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‘The Fugitive’ Live From Chicago With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Mallory Rubin

February 6, 2024 · The Fugitive (1993) · Action · Crime · Drama · 1:51:55 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsThe opening interrogation scene and the bus crash/train crash sequence (lumped together as one extended action sequence)▶ 19:56
Chris RyanEngaged with both scenes Bill mentioned, discussing the improvised nature of the interrogation and the technical aspects of the train crash sequence▶ 20:16
Mallory RubinDiscussed the opening interrogation scene extensively, praising Harrison Ford's hand acting, but considers the bus crash and train crash as separate scenes rather than one sequence▶ 20:27

Picking Nits

Bill SimmonsQuestions the unrealistic perfect swan dive from the dam (compared to Instagram fails) and the giant naked lady painting in Copeland's bedroom▶ 31:12
Chris RyanAgrees with Mallory's wallet complaint - 'I lose my wallet four times a day, this guy jumps off a dam, he still has it'▶ 30:41
Mallory RubinAfter Kimble jumps off the dam, his stitched-up wound doesn't rupture and the wallet in the stolen pants' pocket doesn't fall out▶ 30:18

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill SimmonsMr. Johnson's egg sandwich▶ 48:02
Chris RyanNotes the moral complexity of the scene - how it breaks the Hippocratic oath by taking the patient's meal, but agrees it's a great food moment▶ 48:17
Mallory RubinAgrees with the egg sandwich pick, praising the hand acting performance and the detail of licking egg juice off fingers▶ 48:08

What's Aged the Best

Mallory RubinMentions 'all of his acts of kindness' but context is incomplete▶ 48:27

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill SimmonsThe dam or the parade▶ 48:32

Great Shot Gordo Award

Bill SimmonsStarted to give a pick but was interrupted before completing his thought▶ 48:38
Chris RyanKimball walking into the tunnel - walking into the darkness as he's on his way back to Chicago▶ 48:45
Mallory RubinThe parade scene▶ 48:39

Hall of Fame Plaque

Bill SimmonsCharles Nichols for the Vincent Chase Award (characters who are bad at their job)▶ 52:05
Chris RyanAgrees that Charles Nichols and Sykes are candidates, but defends Sykes as someone in over his head rather than incompetent▶ 52:19
Mallory RubinAgrees with Charles Nichols for poor criminal execution and also suggests Sykes as a candidate for killing the wrong person initially▶ 52:25

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill SimmonsThe plot logic of why Devlin McGregor had to actually kill Dr. Richard Kimball - it seemed extreme when they could have framed him other ways▶ 54:25
Chris RyanAgrees with Bill's criticism but suggests maybe they knew his defense attorney was weak▶ 55:03

What's Aged the Worst

Bill SimmonsMultiple picks including: lack of DNA evidence (movie made in 1993 before DNA was standard), Kimball not testifying on his own behalf, pacing issues in the middle 30 minutes, giant font opening credits, Joey Pantoliano's wig, and pre-CGI one-armed man shots▶ 55:16
Chris RyanAgreed on pacing issues during the prosthetics investigation scenes and made jokes about the one-armed man effects▶ 56:21
Mallory RubinGiant font opening credits from the early 90s era▶ 57:37

Is There a Better Title?

Bill SimmonsNo, there is not a better title for this movie▶ 1:01:55

Best Quote

Mallory RubinTop 3: 'Don't let them give you any shit about your ponytail', 'I didn't kill my wife', and 'It's a donut' line▶ 1:02:11

Casting What-Ifs

Bill SimmonsNick NolteWalter Hill wanted Nick Nolte as the fugitive; Alec Baldwin was first choice over Ford; Gene Hackman and John Voight considered for Sam Gerard; Richard Jordan originally cast as Dr. Nichols but had to bow out due to brain tumor▶ 1:02:31
Chris RyanNick NolteJokes about Nick Nolte in hospital scrubs being concerning; discusses how this would be during Nolte's 'Another 48 Hours' era▶ 1:02:47

Movies Referenced (22)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Under Siege (1992)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 13:04
Blade Runner (1982)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons▶ 7:04
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons▶ 6:47
Air Force One (1997)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Mallory Rubin▶ 7:08
Jurassic Park (1993)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 16:44
Patriot Games (1992)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 8:44
Philadelphia (1993)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 12:36
Schindler's List (1993)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 15:17
Apocalypse Now (1979)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 8:22
Clear and Present Danger (1994)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 8:45
Den of Thieves (2018)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Mallory Rubin▶ 48:29
Forrest Gump (1994)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 2:40

Directors Referenced (3)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Andrew DavisIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Chris RyanThe Fugitive, Under Siege▶ 15:40
Charles NicholsIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 37:29
Walter HillIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan48 Hrs., Aliens▶ 27:00

Actors Referenced (22)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Harrison FordIMDb ↗Lb ↗23Mallory Rubin, Chris Ryan, Bill SimmonsRaiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, The Fugitive▶ 3:28
Richard JordanIMDb ↗Lb ↗17Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin, Chris RyanThe Hunt for Red October▶ 9:05
Tommy Lee JonesIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Mallory RubinThe Fugitive, No Country for Old Men▶ 12:54
Chuck NorrisIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons▶ 15:51
Gene HackmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris RyanThe French Connection, The Royal Tenenbaums, Unforgiven▶ 33:00
Han SoloIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Mallory Rubin▶ 6:54
Nick NolteIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Chris RyanWarrior▶ 1:02:35
Tom CruiseIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Chris RyanTop Gun, Minority Report▶ 22:53
Carla GuginoIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsWatchmen, Sucker Punch▶ 47:25
Charlotte CaffeyIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanFast Times at Ridgemont High▶ 37:23
Don DraperIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Mallory Rubin▶ 0:00
Empire of the SunIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Mallory RubinSex Tape, Hall Pass▶ 6:57

Writers Referenced (4)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Tommy LeeIMDb ↗Lb ↗14Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin, Chris RyanVanilla Sky▶ 14:01
Julie SiegeIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 13:04
Andy GreenwaldIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons▶ 0:13
Roger EbertIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 10:48