‘The Big Chill’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey
September 26, 2023 · The Big Chill (1983) · Comedy · Drama · 2:03:19 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsOpening credits with bathtub and Marvin Gaye, and Richard's big kitchen scene where he makes a sandwich at 3am and gives his speech about life priorities▶ 39:17
Chris RyanThe opening 20 minutes meet-every-character montage where you learn about all the characters with minimal dialogue▶ 39:29
Sean FennesseyAgrees with the opening credits and discusses the wake scene with Klein's speech and the Rolling Stones song▶ 45:48
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsWhether the character had drugs for distribution or personal use - questioning the purpose behind having a bunch of drugs while driving around▶ 53:11
Chris RyanThe character does both distribution and personal use, and is very reckless with his pills▶ 53:14
Casting What-Ifs
Sean FennesseyMary Kay Place — Disagrees with SPEAKER_00's recasting thoughts, likes the current casting with Mary Kay Place▶ 1:01:01
Great Shot Gordo Award
Bill SimmonsSpatial composition in dialogue scenes with seven people that keeps everyone connected and properly positioned▶ 1:10:09
Chris RyanDissolve from Alex's wrist stitches to the farmland field outside the church, and Ozu-influenced triad shots of objects that reveal character▶ 1:09:06
Sean FennesseySubtle camera movements throughout - purposeful zooms and pans that seem perfunctory but are really deliberate▶ 1:09:52
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsKaren going back to Richard at the end - after JT Lancer sleeps with her, the next day she's planning to take the boys and Richard to see a taping▶ 1:11:50
Chris RyanDiscussed Karen's decision but explained it as informed by Sarah's story about her affair with Alex - Karen doesn't want to lose her family like Sarah did▶ 1:12:08
Sean FennesseyDefended Karen's choice as realistic - married women wanting adventure but not willing to give up what they've built their life towards▶ 1:12:36
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsSarah offers up her husband because she had an affair with Alex - this is described as a 'pretty big nitpick'▶ 1:18:53
Chris RyanDiscusses the logical inconsistency of Maggie going through all the guys asking to be impregnated but never asking Harold, the house owner▶ 1:18:59
Sean FennesseyDetails how Maggie systematically goes through each guy (Nick, Sam, JT Lancer, considers Michael) but never asks Harold who owns the house▶ 1:19:09
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsSarah's request was actually reasonable given the era and their close friendship - it was generosity and free love, and her mom agreed it made sense▶ 1:20:34
Chris RyanSarah asking Harold to sleep with Meg to get her pregnant is loser behavior - she's the one who cheated so she shouldn't make him be a sperm donor▶ 1:19:44
Sean FennesseyAgrees with SPEAKER_00 that it was a good move because Harold is a good guy with good genes who was willing to participate▶ 1:20:46
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsKevin Costner — Initially suggests the preacher, but shows interest in Costner despite concerns about his minimal screen presence, also mentions the cop as a possibility▶ 1:28:32
Chris RyanKevin Costner — Advocates for Costner despite not seeing his face, noting they spent 20 minutes discussing him, but ultimately thinks it's probably the preacher since Costner may not actually be in the movie▶ 1:28:35
Sean FennesseyKevin Costner — Questions whether those are definitely Costner's wrists in the inserts, expressing doubt about his actual presence in the film▶ 1:28:43
Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake
Bill SimmonsAll versions - sequel, prequel, prestige TV with all black cast are untouchable▶ 1:45:01
Chris RyanWould watch all versions, especially a prestige TV version of Nick and Nora with all black cast▶ 1:45:08
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsWayne Jenkins, Danny Trejo, Frank Vincent, New Edition, Katherine Han, Steve Buscemi, Sam Jackson, JT Walsh, Philip Baker Hall▶ 1:45:25
Best Double Feature
Chris RyanGrand Canyon — Agrees with Grand Canyon pairing, noting the interesting through line of this type of character▶ 1:52:19
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Chris RyanMeg's line about 'it's a cold world out there and sometimes I'm worried I'm getting cold too'▶ 1:56:12
Who Won the Movie
Sean FennesseyCheesecake Factory, but then says the cast and director, specifically noting it's a personal movie and generational movie▶ 1:58:10
Movies Referenced (43)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terms of Endearment (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 17:49 |
| Boogie Nights (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 22:55 |
| Platoon (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 58:51 |
| Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 36:41 |
| Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 36:27 |
| Troy (2004) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 13:43 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:11:22 |
| Fatal Attraction (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 51:28 |
| Forrest Gump (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 15:44 |
| Goodfellas (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 24:46 |
| Moon (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:16:29 |
| Pulp Fiction (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 24:46 |
Directors Referenced (8)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Costner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | ▶ 40:53 |
| Steven Spielberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan | ▶ 16:04 |
| John Schultz | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:24:30 | |
| Michael Bay | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Armageddon | ▶ 3:38 |
| Paul Bellany | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Stardust | ▶ 0:00 |
| Robert Zemeckis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Back to the Future, Forrest Gump | ▶ 16:01 |
| Ron Howard | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | A Beautiful Mind | ▶ 16:03 |
| Walt Frasier | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 11:56 |
Actors Referenced (38)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn Close | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 20 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Fatal Attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy | ▶ 17:14 |
| William Hurt | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | A History of Violence, Lost in Space, Broadcast News | ▶ 17:14 |
| Kevin Kline | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Wild Wild West, Dave, A Fish Called Wanda | ▶ 19:05 |
| Phoebe Cates | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Gremlins | ▶ 1:26:36 |
| Richard Gere | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Pretty Woman, An Officer and a Gentleman | ▶ 39:01 |
| Meryl Streep | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Out of Africa | ▶ 1:29:14 |
| Tom Berenger | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | Platoon, Inception, The Big Chill | ▶ 17:26 |
| Mel Brooks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Spaceballs, The Producers | ▶ 27:19 |
| Olivia Rodrigo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 25:40 | |
| Rip Torn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Men in Black, Freddy Got Fingered | ▶ 30:31 |
| Albert Finney | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | Erin Brockovich, Big Fish | ▶ 29:16 |
| Dinosaur Jr. | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Reality Bites, Yes Man | ▶ 25:57 |
Writers Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Kasdan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | The Big Chill | ▶ 4:23 |
| Tony Behringer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | No Hard Feelings, Draft Day | ▶ 1:13:46 |
| Carl Bernstein | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | All the President's Men | ▶ 1:15:43 |
| John Sayles | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 11:12 | |
| Meg Kasdan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Grand Canyon, Body Heat | ▶ 24:02 |
| Taylor Sheridan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Hell or High Water, Wind River | ▶ 2:01:26 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Bailey | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | In the Line of Fire, American Gigolo | ▶ 1:08:16 |