Lathan
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:35Read transcript
- J.K. Simmons's J. Jonah Jameson is one of two contenders, overacting but in the right movie after his brutal Oz role. — Van Lathan
- The Green Goblin performance is called a runaway choice for snarling and giving every cell, making Jack Nicholson's Joker look subtle. — Van Lathan
- Craig is reported to have messaged that the Goblin actor is going all out. — Van Lathan
- A counterpoint: that Goblin performance has aged well, and Simmons may not be overacting since he embodied the comics' Jameson; overacting is not acting poorly. — Van Lathan
- Favorite Jameson lines are quoted, including the slander-versus-libel joke. — Van Lathan
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:59:00Read transcript
- Michael Papajohn, the robber with 124 IMDb credits who usually plays goons, is the first nominee in what is called the greatest That Guy battle ever. — Van Lathan
- Joseph D'Onofrio, the cop who played young Tommy in Goodfellas, is a rival nominee with 114 credits. — Van Lathan
- Papajohn is chosen for having the bigger part, with Craig invoked as a possible tiebreaker. — Van Lathan
- Joe Manganiello as Flash is an extra, non-counting mention: beardless and unrecognizable, and reportedly his first screen role. — Charles Holmes
- A crew member reportedly offered Manganiello $100 to really punch the lead during their fight, prompting speculation about his on-set reputation. — Van Lathan
Producer review
Rebuttal defending Rose against each demerit
In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 01:36:43Read transcript
- Producer Craig is brought in because he objected to the segment, calling it Rose slander. — Bill Simmons
- He says he switched on a proper mic, calls the demerits baseless slander after obligatory praise, and offers a rebuttal to each. — Craig Horlbeck
- The cheating charge is rebutted because her fiance was abusive and practically arranged. — Craig Horlbeck
- The hosts concede the cheating rebuttal is fair. — Craig Horlbeck
- Her delay in defending Jack is attributed to a lifetime of being told to stay quiet and difficulty explaining a suicide attempt. — Craig Horlbeck
- The hosts reject the delay defense, insisting a friend should be defended without waiting. — Van Lathan
- Seeing Jack first in heaven is defended because he urged her to have babies and a long life, which she did. — Craig Horlbeck
- The hosts counter with marital commitment and the brevity of the two-day romance.
- A nightstand photo does show her husband and two children at the beach. — Craig Horlbeck
- The other photos are described as adventures Jack urged, and the reply is that the husband barely appears in them.
- Dropping the necklace is defended as closure, finally letting go of Jack before she dies. — Craig Horlbeck
- The hosts argue it makes no difference to Jack and the necklace could have been donated or displayed.
- The hosts note the defense skipped Rose letting Jack freeze and remain unconvinced; other complaints are said to have been let slide.
Producer review
Hated the movie
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:31:42Read transcript
- The hosts call this the most negative response they have ever gotten from Craig. — Sean Fennessey
- The reaction offered for the segment sits the movie out, indifferent to its cultural moment and unwilling to watch children drinking vodka in bed; the speaker is not identified in the transcript.
- The closing credit says he hated this movie. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:39:07Read transcript
- The answer has to be George Coe, who plays Ted's boss and appeared in first-season SNL sketches when older actors were needed; he is also remembered as the judge in The Mighty Ducks. — Bill Simmons
- Craig is cited as always saying the category gets really tough when they go this late for a movie. — Bill Simmons
- Howard Duff is floated as an alternative and praised for one of the great voices; a possible Dallas run is raised but not confirmed.
Displaying discussions 85 - 96 of 110 in total
Flex picks
Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:13:07Read transcript
- Chooses the Kevin Costner award for worst American accent and gives it to Gerard Butler, whose Scottish accent falls out with every line. — Craig Horlbeck
- The hosts wonder whether he is even meant to be American, as a CIA operative. — Bill Simmons
- A speaker says actors should just keep their normal accent, citing Chris Hemsworth's Brooklyn accent in Blackhat and Costner in Robin Hood. — Bill Simmons
Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:26:35Read transcript
- His drug-running, street-racing, absent-father backstory is imagined as a serious prestige series. — Craig Horlbeck
The Sean Penn “I Brought My Own Pack” Award for Excellence in On-Screen Smoking
Jean Girard’s poor cigarette technique
Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:35Read transcript
- The panel calls the petite cigarette performance a five out of ten and a bad cigarette.
Sean Fennessey Award for Stealth Homage That Gives Every Movie Nerd a Criterion Orgasm
Possibly Ricky signing a woman’s chest as a Happy Gilmore homage
Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:35Read transcript
- The participant explicitly says the resemblance may not be an intentional reference. — Craig Horlbeck
Marion Cobretti Pizza Cutting Award: Why Didn’t They Stop This on Set?
Ripley’s unchanged clothing style
Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:40:00Read transcript
- Craig questions why Ripley’s clothing style is unchanged after 57 years
- The group offers fashion-cycle and personal-style explanations
Willem Dafoe: This Creepy-Looking Guy Turned Out to Be Nice Award
Bishop — Craig’s proposed award
The panel proposes a new category here.
Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:39:34Read transcript
- Craig proposes an award for a suspicious-looking character who turns out to be kind
- Bishop is the example
Todd Parker Award for Best Character Entrance
Buzz and Neil arriving at the Lovell home
Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:25:34Read transcript
- Craig chooses the understated arrival of Armstrong and Aldrin — Craig Horlbeck
- Their first names alone establish their stature — Craig Horlbeck
- Their silent presence raises the stakes — Craig Horlbeck
The Tom Cruise Award for Most Valiant Attempt to Emulate a Normal Human
Keanu Reeves discussing the Arizona Wildcats
Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:35:11Read transcript
- Reeves’s football-team recognition is chosen as an awkward attempt at ordinary conversation
- The moment also solves Howard’s camera clue
Five-Word Description of the Movie
Bus can’t stop
Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:48Read transcript
- The flex picker explicitly revives a former five-word-description prompt — Craig Horlbeck
- Bus can’t stop reduces it to three words — Craig Horlbeck
- Bomb on bus is another three-word version — Craig Horlbeck
- Die Hard on a bus is recalled as the pitch — Craig Horlbeck
Best Race Horse Name from This Movie
One Wish Willow.
Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:28:01Read transcript
- One Wish Willow is selected as a racehorse name. — Craig Horlbeck
The Bam Out of Bayo 83 Point
Jon Voight as Howard Cosell
The panel proposes a new category here.
Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:26:17Read transcript
- One speaker explains his millennial reference points for Voight and says the credits revealed the Cosell role. — Craig Horlbeck
- He praises Voight’s unrecognizable performance.
Mallory Rubin Award: Did This Movie Need a Better Sex Scene?
A more explicit encounter between possessed Dana and Louis Tully
Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:26Read transcript
- The selected answer pairs the possessed gatekeeper with the actual Keymaster rather than Venkman. — Craig Horlbeck
- The film is understood to imply that Dana and Louis had sex, but the flex asks to see more of their physical mismatch without requiring nudity. — Craig Horlbeck
- The panel then reiterates that Venkman cannot ethically sleep with Dana while she is possessed. — Bill Simmons
Displaying flex picks 1 - 12 of 35 in total