‘Iron Man’ With Bill Simmons and Van Lathan
May 2, 2023 · Iron Man (2008) · Action · Adventure · Sci-Fi · 1:45:14
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsThe first six minutes of the movie - starting in the truck in the Middle East, the convoy attack, going backwards in time, and the montage of who Tony is▶ 36:26
Van LathanIron Man's first flight in the Mark 1 suit when he escapes and fights the Ten Rings organization▶ 37:20
What's Aged the Best
Van LathanThe MCU - aged perfectly because it grew in significance and relevance and dominance, until it hit snags and became a chore▶ 55:34
Den of Thieves Benihana Award
Bill SimmonsThe Malibu House - when the Vanity Fair Reporter wakes up and there's just windows and shit, then we get the wide shot▶ 58:45
Van LathanThe Malibu House - agrees with Bill's pick, noting the rich guy stuff and Jarvis waking her up▶ 58:53
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsThe ending and showdown with Jeff Bridges and Downey are fine but not great, and Iron Man 2 is not great▶ 59:44
Van LathanIron Man 2 doesn't seem good now - it's a very important movie, but it's not that good▶ 1:00:17
Ron Burgundy Flute Award
Bill SimmonsNo good bathroom break opportunities because the movie moves too fast and you'd miss something important▶ 1:04:07
Best Quote
Bill SimmonsIs it better to be feared or respected? And I say, is it too much to ask for both?▶ 1:04:22
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsGeorge Clooney needed a franchise like Iron Man in the mid-2000s and could have pulled off Tony Stark - it's basically Danny Ocean with toys▶ 1:07:45
Van LathanAfter Iron Man, Marvel refused to cast light-skinned black men in major roles because of their bad experience with Terrence Howard▶ 1:04:37
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsSam Rockwell — Discusses Sam Rockwell was originally wanted for Tony Stark before Downey; suggests Rachel McAdams would have been better than Gwyneth Paltrow for Pepper Potts; proposes Scarlett Johansson for the Vanity Fair reporter role; suggests Jessica Chastain would have been interesting for Pepper Potts; mentions Beth from Yellowstone as another Pepper Potts option▶ 1:09:53
Van LathanRachel McAdams — Agrees Rachel McAdams would have been better as Pepper Potts than her eventual Doctor Strange role; discusses Terrence Howard's departure and agrees Don Cheadle now owns the Rhodey character; generally agrees with Bill's casting suggestions▶ 1:10:11
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsShares multiple trivia facts including: Favreau and Downey got SpaceX tour from Elon Musk, filmed in LA because Favreau thought too many comic movies were East Coast-set, DVDs made $160 million, first suit weighed 90 pounds, and animators studied skydivers in wind tunnels for aerial movements▶ 1:15:35
Van LathanProvides detailed explanation of Mandarin villain storyline across movies and explains how the realistic flying physics added to the film's believability - Tony wasn't flying smooth but fighting against physics▶ 1:15:53
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsRobert Downey Jr. — Yes for Downey Jr. and Favreau - both at career peaks with maximum 'juice' after this movie▶ 1:20:30
Van LathanJon Favreau — Yes for Favreau and agrees on Downey Jr. after considering Endgame alternative▶ 1:20:32
Racehorse Name Award
Bill SimmonsDiscussed multiple options including Jericho, Tony Stark, Pepper Potts (calling it 'a great Philly name'), and Ironmonger, but didn't give one definitive pick▶ 1:25:14
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsSamuel L. Jackson — Sam Jackson - confirms the movie was better with Sam Jackson, who was shoehorned into the last scene▶ 1:32:52
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsThree questions: Pepper Potts lives in Beverlywood/Culver City/Overland exit area for commute access; she makes around half a million annually as executive assistant; and dismisses the Jarvis AI question as franchise nonsense where 'they just make up anything'▶ 1:33:31
Van LathanPepper lives in Cheviot Hills for optimal commute to both downtown and Malibu; she makes half a million per year but has unlimited access to Tony's resources; Jarvis becomes Vision, a bio-organic Avenger who has a relationship with Scarlet Witch▶ 1:34:03
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill SimmonsYou got to figure out the Pepper Potts thing, Tony - don't keep her waiting after nine years of working for you▶ 1:42:04
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsRobert Downey Jr. — Presents the choice between Downey and Marvel, noting Downey wins the movie as much as anyone can but Marvel creates a whole universe from it▶ 1:42:24
Movies Referenced (56)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superman (2025) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 18 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 3:03 |
| Weapons (2025) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 12:18 |
| Iron Man 3 (2013) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 25:51 |
| Spider-Man (2002) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 4:53 |
| Batman (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 2:56 |
| Iron Man 2 (2010) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 30:12 |
| The Avengers (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 30:08 |
| Chef (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:21:26 |
| Talk to Me (2022) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan | ▶ 40:30 |
| The Dark Knight (2008) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 22:33 |
| Thor (2011) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 30:12 |
| Weird Science (1985) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 13:54 |
Directors Referenced (9)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Clooney | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | The Ides of March, Michael Clayton | ▶ 1:07:45 |
| Ben Affleck | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Argo, Gone Girl, The Town | ▶ 5:30 |
| Brit Manor | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan | ▶ 50:22 | |
| Andrea Bias | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Black Adam, A Simple Favor, The Intern | ▶ 18:40 |
| Jack Daniels | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 55:17 | |
| Jim Cramer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Iron Man | ▶ 50:01 |
| Robert Altman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Gosford Park | ▶ 33:25 |
| Sam Raimi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | Spider-Man, The Evil Dead, Army of Darkness | ▶ 5:02 |
| Sean Penn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Mystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking | ▶ 1:13:10 |
Actors Referenced (62)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrence Howard | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Hustle & Flow, Crash, Iron Man | ▶ 8:47 |
| Gwyneth Paltrow | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Shakespeare in Love | ▶ 8:49 |
| Robert Downey Jr. | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | Iron Man, Iron Man 3 | ▶ 2:33 |
| Audi Resendez | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 1:01:23 | |
| Josh Hamilton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | Alive | ▶ 11:53 |
| Ben Kingsley | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan | Gandhi, Schindler's List | ▶ 1:16:12 |
| Matt Damon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Good Will Hunting, The Martian, The Departed | ▶ 16:15 |
| Rich Paul | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan | Godzilla | ▶ 1:28:35 |
| Samuel L. Jackson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | Pulp Fiction, The Hateful Eight, Snakes on a Plane | ▶ 52:30 |
| Jeff Bridges | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | The Big Lebowski, True Grit | ▶ 8:57 |
| Jessica Chastain | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Zero Dark Thirty, Molly's Game | ▶ 1:12:22 |
| Plastic Bertrand | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Three Kings, The Wolf of Wall Street | ▶ 23:40 |
Writers Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stan Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons | Black Panther, Doctor Strange | ▶ 28:14 |
| James Toback | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | The Gambler | ▶ 17:26 |
| Jack Kirby | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Black Panther, Iron Man | ▶ 28:43 |
| Lorne Michaels | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 14:01 | |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 36:02 |