‘GoldenEye’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey
February 17, 2026 · GoldenEye (1995) · Action · Adventure · Thriller · 1:49:28 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Apex Mountain
Sean FennesseyBungee jumping was approaching its apex mountain in the early 90s, being introduced in theme parks and becoming a trope in action movies▶ 33:54
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsHugh Grant — Hugh Grant had momentum but couldn't have been Bond - doesn't see it working▶ 57:20
Chris RyanLiam Neeson — Liam Neeson would have brought a lot of pain and taken a dramatic approach to Bond▶ 57:47
Sean FennesseyLiam Neeson — Hugh Grant never would have worked and would have ruined it; Liam Neeson is the more interesting alternative - would have been burlier, tougher, more physical like Daniel Craig eventually was▶ 57:32
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsConfusing plot with too many variables, scenes where Bond should have died, gadget scene could have been more fun, score and soundtrack sucked, passwords being too simple like 'chair'▶ 1:02:49
Chris RyanConfusing elements like whether there are two Goldeneyes, overly complicated plots to avoid scrutiny, weak gadget scene with leg cast missile, terrible Super Mario Brothers-like music during the car chase scene▶ 1:03:30
Sean FennesseyFinds all James Bond plot mechanics a little dumb but accepts that Bond films are style over substance by design, mentions simple passwords for world-destroying satellites▶ 1:03:49
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsThe cringy quote 'the things we do for frequent flyer mileage' - terrible line that should have been vetted▶ 1:09:59
Chris RyanThe one moment where they try to make it serious and Bond is wistfully staring at the sea in the Caribbean - feels forced given the movie's tone▶ 1:09:02
Overacting Award
Chris RyanSean Bean — Sean Bean moment on the train where he goes 'see you in hell' and gestures to indicate killing▶ 1:10:24
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsOpening scene rewritten from US admiral to Canadian due to military objection; GoldenEye named after Fleming's Jamaica house; 90,000 Perrier cans used in tank scene after other brands declined; Bond killed 47 people (highest ever for Bond)▶ 1:22:58
Sean FennesseyGoldenEye was also named after a WWII military operation strategy Fleming worked on for potential Nazi invasion through Spain, which influenced the screenplay's WWII themes▶ 1:23:21
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsJames escaping from 100 Russian soldiers in close quarters, Natalia surviving the tank explosion, tanks not being able to do that maneuver, and Sean Bean surviving a 100-foot fall without dying instantly▶ 1:34:45
Chris RyanJames Bond getting out of the tank too slowly as the train approaches, and Bond and Natalia surviving a missile hit and plane crash into the jungle with only minor injuries▶ 1:35:01
Sean FennesseyThe missile acting like a boomerang instead of exploding the plane, villains not shooting Sean Bean when they had the chance, and Sean Bean not shooting Bond when he could have▶ 1:36:07
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsZane Lowe — Approves of adding Zane Lowe to the rotation alongside Wayne Jenkins and Fergie the Florist▶ 1:38:31
Chris RyanZane Lowe — Proposes adding Zane Lowe to the rotation, pitching him as M or handler giving Bond motivational speeches▶ 1:36:37
Sean FennesseyZane Lowe — Reacts positively to the Zane Lowe pitch but doesn't give a definitive position▶ 1:37:30
Just One Oscar
Bill SimmonsMartin Campbell — Martin Campbell for Best Director, special effects, or the stunt guy who did the bungee jump▶ 1:38:44
Memorabilia Award
Bill SimmonsInitially couldn't think of anything, then suggested the Aston Martin but noted they always pick cars, then settled on the pen as a good option▶ 1:45:29
Chris RyanA functional mint condition Nintendo 64 and a mint condition version of GoldenEye 007▶ 1:45:05
Best Double Feature
Sean FennesseyMoonraker — Moonraker (Bond stretching for limits theme) and Lawn Mower Man (early Pierce Brosnan with hacking virtual worlds)▶ 1:45:59
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsPierce Brosnan — Pierce Brosnan, with agreement that the Bond franchise also won by being re-invigorated▶ 1:47:42
Movies Referenced (46)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skyfall (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 3:15 |
| Broken Arrow (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:18:44 |
| Casino Royale (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 2:53 |
| Diamonds Are Forever (1971) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 7:26 |
| Goldfinger (1964) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 2:53 |
| Rushmore (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:21:29 |
| Scream (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:22:47 |
| Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 3:38 |
| X-Men (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 26:26 |
| Batman (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 20:01 |
| Carrie (1976) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:30:23 |
| Chef (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:28:27 |
Directors Referenced (12)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Campbell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Casino Royale | ▶ 3:57 |
| Mel Gibson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Braveheart, Lethal Weapon 3, Conspiracy Theory | ▶ 1:15:12 |
| Denis Villeneuve | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | Blade Runner 2049 | ▶ 9:35 |
| Sean Penn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Mystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking | ▶ 47:45 |
| Andrei Tarkovsky | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:11:22 | |
| John McTiernan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Die Hard, Last Action Hero | ▶ 1:25:47 |
| John Woo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:18:35 | |
| Kevin Costner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | ▶ 41:04 |
| Kosta Jokic | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 55:05 | |
| Michael Apted | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 18:41 | |
| Michael Mann | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans | ▶ 1:09:14 |
| Tom Brady | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Hot Chick | ▶ 29:07 |
Actors Referenced (81)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce Brosnan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 28 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | The World Is Not Enough | ▶ 2:46 |
| Joe Don Baker | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 15 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | GoldenEye, Cape Fear | ▶ 48:35 |
| Sean Bean | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 27:26 | |
| Sean Connery | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Dr. No, The Untouchables, The Rock | ▶ 3:17 |
| Daniel Craig | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | No Time to Die, Casino Royale, Skyfall | ▶ 54:23 |
| Xenia | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 26:38 | |
| Zane Lowe | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:36:37 | |
| Alan Cumming | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 41:13 | |
| Javier Bardem | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | Skyfall, No Country for Old Men | ▶ 28:20 |
| Liam Neeson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Schindler's List, The Grey | ▶ 57:32 |
| Tina Turner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Last Action Hero | ▶ 48:58 |
| Dan Campbell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 35:26 |
Writers Referenced (7)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Sheridan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Hell or High Water, Wind River | ▶ 1:25:40 |
| Ian Fleming | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Casino Royale, Dr. No, Never Say Never Again | ▶ 21:51 |
| JD Vance | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 20:06 | |
| James Cameron | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Avatar, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day | ▶ 17:05 |
| Mark Ellis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:08:46 | |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 31:22 | |
| William Goldman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men, The Princess Bride | ▶ 1:09:49 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | The Other Guys | ▶ 1:37:54 |