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‘Deliverance’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Ryen Russillo

January 31, 2023 · Deliverance (1972) · Adventure · Drama · Thriller · 1:40:38

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

Categories

Hall of Fame Plaque

Bill Simmons▶ 5:34The movie's cultural impact through themes of man vs nature, city vs country, hillbilly horror, masculinity, and its role in launching Burt Reynolds' superstar career
Chris Ryan▶ 5:31The one hallmark scene that's going to forever be in the Hall of Fame
Ryen Russillo▶ 6:35The efficient character introduction technique and creative opening sequence that influenced filmmaking

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 18:47Well, three, I guess (correcting the number since one died)
Chris Ryan▶ 19:13Raises several ambiguous questions: Do you see Ron? Do you see Drew get shot? Can you tell it's the right mountain man that he kills?
Ryen Russillo▶ 18:43Can the four of you ever get together again? Definitely not.

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 23:48Dueling Banjos scene
Chris Ryan▶ 23:33References The Town scene with Affleck as comparable iconic level, discusses the rape scene in detail as most impactful
Ryen Russillo▶ 23:12Discusses multiple iconic scenes including the rape scene as most memorable/iconic, comparing it to 'Luke Skywalker learning Darth Vader's dad' level of cultural impact

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 40:39Mentions 'that guy' but unclear what specific Oscar category or performance
Ryen Russillo▶ 40:43Torn between 'he and the cucumber lady' - likely referring to two performances but specific actors/categories unclear

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 42:37The lodge meal at the end - the dinner scene with locals
Chris Ryan▶ 42:43The lodge meal at the end - agrees with the dinner scene
Ryen Russillo▶ 42:48Supports the lodge dinner scene, particularly praising the local actors including the woman talking about cucumbers

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 44:10The river

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 49:41Young John Voight looking like Angelina Jolie and Ned Beatty's disturbing dark teeth
Chris Ryan▶ 46:35Drew as the weak link of the crew and the poorly executed femur break special effects
Ryen Russillo▶ 46:50The vague execution of Drew's death scene and the ambiguous final cliff scene with the mountain man identity

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 54:03Suggests alternative titles like 'Date Night' and 'Guys Trip' but acknowledges the original title has deeper meaning about deliverance from city life
Chris Ryan▶ 54:42No, agrees the title has become shorthand that everyone recognizes
Ryen Russillo▶ 54:33No, thinks 'Deliverance' is a great name that works and holds up, noting it has something ominous about it

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 54:46Sometimes you have to lose yourself before you find anything
Chris Ryan▶ 55:30Agrees with the quote choice but notes it's been ripped off many times since, making it harder to appreciate the original
Ryen Russillo▶ 55:00Sometimes you have to lose yourself before you find anything

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 55:55This is one of the most secretly ripped off movies ever made in all different directions
Ryen Russillo▶ 56:54Are we sure the relatives would show up to jury duty?

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:01:20Gene Hackman — Discusses various alternate casting including Sam Peckinpah as director, Gene Hackman as Ed, Lee Marvin and Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Donald Sutherland, and gives John Cazale for the Ronnie Cox part in recasting couch
Chris Ryan▶ 1:01:33Dennis Hopper — Notes the pattern of same five actors in 1970s casting what-ifs, mentions Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart were in the mix but may have aged out, discusses Dennis Hopper as potential mountain man
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:02:07Donald Sutherland — Agrees Donald Sutherland would have been perfect for Ed, discusses his Vermont background and canoe skills, shares personal story about getting chased in Vermont

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:17:18Not for the four actors individually, but suggests apex mountain for various elements: deep Georgia, canoeing, banjos, horrifically disturbing male rape scenes, exposed femurs, sleeveless scuba vests, dual citizen hillbillies
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:17:25Ned Beatty — No for Reynolds, no for the four actors individually, agrees Ned Beatty's apex was Network with Academy Award nomination

Racehorse Name Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:18:15Deliverance - 'here comes deliverance is great'

Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake

Bill Simmons▶ 1:22:25Mentions sequel, prequel, prestige TV, and all black cast as options, suggests prestige TV would be good but notes another host has been on a heater with all black cast
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:22:43Discusses concerns about prestige TV adaptations always being pushed for unnecessary season three extensions, using Yellowjackets and Prison Break as examples of shows that didn't plan beyond their original concept

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:23:29Wayne Jenkins, Catherine Hans, Steve Buscemi, Sam Jackson, JT Welsh, and Philip Baker Hall
Chris Ryan▶ 1:23:34Wayne Jenkins as the sheriff, delivering the line 'you know what big man you're going to jail a long fucking time get him the fuck out of here'
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:24:01Agreed Wayne Jenkins would fit well, suggesting he could have played Lewis or one of the Grinder brothers.

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:26:43Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Bill Simmons▶ 1:26:49The River Wild

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:27:55Never get out of the boat
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:28:20Know the water

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:28:40Burt Reynolds — Burt Reynolds - his star power in the first half of the movie
Chris Ryan▶ 1:28:48Burt Reynolds — Burt Reynolds - because he goes down in such flames that it still feels wrong not to give it to him, and it's the birth of Burt pre-stardom
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:28:54Burt Reynolds — Initially suggests Montana/landscapes and cinematography of the town, but concedes it's Burt Reynolds while acknowledging he's forcing the conversation to pick the landscapes

Movies Referenced (40)

Chinatown (1974)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Ryen Russillo▶ 1:33:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)

5 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 4:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Exorcist (1973)

5 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 4:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Blair Witch (2016)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 14:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gone Girl (2014)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 16:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jaws (1975)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Ryen Russillo▶ 4:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Pulp Fiction (1994)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 31:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Slap Shot (1977)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo▶ 1:38:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Crying Game (1992)

3 mentions · Ryen Russillo, Bill Simmons▶ 13:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Alien (1979)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 7:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fargo (1996)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 59:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gravity (2013)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo▶ 1:38:33IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (5)

Bob Fosse

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for All That Jazz▶ 19:29IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Clint Eastwood

1 mentions · Ryen Russillo · Known for Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven▶ 1:30:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Boorman

1 mentions · Ryen Russillo▶ 2:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Bellany

1 mentions · Ryen Russillo · Known for Stardust▶ 0:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert Altman

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Gosford Park▶ 41:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (26)

Burt Reynolds

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Boogie Nights, Smokey and the Bandit, Striptease▶ 5:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ned Beatty

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Network, Deliverance, Shooter▶ 10:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jimmy Carter

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:12:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jon Voight

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Midnight Cowboy, Anaconda, Deliverance▶ 6:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lee Marvin

2 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Dirty Dozen▶ 1:01:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Steven Seagal

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo · Known for Under Siege 2: Dark Territory▶ 2:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Crazy Town

1 mentions · Ryen Russillo · Known for Something's Gotta Give, Saving Silverman, Orange County▶ 0:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dan August

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 11:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dennis Hopper

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Easy Rider, Blue Velvet, Speed▶ 1:08:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Donald Sutherland

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fred Dalton

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Halle Berry

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Die Another Day▶ 14:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (3)

James Dickey

2 mentions · Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan · Known for Deliverance▶ 2:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jim Harrison

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Legends of the Fall▶ 1:09:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 20:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Michael Scott

1 mentions · Ryen Russillo · Known for Speed, Twister, Donnie Darko▶ 24:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗