'Gone Girl’ With Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, Mallory Rubin, and Sean Fennessey
August 13, 2019 · Gone Girl (2014) · Drama · Mystery · Thriller · 1:43:45 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
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Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsJon Hamm — Jon Hamm was originally cast but couldn't do it due to Mad Men contract; thinks Hamm would have been good but loves that Affleck did it at this point in his career comeback▶ 5:24
Mallory RubinJon Hamm — Against Jon Hamm casting - questions whether he could have done the nude scene and thinks he lacks the right qualities for the role▶ 6:19
Sean FennesseyJon Hamm — Thinks Hamm would have made a good movie but the relationship audiences have with Affleck as a public person was better suited for the role than our relationship with Hamm as Don Draper▶ 7:31
Shea SerranoJon Hamm — Against Jon Hamm - believes the role needs innate likability and Hamm doesn't possess the right skill set, though loves him in other movies like The Town▶ 6:33
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsShares extensive research on casting alternatives (Charlize Theron, Natalie Portman, Emily Blunt, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde, Julianne Hough), Fincher's reasoning for choosing Rosamund Pike (wanted Faye Dunaway-type persona, liked that she was unreadable), Pike's inspirations (Nicole Kidman in To Die For, Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy), and Fincher's description of Ben Affleck's character as someone steamrolled by public perception▶ 15:22
Sean FennesseyAgrees Charlize would have been good for Amy, notes Fincher's eye for unproven talent (Pitt in Seven, Eisenberg in Social Network), identifies Pike's biggest prior role as Pride and Prejudice and notes the book connection in the movie▶ 16:34
Shea SerranoAgrees Reese Witherspoon couldn't go 'dead eyed enough' for Amy role and that having an unknown actress makes the role scarier▶ 16:13
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes: when Affleck comes home and discovers Amy's missing and calls police, the outdoor Amy rally with protesters, and the big reveal scene with Amy's 'I am so much happier now that I'm dead' monologue▶ 31:49
Mallory RubinFocuses on the investigation scene where Rhonda Boney examines the crime scene, especially her attention to details like the iron and blood spatter▶ 32:57
Sean FennesseyAgrees with Bill's picks, particularly praising the discovery scene and the Amy rally scene with its cinematography and staging▶ 32:34
Picking Nits
Mallory RubinAmy should have put on a Cardinals hat instead of a Mets hat since he's wearing a Cardinals shirt in half the movie - doesn't make sense▶ 57:54
Sean FennesseyDiscussed the complex commentary on believing women survivors and FBI handling of trauma cases, noting it's fraught and complicated for what is otherwise a fun movie▶ 56:24
Shea SerranoDisagreed that Amy was sloppy in the end - argued she came up with an instant plan showing how dangerous she could be▶ 55:19
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsThe big twist in the middle has aged the worst because it was shocking in theaters but now you know it's coming and can't recapture that surprise on repeat viewings▶ 59:43
What's Aged the Best
Mallory RubinThe rewatchability and ability to appreciate new details on repeat viewings, like reading Harry Potter for the 947th time▶ 1:00:07
Joey Pants Award
Bill SimmonsMissi Pyle — Initially suggests Patrick Fugit, then agrees with Sean that Missy Pyle (Nancy Grace type character) is the better choice▶ 1:08:08
Best Quote
Bill SimmonsI swear you two are the most fucked up people I've ever known. And I specialize in fucked up.▶ 1:32:35
Mallory RubinMentions having 15 quotes but doesn't specify her definitive pick in the segment▶ 1:32:56
Movies Referenced (45)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batman (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Sean Fennessey, Shea Serrano, Bill Simmons | ▶ 8:43 |
| Carrie (1976) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 21:38 |
| Jack Reacher (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 18:55 |
| The Interview (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Mallory Rubin, Shea Serrano | ▶ 55:05 |
| Almost Famous (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 49:42 |
| Live by Night (2016) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 11:58 |
| Still Alice (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 27:06 |
| Bolt (2008) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Mallory Rubin | ▶ 1:29:01 |
| Den of Thieves (2018) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Shea Serrano | ▶ 1:38:37 |
| Fatal Attraction (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 0:24 |
| Identity (2003) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons | ▶ 23:29 |
| Joker (2019) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Shea Serrano, Bill Simmons | ▶ 2:57 |
Directors Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Affleck | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 49 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Shea Serrano | Argo, Gone Girl, The Town | ▶ 4:39 |
| David Fincher | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 35 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Mallory Rubin | Se7en, Gone Girl, Zodiac | ▶ 1:49 |
| Alfred Hitchcock | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Sean Fennessey | Psycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest | ▶ 1:41:16 |
| George Clooney | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Shea Serrano, Sean Fennessey | The Ides of March, Michael Clayton | ▶ 13:22 |
Actors Referenced (50)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosamund Pike | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 16 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, Sean Fennessey | Gone Girl, Die Another Day | ▶ 15:17 |
| Jon Hamm | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, Sean Fennessey | The Town | ▶ 5:14 |
| Tom Cruise | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Sean Fennessey, Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons | Top Gun, Minority Report | ▶ 13:10 |
| Neil Patrick Harris | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, Mallory Rubin | Gone Girl | ▶ 15:45 |
| Emily Ratajkowski | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | We Are Your Friends, Gone Girl | ▶ 9:14 |
| Amy Dunn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Shea Serrano, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Twister, Heat | ▶ 2:44 |
| Carrie Coon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | Gone Girl | ▶ 21:38 |
| Reese Witherspoon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | Walk the Line, Legally Blonde | ▶ 15:19 |
| Don Draper | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Shea Serrano, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 6:17 | |
| Josh Brolin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | No Country for Old Men | ▶ 1:05:24 |
| Patrick Fugit | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Almost Famous, Gone Girl | ▶ 49:37 |
| Boyd Holbrook | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:08:26 |
Writers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gillian Flynn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons | Gone Girl | ▶ 9:48 |
| Matthew Weiner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 5:27 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Other Guys | ▶ 1:06:30 |