‘The Ice Storm’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey
March 1, 2022 · The Ice Storm (1997) · Drama · 1:35:05 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Chris RyanThe entire progression of the Friday night after Thanksgiving as it gets more ominous, drunken and reckless, with cross-cutting between three storylines - describes it as more like a poem than short stories that needs to be experienced entirely▶ 8:50
What's Aged the Best
Chris RyanFrancis and Paul - the roommates and their relationship as a needed gear shift in the movie▶ 56:22
What's Aged the Worst
Chris RyanMikey's unrealistic football performance - worst wide receiver portrayal, doesn't make sense how he plays▶ 1:00:24
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsChristina Ricci — Agrees Christina Ricci was better choice than Natalie Portman for Wendy - Portman would have continued problematic pattern of sexualized underage roles, and Ricci was more authentic and fitting for the character▶ 1:02:00
Sean FennesseyChristina Ricci — Agrees Christina Ricci was better choice - notes that having Portman would have completed a problematic 'trifecta' of sexualized underage roles, and Ricci has the darker, more withering energy needed for Wendy▶ 1:02:26
Joey Pants Award
Bill SimmonsMichael Cumpsty — Discussed the annoying overlaugher from Sleepless in Seattle who appears as Weather Lady on TV, and Michael Kumpste who plays The Reverend▶ 1:02:34
Chris RyanMichael Cumpsty — Agreed that Michael Kumpste (The Reverend) is 'the definition of that guy' who often plays priests and religious characters▶ 1:02:58
Dion Waiters Award
Sean FennesseyHenry Czerny — Henry Czerny (Kittridge) - specifically the moment when he gets the keys from the heavyset woman and gives the guys a 'let's do this' look▶ 1:05:43
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsReal ice storm happened December 16-17, 1973, named Felix. Ang Lee was attracted to climax and Hood family reunion. Cast studied 70s magazine cutouts. Two anachronisms: MTA didn't exist yet, and Marlboro Lights not invented until 1977▶ 1:10:52
Sean FennesseyContributed questions about Newports cigarettes in the movie and discussed whether they existed in 1973▶ 1:11:56
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsMultiple questions: What happens to both families next? Why didn't Jim Carver masturbate before the key party? Did anyone have a worse night than Jim Carver without going to jail?▶ 1:23:42
Chris RyanContributed to discussion about what happens to families (predicting divorces), Sandy's fate, and whether Paul and Libets would repeat their parents' sins▶ 1:23:50
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsJoan Allen — Joan Allen - because this is probably her best dramatic performance other than The Contender, and she had a really nice run of good roles in different movies▶ 1:29:05
Chris RyanAng Lee — Initially suggested Ang Lee, discussing how it confirms him as a major filmmaker and proves he can cross over with American films, but didn't give a final definitive pick after the discussion evolved▶ 1:26:54
Sean FennesseyJoan Allen — Joan Allen - her role as Dr. Eve Archer in Face Off and her work in The Ice Storm really solidified 1997 for her▶ 1:29:44
Movies Referenced (49)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulp Fiction (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:31:47 |
| Boogie Nights (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 4:59 |
| Forrest Gump (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 16:52 |
| Alien (1979) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:12:09 |
| The Full Monty (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:27:42 |
| The Prestige (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:23 |
| Titanic (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 4:59 |
| American Beauty (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:28:01 |
| Basic Instinct (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 52:22 |
| Brokeback Mountain (2005) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 11:03 |
| Fantastic Four (2005) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 18:33 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:13:19 |
Directors Referenced (7)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamie Sheridan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 40:23 | |
| Ang Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Life of Pi | ▶ 5:43 |
| Oliver Stone | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Born on the Fourth of July, Platoon, JFK | ▶ 11:57 |
| Michael Mann | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans | ▶ 1:28:45 |
| Mike Binder | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:16:15 | |
| Paul Thomas Anderson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Punch-Drunk Love, Licorice Pizza, There Will Be Blood | ▶ 6:20 |
| Steven Spielberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan | ▶ 6:37 |
Actors Referenced (53)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Kline | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 19 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Wild Wild West, Dave, A Fish Called Wanda | ▶ 3:00 |
| Joan Allen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 18 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 3:00 | |
| Sigourney Weaver | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 18 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Avatar, Alien | ▶ 3:00 |
| Elijah Wood | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 3:00 | |
| Katie Holmes | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Batman Begins | ▶ 46:27 |
| Tobey Maguire | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Spider-Man | ▶ 3:00 |
| Nick Nolte | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Warrior | ▶ 46:48 |
| Philip Seymour Hoffman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:09:05 | |
| Christina Ricci | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | The Addams Family | ▶ 3:00 |
| Elton John | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons | Rocketman, The Lion King | ▶ 46:27 |
| Harrison Ford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, The Fugitive | ▶ 1:07:30 |
| Sharon Stone | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Basic Instinct, Casino, The Quick and the Dead | ▶ 1:06:19 |
Writers Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 40:45 | |
| James Cameron | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | Avatar, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day | ▶ 6:20 |
| Judy Blume | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 52:43 | |
| Buddy Holly | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Big Fish, Almost Famous | ▶ 14:18 |
| John Updike | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Witches of Eastwick | ▶ 1:17:43 |
| Rick Moody | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | The Ice Storm | ▶ 9:16 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon Willis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Godfather Part II | ▶ 36:12 |