'Midnight Run' With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan
July 20, 2018 · Midnight Run (1988) · Action · Comedy · Crime · 1:09:56 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsDe Niro and Grodin's chemistry, Danny Elfman's music/soundtrack, the movie's last line 'Looks like I'm walking', and the sentimental emotional moments particularly De Niro's scene with his daughter▶ 28:02
Chris RyanDanny Elfman's soundtrack (calling it one of their favorites despite some criticism), and the unexpectedly poignant sentimental emotional moments in the film▶ 32:04
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsEight guys getting knocked out in the movie with no concussion awareness, especially Marvin getting knocked out four times▶ 38:17
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsRobin Williams — Discusses multiple what-ifs including Harrison Ford/Chevy Chase, Albert Brooks as Duke, and Robin Williams. Thinks Robin Williams could have done it if he played it seriously like in Dead Poets Society, but acknowledges Grodin was probably safer▶ 42:40
Chris RyanRobin Williams — Robin Williams would not have worked as the Duke - would have been doing bits throughout, too energetic compared to Grodin's measured performance. Can't see anybody else but Grodin doing it▶ 43:06
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsJohn Ashton — Discussed multiple candidates including Dennis Farina as Serrano, John Ashton as Marvin, and Yaphet Kotto as FBI agent, noting Ashton would normally win but acknowledging strong competition▶ 46:46
Chris RyanYaphet Kotto — Praised Yaphet Kotto's performance, describing it as 'seven threes' and highlighting his impactful presence▶ 47:55
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsCharles Grodin has permanent scars from real handcuffs; boxcar scene was entirely improvised; De Niro actually punched John Ashton during train fight scene; Marvin was originally supposed to die but was kept alive and added to McCarran airport scene for better climax▶ 51:22
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsCharles Grodin — Charles Grodin - yes, this is his apex mountain. For De Niro, argues it's Raging Bull coming off Godfather 2, but also considers Midnight Run his personal favorite and Goodfellas as very high up there.▶ 53:37
Chris RyanCharles Grodin — Charles Grodin - yes. For De Niro, picks Taxi Driver as his apex. For Joey Pantoliano, says this is his apex because 'he becomes Joey Pants' in this movie.▶ 53:57
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsHow long does the Duke stay alive (thinks 6 months) and does Jack Walsh open a coffee shop in Koreatown that gets destroyed in the riots▶ 1:01:32
Chris RyanJack Walsh opens a coffee shop, ideally the restaurant from Heat where Neil takes Eady, or he moves to the country near Ojai▶ 1:02:11
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsRobert De Niro — De Niro wins, with honorable mentions for Gerdon, the 'that guy' people, Danny Elfman, and Martin Brest▶ 1:04:10
Chris RyanParticipated in ranking De Niro performances (mentioning Taxi Driver, Raging Bull) but didn't explicitly state their pick for who won the movie▶ 1:03:38
Best Quote
Bill Simmons"Here come two words for you. Shut the fuck up." - calls it the most iconic quote and the one they've said the most▶ 1:04:28
Chris RyanAcknowledges the entire movie is quotable, gives special mention to "See you in the next life, Jack" from the ending scene▶ 1:04:48
Movies Referenced (56)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beverly Hills Cop (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:14 |
| Raging Bull (1980) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 3:56 |
| Die Hard (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 21:15 |
| Taxi Driver (1976) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 3:56 |
| Goodfellas (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 11:56 |
| Cape Fear (1991) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 11:56 |
| Dead Poets Society (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 42:41 |
| Good Will Hunting (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 43:58 |
| Jackie Brown (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 13:14 |
| Miami Vice (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:52 |
| The Deer Hunter (1978) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 10:18 |
| This Boy's Life (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 12:11 |
Directors Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Brest | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Scent of a Woman, Midnight Run, Beverly Hills Cop | ▶ 14:02 |
| Josh Trank | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Chronicle | ▶ 15:07 |
| Brian DeRozan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 15:19 | |
| Michael Mann | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans | ▶ 1:56 |
| Roger Goodell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Draft Day | ▶ 38:59 |
Actors Referenced (64)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert De Niro | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 63 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Cape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver | ▶ 0:57 |
| Charles Grodin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 26 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Midnight Run | ▶ 1:01 |
| Dennis Farina | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 18 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Get Shorty, Manhunter, Snatch | ▶ 6:16 |
| Al Pacino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 15 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather | ▶ 10:30 |
| Jack Walsh | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 15 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 3:04 | |
| Robin Williams | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Mrs. Doubtfire | ▶ 41:53 |
| Joe Pantoliano | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Memento, The Matrix | ▶ 6:13 |
| John Ashton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons | Gone Baby Gone, Beverly Hills Cop, Beverly Hills Cop II | ▶ 38:41 |
| Eddie Murphy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Nutty Professor, Beverly Hills Cop II | ▶ 29:18 |
| Albert Brooks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | Broadcast News | ▶ 40:43 |
| Danny Elfman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 31:49 | |
| Gerry Kodo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Jurassic Park, Pacific Rim | ▶ 14:35 |
Writers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colin Trevorrow | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Jurassic World | ▶ 14:46 |
| Harold Ramis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, Stripes | ▶ 30:01 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver Moron | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 30:25 |