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Chef
Chef
Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man
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
The Ron Burgundy Flute Award for the Best Time for a Pee Break
The food-truck repair just after Downey’s scene and the police-officer interruption
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:00:59Read transcript
- One participant chooses the short food-truck repair stretch after Robert Downey Jr. leaves. — Bill Simmons
- The other says the cop scene is the pee break. — Bill Simmons
Most Rewatchable Scene
Many scenes are nominated; the concluding personal choices are the pasta, critic confrontation, grilled cheese, and Franklin Barbecue sequences, with the critic confrontation called the best pure scene.
In the discussion (16)
Approx. transcript time · 00:26:38Read transcript
- The opening preparation and farmers-market sequence establishes that Carl is a credible working chef. — Bill Simmons
- Riva and Carl arguing over creative risk, sweetbreads, equipment, and playing the hits accurately captures an owner-chef conflict. — Bill Simmons
- Carl reading the critic’s two-star review to the staff turns increasingly brutal, especially the attack on his lava cake and weight. — Bill Simmons
- The review scene resonates with the experience of waiting for a career-defining restaurant review and being gutted by a bad one. — Dave Chang
- The anonymous-critic setup is dramatized for the audience even though American restaurants would not normally receive advance notice. — Dave Chang
- The second Riva confrontation makes ownership literal through the glasses, napkins, spoons, and payroll before Carl quits. — Bill Simmons
- Carl preparing a revenge menu and confronting the critic turns the molten-chocolate technique into an angry defense of the staff’s work. — Dave Chang
- Robert Downey Jr.’s brief food-truck negotiation is praised as concentrated arrogant comic energy. — Bill Simmons
- Buying his son a chef’s knife becomes a ritual: this is your knife, take care of it. — Bill Simmons
- Cleaning the truck and rejecting the burnt sandwich both become lessons in standards and communication between father and son. — Bill Simmons
- The South Beach launch and later travel montage show the truck’s success and the growing family relationship. — Bill Simmons
- The critic says he will back Carl’s new restaurant, a turn one participant calls a great twist but also unrealistic. — Bill Simmons
- The pasta cooked after service is a plausible, simple cook’s meal and one participant’s favorite. — Dave Chang
- The grilled-cheese scene is promoted into the rewatchable list because food technique carries the father-son relationship. — Bill Simmons
- Franklin Barbecue is chosen because the location and food preserve the pleasure of a real visit. — Bill Simmons
- The critic confrontation is called the best pure scene because its anger builds and continues longer than expected. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:41:54Read transcript
- The opening choice between Downey and Marvel develops into an explicit tie: Downey’s success is enormous, while Marvel creates a universe. — Bill Simmons
- The separate invited response leans toward Downey given his starting position; the performance defines him for a younger generation. — Van Lathan
Podcast choices
- Speaker not identified
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Speaker not identified
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Bill Simmons
- Marvel
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:32:21Read transcript
- Downey is the unqualified Oscar choice. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (20)
Approx. transcript time · 01:20:03Read transcript
- Downey receives a yes; Endgame is proposed but rejected because the original created his greatest new career leverage. — Bill Simmons
- Favreau initially receives a yes. — Van Lathan
- Favreau’s jump from smaller films to A-list directing reinforces the yes; affection for Chef and Made remains separate. — Bill Simmons
- Howard’s peak is placed earlier around Hustle & Flow and Crash. — Bill Simmons
- Paltrow receives no. — Bill Simmons
- Bridges receives no. — Bill Simmons
- The Apogee awards receive a joking yes. — Bill Simmons
- Ten Rings is assigned to Shang-Chi. — Bill Simmons
- Ray’s Pizza is mentioned with Elf as another appearance. — Bill Simmons
- Downey’s Hollywood comeback is considered among the greatest but initially not the largest. — Bill Simmons
- Fraser is raised as a competing comeback. — Bill Simmons
- Affleck’s Argo recovery is proposed, then challenged because Downey’s fall involved more than poor films. — Bill Simmons
- Elizabeth Taylor is raised as an earlier comeback comparison. — Bill Simmons
- Rourke’s Wrestler recovery is raised, with its life-altering significance questioned. — Van Lathan
- Bette Davis, Rita Hayworth and Taylor are tentative earlier-era comparisons. — Bill Simmons
- Brando’s pre-Godfather recovery is considered a strong comparison. — Bill Simmons
- Keaton is also raised. — Bill Simmons
- Travolta is judged the strongest Hollywood comeback. — Bill Simmons
- Comic-Con is a tentative Apex possibility, but Avengers is also offered; the convention’s later commercialization complicates nostalgia. — Bill Simmons
- The Malibu house is the clear movie-house peak, possibly extending beyond Malibu to all film houses. — Bill Simmons
The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Marvel’s casting pattern; Clooney needed this role
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:03:59Read transcript
- A provocative take claims Marvel stopped casting lighter-skinned Black men in major roles after Howard and his replacement by Cheadle; it is presented as an observation rather than a demonstrated hiring policy. — Van Lathan
- Mackie, the Doctor Strange role, Henry and Black Panther are considered while testing the claim; the speaker expressly does not believe Marvel is doing it deliberately. — Van Lathan
- Clooney’s mid-2000 s career is argued to need a blockbuster like Iron Man; a counterargument recalls a previous superhero film nearly ruining his career. — Bill Simmons
- Clooney is considered able to play a damaged Danny Ocean with toys, although Downey remains better and Ocean is considered cooler. — Van Lathan
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:58:50Read transcript
- The Bridges–Downey showdown is merely fine rather than great. — Bill Simmons
What’s Aged the Best?
Ending; Howard chemistry; Pepper relationship; house; Fury reveal; music; spy gadget
In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 00:46:40Read transcript
- The final I am Iron Man line was reportedly improvised by Downey. — Bill Simmons
- Downey and Howard’s scenes sell an authentic friendship rather than merely asserting loyalty. — Bill Simmons
- Pepper’s loyal care and patience are defended as a romantic comedy and true love inside the superhero film. — Bill Simmons
- A counterargument challenges the fantasy of a woman waiting indefinitely while a wealthy playboy does whatever he wants. — Bill Simmons
- The hero walking through a hot desert awaiting rescue is a reliably effective movie image. — Bill Simmons
- Jim Cramer’s television reaction to a weapons company that stops making weapons is funny. — Bill Simmons
- Stark’s lively, technologically responsive Malibu home is preferred to Wayne Manor’s inherited grandeur. — Van Lathan
- Bridges’s bald, bearded villain is enjoyed as a rare departure from his usual hero roles, with The Vanishing recalled. — Bill Simmons
- The Nick Fury after-credits reveal and Avengers promise generated exceptional excitement and signaled a larger plan.
- The heavy-metal guitar score gives the film distinctive energy compared with traditional superhero scoring. — Bill Simmons
- The MCU simultaneously aged best through unprecedented growth and worst through later films becoming a chore. — Van Lathan
- The home, Jarvis and garage display outstanding rich-guy fantasy. — Bill Simmons
- Obadiah’s incapacitating gadget is belatedly praised as an enjoyable spy-movie device. — Van Lathan
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:35:23Read transcript
- Ebert gave four stars, praising Downey’s unexpected performance as the power behind the film and Favreau’s approach. — Bill Simmons
Casting What-Ifs
Cage; Cruise; Tarantino; Whedon; Cassavetes; Rockwell; McAdams; Howard’s sequel departure
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:28:22Read transcript
- Cage reportedly showed interest in 1997. — Bill Simmons
- Cruise reportedly showed interest in 1998. — Bill Simmons
- Tarantino reportedly considered involvement in 1999. — Bill Simmons
- Whedon was reportedly approached during New Line development. — Bill Simmons
- Cassavetes was reportedly approached in 2004. — Bill Simmons
- Favreau initially wanted Rockwell, but Downey’s screen test settled the lead. — Bill Simmons
- McAdams reportedly declined Pepper before later joining Doctor Strange; Pepper is considered the better opportunity. — Bill Simmons
- Howard reportedly had a three-film agreement and the highest initial pay, but left after a lower sequel offer; rumored performance friction is distinguished from the panel’s own appreciation of his work and uncertainty about the dispute. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Clooney as Stark; McAdams or Johansson as reporter; Chastain or Yellowstone’s Beth as Pepper (timing concerns)
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:18:58Read transcript
- Damon would make a different movie, DiCaprio is considered too young and Clooney only a possibility; Downey’s real-life experience seems necessary to Stark. — Bill Simmons
- Clooney is seriously considered as a plausible Stark if willing to take a small initial fee, with his prior superhero experience an obstacle; Downey remains preferable. — Bill Simmons
- McAdams or Johansson could enlarge the reporter role; Johansson’s later Black Widow casting is dismissed as irrelevant to casting this movie alone. — Bill Simmons
- Chastain is an intriguing Pepper alternative, then reconsidered because her recognizable breakthrough came later.
- The actress playing Beth in Yellowstone is suggested as Pepper, with similar timing concerns and praise for her Flight performance. — Bill Simmons
Half-Assed Internet Research
Development and financing; casting; improvisation; marketing; effects; comics changes
In the discussion (22)
Approx. transcript time · 00:08:49Read transcript
- The film reportedly took nearly eighteen years to reach production. — Bill Simmons
- Tarantino reportedly briefly considered involvement in Iron Man in the late 1990 s. — Van Lathan
- Stan Lee reportedly deliberately made Iron Man a rich Cold War weapons industrialist whom his readers should dislike, then made them like him. — Bill Simmons
- Film rights reportedly moved from Universal to Fox and New Line before returning to Marvel in 2005; Marvel borrowed against its new studio plan and made a Paramount deal before Disney bought it. — Bill Simmons
- Favreau reportedly lost seventy pounds for his small role. — Van Lathan
- Favreau imagined an Altman-directed Superman about an adult man reinventing himself. — Bill Simmons
- Favreau linked Stark’s struggles to Downey’s public life and insisted on casting him over Marvel’s objections, for a reported$500,000 fee. — Bill Simmons
- An unfinished script led to substantial improvisation; Bridges disliked the uncertainty and likened it to an expensive student film. — Bill Simmons
- The film reportedly earned$585.8 million and ranked eighth in 2008; the machine transcript’s budget unit is unclear. — Bill Simmons
- The Ultimates reportedly modeled Nick Fury on Jackson, who agreed on condition he could play the film version.
- The Fury scene was reportedly removed from preview screenings to protect the reveal despite online rumors. — Van Lathan
- Musk reportedly gave Favreau and Downey a SpaceX tour during development. — Bill Simmons
- The Mandarin was an intended original villain; later films used a fake Kingsley version and Killian before Shang-Chi revisited the Ten Rings, with the sequel numbering initially confused. — Van Lathan
- Favreau reportedly chose Los Angeles to distinguish the setting from East Coast superhero films. — Bill Simmons
- The marketing campaign coordinated Sega, Hasbro, 7-Eleven, LG, Burger King and Audi. — Bill Simmons
- DVD sales are described as a late peak, with $160 million earned excluding Blu-ray. — Bill Simmons
- This was reportedly Stan Winston’s last film before his death. — Bill Simmons
- The first suit reportedly weighed ninety pounds. — Bill Simmons
- The man asking Stark about Afghanistan is reportedly Billie Eilish’s father; the claim is explicitly presented as internet research. — Bill Simmons
- This is described as the only Iron Man film without martial-arts fights. — Bill Simmons
- The reporter’s comic-book newspaper was changed from the Daily Bugle because of Sony’s rights. — Bill Simmons
- Animators reportedly studied vertical-wind-tunnel skydivers; the unsteady repulsor flight looks convincingly physical. — Van Lathan
Displaying discussions 13 - 24 of 29 in total
