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‘After Hours’ with Bill Simmons and Sean Fennessey

July 1, 2025 · After Hours (1985) · Comedy · Crime · Drama · 1:47:00 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

Categories

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsThe diner scene with Marcy the second time (where she says 'my husband was a movie freak' and mentions Surrender Dorothy)▶ 48:37
Sean FennesseyThe diner conversation between Rosanna Arquette and Griffin Dunn - the second one where she talks about her husband being a movie freak and mentions Surrender Dorothy▶ 48:17

Is There a Better Title?

Bill SimmonsAfter Hours is perfect as a title▶ 53:34
Sean FennesseyNot against One Night in Soho but generally accepts After Hours▶ 53:11

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill SimmonsThe Uneaten Diner Cheeseburger▶ 59:22
Sean FennesseyThe Uneaten Diner Cheeseburger▶ 59:25

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill SimmonsTerminal Bar - agrees with Sean's pick, comparing it to the Rocky One bar▶ 1:04:52
Sean FennesseyTerminal Bar - the bar that they go to where John Hard works as the bartender▶ 1:04:01

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill SimmonsPaul not just walking home or trying other subway stops when he can't get on the subway▶ 1:04:59

Overacting Award

Bill SimmonsGriffin DunneGriffin Dunne - he dials it up a couple times, especially when he gets mad at Marcy▶ 1:07:42
Sean FennesseyWill PattonWill Patton as Horst - mentions his eyeliner and the tenor/timbre of his voice▶ 1:07:54

Casting What-Ifs

Bill SimmonsTom HanksOriginally supposed to be directed by Tim Burton, but he stepped aside when Scorsese wanted to be involved. They had trouble casting Linda Fiorentino's part. Questions if Griffin Dunne was the best lead actor choice for 1985 and suggests Tom Hanks as an alternative▶ 1:15:31
Sean FennesseyTim BurtonCalls it a 'double casting what ifs' - Tim Burton not making this movie and instead making Pee-wee's Big Adventure the same year. Notes both films are about man-children thrust into worlds they don't understand. Discusses how Linda Fiorentino intimidated Scorsese and Griffin Dunne during auditions▶ 1:15:45

Hanks or Cruise

Bill SimmonsTom HanksTom Hanks - says 1985 Hanks right out of Splash would have been perfect, better comic timing and awkward energy▶ 1:22:10
Sean FennesseyTom HanksAgrees Hanks would be better, but suggests Michael Keaton would be even better than both Hanks and the original Griffin Dunn▶ 1:22:55

Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake

Bill SimmonsPrestige TV series with all black cast - 10 episodes, one for each hour like 24, but questioning whether it would star Kiefer Sutherland or his son▶ 1:37:19

Is This Movie Better With

Bill SimmonsSamuel L. JacksonSam Jackson - two minutes of 80s crazy Sam Jackson in a bar flipping out or in The Vigilante Mob▶ 1:37:49
Sean FennesseySamuel L. JacksonJules Winfield (Sam Jackson's Pulp Fiction character)▶ 1:38:14

Just One Oscar

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill SimmonsThe timeline of the movie - what time does he land back in front of his office? (concludes it's around 7:15am after a 7-hour ordeal) and Did he get arrested four hours later?▶ 1:39:41
Sean FennesseyWhat is Paul's job? He's a word processor, but what does that actually mean?▶ 1:39:23

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill SimmonsNothing good happens after 2 a.m.▶ 1:41:55

Best Double Feature

Bill SimmonsInto the NightInto the Night - likes the New York/LA same kind of version energy comparison▶ 1:42:44
Sean FennesseyPee-wee's Big AdventureMultiple options including Pee Wee's Big Adventure with Into the Night, Uncut Gems, Bringing Out the Dead, and Game Night with The Purge▶ 1:42:12

Who Won the Movie

Sean FennesseyMartin ScorseseScorsese - he was cooked and done for, but this movie getting made and acknowledged was enough to get him back on track and get his juices going again▶ 1:42:52

Movies Referenced (75)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Goodfellas (1990)IMDb ↗Lb ↗9Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 4:00
Home Alone (1990)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 40:05
Raging Bull (1980)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 14:34
Die Hard (1988)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 27:43
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 16:33
Uncut Gems (2019)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Sean Fennessey▶ 1:33:10
Annie Hall (1977)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:02:49
Casino (1995)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey▶ 31:29
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:33:38
Mean Streets (1973)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey▶ 17:53
Men in Black (1997)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:47
Taxi Driver (1976)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey▶ 29:18

Directors Referenced (13)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Martin ScorseseIMDb ↗Lb ↗27Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyTaxi Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Streets▶ 1:48
Francis Ford CoppolaIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsApocalypse Now, The Godfather Part II▶ 15:06
Michael PowellIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey▶ 1:38:31
Sidney LumetIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons12 Angry Men▶ 10:39
Tim BurtonIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyEdward Scissorhands▶ 1:15:31
John HustonIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean FennesseyThe Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Chinatown▶ 20:20
John McTiernanIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean FennesseyDie Hard, Last Action Hero▶ 27:47
Robert AltmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsGosford Park▶ 18:20
Woody AllenIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean FennesseyAnnie Hall▶ 31:05
Fritz LangIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyMetropolis▶ 58:11
Michael MannIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsThe Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans▶ 1:34:57
Peter WeirIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyThe Way Back, Witness▶ 20:25

Actors Referenced (70)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Linda FiorentinoIMDb ↗Lb ↗25Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyMen in Black, Dogma▶ 32:35
Rosanna ArquetteIMDb ↗Lb ↗15Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsPulp Fiction, After Hours▶ 30:55
Tom HanksIMDb ↗Lb ↗11Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyCast Away, Big, Forrest Gump▶ 1:22:08
Terry KinneyIMDb ↗Lb ↗10Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyThe Little Things▶ 38:29
Amy RobinsonIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsMean Streets, After Hours, From Hell▶ 1:17:21
Michael KeatonIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsSpotlight, The Founder▶ 1:22:55
Susan SarandonIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsDead Man Walking▶ 11:51
Jade Scott YorkerIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsHe Got Game▶ 1:11
Judge ReinholdIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill SimmonsBeverly Hills Cop, Fast Times at Ridgemont High▶ 1:23:57
Robert De NiroIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyCape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver▶ 14:04
Catherine O'HaraIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsBest in Show▶ 39:57
Dick MillerIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsThe Terminator, Gremlins▶ 44:08

Writers Referenced (9)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Joseph MinionIMDb ↗Lb ↗9Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyAfter Hours▶ 48:45
Ryan CooglerIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsBlack Panther, Creed▶ 26:09
Edgar WrightIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsShaun of the Dead, Baby Driver▶ 53:09
Joan DidionIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean FennesseyA Star Is Born▶ 1:18:06
Franz KafkaIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 1:25:30
John SaylesIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean Fennessey▶ 1:18:11
Mark BombackIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean Fennessey▶ 1:45:47
Noah BaumbachIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsThe Squid and the Whale, Marriage Story▶ 1:24:12
Taylor SheridanIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyHell or High Water, Wind River▶ 1:20:59

Cinematographers Referenced (3)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Michael BallhausIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean FennesseyGoodfellas, Dracula▶ 1:18:19
Lotfi El GordaIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsAquaman, Noah▶ 1:00:18
Michael GrantlandIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsThe Other Guys▶ 31:50