‘Flight’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan
January 9, 2024 · Flight (2012) · Drama · Thriller · 1:45:24 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Chris RyanAgrees with the opening scene, comparing the theater reaction to Tiger Woods with a crucial putt▶ 41:30
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Chris RyanQuestions the logic of a character's breakfast routine of warm Miller High Life, weed, cigarettes and cocaine, suggesting they would have gotten ice cold beer instead since it's less drinkable when warm▶ 42:05
Great Shot Gordo Award
Bill SimmonsDiscusses multiple shots including the early party scene with single camera from far away, the plane crash sequence, and various moments like waking up with bloodshot eyes, but doesn't settle on one definitive pick▶ 42:21
Chris RyanFocuses on the nine-minute plane crash sequence as being harrowing and fantastic, calling it 'impossible to top' in the movie▶ 43:07
Van LathanDiscusses the plane crash sequence extensively, particularly praising the 'say I love you Trevor' moment and Denzel's wherewithal during the crisis▶ 44:38
Best Quote
Bill Simmons"As soon as you realize that the random events in your life are God, you will live a much better life. You spend your life believing that you have all the control over what happens. Bullshit."▶ 46:50
Chris RyanDiscussed various quotes but didn't give a single definitive pick, engaging with SPEAKER_00's suggestion and other memorable lines throughout▶ 47:07
Van LathanAnalyzed the context and meaning of quotes but didn't provide a specific best quote pick▶ 48:21
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsFirst 30 minutes, pounding air from oxygen mask when hungover, fake airline names that sound realistic (South Jet Airlines), calling passengers 'bodies/souls on airplanes', the porn set scene with 'The Beast with Two Backs'▶ 1:01:41
Chris RyanSmoking Denzel as one of the great movie smokers, staging of the plane crash as one of the last great practical special effects set pieces▶ 1:02:00
Van LathanKelly Riley's performance and character, the movie being part of the 2000s/2010s cocaine renaissance▶ 1:02:24
Den of Thieves Benihana Award
Bill SimmonsInitially suggested the church scene, then acknowledged Whip's apartment as another option▶ 1:07:38
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsThe relationship between the main character and Kelly Riley's character - felt they were missing a memorable scene together despite having two great actors▶ 1:09:06
Is There a Better Title?
Bill SimmonsNo better title needed, but also suggested 'This is your pilot speaking?' and 'Act of God'▶ 1:11:25
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsOlivia Wilde — Discusses Kelly Riley beating out Olivia Wilde, thinks Wilde was too young in 2012 but super hot in her career; suggests Goodman for Ruffalo's role▶ 1:20:36
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsJohn Goodman — John Goodman - acknowledges Trina as having a strong case but gives it to Goodman as 'the definition' of the award▶ 1:21:22
Chris RyanJohn Goodman — Discusses Trina as having made a case and agrees with Goodman pick, wishes they showed more of him doing the construction work▶ 1:21:34
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsDenzel Washington's practice of taking actresses out to dinner before intimate scenes, specifically his quote about taking Nadine Velasquez to eat before filming the opening scene of Flight, and the story about the flesh-colored tape incident during filming▶ 1:25:09
Chris RyanParticipated in discussion about where Denzel takes actresses to dinner, suggesting places like Chili's▶ 1:25:47
Van LathanDiscussed Denzel's dinner locations (steakhouse, classy places) and listed various actresses from his films like those from Mo' Better Blues and Finda Williams▶ 1:25:55
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsNadine Velazquez — Yes for Nadine Velasquez, No for Denzel and Kelly Reilly, Yes for Zemeckis plane crashes (better than Castaway), No for John Goodman (Lebowski is his apex), Yes for hotel mini bars▶ 1:28:30
Chris RyanCast Away — Agrees this Zemeckis plane crash movie is better than Castaway, mentions Cohen stuff for John Goodman, Yes for heroin batches called 'the Taliban'▶ 1:28:51
Van LathanJohn Goodman — Agrees this plane crash is better than Castaway, No for John Goodman (all his best work is post-Roseanne)▶ 1:29:01
Is This Movie Better With
Chris RyanSamuel L. Jackson — Sam Jackson as Whitaker, delivering the line 'roll it, motherfucker!'▶ 1:36:09
Van LathanSamuel L. Jackson — Sam Jackson as either Whip or John Goodman's character, referencing 'the banana bone'▶ 1:36:27
Just One Oscar
Bill SimmonsJohn Gatins — Initially said Denzel Washington, but then made a strong case for the screenplay by John Gattins, calling it one of the best-written screenplays of the last 15 years▶ 1:37:54
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsThe movie theater experience of that scene versus watching on laptop - it was loud and amazing but has a hard comedown▶ 1:44:31
Movies Referenced (58)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | ▶ 30:59 |
| Saltburn (2023) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:00:54 |
| Sympathy for the Devil (2023) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:06:03 |
| United 93 (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 27:34 |
| Leaving Las Vegas (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 16:24 |
| 2012 (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 10:53 |
| Cast Away (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 34:05 |
| Million Dollar Baby (2004) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:29:51 |
| Shot Caller (2017) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:35:22 |
| Silver Linings Playbook (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 31:09 |
| Sully (2016) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | ▶ 24:46 |
| Training Day (2001) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 8:09 |
Directors Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Zemeckis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 15 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | Back to the Future, Forrest Gump | ▶ 2:14 |
| Richard Fearless | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Lost in Space, Mission: Impossible - Fallout | ▶ 24:41 |
| Ang Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Life of Pi | ▶ 33:40 |
| Clint Eastwood | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven | ▶ 1:29:49 |
| John Madden | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | Shakespeare in Love | ▶ 25:47 |
Actors Referenced (63)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denzel Washington | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 54 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | ▶ 3:15 | |
| Whip Hubley | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 22 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | Top Gun, Species | ▶ 11:52 |
| John Goodman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | 10 Cloverfield Lane, Barton Fink, Argo | ▶ 7:24 |
| Don Cheadle | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Crash | ▶ 29:58 |
| Melissa Leo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | The Fighter | ▶ 17:42 |
| Bruce Greenwood | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Star Trek | ▶ 30:04 |
| Cammie Crier | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Point of No Return, Drop Zone | ▶ 45:02 |
| Viola Davis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Help | ▶ 1:22:50 |
| Brad Pitt | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | Fight Club, 12 Monkeys, Mr. & Mrs. Smith | ▶ 18:18 |
| Hugh Jackman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | X-Men | ▶ 4:41 |
| Joaquin Phoenix | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Walk the Line, Gladiator | ▶ 31:13 |
| Philip Baker Hall | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Magnolia, Boogie Nights | ▶ 41:20 |
Writers Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Cameron | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Avatar, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day | ▶ 5:46 |
| Malcolm X | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Malcolm X | ▶ 15:01 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 35:04 | |
| Danny McBride | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Underworld | ▶ 1:19:55 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce Green | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | The Mask | ▶ 1:43:22 |
| Lotfi El Gorda | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Aquaman, Noah | ▶ 1:07:36 |