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‘Man on Fire’ With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan

December 6, 2022 · Man on Fire (2004) · Action · Crime · Drama · 1:21:41 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Great Shot Gordo Award

Bill Simmons▶ 9:37Agrees with another host's assessment that Tony Scott 'goes for it the most of any Tony Scott movie' and specifically highlights 'the last 15 minutes of this movie are among my favorite of this century'
Chris Ryan▶ 9:18Argues the entire movie deserves recognition - 'It's Great Frame Tony through this entire movie' - comparing Tony Scott's visual style to Jason Williams where 'every shot is a trick'
Chris Ryan▶ 41:58The shot of Fuentes stuck in the burning car (as Creasy puts the grenade under it) where the flame reflections make Fuentes look like he's already on fire — 'because he's going to go to hell in a minute.'

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 40:42Jack Daniels bottle
Chris Ryan▶ 40:46The lunch scene after swim practice/meet with the double date including Christopher Walken

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 41:16Samuel and Lisa's house
Chris Ryan▶ 41:37My favorite bridge and the newspapers open air offices

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 42:36Initially said no weak link because loves every part, but then suggested the ending with Creasy dying followed by the date/other guy dying
Chris Ryan▶ 42:44The title card showing 'John Creasy, 1964 to 2004' - called it the worst part of the movie

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 45:20No better title - thinks it might not have a better title than any movie
Chris Ryan▶ 45:23No better title - considers it possibly the best title for any movie

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 45:43You said forgiveness is between them and God. That's my job to arrange a meeting.
Chris Ryan▶ 45:59This is a man could be an artist in anything, food, whatever. It depends on how good he is at a cruise. He's artist death. He's about to paint his masterpiece.

Picking Nits

Bill Simmons▶ 47:18The plan where the kid gets kidnapped in a bloody shootout is unrealistic - how stupid do you have to be to green light that plan?
Bill Simmons▶ 47:55If Creasy survives, you have to take him out in the hospital - don't let that guy live
Chris Ryan▶ 47:47Agrees with the kidnapping plan criticism - they know Creasy will kill people if pressed but still proceed with grabbing the kid

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 49:46Russell Crowe — Discusses Russell Crowe being offered Creasy role but turning it down, mentions Will Smith would have been good but not as good as Denzel, notes various other casting possibilities including De Niro, Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis for Creasy and Marlon Brando for Rayburn
Chris Ryan▶ 50:00Russell Crowe — Suggests the movie should have been a Proof of Life sequel with Russell Crowe's Terry Thorne character, proposes adding Caruso and Walken to create 'Proof of Life 2: Mexico City', mentions Will Smith as intriguing casting option

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 56:36Mickey Rourke and Denzel didn't get along; Dakota missing front teeth was kept; Denzel did 10 days weapons training; Mexico City crew targeted for kidnapping; original ending had Denzel with butt bomb blowing up voice's house
Chris Ryan▶ 58:06Deleted scenes include original ending with Denzel's butt bomb revenge on the voice, and cut sex scene between Denzel and Radha Mitchell that explains weird chemistry/dialogue

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:00:16Dakota Fanning — No for Denzel, Tony Scott, and Walken. Yes for Dakota Fanning - argues she was going toe-to-toe with Denzel and seemed like a generational actor

Racehorse Name Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:03:27Creasy
Chris Ryan▶ 1:03:36Horse on Fire

Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:34Prequel - exploring Denzel's character through counterterrorism in the 80s and 90s
Chris Ryan▶ 1:07:38Agrees prequel would be awesome but raises concerns about pacing for prestige TV format

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:13Wayne Jenkins, Danny Trejo, Catherine Han, Steve Buscemi, Sam Jackson, JT Walsh, or Philip Baker Hall
Chris Ryan▶ 1:08:26Wayne Jenkins in the Rayburn role

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:57Dakota Fanning — Dakota Fanning for Best Supporting Actress

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:42Did John Wick rip off this movie? Does Devante Adams tribute this movie with his walk? Why wouldn't Creasy kill everyone at the end? How many fingers could you lose before telling the truth?
Chris Ryan▶ 1:10:50John Wick has Creasy vibes - damaged ex-assassin who wants to be retired. Creasy knows he's dying from gunshot wounds, explaining why he made the deal.

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:13:08Flight
Chris Ryan▶ 1:13:32Proof of Life

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:16:22Don't arrange your own child's kidnapping
Chris Ryan▶ 1:16:32If your lawyer tells you that your wife is a sweet piece of ass, get a different lawyer

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:17:54Denzel Washington — Denzel Washington - calls it his favorite Denzel movie, though acknowledges Dakota Fanning, Tony Scott, and Watkins all benefited
Chris Ryan▶ 1:17:51Tony Scott — Tony Scott - calls this his favorite hallucinatory Tony Scott movie and probably the best example of his style

Movies Referenced (41)

Proof of Life (2000)

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 49:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Flight (2012)

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 5:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Training Day (2001)

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 6:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Wick (2014)

7 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 11:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

He Got Game (1998)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 6:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fast Five (2011)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 2:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Town (2010)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 1:02:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Total Recall (1990)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 53:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Unforgiven (1992)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 7:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

American Gangster (2007)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 14:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Crimson Tide (1995)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 6:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Deja Vu (2006)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 6:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (7)

Tony Scott

26 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Domino, Unstoppable, True Romance▶ 2:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jack Daniels

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 28:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Antoine Fuqua

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for The Magnificent Seven, The Equalizer▶ 20:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Bay

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Armageddon▶ 51:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ben Affleck

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Argo, Gone Girl, The Town▶ 48:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Clint Eastwood

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven▶ 7:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Colorado

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Hancock▶ 1:21:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (57)

Denzel Washington

76 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Fences, The Book of Eli▶ 2:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dakota Fanning

27 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for War of the Worlds, I Am Sam, Man on Fire▶ 3:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Christopher Walken

14 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Catch Me If You Can, The Deer Hunter▶ 7:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mickey Rourke

14 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Sin City, The Wrestler, Angel Heart▶ 35:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Caroline Bible

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for The Call of the Wild▶ 1:15:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Crazy Town

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Something's Gotta Give, Saving Silverman, Orange County▶ 1:02:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Laura Linney

7 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:09:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Radha Mitchell

7 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Silent Hill, Man on Fire▶ 35:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Game

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Street Kings, The A-Team, Coach Carter▶ 6:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Caruso

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for First Blood, Proof of Life▶ 49:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Natalie Portman

5 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Black Swan, V for Vendetta▶ 19:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Russell Crowe

5 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind▶ 49:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (3)

Malcolm X

2 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Malcolm X, V for Vendetta▶ 5:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joan Didion

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for A Star Is Born▶ 16:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Julie Siege

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 14:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (2)

Ryan Creasy

30 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for War for the Planet of the Apes, Logan, Terminator Genisys▶ 1:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Adam Macbeth

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Deadpool & Wolverine, IF▶ 14:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗