‘The Godfather’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Chris Ryan
January 8, 2019 · The Godfather (1972) · Crime · Drama · 2:06:48 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsListed multiple candidates including Salazzo meeting the Corleones to pitch his deal, and Clemenza making meatballs while giving Michael advice▶ 32:12
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsKate Corleone character - finds her behavior unrealistic and problematic, particularly how she takes Michael back after he disappeared for years and married someone else▶ 58:42
Chris RyanAgrees with Bill about problems with Kate Corleone character, though distinguishes between the character being problematic vs Diane Keaton's performance▶ 1:02:16
Sean FennesseyDefends Kate Corleone character as necessary - argues she serves as the audience avatar and that her holding a candle for Michael is believable▶ 58:47
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsGeorge C. Scott — Lists extensive casting alternatives including George C. Scott for Don Vito, Warren Beatty/Jack Nicholson for Michael, Ryan O'Neill preference by Robert Evans, De Niro originally cast as Pauly, and Stallone auditioning for Pauly/Carlo roles▶ 1:08:28
Chris RyanRobert Redford — Notes Redford fits the book description for Michael, agrees Stallone would have been good as Carlo the shitbag▶ 1:11:01
Sean FennesseyGeorge C. Scott — George C. Scott would have been interesting as Don Vito - has the weight and tortured, dark affect, though not Italian▶ 1:10:20
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsJohn Marley — Jack Waltz - said he fits the award definition best, being in three scenes and 'dialed up to 100 in all of them'▶ 1:19:41
Chris RyanAlex Rocco — Mo Green - compared him to a player who 'plays eight minutes, scores 15 points, tears Achilles' and goes out amazingly with his death scene▶ 1:18:02
Sean FennesseyJohn Marley — Jack Waltz - praised his performance as constant heat checks, especially the horse head scream scene▶ 1:19:35
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsGordon Willis — Not apex for any of the major stars - not James Caan, Coppola, Pacino, or Brando. Considers Gordon Willis and Robert Evans as possibilities.▶ 1:28:47
Sean FennesseyRobert Evans — Not apex for James Caan since he'll be one of the biggest movie stars in three years. Agrees on Robert Evans as a possibility.▶ 1:28:56
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsFrancis Ford Coppola — Torn between Pacino (who transforms and couldn't be replaced) and Coppola (who made an unprecedented film), ultimately seems to lean toward Coppola while also mentioning Bob Evans as a possible supporting case▶ 1:59:41
Chris RyanFrancis Ford Coppola — Francis Ford Coppola - agrees with Sean, considered Gordon Willis briefly but doesn't want to get too cute▶ 1:59:29
Sean FennesseyFrancis Ford Coppola — Francis Ford Coppola - because he sets a new course for his career, creates the most important movie in American history, and turns a trashy novel into the highest art form▶ 1:58:36
Movies Referenced (39)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luca (2021) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 19:04 |
| Chinatown (1974) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 4:42 |
| Jaws (1975) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 0:10 |
| Miami Vice (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 45:27 |
| Scream (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:13:08 |
| Underworld (2003) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 8:18 |
| Avatar (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 22:03 |
| Casino (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:45:50 |
| Easy Rider (1969) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:59:14 |
| Goodfellas (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 19:44 |
| Moon (2009) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:25:16 |
| On the Waterfront (1954) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 24:31 |
Directors Referenced (9)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francis Ford Coppola | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Apocalypse Now, The Godfather Part II | ▶ 16:01 |
| AFI | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 22:49 | |
| Arthur Penn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Bonnie and Clyde | ▶ 12:01 |
| Bob Fosse | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | All That Jazz | ▶ 27:49 |
| George Clooney | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Ides of March, Michael Clayton | ▶ 1:04:14 |
| Otto Preminger | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Anatomy of a Murder | ▶ 12:31 |
| Peter Jackson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | King Kong | ▶ 1:05:00 |
| Sofia Coppola | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Godfather Part III, The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation | ▶ 1:24:22 |
| Von Ryan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:05:50 |
Actors Referenced (63)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlon Brando | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 37 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Apocalypse Now, The Godfather, On the Waterfront | ▶ 10:06 |
| Frank Sinatra | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 31 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | From Here to Eternity | ▶ 51:59 |
| Al Pacino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 28 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather | ▶ 12:43 |
| Jack Nicholson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 25 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Chinatown, As Good as It Gets, The Departed | ▶ 5:05 |
| Tom Hayden | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 20 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 9:05 | |
| Al Martino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 15 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | The Godfather, The Godfather Part III | ▶ 1:05:02 |
| James Caan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Thief, Rollerball, Misery | ▶ 9:40 |
| Robert Evans | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Chinatown, Marathon Man | ▶ 11:30 |
| Abe Vigoda | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Godfather | ▶ 55:11 |
| Alex Rocco | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Godfather | ▶ 52:49 |
| Robert De Niro | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Cape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver | ▶ 10:37 |
| Crazy Town | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Something's Gotta Give | ▶ 0:10 |
Writers Referenced (8)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Lucas | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, American Graffiti | ▶ 1:04:54 |
| Mario Puzo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | The Godfather, The Godfather Part II | ▶ 14:44 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 23:05 | |
| James Cameron | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Avatar, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day | ▶ 28:36 |
| Jackie Files | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:23:46 | |
| Peter Bart | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Revenge of the Nerds, Fun with Dick and Jane | ▶ 15:54 |
| Robert Towne | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Chinatown, Mission: Impossible | ▶ 40:44 |
| William Goldman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men, The Princess Bride | ▶ 26:44 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon Willis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Chris Ryan | The Godfather Part II | ▶ 13:54 |