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'The Silence of the Lambs' With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan

September 14, 2017 · The Silence of the Lambs (1991) · Crime · Drama · Horror · 1:07:30 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsThe extended sequence from Clarice visiting Lecter in jail through the dinner scene, guards attack, elevator, and ambulance escape - the entire 22-minute sequence▶ 19:13
Chris RyanLecter attacks the two guards with the opera playing in the background▶ 18:58

What's Aged the Best

Bill SimmonsThe concept of the two serial killers - a genius psychiatrist who kills and eats people, and Buffalo Bill. Also mentions the Hannibal Lecter mask/stretcher, night goggles as murder aid, the music, and the dual endings▶ 24:32
Chris RyanThe music, as a tribute to Jonathan Demme's skill at using music in movies - both the creepy, haunting score and the song choices▶ 24:09

Apex Mountain

Bill SimmonsJonathan DemmeYes for Anthony Hopkins, Ted Levine, and Jodie Foster. For Jonathan Demme, argues Silence of the Lambs over Stop Making Sense due to winning 5 Oscars.▶ 43:54
Chris RyanStop Making SenseYes for Anthony Hopkins and Ted Levine. For Jonathan Demme, prefers Stop Making Sense over Silence of the Lambs as his creative apex.▶ 44:03

Picking Nits

Bill SimmonsMultiple nits: the two cops delivering a second meal should have been suspicious, Lecter's disguise in someone else's face/uniform being unnoticed, the confusing James Gunn identity switch, and the impossibility of swallowing your own tongue to death▶ 53:32
Chris RyanHester Moffat's ability to solve the 'look within yourself' clue to find the self-storage unit - how did she figure out that pun so easily▶ 55:04

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill SimmonsWhat did Lecter say to get Miggs to kill himself; fake cum vs real cum; did Catherine Martin keep Precious; should Jodie Foster have done Hannibal sequel (no); was Jodie Foster good (prefers Michelle Pfeiffer); would watch Buffalo Bill prequel▶ 58:14
Chris RyanIs it okay to root for Hannibal Lecter (yes, one of five worst people ever rooted for); would watch Buffalo Bill prequel; Jodie Foster was great in the role, better than Michelle Pfeiffer would have been▶ 58:21

Who Won the Movie

Movies Referenced (43)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Hannibal (2001)IMDb ↗Lb ↗10Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 16:41
Cape Fear (1991)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons▶ 5:36
Miami Vice (2006)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 10:51
Misery (1990)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons▶ 8:36
Philadelphia (1993)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons▶ 26:51
From Hell (2001)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 9:06
Married to the Mob (1988)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan▶ 9:57
Panic Room (2002)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 45:03
Red Dragon (2002)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 32:17
Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 9:03
Zodiac (2007)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 38:07
Basic Instinct (1992)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 8:56

Directors Referenced (12)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Jonathan DemmeIMDb ↗Lb ↗10Bill Simmons, Chris RyanThe Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, Rachel Getting Married▶ 6:54
Roger CormanIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris RyanThe Silence of the Lambs, Apollo 13, Little Shop of Horrors▶ 9:24
Mel GibsonIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsBraveheart, Lethal Weapon 3, Conspiracy Theory▶ 11:33
Barry LevinsonIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsRain Man, Wag the Dog▶ 7:07
Chris CornerIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsThe Saint, Open Your Eyes▶ 33:47
John SingletonIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsBoyz n the Hood, Four Brothers▶ 6:59
Oliver StoneIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsBorn on the Fourth of July, Platoon, JFK▶ 7:04
Richard FearlessIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsLost in Space, Mission: Impossible - Fallout▶ 5:45
Ridley ScottIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsThe Martian, Blade Runner▶ 7:02
Spike LeeIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanDo the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It▶ 38:45
Ted DemmeIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsBlow, Beautiful Girls▶ 1:02:16
Warren BeattyIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanHeaven Can Wait▶ 7:15

Actors Referenced (62)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Anthony HopkinsIMDb ↗Lb ↗19Bill Simmons, Chris RyanThe Silence of the Lambs▶ 4:15
Jodie FosterIMDb ↗Lb ↗16Bill Simmons, Chris RyanThe Silence of the Lambs, Taxi Driver▶ 4:29
Gene HackmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗11Chris Ryan, Bill SimmonsThe French Connection, The Royal Tenenbaums, Unforgiven▶ 14:21
Ted LevineIMDb ↗Lb ↗11Bill Simmons, Chris RyanThe Silence of the Lambs, Shutter Island, Heat▶ 7:54
Migs GoveaIMDb ↗Lb ↗10Bill Simmons, Chris RyanOcean's Eight▶ 47:09
Scott GlennIMDb ↗Lb ↗9Bill Simmons, Chris RyanThe Hunt for Red October, Sucker Punch, The Bourne Legacy▶ 14:50
Michelle PfeifferIMDb ↗Lb ↗8Bill Simmons, Chris RyanWhat Lies Beneath▶ 16:12
Denzel WashingtonIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 2:33
Ed HarrisIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill SimmonsThe Truman Show▶ 16:03
Robert De NiroIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Chris RyanCape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver▶ 4:31
Sean ConneryIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Chris Ryan, Bill SimmonsDr. No, The Untouchables, The Rock▶ 4:46
Charles NapierIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Chris RyanThe Silence of the Lambs, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery▶ 42:40

Writers Referenced (4)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
William GoldmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Chris RyanButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men, The Princess Bride▶ 39:03
Stephen KingIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons▶ 5:47
Colin TrevorrowIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanJurassic World▶ 10:04
Jim StarlinIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsGuardians of the Galaxy, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings▶ 1:35

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Anthony GumbsIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsWar Dogs, Ride Along 2▶ 51:54