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‘Rudy’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt

August 22, 2024 · Rudy (1993) · Biography · Drama · Sport · 1:44:00

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Hall of Fame Plaque

Bill Simmons▶ 19:46Ron Dean - Chicago movie royalty, appeared in multiple Seagal movies and was essential to Chicago cop movies of the 80s and 90s
Kyle Brandt▶ 19:44Ron Dean - First ballot Hall of Fame, belongs with Chicago legends like Michael Jordan and Walter Payton, appeared in films from Breakfast Club to The Dark Knight

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 21:09Jerry Goldsmith — Jerry Goldsmith and the score - argues the score does more heavy lifting than any other movie and is essentially a co-lead with Sean Astin
Kyle Brandt▶ 20:49Ron Dean — Ron Dean (the white assistant coach who goes to bat for Rudy)

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 30:29Says there's no completely rewatchable scene until 64 minutes, but gives honorable mention to Pete's bar fight with Frank and the subsequent explosion scene with Sean in slow motion

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 31:15Was he guilty of manslaughter or unintentional manslaughter - referring to some character's potential legal culpability
Kyle Brandt▶ 31:28Discussed the workplace safety issues - how the location looked like the most unsafe place in history, like Terminator 2's final act, with workplace accident counters at zero

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 59:27The birthday cupcake
Kyle Brandt▶ 59:42The pub beers in classic pub mugs

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:01:14The real life Rudy and how he's overshadowed the movie through his post-movie behavior, motivational speaking career, legal troubles, and exploitation of his story
Kyle Brandt▶ 1:01:17Agrees with Bill's pick about real life Rudy, adding that his abrasive personality and inappropriate behavior (like lecturing Manti Te'o about knowing Notre Dame history) supports this choice

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:05Stalking Irish
Kyle Brandt▶ 1:07:16Take Us Out

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Kyle Brandt▶ 1:07:49Having dreams makes life tolerable

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:09:33If they were going to take liberties with the true story, they should have gone further - having Rudy mentor Joe Montana, create the college football playoff, NIL, or even ESPN
Kyle Brandt▶ 1:08:21Rudy's brother Frank was right about everything - Rudy should have stayed with his wife, job, and stable life instead of pursuing his dream, which ultimately broke up his family and led to him being mocked

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:11:46Matt Damon — Matt Damon was considered for Rudy instead of Sean Astin - casting director said Damon had the most exciting audition but was rejected for being too tall
Kyle Brandt▶ 1:11:33Matt Dillon — Guessed Matt Dillon was considered for Rudy role, then suggested they could have written in a scene where Matt Damon takes the letter to his [cuts off]

Movies Referenced (39)

Rocky (1976)

10 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt▶ 5:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Major League (1989)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt▶ 15:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

All the Right Moves (1983)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt▶ 17:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 11:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Toy Soldiers (1991)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt▶ 17:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Field of Dreams (1989)

2 mentions · Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons▶ 14:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

He Got Game (1998)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 13:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Interview with the Vampire (1994)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt▶ 25:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Remember the Titans (2000)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt▶ 13:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Exorcist (1973)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 18:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Alien (1979)

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 21:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Any Given Sunday (1999)

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 13:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (1)

Spike Lee

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It▶ 18:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (38)

Bill Conti

14 mentions · Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons · Known for For Your Eyes Only, Rocky, The Right Stuff▶ 1:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ron Dean

11 mentions · Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons · Known for The Fugitive, The Breakfast Club, The Dark Knight▶ 19:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joe Montana

10 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt▶ 47:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sean Astin

10 mentions · Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons▶ 17:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Vince Vaughn

10 mentions · Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons · Known for Wedding Crashers, Couples Retreat▶ 39:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Charles S. Dutton

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt · Known for A Time to Kill▶ 18:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jamie O'Hara

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt▶ 17:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Matt Damon

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt · Known for Good Will Hunting, The Martian, The Departed▶ 1:11:33IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ned Beatty

5 mentions · Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons · Known for Network, Deliverance, Shooter▶ 17:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Anthony Michael Hall

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt · Known for Live by Night▶ 18:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Caleb Williams

3 mentions · Kyle Brandt▶ 14:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Jordan

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt · Known for Space Jam, He Got Game▶ 19:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (4)

Angelo Pizzo

4 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Hoosiers, Rudy▶ 26:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jon Favreau

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Chef, Iron Man, Swingers▶ 17:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 29:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lily Taylor

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 19:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗