Good Will Hunting
1997 film
Bill Simmons · Ryen Russillo · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey
Aired April 1, 2025
‹ All people
Obsession
Manchester by the Sea
Manchester by the Sea
American Pie
The Last Days of Disco
Argo
Argo
The Bourne Identity
Film credit
Casey Affleck
Also referred to as Casey
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 4
- Movies in this archive
- 3
Rewatchables episodes featuring Casey Affleck’s films
Good Will Hunting
1997 film
Bill Simmons · Shea Serrano · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey
Aired January 25, 2018
Displaying all 4 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
Casting What-Ifs
Timothée Chalamet, Lucas Hedges, Austin Abrams, or a young Casey Affleck as Bear; Boston as the setting.
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:24Read transcript
- Curry Barker initially considering himself for Bear is reported. — Bill Simmons
- Cooper Tomlinson temporarily playing Bear during setup is reported. — Bill Simmons
- A young Casey Affleck is proposed in a Boston-set version. — Bill Simmons
- Austin Abrams is proposed as Bear.
- The earlier “Shalamee” proposal and Lucas Hedges remain Bear alternatives. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:38Read transcript
- Matt Damon is proposed for Phillippe’s role; the same-age comparison rebuts an age concern. — Joanna Robinson
- Tobey Maguire and Casey Affleck are alternatives; Hartnett is supported, then challenged as not yet a strong enough actor.
- Tarantino directing is imagined as a much longer, more profane version.
- Spike Lee directing is imagined with crane shots, jazz and a Fraser/Gaye sex scene. — Van Lathan
- Relocating the film to Boston is jokingly anticipated and shut down. — Bill Simmons
Apex Mountain
Casey Affleck, Kenneth Lonergan and the town of Manchester-by-the-Sea.
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:47Read transcript
- Affleck is placed at his apex because the performance won the Oscar. — Bill Simmons
- Lonergan is also placed at his apex for the Oscar and commercial success; the familiar “Kenny” announcement is recalled.
- Williams is rejected for apex. Fosse/Verdon and Blue Valentine are proposed, and her run is recalled as the machine-transcribed “So, Necta Key New York,” Wendy and Lucy, Blue Valentine, Shutter Island, “Meeks cut off,” My Week with “Maryland” (with uncertainty about an Oscar nomination), Take This Waltz and Manchester by the Sea. Shutter Island is specifically remembered as having a very similar plot line.
- Venom is jokingly offered as Williams’s apex and immediately treated as a joke rather than the result. — Bill Simmons
- The town of Manchester-by-the-Sea is declared to be at its apex. — Bill Simmons
- The speakers report that the town was long called Manchester, legally changed its name in the late 1980s, and may have done so partly for tourism or distinction from Manchester in England. — Bill Simmons
- The movie is not yet declared the apex of Rock Bottom movies because it contains too much comedy. — Sean Fennessey
- Hedges is rejected despite the nomination and career importance; a hypothetical career swap with Chalamet is dismissed.
- Chandler is rejected, and North Shore movies are compared through The Perfect Storm and the film transcribed as Cota.
The Rick Dalton Award for the Greatest Fucking Acting I’ve Ever Seen
Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams in the hill encounter.
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:41:47Read transcript
- The newly announced acting award goes to both performers in the hill encounter, with praise for restraint, blocked eye contact and the effort to connect.
- The dialogue’s interruptions, apology and fire imagery are praised as precise and more powerful than showing the missing marital fight. — Chris Ryan
Who Won the Movie?
No consensus: Scott, Levy, and the Weitz brothers; Affleck also advocated
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:17:30Read transcript
- Casey Affleck preference defended for brief sushi cameo; MILFs worldwide joking collective suggestion.
- White’s brothers proposed based on subsequent career; Hannigan / Leon career praise but Bill explicitly rejects Leon winner/performance.
- Scott short-term and Levy long-term proposed, Levy and White’s brothers another combined formulation; Biggs newly bankable visibility considered. — Bill Simmons
- Final Scott short-term / Levy long-term reiterated with agreement, another sticks with White’s brothers; no single unanimous winner. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:05:03Read transcript
- Many cast career peaks proposed here; Coolidge and Levy rejected with Best in Show, SCTV alternatives and Schitts Creek question; Scott later 15 million third-film payday preferred. — Bill Simmons
- Tara Reid affirmative; Biggs considered with Loser alternative, his performance defended. — Bill Simmons
- Klein Election probably apex, better character positioning than American Pie despite similar persona. — Sean Fennessey
- Casey Affleck mentioned as a possible exception in the introductory apex reasoning; no clear settled career-peak judgment follows. — Chris Ryan
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:58:55Read transcript
- Casey Affleck brief sushi-bar/cellphone scene initially sole nominee; availability/friendship speculation not fact.
- Jennifer Coolidge single scene favorite counterproposal. — Chris Ryan
- Stifler little brother nominated; compared with host son comic energy.
- Affleck vote, Coolidge vote and agreement that Coolidge wins; brief cameo versus heat-check distinction debated. — Sean Fennessey
Recasting Couch
Josh: Norton or Hamilton; Jimmy: Affleck or Damon; Lee, Hauser, Casey Affleck and Sean Astin considered; star-casting jokes
In the discussion (15)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:42Read transcript
- Affleck is considered for Josh but may be too conventionally handsome; his Mallrats persona is closer to Des. — Sean Fennessey
- Norton is endorsed for Josh. — Sean Fennessey
- Jason Lee is considered closer to the Eigeman role. — Bill Simmons
- Affleck is preferred over Mackenzie Astin despite praise for the existing performance. — Sean Fennessey
- Damon is another proposal for the Astin role.
- Tom Hanks is a joking escalation of the star-heavy casting suggestions.
- Denzel Washington is another joking escalation.
- Cole Hauser is considered too gritty for the part.
- Casey Affleck is proposed then dismissed as too young; the stated age is a conversational estimate.
- Sean Astin is another suggestion.
- Josh Hamilton is endorsed over Keeslar for empathy and a reunion with Eigeman.
- Washington replacing Keeslar is a joking counterproposal.
- Newman’s availability is jokingly raised.
- Sidney Poitier as Josh continues the star-casting joke.
- Denzel Washington in the Mackenzie Astin role continues the star-casting joke.
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 01:36:41Read transcript
- De Niro as Moss or a younger Levene and Willis as Williamson or Blake are considered; the discussion’s Jimmy Conway reference leaves the final Blake alternative ambiguous. — Sean Fennessey
- Modern franchise stars and British actors may lack the ordinary, badly dressed New York or Chicago quality needed for these roles. — Chris Ryan
- Leo is proposed as Roma. — Sean Fennessey
- Joaquin Phoenix is proposed as Moss. — Sean Fennessey
- Colin Farrell is proposed as Blake. — Sean Fennessey
- Casey Affleck is proposed as Aaronow. — Sean Fennessey
- Levene options are Gary Oldman or a returning Pacino. — Sean Fennessey
- Eddie Murphy would be interesting because of his exceptional verbal delivery, without a specific role assigned. — Sean Fennessey
- A character-actor version pairs Richard Jenkins as Levene with J.K. Simmons as Moss. — Sean Fennessey
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Clooney, Casey Affleck or Damon as Mendez; a 2021 Mendez casting; which of the six you would be; learning a cover identity in 30 hours
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:24Read transcript
- The movie is not better with George Clooney as Mendez; Affleck is really good. — Chris Ryan
- Casey Affleck did not seem old enough in 2012. — Bill Simmons
- Damon as Mendez is also a no. — Chris Ryan
- A 2021 version would likely cast Mendez according to his ethnic background. — Chris Ryan
- Which of the six would you be: Scoot questioning everything and smoking, Tate Donovan with too much Zeppelin and scotch, or Cleo Duval? — Chris Ryan
- One answer would demand to know why Mendez used a fake name and ask about his past missions, likened to a David Kahn joke; the other would ask him to share more about himself. — Bill Simmons
- Learning a new identity would be crammed the night before, with jokes about the all-star game and When the Levee Breaks on repeat. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Matt Damon, Casey Affleck and Cole Hauser among the Argo Six
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:04:53Read transcript
- Damon, Casey Affleck and Cole Houser could all have been among the Argo Six regardless of resemblance: Casey Affleck in Denham's spot, Houser with a goofy mustache, and Damon while keeping Scoot McNary. — Bill Simmons
- A sarcastic reply asks why not add Walberg and DiCaprio and the whole Departing cast. — Bill Simmons
- The idea was about the Good Will Hunting crew; at minimum Casey Affleck should have been slid in as one of the six. — Bill Simmons
- Asked "are you with me on that recasting couch," the answer is yes, it is very fun. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Cole Hauser or Casey Affleck in Clive Owen’s role; Amy Adams or the transcript-observed “Chloe 70” in Julia Stiles’s role; Al Pacino as Conklin
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:36Read transcript
- Cole Houser is proposed as a Damon-connected replacement for Clive Owen. — Chris Ryan
- Casey Affleck is another proposal for Clive Owen's role. — Chris Ryan
- Amy Adams is proposed as a replacement for Julia Stiles. — Chris Ryan
- The Julia Stiles role is described as thankless, which makes it suitable for a stronger alternate performer. — Chris Ryan
- Chloe 70 is the observed transcript form of the preferred alternate for Julia Stiles because the role seems perfect for her. — Chris Ryan
- Al Pacino is proposed as Conklin during the period when his style was becoming self-parody. — Chris Ryan
- Pacino's ability to tackle Henry Rollins in Heat is used to answer concerns about him physically challenging Bourne. — Chris Ryan
Displaying discussions 1 - 12 of 24 in total
