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The Running Man
The Running Man
The Running Man
Film credit
Richard Dawson
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 1
- Movies in this archive
- 1
Rewatchables episodes featuring Richard Dawson’s films
Displaying 1 episode
Mentioned in discussions
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:27:03Read transcript
- Richard Dawson is chosen because audiences would have left the theater surprised by his performance. — Kyle Brandt
- A separate argument favors Dawson’s stronger performance and the importance of Killian to his screen legacy. — Bill Simmons
- The hosts explicitly agree to give the movie to Dawson. — Bill Simmons
Podcast choices
- Speaker not identified
- Richard Dawson
- Speaker not identified
- Richard Dawson
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:43Read transcript
- Dawson is the clear internal choice for one Oscar. — Bill Simmons
- Sean Connery, Albert Brooks, Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, and Vincent Gardenia make the real supporting field too competitive. — Bill Simmons
Casting What-Ifs
Christopher Reeve was attached to play Ben Richards in a darker, book-faithful version; Andrew Davis began as director; Chuck Woolery was wanted for Killian before Richard Dawson.
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:05:08Read transcript
- Christopher Reeve was attached when the story focused on an unemployed man surviving a violent show for thirty days to feed his family. — Bill Simmons
- Andrew Davis was fired as director after two weeks, a decision Arnold later called terrible. — Bill Simmons
- Chuck Woolery was unavailable for Killian, and Arnold reportedly suggested his friend Richard Dawson. — Bill Simmons
- Christopher Reeve is endorsed as a plausible mid-eighties action lead with the physique and ability to deliver the one-liners. — Bill Simmons
- The film is judged likely to have been better with Andrew Davis directing. — Bill Simmons
- Chuck Woolery’s acting experience is questioned, although his cool television persona suggests potential for an evil character if he could perform the role. — Bill Simmons
What’s Aged the Worst?
Outdated graphics, Dawson stunt-casting context, weak future guns, Dynamo’s assault, Arnold’s reduced physique, poor dialogue, and Yaphet Kotto’s written death
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:55:35Read transcript
- The opening graphics look unmistakably cheap and mid-1980s. — Bill Simmons
- Richard Dawson’s casting is harder to appreciate without knowing his former game-show stature. — Bill Simmons
- The futuristic machine guns sound less intimidating than ordinary contemporary weapons. — Bill Simmons
- Dynamo’s abrupt sexual assault on Amber makes the movie turn needlessly dark. — Bill Simmons
- Arnold’s reduced biceps and lack of a shirtless scene reflect a back injury rather than character preparation. — Kyle Brandt
- The dialogue repeatedly undercuts the movie’s visuals and cast. — Kyle Brandt
- Yafakoto gives a committed death performance but receives a weak final line. — Kyle Brandt
Most Rewatchable Scene
Split: the six-minute cheerleader-to-launch stretch; every studio cutaway with Richard Dawson
In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 00:26:02Read transcript
- The original Bakersfield footage is praised as setup rather than selected as a rewatchable scene. — Bill Simmons
- The Wilshire detention-zone escape and Chico running too early are nominated. — Kyle Brandt
- Captain Freedom’s workout tape is nominated and called a favorite part of the movie. — Bill Simmons
- Captain Freedom’s cheap costume and visible steroid use add to the workout-and-green-room material. — Kyle Brandt
- Richards taking Amber through a permissive 1980s airport is nominated. — Kyle Brandt
- Killian asking Richards to volunteer and receiving a blunt refusal is a favorite exchange.
- The aerobics cheerleaders, Buzzsaw and Killian entrances, doctored massacre, and pod launch are selected as a favorite six-minute stretch. — Bill Simmons
- The fight with the ice-themed stalker is fun but feels too short, and the plain-zero line reading becomes part of its appeal. — Bill Simmons
- The Dynamo opera fight is nominated mainly for the Christmas-tree and light-bulb insults. — Kyle Brandt
- The old woman choosing Ben Richards is a brief scene nominee. — Bill Simmons
- The fake Captain Freedom murders are nominated as both a deepfake spectacle and a rigged-gambling scandal. — Bill Simmons
- The restored Bakersfield footage, Killian’s television speech, and his final exchange with Richards are praised as the ending.
- Craig Horlbeck chooses any studio sequence in which Richard Dawson hosts the game show. — Craig Horlbeck
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:24:09Read transcript
- The podcast states Roger Ebert’s rating as two and a half stars. — Bill Simmons
- Ebert describes the film as an arcade game for the big screen and says Richard Dawson found the role he was born to play. — Bill Simmons
Displaying all 6 discussions
