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Film credit
Robert Downey Jr.
Also referred to as Downey, Robert Downey
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 5
- Movies in this archive
- 5
Rewatchables episodes featuring Robert Downey Jr.’s films
Displaying all 5 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 02:04:46Read transcript
- Robert Downey Jr. is the declared winner. — Craig Horlbeck
Podcast choices
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:50:04Read transcript
- Robert Downey Jr. is judged at Apex because Iron Man arrived the same year.
- Ben Stiller is considered but not affirmed.
- Vietnam War parody is judged at Apex here.
- Jack Black, Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Baruchel, Matthew McConaughey, and Bill Hader are considered without affirmative selections.
- Politically incorrect comedies are discussed, with Blazing Saddles remaining the leading historical example.
Half-Assed Internet Research
Hawaii production and promotional details
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:46:51Read transcript
- The production is said to have filmed on Kauai, followed by discussion of Hawaii as a filmmaker family destination. — Bill Simmons
- Stiller, Downey, and Black promoted the film on American Idol; Rick Baker created Downey's makeup; the makeup reportedly took up to two hours. — Bill Simmons
- A Quint-like reveal for Four Leaf was reportedly rejected as one homage too many. — Bill Simmons
- Bill Hader reportedly became nervous at his audition after seeing Tom Cruise there as Les Grossman. — Van Lathan
Steven Seagal shitting on himself award for most unbelievable anecdote from the actual film shoot
Stallone legend and losing daylight
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:11:25Read transcript
- Jack Black reportedly described his tied-to-a-tree speech as an homage to an explicit Sylvester Stallone microphone legend. — Craig Horlbeck
- Brandon T. Jackson reportedly said the San Antonio exchange was improvised with Robert Downey Jr. while the production was losing daylight. — Van Lathan
- Bill Hader reportedly described Tom Cruise recognizing him only after an impression and a briefing-like realization. — Bill Simmons
Half-Assed Internet Research
Period reconstruction, digital photography, a 1972 sting film, repeated straw takes, Ruffalo’s deal, and a cocktail
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 02:15:19Read transcript
- Production used period photos to recreate streets, cars, and the number of Volkswagen Beetles. — Bill Simmons
- The Thomson Viper digital camera is discussed as an early major digital-production choice. — Bill Simmons
- A 1972 Zodiac movie was reportedly screened as part of an attempted sting. — Bill Simmons
- The filmmakers behind that movie hoped the killer would attend. — Bill Simmons
- Downey’s straw trick reportedly required 26 takes. — Bill Simmons
- Ruffalo recounts a blunt studio negotiation over his casting. — Bill Simmons
- The movie’s cocktail recipe is enumerated and judged unappealing.
Casting What-Ifs
Gary Oldman, Orlando Bloom, Brad Pitt, and Jennifer Aniston appear in a detailed casting history.
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 02:07:46Read transcript
- Gary Oldman was considered for Melvin Belli but physical resemblance was an issue. — Sean Fennessey
- Orlando Bloom was lined up as an alternative Graysmith. — Sean Fennessey
- Jennifer Aniston reportedly recommended Gyllenhaal and Ruffalo to Fincher. — Sean Fennessey
- Aniston declined the Chloë Sevigny role. — Sean Fennessey
- Fincher wanted Brad Pitt for Avery before Robert Downey Jr. — Bill Simmons
- The panel prefers Downey’s fast, nervy energy for Avery. — Sean Fennessey
The Rick Dalton Award for the Greatest Fucking Acting I’ve Ever Seen
Robert Downey Jr.’s houseboat performance
Flex pick · Bill Simmons
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 02:01:21Read transcript
- Downey’s delivery of “somebody should write a book” is singled out.
- His physical acting on the houseboat is praised.
- The scene’s exposed, disheveled presentation strengthens the performance.
What’s Aged the Worst?
The abrupt four-year title card, too little Downey–Gyllenhaal time, their fictionalized friendship, Anthony Edwards’s wig, and the film’s persuasive Arthur Leigh Allen framing
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:56:40Read transcript
- Replacing a planned two-minute musical time-passage montage with the abrupt “four years later” card is criticized. — Bill Simmons
- The film is judged about five minutes short on Downey and Gyllenhaal together. — Bill Simmons
- Their entertaining friendship is acknowledged as a movie invention rather than a real friendship. — Chris Ryan
- Anthony Edwards wearing a wig is criticized. — Bill Simmons
- The movie left one host certain Arthur Leigh Allen was the killer for years, a confidence later evidence unsettled. — Sean Fennessey
What’s Aged the Best?
True-crime culture, period San Francisco, Downey, the protagonist shift, Graysmith’s internet-like obsession, Fincher’s catalog, and several craft details
In the discussion (14)
Approx. transcript time · 01:35:45Read transcript
- Chloë Sevigny’s humor and deliberately ordinary styling are praised.
- The rise of true-crime culture gives the film more resonance. — Bill Simmons
- Late-1960s and early-1970s San Francisco is nominated as an enduring setting. — Bill Simmons
- Fincher’s San Francisco feels haunted and geographically unmistakable.
- Downey’s mutterings and banter with Gyllenhaal are praised. — Chris Ryan
- The tonal and procedural shift from Toschi to the isolated Graysmith is praised. — Chris Ryan
- The unsolvability of mundane tragedy is treated as a lasting subject. — Sean Fennessey
- Graysmith’s external obsession anticipates internet behavior. — Sean Fennessey
- Robert Downey Jr.’s comeback context is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- Zodiac’s place in Fincher’s catalog is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- Paul Avery’s waterside home is praised.
- The Chronicle newsroom recreation is praised for capturing an empty morning newspaper office. — Bill Simmons
- The soundtrack’s gradual move into yacht rock is praised. — Bill Simmons
- Downey’s on-screen smoking is praised.
Steven Seagal shitting on himself award for most unbelievable anecdote from the actual film shoot
Fincher’s repeated takes and exacting treatment of Gyllenhaal, Downey, and Ruffalo supply several production-shoot anecdotes.
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:29:09Read transcript
- Fincher’s extreme number of takes is the central production anecdote. — Bill Simmons
- Gyllenhaal reportedly found the process bruising and later described difficulty working that way. — Bill Simmons
- A take in the mid-fifties was reportedly used after many repetitions. — Bill Simmons
- A reshoot involving Gyllenhaal’s father is discussed. — Bill Simmons
- Downey’s improvisational energy and Fincher’s control are contrasted. — Sean Fennessey
- Ruffalo’s experience with the exacting process is discussed. — Bill Simmons
Most Rewatchable Scene
The Arthur Leigh Allen interrogation
In the discussion (15)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:36Read transcript
- The Lovers Lane opening murder and its flashlight-on-gun image are nominated. — Bill Simmons
- The Vallejo fireworks opening is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- Graysmith reading the decoded letter as Paul Avery watches is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- The Lake Berryessa bluff murder is called one of the most unsettling murder scenes.
- Melvin Belli’s live television appearance is nominated.
- The Ione Skye car sequence is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- Downey and Gyllenhaal’s newsroom and bar exchanges are nominated.
- The Arthur Leigh Allen interrogation is the final favorite. — Bill Simmons
- The search of Allen’s trailer is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- The basement sequence is nominated, though one host says repeat viewings reduce its impact.
- Graysmith’s late-night visit to Toschi is nominated. — Bill Simmons
- The Ace Hardware stare-down is nominated.
- Toschi and Armstrong processing the taxi-cab murder scene is nominated. — Chris Ryan
- Graysmith and Toschi’s first meeting is nominated. — Sean Fennessey
- The final Door-to-Door breakfast is called a favorite except for the interrogation. — Sean Fennessey
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:05:58Read transcript
- The full field includes Scarlett Johansson, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Downey Jr., Oliver Platt, Gary Clark Jr., Aaron Franklin, and Amy Sedaris. — Bill Simmons
- Amy Sedaris receives one vote because the PR conversation is exceptionally believable. — Bill Simmons
- Robert Downey Jr. receives the other vote for producing the equivalent of five long three-pointers in five minutes. — Bill Simmons
- The panel cannot identify another actor who could play the role with the same energy. — Bill Simmons
Displaying discussions 1 - 12 of 29 in total
