'Con Air’ With Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, and Chris Ryan
December 18, 2018 · Con Air (1997) · Action · Crime · Thriller · 1:08:55 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsCameron Poe's conviction and 8-year prison sentence despite clear self-defense with witnesses and the attackers being degenerates who started the fight▶ 3:47
Chris RyanQuestions the legal logic around military personnel being held to different standards, suggests they'd need to check Alabama state statutes to verify if that's actually true▶ 4:21
Shea SerranoCameron Poe had the worst legal representation of all time - his lawyer told him he'd get probation but he got 10 years because the judge said his military skills made him a deadly weapon▶ 3:52
Most Rewatchable Scene
Chris RyanStealing the second plane sequence (including Colmini's car crashing into the tower)▶ 20:50
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsNick Cage's performance and hair, Dave Chappelle's performance, and the Cyrus 'Say-onara' scene with Buscemi and Cage▶ 28:22
Chris RyanJohn Malkovich's villain performance and the broader trend of casting dramatic actors in action movies▶ 33:08
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsThe gregarious prison guard's references to outdated TV shows (11 current affairs, two hard copies, and a genuine Geraldo interviewee) and the cheesy guitar solo scene when Nick Cage says he'll show God exists▶ 40:16
Chris RyanThe insulin subplot - Michael T. Williamson's character having diabetic shock the entire movie as an unnecessary plot device▶ 41:08
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsRobert Downey Jr. — Prefers Robert Downey Jr. over John Cusack for Vince Larkin role, dislikes Cusack's attitude toward the movie. Glad Gary Oldman didn't play Cyrus. Happy Tim Roth didn't play Marietta Mangler.▶ 43:21
Chris RyanRobert Downey Jr. — Thinks Robert Downey Jr. is 30% too cool for the Vince Larkin role, character needs to be nerdy. Provides context about Downey's career rehab timing.▶ 43:07
Shea SerranoRobert Downey Jr. — Robert Downey Jr. would make it a better movie, he's just better than John Cusack for the Vince Larkin role▶ 42:57
Dion Waiters Award
Shea SerranoDave Chappelle — Initially suggests Chappelle as incredible but then argues against picking him due to racism controversy▶ 44:31
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsPresented various trivia facts including Kid Rock basing American Badass on Cameron Poe, Nick Cage doing his own stunts, 43 people dying in the movie, filming locations, script rewrites affecting Malkovich, contradictory reports about Cusack's feelings about the film, and Chappelle improvising his lines▶ 44:43
Chris RyanDiscussed casualty count speculation, questioned Monica Potter character's loyalty, confirmed Malkovich's performance reflected script issues, noted Cusack has been in many bad movies, mentioned Simon West's idea for space sequel▶ 45:25
Shea SerranoAgreed with Kid Rock/Cameron Poe connection, expressed desire for Cameron Poe prison prequel and Army Rangers prequel movies, reacted to various trivia facts▶ 44:48
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsNicolas Cage — Yes, this is Nick Cage's Apex Mountain - the moment when he became a major star for the long haul▶ 54:01
Chris RyanNicolas Cage — Allows that this could be Nick Cage's Apex Mountain, though initially suggested The Rock might be▶ 54:03
Shea SerranoDanny Trejo — No, this is not Danny Trejo's Apex Mountain - says it's probably Trejo's tacos or Machete▶ 54:05
Joey Pants Award
Bill SimmonsRenoly Santiago — Rinaldi Santiago (Sally Can't Dance character from Con Air, also in Dangerous Minds)▶ 56:17
Best Quote
Bill SimmonsSorry boss, there's only two men I trust. One of them's me. The other's not you.▶ 1:01:03
Shea SerranoAgrees with Bill's pick and relates to the quote personally, saying he's said it to several people▶ 1:01:09
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsAsked multiple questions: Did they name Con Air before writing the script? How many people died on the Vegas Strip? Would Nick Cage really risk saving others? Wouldn't they shoot the plane down immediately? Details about various character backstories including William Bedford and Diamond Dog▶ 1:01:56
Chris RyanCon Air was definitely the pitch first, then script written. They would have shot the plane down in real life. Speculated that Denzel was asked to be in the movie originally and the Diamond Dog line might be a reference to that▶ 1:02:05
Shea SerranoAgreed Con Air was the title first, imagined someone saw a shampoo bottle and thought of flying prison concept. Estimated 250 people would have died on the strip. Thinks Nick Cage was just being a good guy trying to redeem himself▶ 1:02:12
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsNicolas Cage — Nicholas Cage - makes a case for Buscemi but ultimately agrees it's his favorite Nick Cage performance▶ 1:06:07
Shea SerranoNicolas Cage — Nicholas Cage - calls it a legacy defining role and says there's only one answer▶ 1:05:03
Movies Referenced (57)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Rock (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano | ▶ 9:22 |
| Die Hard (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano | ▶ 11:28 |
| Rushmore (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano | ▶ 1:06:39 |
| In the Line of Fire (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 33:12 |
| Lethal Weapon (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 4:47 |
| Patch Adams (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano | ▶ 57:03 |
| Running Scared (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano | ▶ 25:59 |
| The Judge (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano | ▶ 4:02 |
| Predator (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Shea Serrano, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:06:47 |
| Basic Instinct (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 26:00 |
| Forrest Gump (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 10:54 |
| Gone in 60 Seconds (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Shea Serrano, Bill Simmons | ▶ 9:37 |
Directors Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simon West | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Shea Serrano, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Con Air | ▶ 1:15 |
| Mel Gibson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | Braveheart, Lethal Weapon 3, Conspiracy Theory | ▶ 4:47 |
Actors Referenced (50)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Cusack | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 23 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, Chris Ryan | High Fidelity, 1408 | ▶ 14:12 |
| John Malkovich | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 18 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano | In the Line of Fire, Being John Malkovich, Burn After Reading | ▶ 2:12 |
| Kid Rock | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 16 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, Chris Ryan | Into the Storm, Matchstick Men | ▶ 9:22 |
| Steve Buscemi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano | Fargo, Reservoir Dogs | ▶ 2:06 |
| Dave Chappelle | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, Chris Ryan | A Star Is Born | ▶ 12:33 |
| Denzel Washington | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano | ▶ 13:36 | |
| Monica Potter | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, Chris Ryan | The Last House on the Left, Patch Adams | ▶ 47:22 |
| Nicolas Cage | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano, Bill Simmons | Face/Off, Leaving Las Vegas | ▶ 2:18 |
| Sean Connery | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano | Dr. No, The Untouchables, The Rock | ▶ 50:56 |
| Ving Rhames | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano | Pulp Fiction, Bringing Out the Dead | ▶ 12:26 |
| Danny Trejo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Machete, From Dusk Till Dawn, Predators | ▶ 2:28 |
| David Caruso | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | First Blood, Proof of Life | ▶ 9:07 |
Writers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patch Adams | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano | Patch Adams | ▶ 57:03 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 7:23 | |
| Scott Rosenberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Beautiful Girls, Con Air | ▶ 12:11 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Other Guys | ▶ 28:31 |
| Michael McDonough | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Winter's Bone | ▶ 26:09 |