‘Over The Top’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt
September 24, 2024 · Over the Top (1987) · Action · Drama · Sport · 1:52:50 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsHawk's first arm wrestling scene at the diner (12 minutes in) featuring the Smasher, and Mike's big arm wrestling scene against the crystal meth/inbred kid▶ 25:06
Kyle BrandtAgrees on Hawk's first arm wrestling scene with the Smasher, describes the scene dynamics and character interactions in detail▶ 25:57
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsThe presidential suite scene where the protagonist confronts Robert Loggia, tells him to stick his check, throws Terry Funk through glass doors, then fights John Grizzly again▶ 41:39
Kyle BrandtThe scene where a fighter gets his arm broken in half during the tournament, praising that they left this brutal moment in the film▶ 41:04
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsAgreed with Kyle's take and expanded that Harry Bosco was the only black person in the entire movie, which ties into the Van Lathan award about needing more black people▶ 44:57
Kyle BrandtThe one officiating controversy in the arm wrestling tournament involves the one black guy (Harry Bosco) getting screwed - bad optics that the only black person in the movie gets the controversial call▶ 44:42
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Kyle BrandtThe hypothetical steak that Lincoln wanted (t-bone) and the tuna on whole wheat that the little kid wanted▶ 1:00:48
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsThe hospital scenes with the mom, featuring actress Susan Blakely - calls them two of the worst scenes in any Stallone movie ever▶ 1:01:05
Kyle BrandtThe failure to reveal what happened with Lincoln and his family - the movie never explains why he abandoned his son for 10 years despite building the whole story around their father-son relationship▶ 1:01:32
Is There a Better Title?
Bill SimmonsAgreed that the title works well since it's Lincoln Hawk's signature arm wrestling move and checks a lot of boxes.▶ 1:08:41
Kyle BrandtNo, there is no better title. The current title has great second meaning because it's so excessive and over the top symbolically, and it's his move in arm wrestling.▶ 1:08:31
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsDon Johnson — Don Johnson was first choice for Lincoln Hawk but doesn't buy him as arm wrestler/truck driver; suggests Deborah Winger to recast Hawk's ex-wife; jokingly suggests Gary Coleman or Kirk Cameron as Hawk's son▶ 1:13:33
Kyle BrandtKirk Cameron — Agrees Don Johnson wouldn't work as truck driver; supports Deborah Winger recast; endorses Kirk Cameron idea saying 'Mike Seaver would be great'▶ 1:13:47
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsOver the Top — Yes, this is apex mountain for Golan-Globus productions - peak period when they released 31 movies, had Bloodsport in production, Over the Top being made, and made Runaway Train▶ 1:21:28
Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake
Bill SimmonsSequel with Mike Hawk and Craig, finished off with Tom Cruise; also suggests Mike Hawk appearing in the first Fast and Furious as a trucker involved with stolen cars▶ 1:35:17
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsByron Mayo as the grandfather character, shirtless holding a Narragansett, getting into trouble in Vegas▶ 1:36:32
Just One Oscar
Bill SimmonsSammy Hagar — Best Song for Sammy Hagar's 'Winner Takes It All' - believes it deserved a nomination and could have competed with the actual 1988 nominees▶ 1:37:06
Kyle BrandtSammy Hagar — Best Song nomination for Sammy Hagar's 'Winner Takes It All' - agrees it should have gotten a nomination so Hagar could perform at the Oscars▶ 1:37:38
Best Double Feature
Kyle BrandtCobra — Cobra and Over the Top (agrees it might be his favorite double feature of all movies)▶ 1:41:31
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsTyson Bagent — Possibly Tyson Bagent (belated winner) or Golden Globus, but notes nobody else really won and the movie lost money▶ 1:46:19
Kyle BrandtArm wrestling - all roads in arm wrestling lead to Over the Top some 40 years later▶ 1:46:03
Movies Referenced (51)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarface (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 34:10 |
| Rambo (2008) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 6:08 |
| Rushmore (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 54:02 |
| The Fly (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 1:22:18 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:27:45 |
| Goodfellas (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Kyle Brandt | ▶ 47:51 |
| Rocky II (1979) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 11:10 |
| The Father (2020) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 16:20 |
| Top Gun (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 24:41 |
| A Quiet Place (2018) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 24:48 |
| Armageddon (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 2:06 |
| Beverly Hills Cop (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:38:05 |
Directors Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Smith | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 3:50 | |
| Iyi Tubi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Ex Machina, World War Z | ▶ 10:15 |
| Paul Bellany | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Kyle Brandt | Stardust | ▶ 0:05 |
Actors Referenced (50)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sammy Hagar | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | Footloose, Over the Top | ▶ 23:55 |
| Kenny Loggins | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | Footloose, Caddyshack, Top Gun | ▶ 13:07 |
| Rick Zumwalt | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | Over the Top, Batman Returns | ▶ 46:23 |
| Van Halen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | Spaceballs, Ready Player One, Mission to Mars | ▶ 17:15 |
| Terry Funk | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | Road House, Over the Top | ▶ 41:48 |
| David Mendenhall | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons | God Bless America, Over the Top | ▶ 1:12:41 |
| Robert Loggia | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Big, Independence Day, Lost Highway | ▶ 41:46 |
| Crazy Town | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Kyle Brandt | Something's Gotta Give | ▶ 0:00 |
| Dolph Lundgren | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Kyle Brandt | Rocky IV, Masters of the Universe | ▶ 17:30 |
| Frank Stallone | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Rambo: First Blood Part II | ▶ 11:18 |
| Gary Coleman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Dirty Work | ▶ 1:17:17 |
| Larry Green | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 53:46 |
Writers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Cosby | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:19:37 | |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 22:33 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ian Clampett | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Battleship, Deja Vu | ▶ 1:18:52 |
| Jeff Mart | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Kyle Brandt | Proof of Life | ▶ 1:31:14 |