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‘The Game’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Chris Ryan

September 29, 2020 · The Game (1997) · Drama · Mystery · Thriller · 1:13:01 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes: Douglas and Sean Penn lunch scene, TV talking to Nicholas, car scene when it starts unraveling, chase scene with Debra Kara Unger, presidential suite scene, cab driver jump scene, and ending from the 300-person cafeteria scene through to the end▶ 27:10
Chris RyanMain chase sequence around CRS ending with the empty office reveal, plus both Armin Mueller-Stahl scenes (Seattle dressing down and throwing Polaroids)▶ 30:47
Sean FennesseyWhen he returns to his house and finds the graffiti with White Rabbit playing▶ 30:20

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill SimmonsMichael Douglas, good athlete? Bad athlete.▶ 32:58
Chris RyanDouglas may have been good but past his prime, questions the realism of his baggy shirt while playing racquetball and notes he's old school where stuntmen did the work▶ 33:02

What's Aged the Best

Bill SimmonsMultiple picks: Nicholas splitting the bill with Conrad, the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco location, the Graffiti House, movie tropes like 'they're watching' and 'now you've done it', and Deborah Kara Unger's performance▶ 33:46
Chris RyanDeborah Kara Unger - praising her as an 'anxious blonde' he's 'incredibly into' and being 'long on her vibe'▶ 35:11
Sean FennesseyDiscussed Deborah Kara Unger's casting story involving her audition tape from Cronenberg's Crash, but didn't clearly endorse it as what aged best▶ 35:44

Casting What-Ifs

Bill SimmonsKyle MacLachlan — Discusses original 1992 casting with Kyle MacLachlan and Bridget Fonda, relieved it didn't happen; mentions Jodie Foster was announced for Sean Penn's role but Fincher removed her; notes Jeff Bridges was offered Conrad role but would be too close to Douglas's age▶ 40:11
Chris RyanRebecca De Mornay — Suggests Rebecca de Mornay would have been better choice than Bridget Fonda for 1992 version since it was 'peak de Mornay'▶ 40:28
Sean FennesseyProvides background on director Jonathan Mostow's other films like Breakdown and Terminator, but doesn't offer strong opinions on the casting alternatives▶ 40:40

Joey Pants Award

Bill SimmonsJames Rebhorn▶ 43:28
Chris RyanMark Boone Junior — Discussed Mark Boone Jr. (private investigator who was also in Seven) but didn't make a definitive pick▶ 43:21
Sean FennesseyJames Rebhorn — Mentioned Linda Manz and agreed with James Rebhorn's credentials, noting his roles in Sons of a Woman and Homeland▶ 43:43

Apex Mountain

Bill SimmonsDeborah Kara Unger — No for Douglas and Sean Penn, yes for Debra Kara Unger (DKU), possibly for pre-Silicon Valley San Francisco movies and Johnny's Coffee Shop▶ 50:03
Chris RyanCheeseburger on film - the cheeseburger Douglas is about to eat for his birthday▶ 51:44

Who Won the Movie

Bill SimmonsSean Penn — Sean Penn - because if you had a different actor who wasn't that good, they wouldn't be doing this podcast; Penn created a unique character while Douglas gave a familiar performance▶ 1:05:40
Chris RyanMichael Douglas — Michael Douglas - because it's old school movie star, he's in every scene, puts the movie on his back, and serves as the audience avatar▶ 1:05:07
Sean FennesseyDavid Fincher — Initially suggests there might not be a winner since it's not the best work for most involved, but acknowledges Fincher benefited by getting $70 million for Fight Club afterward▶ 1:04:37

Movies Referenced (29)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Wall Street (1987)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons▶ 6:17
Midnight Run (1988)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 14:51
Super 8 (2011)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan▶ 38:56
Twilight (2008)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 12:32
Basic Instinct (1992)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 6:17
Falling Down (1993)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 6:17
Fatal Attraction (1987)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 6:13
Fight Club (1999)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 37:28
Gone Girl (2014)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 14:32
Panic Room (2002)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 16:16
Romancing the Stone (1984)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 6:13
Say Anything (1989)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 18:18

Directors Referenced (4)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Sean PennIMDb ↗Lb ↗42Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyMystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking▶ 1:27
David FincherIMDb ↗Lb ↗23Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris RyanSe7en, Gone Girl, Zodiac▶ 1:43
Jonathan MostowIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsU-571▶ 40:15
David CronenbergIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyThe Fly▶ 35:50

Actors Referenced (38)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Michael DouglasIMDb ↗Lb ↗19Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris RyanWall Street, Romancing the Stone▶ 1:25
Deborah Kara UngerIMDb ↗Lb ↗18Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris RyanThe Game▶ 3:55
Bill MurrayIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Bill SimmonsLost in Translation, Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom▶ 31:14
Jodie FosterIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill SimmonsThe Silence of the Lambs, Taxi Driver▶ 41:23
Diane LaneIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill SimmonsUnfaithful, Under the Tuscan Sun▶ 46:52
James RebhornIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyIndependence Day, The Game, The Talented Mr. Ripley▶ 3:02
Bridget FondaIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsPoint of No Return▶ 40:15
Doc RiversIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsUncut Gems▶ 1:02:14
J.T. WalshIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsSling Blade▶ 40:57
Kyle MacLachlanIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsDune▶ 40:15
Rebecca De MornayIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Chris RyanThe Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Risky Business▶ 40:25
Spike JonesIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 48:55

Writers Referenced (3)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Andrew Kevin WalkerIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsThe Killer, Se7en▶ 48:44
Spike JonzeIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean FennesseyThree Kings▶ 24:02
Roger EbertIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 25:24

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
David MuirIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 45:57