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‘The Town’ With Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo, and Chris Ryan

August 2, 2019 · The Town (2010) · Crime · Drama · Thriller · 1:53:15

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 32:17Multiple scenes from the opening heist sequence including the pre-robbery meeting, bank robber masks, Claire working the safe, and Claire walking to the water blindfolded; also mentions the scene where Affleck asks Renner for help and the lunch scene with slow motion
Chris Ryan▶ 34:05Supports the opening heist discussion and adds appreciation for specific shots like the title card with Claire and the water, plus details about character dynamics in various scenes
Ryen Russillo▶ 32:24Agrees with opening heist elements, particularly likes the technical aspects and the 'there goes college soccer' line from the scene where they beat up the Dominican guys

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 1:03:15Charlestown setting, Jack Clark Red Sox joke, Affleck's Boston accent, Blake Lively's performance and character, decision not to use alternate ending where Doug dies, old Sully's/new Sully's concept, Jeremy Renner's performance, Fergie's bodyguards with 02129 tattoo, Pete the florist scene
Chris Ryan▶ 1:05:09Decision not to kill Doug in alternate ending, Jeremy Renner's performance and how he carries himself as the character, the cop turning away scene
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:03:28Jack Clark joke as deep Red Sox reference, Blake Lively's performance defense, realistic Boston dating scene portrayal, Jeremy Renner's casting and performance over Matt Damon

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:17:34Jeremy Renner — Adrian Linn was almost director (would have meant more Chris Coughlin scenes), Mark Wahlberg was originally wanted for Jim but was busy with The Fighter, Casey Affleck suggested Jeremy Renner who got the role
Chris Ryan▶ 1:18:12Jeremy Renner — Added context about Renner being cast after Hurt Locker but before it came out, compared scheduling conflict to There Will Be Blood/No Country situation

Joey Pants Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:18:51Slaine — Slane - the driver in the Fenway heist who drives the ambulance out
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:19:01Slaine — Agrees with Slane, noting he's also in Gone Baby Gone as the helpful drug dealer and doesn't overdo the Boston accent

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:23:44Blake Lively — Wake Lab - hits 11 threes, double-double, no turnovers, blocked seven shots in four scenes
Chris Ryan▶ 1:23:56Blake Lively — Lively - because Renner is too much of a presence

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:27:55Former Mass Bank branch in Melrose used for first robbery; Chris Cooper scene at MCI Cedar Junction prison; movie claimed 300 bank robberies per year in Boston but only 23 reported in MA vs 136 in CA; Charlestown had backlash over portrayal; was accurate in mid-90s when book was set but area gentrified (Johnny's Food Master became Whole Foods)

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:29:32Blake Lively — Not Rebecca Hall (suggests Iron Man 3 might be hers); Yes for Fenway Park (coming off two World Series, confident enough to allow movie shooting); Yes for Blake Lively
Chris Ryan▶ 1:29:41Iron Man 3 for Rebecca Hall in terms of commercial peak; uncertain about Blake Lively's performance reception
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:33:18Blake Lively — Yes for Blake Lively - defends her performance passionately, says critics who knocked her have never hung out in that town

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 1:38:37There goes college soccer
Chris Ryan▶ 1:39:04Doug's quote about finding another truck with a driver who's a fat kid whose shit's untucked and doesn't think he's special forces

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:43:10Multiple questions: Where did gang get uniforms? How did Claire fix ice rink with stolen money? Why would Red Sox owners show how easy it is to rob Fenway? How good at hockey was Doug McRae (homeless man's Cam Neely)?
Chris Ryan▶ 1:44:44Whether movie is better if Lively and Hall flip roles since Hall is objectively probably a better actress. Also questioned the $3 million cash sitting around at Fenway during Yankees series.
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:43:45Does Chris go to jail? Shine probably living in New Hampshire with cousins after Chris died, tells stories about her mom stopping the Fenway heist. Doug would make money on signings so wouldn't need to rob banks.

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:46:56Ben Affleck — Ben Affleck - sets up his next four years, Argo, Batman, Gone Girl, completes the comeback
Chris Ryan▶ 1:46:35Jeremy Renner — Jeremy Renner - incredible performance, one of the best crime movie performances ever seen
Ryen Russillo▶ 1:46:58Boston - the city wins, supported by extensive historical context about Boston's character

Movies Referenced (48)

Heat (1995)

22 mentions · Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan▶ 0:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Blown Away (1994)

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan▶ 19:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Focus (2015)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 25:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo▶ 3:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Spotlight (2015)

6 mentions · Ryen Russillo, Bill Simmons▶ 18:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Departed (2006)

6 mentions · Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 7:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Black Mass (2015)

5 mentions · Ryen Russillo▶ 21:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Argo (2012)

4 mentions · Ryen Russillo, Bill Simmons▶ 3:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fever Pitch (2005)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 17:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Good Will Hunting (1997)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 4:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Rushmore (1998)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 17:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gone Girl (2014)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo▶ 3:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (1)

Ben Affleck

12 mentions · Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan · Known for Argo, Gone Girl, The Town▶ 2:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (50)

Jeremy Renner

44 mentions · Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan · Known for The Hurt Locker, The Town, Wind River▶ 15:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Blake Lively

26 mentions · Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan · Known for The Town▶ 3:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Matt Damon

16 mentions · Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan · Known for Good Will Hunting, The Martian, The Departed▶ 4:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Rebecca Hall

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Ryen Russillo · Known for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, The Town, The Prestige▶ 1:29:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Crazy Town

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Ryen Russillo · Known for Something's Gotta Give, Saving Silverman, Orange County▶ 0:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jon Hamm

5 mentions · Ryen Russillo, Bill Simmons · Known for The Town▶ 7:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Will Smith

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan · Known for Men in Black, I Am Legend▶ 4:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

AiNA THE END

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 39:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cam Neely

4 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Dumb and Dumber, Stuck on You▶ 1:45:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mark Wahlberg

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo · Known for The Fighter, Boogie Nights, The Departed▶ 7:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jennifer Garner

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Daredevil, 13 Going on 30▶ 1:11:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jimmy Fallon

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 21:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (3)

Brita McVeigh

1 mentions · Ryen Russillo · Known for Love at First Sight▶ 40:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chuck Hogan

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Town▶ 22:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 30:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (2)

Michael Scott

4 mentions · Ryen Russillo, Chris Ryan · Known for Speed, Twister, Donnie Darko▶ 32:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mike Tribble

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:11:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗