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‘Flight’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan

January 9, 2024 · Flight (2012) · Drama · Thriller · 1:45:24

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 39:06Opening scene with the nude scene and bend over moment
Chris Ryan▶ 41:30Agrees with the opening scene, comparing the theater reaction to Tiger Woods with a crucial putt
Van Lathan▶ 39:06Opening scene featuring Kalika Abrams, calling it one burned into memory

Hall of Fame Plaque

Bill Simmons▶ 41:56Denzel snorting coke right into filling / The Scorsese head pullback
Chris Ryan▶ 42:00The Scorsese head pullback
Van Lathan▶ 41:26Salma Hayek in Latino Hall of Fame - founding member like Babe Ruth

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Chris Ryan▶ 42:05Questions the logic of a character's breakfast routine of warm Miller High Life, weed, cigarettes and cocaine, suggesting they would have gotten ice cold beer instead since it's less drinkable when warm

Great Shot Gordo Award

Bill Simmons▶ 42:21Discusses multiple shots including the early party scene with single camera from far away, the plane crash sequence, and various moments like waking up with bloodshot eyes, but doesn't settle on one definitive pick
Chris Ryan▶ 43:07Focuses on the nine-minute plane crash sequence as being harrowing and fantastic, calling it 'impossible to top' in the movie
Van Lathan▶ 44:38Discusses the plane crash sequence extensively, particularly praising the 'say I love you Trevor' moment and Denzel's wherewithal during the crisis

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 46:50"As soon as you realize that the random events in your life are God, you will live a much better life. You spend your life believing that you have all the control over what happens. Bullshit."
Chris Ryan▶ 47:07Discussed various quotes but didn't give a single definitive pick, engaging with another host's suggestion and other memorable lines throughout
Van Lathan▶ 48:21Analyzed the context and meaning of quotes but didn't provide a specific best quote pick

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 1:01:41First 30 minutes, pounding air from oxygen mask when hungover, fake airline names that sound realistic (South Jet Airlines), calling passengers 'bodies/souls on airplanes', the porn set scene with 'The Beast with Two Backs'
Chris Ryan▶ 1:02:00Smoking Denzel as one of the great movie smokers, staging of the plane crash as one of the last great practical special effects set pieces
Van Lathan▶ 1:02:24Kelly Riley's performance and character, the movie being part of the 2000s/2010s cocaine renaissance

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:07The self-screwdrivers on the plane (pouring out orange juice and adding vodka)
Chris Ryan▶ 1:07:26The minibar

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:38Initially suggested the church scene, then acknowledged Whip's apartment as another option

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:09:06The relationship between the main character and Kelly Riley's character - felt they were missing a memorable scene together despite having two great actors

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:11:25No better title needed, but also suggested 'This is your pilot speaking?' and 'Act of God'
Chris Ryan▶ 1:11:36Soul Plane 2: Inverted

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:20:36Olivia Wilde — Discusses Kelly Riley beating out Olivia Wilde, thinks Wilde was too young in 2012 but super hot in her career; suggests Goodman for Ruffalo's role

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:21:22John Goodman — John Goodman - acknowledges Trina as having a strong case but gives it to Goodman as 'the definition' of the award
Chris Ryan▶ 1:21:34John Goodman — Discusses Trina as having made a case and agrees with Goodman pick, wishes they showed more of him doing the construction work

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:25:09Denzel Washington's practice of taking actresses out to dinner before intimate scenes, specifically his quote about taking Nadine Velasquez to eat before filming the opening scene of Flight, and the story about the flesh-colored tape incident during filming
Chris Ryan▶ 1:25:47Participated in discussion about where Denzel takes actresses to dinner, suggesting places like Chili's
Van Lathan▶ 1:25:55Discussed Denzel's dinner locations (steakhouse, classy places) and listed various actresses from his films like those from Mo' Better Blues and Finda Williams

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:28:30Nadine Velazquez — Yes for Nadine Velasquez, No for Denzel and Kelly Reilly, Yes for Zemeckis plane crashes (better than Castaway), No for John Goodman (Lebowski is his apex), Yes for hotel mini bars
Chris Ryan▶ 1:28:51Cast Away — Agrees this Zemeckis plane crash movie is better than Castaway, mentions Cohen stuff for John Goodman, Yes for heroin batches called 'the Taliban'
Van Lathan▶ 1:29:01John Goodman — Agrees this plane crash is better than Castaway, No for John Goodman (all his best work is post-Roseanne)

Racehorse Name Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:31:12Whip Whitaker, Cocoa Puff, Banana boat

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:36:49Samuel L. Jackson — Sam Jackson as Harley Mays
Chris Ryan▶ 1:36:09Samuel L. Jackson — Sam Jackson as Whitaker, delivering the line 'roll it, motherfucker!'
Van Lathan▶ 1:36:27Samuel L. Jackson — Sam Jackson as either Whip or John Goodman's character, referencing 'the banana bone'

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:37:54Initially said Denzel Washington, but then made a strong case for the screenplay by John Gattins, calling it one of the best-written screenplays of the last 15 years

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:42:37Cast Away
Van Lathan▶ 1:42:40Fearless

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:43:31Sometimes you have to crash a jetliner to realize you should stop drinking

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 1:44:31The movie theater experience of that scene versus watching on laptop - it was loud and amazing but has a hard comedown

Movies Referenced (53)

Contact (1997)

15 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan▶ 35:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lincoln (2012)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan▶ 30:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Saltburn (2023)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 1:00:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sympathy for the Devil (2023)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

United 93 (2006)

5 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 27:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 16:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cast Away (2000)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 34:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Focus (2015)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 55:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

3 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 1:29:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Shot Caller (2017)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 1:35:22IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 31:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Soul Plane (2004)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 1:11:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (5)

Robert Zemeckis

15 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Contact▶ 2:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Richard Fearless

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Lost in Space, Mission: Impossible - Fallout, The Replacement Killers▶ 24:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ang Lee

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Life of Pi▶ 33:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Clint Eastwood

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven▶ 1:29:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Madden

1 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Shakespeare in Love, Proof▶ 25:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (63)

Denzel Washington

54 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan▶ 3:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Whip Hubley

22 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Top Gun, Executive Decision, Species▶ 11:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Goodman

17 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for 10 Cloverfield Lane, Barton Fink, Argo▶ 7:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Don Cheadle

11 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Crash▶ 29:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Melissa Leo

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for The Fighter, Prisoners, Frozen River▶ 17:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bruce Greenwood

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Star Trek▶ 30:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cammie Crier

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Point of No Return, Drop Zone▶ 45:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Viola Davis

4 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for The Help, Doubt▶ 1:22:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Brad Pitt

3 mentions · Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for Fight Club, 12 Monkeys, Mr. & Mrs. Smith▶ 18:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Hugh Jackman

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Logan, X-Men▶ 4:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joaquin Phoenix

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Walk the Line, Gladiator▶ 31:13IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Philip Baker Hall

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Magnolia, Boogie Nights, Hard Eight▶ 41:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (4)

James Cameron

5 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Avatar, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day▶ 5:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Malcolm X

2 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Malcolm X▶ 15:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 35:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Danny McBride

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Underworld▶ 1:19:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (2)

Bruce Green

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Mask▶ 1:43:22IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lotfi El Gorda

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Aquaman, Noah▶ 1:07:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗