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‘The Big Chill’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey

September 26, 2023 · The Big Chill (1983) · Comedy · Drama · 2:03:19

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 39:17Opening credits with bathtub and Marvin Gaye, and Richard's big kitchen scene where he makes a sandwich at 3am and gives his speech about life priorities
Chris Ryan▶ 39:29The opening 20 minutes meet-every-character montage where you learn about all the characters with minimal dialogue
Sean Fennessey▶ 45:48Agrees with the opening credits and discusses the wake scene with Klein's speech and the Rolling Stones song

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 53:11Whether the character had drugs for distribution or personal use - questioning the purpose behind having a bunch of drugs while driving around
Chris Ryan▶ 53:14The character does both distribution and personal use, and is very reckless with his pills

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 53:31The Wolf of Wall Street — Wolf of Wall Street for quaaludes (lemon ludes)
Sean Fennessey▶ 58:33Tom Berenger — Tom Berenger as most forgotten major star of the 1980s

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:00:58Has recasting couch thoughts to discuss later
Chris Ryan▶ 1:01:09Glenn Close — Joe Beth and Glenn Close both wanted to play this part
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:01:01Mary Kay Place — Disagrees with another host's recasting thoughts, likes the current casting with Mary Kay Place

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:23They used the Great Santini house
Chris Ryan▶ 1:06:46Nick and Sam just watching TV together - scenes of just guys watching TV
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:07:16The four handsomest guys ever in a set of roles like that

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:54Coffee usage in the movie - the coffee pot, how people convene around it

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:06the house

Great Shot Gordo Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:09Spatial composition in dialogue scenes with seven people that keeps everyone connected and properly positioned
Chris Ryan▶ 1:09:06Dissolve from Alex's wrist stitches to the farmland field outside the church, and Ozu-influenced triad shots of objects that reveal character
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:09:52Subtle camera movements throughout - purposeful zooms and pans that seem perfunctory but are really deliberate

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:11:50Karen going back to Richard at the end - after JT Lancer sleeps with her, the next day she's planning to take the boys and Richard to see a taping
Chris Ryan▶ 1:12:08Discussed Karen's decision but explained it as informed by Sarah's story about her affair with Alex - Karen doesn't want to lose her family like Sarah did
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:12:36Defended Karen's choice as realistic - married women wanting adventure but not willing to give up what they've built their life towards

Is There a Better Title?

Sean Fennessey▶ 1:16:02No, it's a brilliant title

Picking Nits

Bill Simmons▶ 1:18:53Sarah offers up her husband because she had an affair with Alex - this is described as a 'pretty big nitpick'
Chris Ryan▶ 1:18:59Discusses the logical inconsistency of Maggie going through all the guys asking to be impregnated but never asking Harold, the house owner
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:19:09Details how Maggie systematically goes through each guy (Nick, Sam, JT Lancer, considers Michael) but never asks Harold who owns the house

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:20:34Sarah's request was actually reasonable given the era and their close friendship - it was generosity and free love, and her mom agreed it made sense
Chris Ryan▶ 1:19:44Sarah asking Harold to sleep with Meg to get her pregnant is loser behavior - she's the one who cheated so she shouldn't make him be a sperm donor
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:20:46Agrees with another host that it was a good move because Harold is a good guy with good genes who was willing to participate

Overacting Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:27:53The preacher/pastor asking where Alex's hope is

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:28:32Kevin Costner — Initially suggests the preacher, but shows interest in Costner despite concerns about his minimal screen presence, also mentions the cop as a possibility
Chris Ryan▶ 1:28:35Kevin Costner — Advocates for Costner despite not seeing his face, noting they spent 20 minutes discussing him, but ultimately thinks it's probably the preacher since Costner may not actually be in the movie
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:28:43Kevin Costner — Questions whether those are definitely Costner's wrists in the inserts, expressing doubt about his actual presence in the film

Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake

Bill Simmons▶ 1:45:01All versions - sequel, prequel, prestige TV with all black cast are untouchable
Chris Ryan▶ 1:45:08Would watch all versions, especially a prestige TV version of Nick and Nora with all black cast
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:45:17Made comparisons to black versions of other films but position unclear

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:45:25Wayne Jenkins, Danny Trejo, Frank Vincent, New Edition, Katherine Han, Steve Buscemi, Sam Jackson, JT Walsh, Philip Baker Hall
Chris Ryan▶ 1:45:36Sarah Meg

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:46:22Lawrence Kasdan — Kasdan for screenwriting
Chris Ryan▶ 1:46:27Lawrence Kasdan — Kasdan for original screenplay

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:52:11Grand Canyon
Chris Ryan▶ 1:52:19Grand Canyon — Agrees with Grand Canyon pairing, noting the interesting through line of this type of character

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:56:03everyone sells out
Chris Ryan▶ 1:56:12Meg's line about 'it's a cold world out there and sometimes I'm worried I'm getting cold too'

Who Won the Movie

Sean Fennessey▶ 1:58:10Cheesecake Factory, but then says the cast and director, specifically noting it's a personal movie and generational movie

Movies Referenced (50)

10 Years (2011)

7 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 6:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Grand Canyon (1991)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 16:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Terms of Endearment (1983)

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

Reality Bites (1994)

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 13:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Body Heat (1981)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 26:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Boogie Nights (1997)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 22:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Breaking Away (1979)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 41:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Broadcast News (1987)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:05:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Platoon (1986)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 58:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 36:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

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

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 36:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Baby Boom (1987)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:00:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (8)

Kevin Costner

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves▶ 40:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Steven Spielberg

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan▶ 16:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Schultz

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Like Mike▶ 1:24:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Bay

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Armageddon▶ 3:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Bellany

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Stardust▶ 0:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert Zemeckis

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Contact▶ 16:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ron Howard

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for A Beautiful Mind▶ 16:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Walt Frasier

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 11:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (38)

Glenn Close

20 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Fatal Attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy▶ 17:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

William Hurt

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for A History of Violence, Lost in Space, Broadcast News▶ 17:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kevin Kline

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Wild Wild West, Dave, A Fish Called Wanda▶ 19:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Phoebe Cates

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Gremlins▶ 1:26:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Richard Gere

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Chicago, Pretty Woman, An Officer and a Gentleman▶ 39:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Meryl Streep

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Out of Africa▶ 1:29:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Berenger

5 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Platoon, Inception, The Big Chill▶ 17:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mel Brooks

4 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Spaceballs, The Producers▶ 27:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Olivia Rodrigo

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 25:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Rip Torn

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Men in Black, Freddy Got Fingered▶ 30:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Albert Finney

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Erin Brockovich, Big Fish▶ 29:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dinosaur Jr.

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for Reality Bites, Yes Man, Young Adult▶ 25:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (6)

Lawrence Kasdan

8 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for The Big Chill, Wyatt Earp▶ 4:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tony Behringer

4 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for No Hard Feelings, Draft Day▶ 1:13:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Carl Bernstein

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for All the President's Men▶ 1:15:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Sayles

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Lone Star▶ 11:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Meg Kasdan

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Grand Canyon, Body Heat▶ 24:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Taylor Sheridan

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Hell or High Water, Wind River▶ 2:01:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

John Bailey

2 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for In the Line of Fire, American Gigolo▶ 1:08:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗