‘Reservoir Dogs’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Chris Ryan
July 26, 2019 · Reservoir Dogs (1992) · Crime · Thriller · 1:29:26 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Chris RyanDiscussed the opening diner scene extensively, focusing on cinematography, characterization, and visual references like the two guys pointing guns at each other▶ 37:11
Sean FennesseyEngaged with discussion of both scenes, particularly praising Buscemi's performance in the confrontation scene▶ 36:42
What's Aged the Best
Chris RyanThe juxtaposition of music with violence - using ironic music to offset or amplify violence▶ 55:03
Sean FennesseyStephen Wright as radio host and the film as a good L.A. movie showing different parts of the city▶ 55:55
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsLawrence Tierney as Joe - calls his performance bad and says Harvey Keitel could have gotten a better actor▶ 59:20
Chris RyanNotes that they purposely kept Tierney out of the third act until the final scene, suggesting awareness of his limitations▶ 1:00:38
Sean FennesseyDisagrees about Lawrence Tierney being bad, acknowledges production difficulties but thinks Tierney brings presence despite looking like 'fat skeletor'▶ 59:42
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsJames Woods — Shares multiple casting alternatives: James Woods was wanted by Tarantino (possibly for Mr. Orange or Mr. White), Tarantino originally wrote Mr. Pink for himself, Michael Madsen auditioned for Mr. Pink, Vincent Gallo turned down Mr. Pink▶ 1:02:46
Chris RyanJames Woods — James Woods would be too old to play Mr. Orange as a young undercover cop▶ 1:03:14
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsShared extensive casting trivia including Tim Roth almost playing Mr. Pink, Tom Sizemore as finalist, Buscemi originally auditioning for Mr. White, George Clooney reading for Mr. Blonde, Christopher Walken refusing Mr. Blonde, Robert Forster auditioning for Joe Cabot, Tony Scott wanting to direct, and noted no female speaking parts in theatrical release▶ 1:03:31
Chris RyanDiscussed Tom Sizemore's role in Tarantino universe and Natural Born Killers connection, noted Christopher Walken would be too obvious for Mr. Blonde, speculated Tony Scott's version would have included the actual heist scene▶ 1:03:42
Sean FennesseyCommented on Tom Sizemore's fucked up Natural Born Killers character, noted Clooney later did From Dusk Till Dawn, speculated Tony Scott version would have more cop scenes and Hans Zimmer score, mentioned True Romance connections▶ 1:03:57
Dion Waiters Award
Chris RyanTim Roth — Tim Roth's boss (the guy with no shirt vest) and the extra who yells 'fuck you asshole' when Buscemi bumps into him▶ 1:06:39
Sean FennesseyThe cop telling the story during Tim Roth's commode scene who keeps saying 'buddy, put your hands on the dash'▶ 1:09:02
Overacting Award
Bill SimmonsChris Penn — Chris Penn - specifically the scene where he's yelling 'Larry, stop pointing that fucking gun in my head!' with spit flying and bulging eyeballs▶ 1:14:19
Chris RyanChris Penn — Agrees with Chris Penn nomination and suggests Harvey Keitel in his last 30 seconds as an alternative▶ 1:15:09
Sean FennesseyChris Penn — Says 'Chris Penn is really great' but unclear if this means he agrees or disagrees with the overacting assessment▶ 1:15:06
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsHow the three-way shootout works logistically - he kills both of them by getting the first and last shot▶ 1:18:52
Sean FennesseyThe logistics of the three-way shootout - there's a vanishing quarter second where Mr. White can turn his gun and shoot Nice Guy Eddie after being shot▶ 1:19:05
Best Quote
Bill SimmonsLeft the category empty because the whole movie is quotable; likes 'asshole, you better stop talking, because we got shit we need to talk about' and 'you're going to be okay'▶ 1:19:54
Who Won the Movie
Chris RyanQuentin Tarantino — Agrees on Tarantino, notes he topped Welles by following with Pulp Fiction; mentions Tim Roth as runner-up▶ 1:26:56
Sean FennesseyQuentin Tarantino — Quentin Tarantino - compared his aggressive career launch to Orson Welles▶ 1:26:43
Movies Referenced (43)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulp Fiction (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 3:58 |
| True Romance (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 19:43 |
| Jackie Brown (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 53:45 |
| Casino (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 29:37 |
| Goodfellas (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 34:30 |
| Den of Thieves (2018) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:22:30 |
| Django Unchained (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 48:01 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 37:33 |
| Fatal Attraction (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 0:28 |
| Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 8:05 |
| Miller's Crossing (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 23:52 |
| Natural Born Killers (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 19:43 |
Directors Referenced (15)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quentin Tarantino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 58 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, From Dusk Till Dawn | ▶ 6:07 |
| Sean Penn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Mystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking | ▶ 0:32 |
| Tony Scott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Unstoppable, True Romance | ▶ 49:06 |
| Joseph H. Lewis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 47:43 | |
| Wes Craven | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream, New Nightmare | ▶ 1:09:54 |
| Ava DuVernay | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 27:52 | |
| Chris Corner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Saint, Open Your Eyes | ▶ 46:52 |
| Cirque du Soleil | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | The Spy Who Dumped Me | ▶ 48:34 |
| John Woo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 37:12 | |
| Stanley Kubrick | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon | ▶ 46:59 |
| Amy Hulse | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Only the Brave, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot | ▶ 25:25 |
| Cecil B. DeMille | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | The Greatest Show on Earth, Sunset Boulevard | ▶ 53:59 |
Actors Referenced (66)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Roth | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 28 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | The Hateful Eight, Pulp Fiction | ▶ 1:31 |
| Michael Madsen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 23 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | The Hateful Eight, Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Species | ▶ 21:26 |
| Steve Buscemi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 21 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Fargo, Reservoir Dogs | ▶ 1:31 |
| Chris Penn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Reservoir Dogs, True Romance | ▶ 1:31 |
| Harvey Keitel | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Reservoir Dogs, The Grand Budapest Hotel | ▶ 1:31 |
| James Woods | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Hercules, The Virgin Suicides | ▶ 1:02:46 |
| Tom Sizemore | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down | ▶ 24:31 |
| Gary Oldman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Dark Knight, Darkest Hour | ▶ 25:10 |
| Lawrence Tierney | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Reservoir Dogs | ▶ 1:31 |
| Lee Marvin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 13:56 | |
| Robert Forster | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Jackie Brown, The Descendants, Mulholland Drive | ▶ 1:04:44 |
| Christopher Walken | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Catch Me If You Can, The Deer Hunter | ▶ 1:04:25 |
Writers Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 21:55 | |
| Ali Bathgate | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | F1: The Movie, Enola Holmes | ▶ 23:58 |
| George Lucas | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, American Graffiti | ▶ 14:33 |
| Lawrence Bender | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Reservoir Dogs | ▶ 21:10 |
| Michael Crichton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Jurassic Park, Twister | ▶ 1:25:02 |
| William Goldman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men, The Princess Bride | ▶ 11:59 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Other Guys | ▶ 1:07:56 |