Home/Episodes/The Shawshank Redemption
'The Shawshank Redemption’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Bill’s Dad
September 25, 2019 · The Shawshank Redemption (1994) · Drama · 1:50:44 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsPresented multiple nominees including Andy and Red's first scene, the rooftop scene with Hadley, and Red's institutionalized speech, but didn't give a single definitive pick▶ 24:54
Chris RyanThe rooftop scene where Andy convinces Hadley about the inheritance and they get beers afterwards▶ 27:11
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsMorgan Freeman as the narrator - it's amazing more sponsors don't have him narrate their products and commercials because you hear his voice and it's just... Morgan Freeman▶ 56:43
Chris RyanFreeman's whole performance throughout the movie - Tim Robbins has some low moments but Freeman never sounds a wrong note the entire time▶ 55:19
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsThe lack of variety in Andy stories - questioning how they could sit around telling Andy stories when they seemingly only had one story (the bears on the roof)▶ 59:12
Chris RyanAgrees with the Andy stories issue - the implausibility that they'd keep retelling the same stories for decades and wondering if they'd eventually want to sit with someone else for lunch▶ 1:00:01
William SimmonsSupports the Andy stories critique - agrees it's a valid point when thinking about what other funny things Andy did during that dining hall scene▶ 59:51
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsJon Favreau — John Favreau auditioned for Fat Ass role but did poorly, which motivated him to lose weight for Swingers. Bob Gunton was cast as the warden because he's 6'2" and could fit Tim Robbins' suit (Tim is 6'5")▶ 1:06:49
William SimmonsFound it interesting that they planned ahead for the warden's suit fitting for a scene that comes at the end of the movie▶ 1:07:36
Joey Pants Award
Bill SimmonsDiscussed multiple options including Bob Gunton (the warden), William Sadler (Heywood), David Proval (Richie Aprile from Sopranos), and Brian Libby (Floyd), but didn't give a definitive final pick▶ 1:09:03
William SimmonsBob Gunton — Bob Gunton (the warden) because he didn't jump out as being in many other movies▶ 1:11:21
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsPresents extensive trivia including filming location in Ohio, Stephen King framing the check, Roger Deakins' Oscar nominations, Andy's prison ID number 37927, stolen money of $370,000, only two women with speaking roles, beach scenes shot in Saint Croix, sewage pipe made of chocolate syrup and sawdust, dedication to agent Alan Green, and deleted scenes▶ 1:14:15
Chris RyanContributes details about tense filming conditions with 15-hour days, Freeman's experience coming from Clint Eastwood's efficient sets, movie being a box office dud initially, and producer Liz Glatzar insisting on the reunion ending▶ 1:15:20
William SimmonsParticipates by guessing trivia answers (incorrectly guessing $35,000 for stolen money), noting additional women in the movie, asking about the sewage pipe scene logistics, and commenting on not knowing who Alan Green was until multiple viewings▶ 1:16:20
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsMorgan Freeman — Morgan Freeman - yes, this is his apex mountain due to Unforgiven and Seven combination▶ 1:22:22
Chris RyanFrank Darabont — Frank Darabont - yes, this is his apex mountain (though mentions Walking Dead as potential contender)▶ 1:24:13
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsMultiple pipe-related issues: Why doesn't Andy break the pipe further down to reduce crawling distance? How does he know which direction to go? The smell would be unbearable for 500 yards and he'd likely pass out▶ 1:27:07
Bill SimmonsThe miraculous Ziploc bag that survives 500 yards of sewage pipe perfectly intact with suit, documents, and chess pieces - no bag could work that well▶ 1:32:55
Bill SimmonsHow does the poster stay perfectly stuck to the wall for years without corners falling down, and how does Andy reattach it from inside the hole each time?▶ 1:34:00
Chris RyanWhat's the plan if there's not a thunderstorm that night? Andy's entire escape depends on the storm for cover but 1960s weather forecasting wasn't reliable enough to guarantee it▶ 1:26:11
William SimmonsAgrees with the pipe direction logic and questions about bed checks during Andy's nightly digging sessions▶ 1:27:22
Best Quote
Bill SimmonsMultiple quotes including 'I'm gonna go pinch a loaf', 'How much do you trust your wife', and Red's parole speech ('There's not a day goes by I don't feel regret...')▶ 1:41:29
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsMorgan Freeman — Freeman - surprised how easy the Freeman answer was for the movie▶ 1:46:16
Chris RyanMorgan Freeman — Freeman - he's the perfect narrator and avatar for the balance between sentimentality and cynicism▶ 1:46:22
William SimmonsMorgan Freeman — Freeman - references the last parole board scene as epitomizing Chris's point▶ 1:46:51
Movies Referenced (39)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forrest Gump (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 14:14 |
| Terms of Endearment (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 48:42 |
| The Rock (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 8:10 |
| Unforgiven (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | William Simmons, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:15:20 |
| Ed Wood (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 19:42 |
| Goodfellas (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 47:19 |
| The Beach (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, William Simmons | ▶ 43:45 |
| Escape from Alcatraz (1979) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | William Simmons, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 14:37 |
| Boogie Nights (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 23:37 |
| Bright (2017) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 38:10 |
| Jaws (1975) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 17:46 |
| Miller's Crossing (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 48:11 |
Directors Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Affleck | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Argo, Gone Girl, The Town | ▶ 33:13 |
| Randall Stevens | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 37:20 | |
| Kevin Costner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | William Simmons | Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | ▶ 1:02:32 |
| Rob Reiner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | This Is Spinal Tap, The Wolf of Wall Street | ▶ 13:29 |
Actors Referenced (27)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Harrison | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 33 | Bill Simmons, William Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 3:52 | |
| Morgan Freeman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, William Simmons | Se7en, Driving Miss Daisy, Million Dollar Baby | ▶ 8:44 |
| Tim Robbins | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Mystic River, The Player, Howard the Duck | ▶ 14:31 |
| Castle Rock | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 13:19 | |
| Jimmy Kimmel | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 22:51 | |
| Martin Landau | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Ed Wood, Crimes and Misdemeanors, North by Northwest | ▶ 19:42 |
| Raquel Welch | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 44:25 | |
| Glenn Ford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 13:11 | |
| Rita Hayworth | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, William Simmons | ▶ 12:52 | |
| Tom Hanks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Cast Away, Big, Forrest Gump | ▶ 18:25 |
| A. Ross De St. Croix | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Nightmare Alley | ▶ 10:19 |
| Bob Gunton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Shawshank Redemption | ▶ 21:27 |
Writers Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Darabont | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Mist | ▶ 8:57 |
| Stephen King | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 12:52 | |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 17:06 | |
| Nelson Mandela | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Malcolm X | ▶ 23:12 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Deakins | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Blade Runner 2049, Skyfall, No Country for Old Men | ▶ 33:02 |