Close Encounters of the Third Kind
1977 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey
Aired May 20, 2025
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Stand by Me
Fletch
Say Anything...
Total Recall
Film credit
Richard Dreyfuss
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 6
- Movies in this archive
- 6
Rewatchables episodes featuring Richard Dreyfuss’s films
Displaying all 6 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:59:53Read transcript
- Dreyfuss is eligible because he is barely in the movie, with two scenes and some speeches; John Mahoney is considered. — Bill Simmons
- Fox and Sheen are in the movie too much to qualify. — Bill Simmons
- Dreyfuss on the talk show insinuating about Sidney makes the award his to lose.
- That TV appearance is likened to the blueprint of what Trump did over the last five years.
What’s Aged the Best?
Jerry O'Connell; young Kiefer; leeches; the game of chicken; the busboys quote; kids smoking; the narration; childhood urban legends; timelessness; Jack Nitzsche score
In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 00:50:42Read transcript
- Fat Jerry O'Connell ages well, given he later married Rebecca Romijn Stamos and played Cush; his nuanced part is the sneaky best of the four on repeat viewings. — Bill Simmons
- Young Kiefer ages well given his later career: engaged to Julia Roberts, winning the Dion Waiters Award for A Few Good Men as Kendrick, and Jack Bauer; this role is his Lost Boys villain without the vampire. — Bill Simmons
- Leeches always work and make viewers squirm; a Little League groin injury anecdote follows. — Bill Simmons
- The old-school game of chicken; one participant admits to drag races in high school. — Bill Simmons
- The narrator's line that friends come in and out of your life like busboys. — Bill Simmons
- Kids smoking: they embrace smoking's nuances, the pack rolled in the white tee, and Zippo work; smoking then is likened to video games for today's kids. — Bill Simmons
- The story-within-a-story nesting and Richard Dreyfuss's narration as older Gordy, such as Vern's pennies; narration usually signals a flaw, but Stand By Me, Shawshank and Goodfellas do it best. — Chris Ryan
- Childhood urban legends and mythology, with stories mutating among 12-year-olds and jinxes, which the internet has changed. — Chris Ryan
- The movie is timeless: set in 1959 with distance, it captures the era, down to the clothes and the radio DJ. — Bill Simmons
- The score and the classical version of the title song are added; 'Good call.' — Chris Ryan
Casting What-Ifs
Burt Reynolds, Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, Mick Jagger, Barry Bostwick, Richard Dreyfuss and George Segal were considered
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:18Read transcript
- The hosts read that Bert Reynolds, Jeff Bridges, Charles Grotto, Mick Jagger and Barry Bostwick were considered; the author had rejection rights and turned down Reynolds and Jagger. — Bill Simmons
- The hosts read that original producer Jonathan Burroughs wanted Richard Dreyfus after Chase's managers rejected the part; Dreyfus would not have worked. — Bill Simmons
- Bostwick had one of the worst possible career outcomes, 'market corrected' over and over again by other white guys. — Bill Simmons
- George Siegel is said to have been considered and to have turned it down; he might have been good in the late 70s. — Bill Simmons
Casting What-Ifs
John Cusack beat Christian Slater after Robert Downey Jr. declined; Jennifer Connelly, Elisabeth Shue, Pamela Adlon, Julia Roberts, Dick Van Dyke, Lawrence Kasdan, and Richard Dreyfuss figure in other casting or directing possibilities.
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:04:32Read transcript
- Cusack beat Christian Slater for Lloyd, while Robert Downey Jr. turned the role down. — Bill Simmons
- Jennifer Connelly and the actress rendered Elizabeth Shoe auditioned for Diane. — Bill Simmons
- Pamela Adlon auditioned for the friend role played by Amy Brooks, and Julia Roberts was also considered. — Bill Simmons
- Dick Van Dyke met Crow and James Brooks about playing Diane’s father before John Mahoney was cast. — Bill Simmons
- The director rendered Lawrence Kasten had been set to direct but stepped away from Crow’s personal project. — Chris Ryan
- Richard Dreyfuss read the script and wanted to play Lloyd.
Casting What-Ifs
Richard Dreyfuss or William Hurt as Quaid; Robert Davi or Kurtwood Smith as Richter
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:57:53Read transcript
- In the mid-80s Dino De Laurentiis had Richard Dreyfuss attached as Doug Quaid, around the time of Stakeout; the hosts mock the idea with a Dreyfuss impression. — Bill Simmons
- David Cronenberg was given the script, wanted William Hurt and envisioned it as a Spider-Man-goes-to-Mars story, before Arnold took it. — Bill Simmons
- Robert Davi and Kurtwood Smith turned down Richter before Ironside stepped in. — Bill Simmons
- The hosts say Verhoeven cast Stone in Basic Instinct for her ability to flip from sweetheart to diabolical, and said on the commentary that this is how she is in real life. — Bill Simmons
Displaying discussions 13 - 17 of 17 in total
Films in the archive
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
1977
Jaws
1975
Mr. Holland's Opus
1995
Stand by Me
1986
The American President
1995
What About Bob?
1991