‘Sudden Death’ With Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt
April 25, 2023 · Sudden Death (1995) · Action · Crime · Thriller · 1:35:47 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsThe hockey game sequence - describes it as an incredible sequence happening simultaneously with the terrorist plot, with the game being 2-2 and involving power plays▶ 5:45
Kyle BrandtAgrees with the hockey game being one of the most famous hockey scenes ever filmed, focusing more on the meta-commentary about the NHL allowing such a violent terrorist plot in their stadium▶ 6:08
Apex Mountain
Kyle BrandtVision Quest — Running on stadium steps - Vision Quest guy holding log over shoulders up stairs still holds the apex▶ 40:11
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsThe kid actors in this movie are so bad (though notes it could paradoxically be What's Aged the Best because it's entertainingly bad)▶ 53:31
Kyle BrandtThe inappropriate content involving children - parents putting the little girl in violent situations with people getting gunned down around her, Powers Booth threatening to kill her daddy▶ 54:30
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsThe kids (especially the son who disrespects his dad), the dead girl opening scene, bringing machine guns to sporting events, lack of crowd energy for Game 7, missing Mario Lemieux, weak movie score, cheap roof fight scene, fake hockey players due to lockout, slow opening 17-20 minutes▶ 56:46
Kyle BrandtThe disrespectful son, dead girl's open eyes being unnecessary, 555 phone numbers, cheap-looking Penguins locker room, and especially the excessive remorseless 90s violence throughout the movie▶ 57:25
Is There a Better Title?
Kyle BrandtNo, likes that you can say 'Jean-Claude Van Damme is in Sudden Death' as a complete sentence▶ 1:02:25
Best Quote
Bill SimmonsMultiple Powers Booth quotes: 'Dead heroes get the best funerals', 'Nobody does anything if it's right. They only do it if you make them', and 'Would you like it if I filled your little mouth with spiders?'▶ 1:02:33
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsBaseball or professional lacrosse need a terrorist attack movie the most because they are desperate for attention and would welcome it▶ 1:06:00
Kyle BrandtThe Game 7 Stanley Cup Finals overtime terrorist attack from Sudden Death is the fictional sporting event he would most want to attend of all time▶ 1:04:22
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsJames Woods — Discusses that Schwarzenegger, Stallone, and Willis all turned down the lead role for various reasons. Notes James Woods would have been better than Powers Boothe in the villain role, calling it 'a better movie' and 'no question'▶ 1:09:02
Kyle BrandtJames Woods — Agrees James Woods would have been great, referencing his Lester Diamond role and saying 'James Woods was coming at this point'▶ 1:09:29
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsFaith Minton — Considered the hockey coach, mascot maniac, and Luke Robitaille, but thinks the mascot person (woman who gets her hand deep fried) wins▶ 1:10:50
Kyle BrandtThe hockey coach who tells Van Damme 'you feeling better? Well, then get the fuck in there'▶ 1:10:34
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsDanny Trejo — Wayne Jenkins, Danny Trejo, Catherine Hunt, Steve Buscemi, Sam Jackson, JT Walsh, or Philip Baker Hall▶ 1:14:09
Bill SimmonsRoss Malinger — Ross Ballinger - 'No, because he was really good in Sleepless in Seattle.'▶ 1:18:23
Kyle BrandtSamuel L. Jackson — Sam Jackson - 'The line is literally, we lost the motherfucking vice president.'▶ 1:14:36
Kyle BrandtPowers Boothe — Kyle questions Powers Booth's value, referencing *Tombstone* and *Deadwood*, but ultimately seems open to the idea if the role fit.▶ 1:17:00
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsDoes Chicago protest the game because Pittsburgh used an illegal player (Van Damme not on roster)? What happens with the game logistics - forfeit, reschedule, or neutral site? Does Brad Tolliver die from his injuries? Does anyone discover Van Damme played goalie or does it remain a conspiracy theory?▶ 1:24:09
Kyle BrandtChicago would definitely protest the illegal player usage. Game would need to be resolved since it's Stanley Cup Finals Game 7, possibly picking up from when the illegal player entered. What's the sports media reaction to the fire marshal goalie hero - does he become a celebrity and get a hockey tryout?▶ 1:24:21
Best Double Feature
Bill SimmonsBlack Sunday — Suggests Black Sunday or Bloodsport to bookend the Van Damme era▶ 1:27:16
Kyle BrandtUnder Siege 2: Dark Territory — Sudden Death paired with Under Siege 2: Dark Territory - a 1995 head-to-head matchup▶ 1:27:26
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill SimmonsIf your kids think you're an unemployed loser, the best thing you can do is foil a terrorist attack in front of them▶ 1:29:42
Kyle BrandtGoing from being a lightbulb score winner to that's my dad - agrees with the lesson about winning back your kids▶ 1:29:53
Movies Referenced (37)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under Siege (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 3:42 |
| Die Hard (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 3:49 |
| Frozen (2013) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 27:45 |
| Universal Soldier (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 9:01 |
| Predator (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 8:08 |
| Sleepless in Seattle (1993) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 56:50 |
| The Ring (2002) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Kyle Brandt | ▶ 15:10 |
| American History X (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons | ▶ 45:21 |
| Baywatch (2017) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:31:44 |
| Die Hard 2 (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons | ▶ 51:59 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:03:46 |
| The Rock (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 16:14 |
Directors Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Corner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | The Saint, Open Your Eyes | ▶ 1:08:25 |
| Peter Hyams | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 22:26 | |
| Bob Zamboni | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:25:16 | |
| Iyi Tubi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Ex Machina, World War Z | ▶ 1:31:51 |
| Roland Emmerich | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Kyle Brandt | Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow | ▶ 1:17:50 |
Actors Referenced (62)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jean-Claude Van Damme | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 70 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 1:35 | |
| Steven Seagal | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 40 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | Under Siege 2: Dark Territory | ▶ 2:22 |
| The Penguins | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 18 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 2:18 | |
| The Game | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | Street Kings, The A-Team, Coach Carter | ▶ 4:08 |
| Alan Rickman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Die Hard, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | ▶ 30:56 |
| Jason Statham | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Kyle Brandt | Crank, Furious 7, The Meg | ▶ 16:44 |
| Steve Buscemi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons | Fargo, Reservoir Dogs | ▶ 1:14:09 |
| Bruce Willis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Die Hard, Pulp Fiction | ▶ 55:36 |
| James Woods | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | Hercules, The Virgin Suicides | ▶ 1:09:16 |
| They Might Be Giants | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons | The Adjustment Bureau, Sky High | ▶ 1:06:49 |
| Tom Skerritt | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Alien, Top Gun | ▶ 31:39 |
| Vin Diesel | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | The Fast and the Furious, Guardians of the Galaxy | ▶ 1:33:53 |
Writers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julie Siege | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt | ▶ 3:42 | |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 22:59 | |
| Tommy Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Vanilla Sky | ▶ 30:28 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver Moron | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Kyle Brandt | ▶ 57:29 |