'Marathon Man' With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan
June 18, 2025 · Marathon Man (1976) · Crime · Drama · Thriller · 1:35:38 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsDustin Hoffman — Bob Evans got all his first choices - they went five for five with desired casting including Dustin Hoffman, Laurence Olivier, William Devane, and Roy Scheider. Mentioned Hoffman took the role partly because he heard Pacino wanted it.▶ 11:25
Chris RyanThere were some rumors about alternate casting possibilities if people said no, and John Schlesinger might have wanted different actors, but Evans ultimately got his first draft picks.▶ 11:38
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsElsa working for Zell the whole time and the farmhouse sequence - finds both elements weak and unnecessary▶ 58:04
Chris RyanThe childhood flashbacks - feels they don't add necessary information and take up too much time▶ 1:00:31
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsTwo-part take: If making this in 1976, it would be a better Harrison Ford part, but in 1984 this is an epic Tom Cruise part - 'the most cruisiest part that's not a cruise movie'▶ 1:03:40
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsWilliam Goldman — Hoffman - Kramer vs. Kramer; Scheider - Jaws; Devane - Bad News Bears and Breaking Training; Goldman - this movie (Marathon Man) because he has this and All the President's Men in 76; Marthe Keller - yes, this is her apex; Olivier - no way this is his apex▶ 1:14:12
Chris RyanDustin Hoffman — Hoffman - 1976 with Marathon Man and All the President's Men in one year; Scheider - Jaws; Marthe Keller - yes, this is her apex; Schlesinger - Midnight Cowboy because it won the Oscar▶ 1:14:14
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsStephen A. Smith — Stephen A. Smith (doing his Stephen A. impression with Christian Szell asking 'is it safe')▶ 1:21:51
Chris RyanSamuel L. Jackson — Samuel L. Jackson (quoting his Pulp Fiction lines with 'is it safe')▶ 1:21:27
Craig HorlbeckSamuel L. Jackson — Supports Samuel L. Jackson option by continuing the Pulp Fiction quote mashup▶ 1:21:32
Just One Oscar
Chris RyanConrad Hall — Conrad Hall (cinematographer) - agrees with Bill's pick and provides supporting details about Hall's career and his extraordinary portrayal of New York City▶ 1:23:00
Best Double Feature
Bill SimmonsThe Boys from Brazil — Boys from Brazil paired with an Olivia film, Uncut Gems for diamond district theme, or Munich▶ 1:28:00
Who Won the Movie
Craig HorlbeckDiscussed enjoying the movie's structure and pacing but didn't give a specific 'Who Won the Movie' pick▶ 1:30:06
Movies Referenced (46)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All the President's Men (1976) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 12:34 |
| Jaws (1975) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 18:19 |
| Miami Vice (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:06:18 |
| Munich (2005) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 3:27 |
| Bright (2017) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 22:31 |
| Lincoln (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:28:13 |
| Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 30:59 |
| The Godfather (1972) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 11:01 |
| Brazil (1985) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 21:38 |
| Psycho (1960) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 47:28 |
| Reservoir Dogs (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Craig Horlbeck | ▶ 1:15:31 |
| The Fountain (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 46:57 |
Directors Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Schlesinger | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Midnight Cowboy, Darling, Marathon Man | ▶ 11:38 |
| Bob Fosse | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | All That Jazz | ▶ 18:08 |
| Jayson Clute | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Titanic, American Psycho | ▶ 1:02:39 |
| Tom Brady | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Hot Chick | ▶ 20:59 |
Actors Referenced (60)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Devane | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Craig Horlbeck | Marathon Man | ▶ 1:26 |
| Dustin Hoffman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 16 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Craig Horlbeck | Rain Man, Tootsie, Midnight Cowboy | ▶ 1:19 |
| Roy Scheider | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Jaws, The French Connection, All That Jazz | ▶ 1:25 |
| Ned Beatty | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Craig Horlbeck | Network, Deliverance, Shooter | ▶ 16:29 |
| Robert Evans | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Chinatown, Marathon Man | ▶ 9:06 |
| Cali Swag District | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Craig Horlbeck | Horrible Bosses 2, Grown Ups 2 | ▶ 3:05 |
| Neil Diamond | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Craig Horlbeck | ▶ 21:46 | |
| Christoph Waltz | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained | ▶ 3:54 |
| Michael Madsen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Hateful Eight, Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Species | ▶ 16:53 |
| Paul Janeway | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Fifty Shades of Grey, Life of the Party | ▶ 45:35 |
| Harrison Ford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, The Fugitive | ▶ 1:02:26 |
| Richard Bright | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | The Godfather Part III, The Godfather Part II, Once Upon a Time in America | ▶ 1:06:49 |
Writers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Towne | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Chinatown, Mission: Impossible | ▶ 26:22 |
| Vivian Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 51:50 | |
| William Shakespeare | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 25:20 |
Cinematographers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conrad Hall | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 53:29 | |
| Jeff Mart | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Proof of Life | ▶ 1:05:14 |
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Other Guys | ▶ 33:52 |