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‘True Lies’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan

July 16, 2024 · True Lies (1994) · Action · Comedy · Thriller · 1:56:06

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

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Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 12:39True Lies is the best Bond movie of the past 40 years
Van Lathan▶ 7:40This is Cameron's finest directing work ever, better than Terminator 2, because of his versatility in directing multiple genres within one film

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 16:44Arnold Schwarzenegger — True Lies is Arnold's acting Apex Mountain, his best performance as one of the great popcorn actors
Chris Ryan▶ 16:49Arnold Schwarzenegger — Agrees it's Arnold's best performance but notes it's not saying much given Arnold's limited acting range
Van Lathan▶ 17:11Arnold Schwarzenegger — True Lies over Total Recall because it asks Arnold to do more - charm, emotional range, and coolness

Hall of Fame Plaque

Bill Simmons▶ 51:53The truth serum scene with Arnold and Tia Carrere, including the fight scene where Arnold fights a hundred terrorists
Van Lathan▶ 48:48Jamie Lee Curtis's striptease scene - the metamorphosis where she pulls the dress, does lipstick, and gets out of the dress

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:43Arnold getting top billing in his contract and then Cameron calling to move Jamie Lee Curtis up in the credits, which Arnold agreed to

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:05:47Either what CR just said, the bridge, or the Marriott elevator

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Chris Ryan▶ 1:06:35Simon's Chinese Restaurant
Van Lathan▶ 1:06:49Simon's Chinese Restaurant scene (agrees with Chris)

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:23The interrogation scene of Jamie Lee Curtis is too long (11 minutes)
Chris Ryan▶ 1:07:07Tia (the main villain/Aziz character played by Art Malik)
Van Lathan▶ 1:07:25Tia/Aziz (agrees with Chris Ryan about the main villain)

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:17Sal Rubinek's overacting and Charlton Heston's bad performance
Van Lathan▶ 1:14:54Loose-ass suits - the baggy suits from the Arsenio era

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:16:34No, True Lies is an awesome title

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:20:50Jodie Foster — Discussed Jodie Foster rumor for Helen role (doesn't believe it), Arnold's initial opposition to Jamie Lee Curtis, and Tom Arnold's audition story
Chris Ryan▶ 1:21:51Mentioned confusion between Blue Steel and Blue Thunder, participated in general discussion without specific casting picks
Van Lathan▶ 1:22:33Participated in discussion about Blue Steel and other movies but didn't offer specific casting alternatives

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:25:26Bill Paxton — Agreed this is one of the easiest selections of all time, quoted Simon's lines about lying to get women and having 'a little dick'
Chris Ryan▶ 1:25:28Bill Paxton — Said it's so good it's in conversation for changing the name of the award to 'The Simon from True Lies Award', mentioned the fantasy punch scene
Van Lathan▶ 1:25:43Bill Paxton — Said it's so good 'it's almost written for me', mentioned Simon with blood everywhere in the Corvette

Picking Nits

Bill Simmons▶ 1:38:55Arnold would be one of the most recognizable counterterrorism spies - he's not blending in anywhere. Also the scuba diving suit with dry tuxedo underneath is impossible
Chris Ryan▶ 1:37:11What is Omega Sector's remit and authority? How can they call in Harrier strikes on American soil? Arnold can marshal the surveillance state to follow his wife - there should be a congressional inquiry
Van Lathan▶ 1:39:11Zero chance Jamie Lee Curtis doesn't recognize that it's Arnold - he's massive. That's my biggest nitpick. Also, after 17 years of marriage she wouldn't figure out he's a spy

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:44:51Bill Paxton — Lists the standard utility players and adds 'Simon Hudson' as the full name for the new addition
Chris Ryan▶ 1:45:03Bill Paxton — Says not better directed by JDB, but proposes adding Bill Paxton's Hudson character from Aliens to the utility player list

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:45:41James Cameron — Special effects or Cameron (director)
Van Lathan▶ 1:45:43Tom Arnold — Tom Arnold for supporting actor

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:46:06Is not being able to do the tango a top ten thing you're jealous of? Yes, watching people tango makes you feel like they have the power of ten men
Chris Ryan▶ 1:46:19Tango jealousy only occurs when watching movies - never been in a real life situation that calls for tango
Van Lathan▶ 1:48:02Did Harry ever have to sleep with another woman for a mission? Yes, but Bill thinks he did it for fun because Arnold is very horny

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:48:31Mr. & Mrs. Smith — Mr. And Mrs. Smith
Van Lathan▶ 1:48:40The Bourne Identity — The Borne Identity and Speed - calls True Lies the spiritual prequel to Mr. And Mrs. Smith

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:50:52Either 'you're a sick bitch if you steal the ice cube trays out of the freezer' or 'it's okay to lie to your spouse because it will all work out'
Van Lathan▶ 1:51:05Just encourage your wife's freak - let her be free and don't hold her back

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:51:45James Cameron

Movies Referenced (79)

Juno (2007)

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 35:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Skyfall (2012)

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan▶ 14:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Total Recall (1990)

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 17:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Casino Royale (2006)

6 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 14:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Titanic (1997)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 4:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Trading Places (1983)

6 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 31:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Blue Steel (1990)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan▶ 1:21:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Halloween (1978)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 31:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Last Action Hero (1993)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 10:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Pretty Woman (1990)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 11:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Speed (1994)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan▶ 9:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Twister (1996)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 8:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (7)

Iyi Tubi

17 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Ex Machina, World War Z▶ 50:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Oliver Stone

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Born on the Fourth of July, Platoon, JFK▶ 43:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ben Affleck

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Argo, Gone Girl, The Town▶ 24:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jim Rome

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Longest Yard, Space Jam▶ 1:18:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Bay

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Armageddon▶ 19:13IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Mann

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans▶ 42:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Woody Allen

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Annie Hall, Deconstructing Harry▶ 30:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (86)

White Lies

34 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan▶ 2:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Arnold Schwarzenegger

19 mentions · Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, Bill Simmons · Known for Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The Terminator▶ 3:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Arnold

18 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for True Lies▶ 7:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jamie Lee

17 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for Cold Mountain▶ 31:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bill Paxton

15 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Aliens, Apollo 13▶ 16:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jamie Lee Curtis

12 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for True Lies, Everything Everywhere All at Once▶ 3:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gene Hackman

10 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for The French Connection, The Royal Tenenbaums, Unforgiven▶ 1:24:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Eli Manning

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 33:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Charlton Heston

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments, The Omega Man▶ 1:10:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Cruise

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for Top Gun, Minority Report▶ 19:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Laura Harrier

6 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 5:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Brett Hundley

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 34:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (6)

James Cameron

46 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for Avatar, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day▶ 3:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jihad Hojeily

4 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 9:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Andy Greenwald

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 0:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 28:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Cimino

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for The Deer Hunter, Heaven's Gate▶ 20:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Julie Siege

1 mentions · Van Lathan▶ 1:09:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗