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‘Death Wish’ With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan

May 14, 2025 · Action · Crime · Drama · 1:20:48

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 33:29The roll of quarters scene where Kersey gets quarters from the bank and swings them around against attackers
Chris Ryan▶ 34:52The 10 minute Tucson sequence where Paul learns about guns and connects with Wild West mythology

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 46:23that last park shootout with the stairs
Chris Ryan▶ 46:10sex worker diner

Great Shot Gordo Award

Chris Ryan▶ 46:40The wide angle lens shots of the mother and daughter hanging out in the apartment before the thugs arrive, particularly the fisheye-style shot of them sitting on the bed talking

Apex Mountain

Chris Ryan▶ 49:37Apex Mountain for calling your father-in-law dad

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 54:26The Bruce Willis 2018 remake - it was a great idea for a remake but the execution wasn't good
Chris Ryan▶ 52:39Multiple elements: the graphic rape-murder scene, the nickname 'the vigilante' being unimaginative, Paul's unrealistic quick return to normalcy after trauma, and the behind-the-scenes casting decision where Bronson refused to let his real wife play the role

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 55:27Discusses that the original title 'The Sidewalk Vigilante' would be better than just 'The Vigilante', and argues that having 'Death' in the title was actually beneficial rather than a deterrent

Overacting Award

Bill Simmons▶ 55:44Jeff Goldblum — The three bad guys, specifically Goldblum and the other antagonists
Chris Ryan▶ 55:53Jeff Goldblum — Goldblum, describing his performance as over-the-top Warriors-style acting

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 58:53Elvis Presley — Discussed multiple alternatives including Elvis Presley (his preference), George C. Scott, and John Cazale as son-in-law, but most enthusiastic about Elvis in the role
Chris Ryan▶ 57:32Jack Lemmon — Jack Lemmon with Sidney Lumet directing - would have created an amazing 70s drama about an emasculated businessman

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:01:58Multiple trivia facts: Bronson wanted to film in California but they forced NYC location; Bronson was difficult to work with; book author Brian Garfield was furious about the film calling it incendiary; Bronson defended it as anti-violence commentary; Denzel rumor debunked - he wasn't in the film despite IMDb claims
Chris Ryan▶ 1:02:39Contributing context: Different Hollywood system back then allowed difficult actors who could perform basic action roles; book was more critical of vigilantism than the film adaptation; Brian Garfield wrote two books, one being a response to this movie

Hanks or Cruise

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:26Tom Hanks — Hanks
Chris Ryan▶ 1:07:28Tom Hanks — Hanks

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:14:40Nell in the park saying 'oh my gosh' and Ryan Rucco on the subway platform when he shoots the two guys
Chris Ryan▶ 1:14:25Wayne Jenkins as a Choa hunting the guy

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:07Herbie Hancock

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:32How does Paul explain his gunshot wound to work and seamlessly transfer with a limp without raising suspicion?
Chris Ryan▶ 1:15:17Would the commissioner, district attorney, and cop all agree to suppress his arrest?

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:16:52Bring your groceries home if you live two blocks away
Chris Ryan▶ 1:16:55The big part in the beginning of the film when they're like, is it time to cut and run from New York City - if you're feeling that way, maybe you should do it

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:17:18The Warriors — Agrees with The Warriors
Chris Ryan▶ 1:17:05The Warriors

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:17:19Charlie

Movies Referenced (40)

Death Wish (2018)

66 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 2:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Rocky (1976)

4 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 1:11:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Straw Dogs (1971)

4 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 5:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Annie Hall (1977)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 19:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 44:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Escape from New York (1981)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 17:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Heat (1995)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 38:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Wick (2014)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Marathon Man (1976)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 26:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

City Slickers (1991)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 17:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Death Sentence (2007)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:03:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (5)

Clint Eastwood

4 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven▶ 4:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sidney Lumet

3 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for 12 Angry Men▶ 57:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Carpenter

2 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Dark Star, Halloween▶ 17:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Howard Hughes

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 41:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Woody Allen

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Annie Hall, Deconstructing Harry▶ 19:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (65)

Charles Bronson

51 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Once Upon a Time in the West, The Great Escape▶ 2:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Kersey

26 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Hulk▶ 10:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jeff Goldblum

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Jurassic Park, The Fly, The Grand Budapest Hotel▶ 12:22IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Erica Vigilante

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Tenet, Venom▶ 4:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Hanks

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Cast Away, Big, Forrest Gump▶ 1:06:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Wayne

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Quiet Man▶ 16:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Elvis Presley

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 58:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jack Lemmon

5 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Apartment, Glengarry Glen Ross, Some Like It Hot▶ 57:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Frank Sinatra

4 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for From Here to Eternity▶ 58:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Liam Neeson

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Schindler's List, The Grey▶ 10:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Steven Seagal

4 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Under Siege 2: Dark Territory▶ 12:33IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Daniel Jones

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:02:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (4)

Brian Garfield

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Death Wish▶ 19:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 25:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sara Gran

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 5:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

William Goldman

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men, The Princess Bride▶ 16:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗