‹ All people
Quiz Show
Quiz Show
Quiz Show
Sneakers
Sneakers
Sneakers
Sneakers
Sneakers
Sneakers
Sneakers
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 9
- Movies in this archive
- 12
Rewatchables episodes featuring Robert Redford’s films
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
1969 film
Bill Simmons · Aaron Sorkin · Sean Fennessey
Aired September 2, 2019
Displaying all 9 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:28:37Read transcript
- Redford was selected for the film’s place in his directorial and star renaissance. — Bill Simmons
Just One Oscar
Paul Attanasio’s screenplay
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:26:00Read transcript
- The screenplay was selected over Redford and Schofield. — Brian Koppelman
Apex Mountain
Quiz-show movies: yes
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:04Read transcript
- Ordinary People was offered over Quiz Show as Redford’s directing apex.
- Fiennes was placed around Schindler’s List, Quiz Show, and The English Patient. — Bill Simmons
- Paul Schofield’s apex was placed in the 1960s, not at Quiz Show. — Bill Simmons
- Jack Barry may have been at his fame apex during the original 21 era. — Bill Simmons
- Christopher McDonald’s apex was assigned to Happy Gilmore. — Bill Simmons
- Geritol’s apex ended as the scandal broke in 1959. — Bill Simmons
- Quiz Show was declared the apex of quiz-show movies. — Bill Simmons
- Turturro and movie Boston accents were rejected as apex cases. — Bill Simmons
- Morrow’s 1992 SNL hosting spot with Nirvana was called his apex. — Bill Simmons
Casting What-Ifs
Redford’s Van Doren search, Paul Newman declining Mark Van Doren, and an uncertain Soderbergh/Tim Robbins path
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:39Read transcript
- Redford sought an American for Charles Van Doren, considered William Baldwin, and landed on Ralph Fiennes. — Bill Simmons
- Paul Newman reportedly declined Mark Van Doren. — Bill Simmons
- Steven Soderbergh’s attachment was accepted as true; the Tim Robbins detail remained uncertain. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:59:27Read transcript
- Robert Redford wins because the panel cannot take its eyes off him. — Kyle Brandt
Podcast choices
Probably Unanswerable Questions
The NSA’s eventual surveillance powers, San Francisco status, hypothetical rewards, and Redford’s hair.
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:48:05Read transcript
- The panel questions the heroes’ victory in light of later real-world NSA surveillance. — Bill Simmons
- Sneakers is called a top-tier San Francisco movie, with a wish for still more recognizable city footage. — Bill Simmons
- Geographic discontinuities in other movie chases lead to questions about Giants-ballpark appearances on film. — Bill Simmons
- Liz declining a reward prompts hypothetical requests, including stopping Jordan’s baseball retirement. — Kyle Brandt
- Access to private screenings of new films is proposed as a reward. — Bill Simmons
- Bill speculates about whether Redford wore a wig; others suggest hair dye, and no conclusion is established. — Bill Simmons
- The speculation becomes a joking proposal for a podcast about actors’ hair, wigs, and cosmetic changes.
Just One Oscar
James Horner’s score.
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:47:37Read transcript
- The score wins the single Oscar; Mary McDonnell jokingly receives consideration for pretending not to be attracted to Redford. — Bill Simmons
Picking Nits
Convenient vents, Cosmo’s motivations, Liz exposing the operation, and Crease’s incomplete travel request.
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:38:07Read transcript
- Carl’s access through ceiling vents seems to make the elaborate voice-password operation unnecessary.
- Movie vents are criticized as implausibly spacious, clean, and accessible.
- Marty is questioned for never checking what happened to Cosmo; his fugitive status is offered in defense. — Bill Simmons
- Cosmo’s redistribution plan seems inconsistent with his wealth, threats, and violence.
- Redford and McDonnell’s nearly identical feathered hair is mocked. — Kyle Brandt
- Liz’s computer-dating remark unnecessarily exposes the operation, although it fits her irritated cover persona. — Kyle Brandt
- Crease requests first-class airfare but neglects lodging and other travel expenses. — Kyle Brandt
Apex Mountain
Scrabble tiles and evading motion sensors qualify; the major actors mostly do not.
In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 01:33:18Read transcript
- Redford is rejected for Apex Mountain here. — Bill Simmons
- River Phoenix is probably rejected; Stand by Me, My Own Private Idaho, and Running on Empty are alternatives. — Bill Simmons
- Poitier is rejected, with 1967 identified as his stronger period. — Bill Simmons
- Aykroyd is rejected, and Species is preferred for strange Kingsley performances. — Bill Simmons
- The slow walk to evade security sensors is accepted. — Bill Simmons
- Scrabble tiles are accepted. — Bill Simmons
- Seinfeld wins for the name Cosmo. — Bill Simmons
- Geese sounding like a cocktail party is discussed, but its use in another unidentified film prevents a clean claim of originality. — Joanna Robinson
- Sneakers is preferred to Blue Chips for a Mary McDonnell character being pursued by an old flame. — Bill Simmons
- Dances with Wolves is preferred for McDonnell herself. — Kyle Brandt
- Braille Playboy is suggested as an Apex candidate. — Bill Simmons
- Helium-voice humor is enjoyed but not given its Apex here.
- A later tangent awards ceiling-vent crawling to John McClane after considering Jurassic Park. — Joanna Robinson
Half-Assed Internet Research
The intelligence-agency prank, phone-phreak inspirations, and the mathematical consultant.
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:30:10Read transcript
- The director was reportedly fooled by a prank claiming naval intelligence wanted script changes. — Bill Simmons
- Phone phreakers and Apple’s blue-box origins are discussed as context for the characters. — Joanna Robinson
- The panel reports that mathematician Len Adleman supplied authentic lecture material and was persuaded by the chance for his wife to meet Redford. — Joanna Robinson
Casting What-Ifs
Mary Steenburgen reportedly considered for Liz; the panel discounts the significance.
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:24Read transcript
- The director reportedly resisted casting the older Redford, but his involvement then attracted the ensemble. — Bill Simmons
- Mary Steenburgen is reported as considered for Liz, though the panel questions how meaningful that consideration was. — Bill Simmons
The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Redford’s last great starring film; Bish’s slow walk surpasses Ethan Hunt’s stunts.
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:20:47Read transcript
- Calls Sneakers Redford’s best 1990s film and his last great acting movie, excluding Marvel appearances. — Joanna Robinson
- Rates Bish’s slow walk across the sensor-protected room above any Ethan Hunt stunt for its sustained concentration. — Kyle Brandt
- The suggestion is that Sneakers may now be Redford’s most popular starring movie, distinguishing it from his Marvel supporting roles. — Bill Simmons
- Indecent Proposal and All the President’s Men are offered as competing examples of continued cultural recognition.
Displaying discussions 1 - 12 of 71 in total
Films in the archive
All the President’s Men
1976
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
1969
Downhill Racer
1969
Indecent Proposal
1993
Jeremiah Johnson
1972
Ordinary People
1980
Quiz Show
1994
Sneakers
1992
The Great Gatsby
1974
The Natural
1984
The Sting
1973
The Way We Were
1973