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‘Ransom’ With Bill Simmons and Van Lathan

November 9, 2021 · Ransom (1996) · Action · Crime · Drama · 1:24:21

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsSean getting kidnapped▶ 29:48
Van LathanAgrees with the kidnapping scene and provides detailed analysis of why it works - shows parents' internalized guilt, Sean's isolation due to his parents' status, and the setup for their neglect▶ 31:13

What's Aged the Worst

Bill SimmonsMel Gibson and AJ Benza's cameo, plus the treatment of the kidnapped child being 25% too mean▶ 1:02:41
Van LathanThe rich billionaire as the hero of a movie (with exception for comic book heroes like Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne who use wealth for good)▶ 1:02:07

Joey Pants Award

Bill SimmonsEvan HandlerConsiders Dan Hedaya but leans toward 'bald Californication guy' whose name he doesn't know▶ 1:07:19
Van LathanDan HedayaMentions Dan Hedaya and the bald Californication guy as options, also notes an Asian actress from What About Bob but says she's too small a role▶ 1:08:00

Casting What-Ifs

Bill SimmonsBen AffleckBen Affleck as the Liev Schreiber character, also suggests Brendan Fraser and Jason Lee▶ 1:09:50
Van LathanBen AffleckAcknowledges the timing works for Affleck (Mallrats era) and agrees Jason Lee would bring wise-ass comments but notes similar attempts didn't work▶ 1:10:18

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill SimmonsProduction delayed due to Mel Gibson's emergency appendectomy, pushed release from 1995 to 1996; Brawley Nolte (Nick Nolte's son) played the kid▶ 1:10:47
Van LathanNoticed Brawley Nolte in the credits and looked up that he's Nick Nolte's son▶ 1:11:09

Apex Mountain

Bill SimmonsRene RussoRenee Russo - 1996 (Ransom and Tin Cup same year), Gary Sinise - Apollo 13 coming off Forrest Gump, kidnapping movies as a genre, Jackie Brown as movie character, rich guy New York apartments▶ 1:11:41
Van LathanDelroy LindoKidnapping movies as most popular ever, Delroy Lindo - Crooklyn if he had one, agrees on rich guy New York apartments▶ 1:12:01

Who Won the Movie

Van LathanMel GibsonMel Gibson (agreed)▶ 1:22:39

Movies Referenced (64)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Jackie Brown (1997)IMDb ↗Lb ↗9Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 48:08
Man on Fire (2004)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 4:22
Apollo 13 (1995)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons▶ 22:25
Friday Night Lights (2004)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons▶ 45:38
Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 18:41
Fargo (1996)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 4:44
Revolutionary Road (2008)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 55:00
A Beautiful Mind (2001)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 51:54
Braveheart (1995)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 13:50
Chasing Amy (1997)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:14
Cinderella Man (2005)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 53:31
Conspiracy Theory (1997)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 13:54

Directors Referenced (3)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Mel GibsonIMDb ↗Lb ↗65Bill Simmons, Van LathanBraveheart, Lethal Weapon 3, Conspiracy Theory▶ 2:36
Ron HowardIMDb ↗Lb ↗10Bill Simmons, Van LathanA Beautiful Mind▶ 2:36
Ben AffleckIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Van Lathan, Bill SimmonsArgo, Gone Girl, The Town▶ 37:17

Actors Referenced (58)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Rene RussoIMDb ↗Lb ↗15Van Lathan, Bill SimmonsNightcrawler, The Thomas Crown Affair, Ransom▶ 18:37
Gary SiniseIMDb ↗Lb ↗14Van Lathan, Bill SimmonsForrest Gump, Of Mice and Men, Apollo 13▶ 23:49
Matt DamonIMDb ↗Lb ↗13Van Lathan, Bill SimmonsGood Will Hunting, The Martian, The Departed▶ 47:14
Delroy LindoIMDb ↗Lb ↗11Van Lathan, Bill SimmonsSinners, Get Shorty▶ 44:08
Alec BaldwinIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Van Lathan, Bill SimmonsThe Departed, It's Complicated, Glengarry Glen Ross▶ 11:54
Dan HedayaIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Van LathanThe Usual Suspects, Commando, Mulholland Drive▶ 57:43
Donnie WahlbergIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill SimmonsRansom, Dead Silence▶ 29:43
Jason LeeIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Van LathanAlmost Famous, Chasing Amy, Vanilla Sky▶ 1:08:24
Anthony MackieIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Van LathanThe Hurt Locker, The Adjustment Bureau▶ 36:36
Judge ReinholdIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill Simmons, Van LathanBeverly Hills Cop, Fast Times at Ridgemont High▶ 6:00
Tom CruiseIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Van Lathan, Bill SimmonsTop Gun, Minority Report▶ 14:34
Tommy Lee JonesIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Van Lathan, Bill SimmonsThe Fugitive, No Country for Old Men▶ 24:42

Writers Referenced (5)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Sean MullenIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons▶ 29:50
Lily TaylorIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons▶ 57:51
Tony BehringerIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsNo Hard Feelings, Draft Day▶ 21:37
Cyril HumeIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsRansom▶ 57:28
Roger EbertIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 27:15