Home/Episodes/Top Gun: Maverick
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan
July 12, 2022 · Top Gun: Maverick (2022) · Action · Drama · 1:52:37 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake
Bill SimmonsDiscussed best sequels ever Mount Rushmore: Godfather 2, Dark Knight, Terminator 2 must be included, with fourth spot between Aliens, Empire Strikes Back, John Wick 2, Lethal Weapon 2, and Top Gun Maverick▶ 20:31
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes: Mach 9 day/Dark Star opening sequence, the entire Great Balls of Fire bar scene with Miles Teller reveal, the training scene where Maverick dusts the Top Gun kids, and the Cruise-Kilmer hospital scene▶ 25:54
Chris RyanAgrees with multiple scenes discussed by SPEAKER_00, particularly emphasizing the emotional impact of the Cruise-Kilmer scene and the effective character establishment in the Great Balls of Fire sequence▶ 26:22
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsGlen Powell — Glenn Powell almost cast as Rooster but wouldn't have worked at all; Miles Teller was the right choice▶ 45:58
Chris RyanGlen Powell — Would have liked to see Glenn Powell as Rooster, thinks he's good as the asshole and has different gears▶ 46:01
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsAgrees strongly - always considers it when visiting San Diego, mentions specific areas like La Jolla and Carlsbad, compares it to Fight Club (don't talk about it)▶ 53:54
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsThe supporting Top Gun people - complete waste of Jay Ellis and questioning the point of Bob's character▶ 57:47
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsPhoenix was a huge miss - I thought she was a weak link and the character didn't work well enough▶ 58:50
Chris RyanAre we sure you need a second guy in the plane? In 2022? Probably not. And doesn't it seem like their job basically is to like turn around the other direction and be like, I don't see you.▶ 58:25
Ron Burgundy Flute Award
Bill SimmonsWhen he's driving Connelly back to her place and she leaves the door open - the next four minutes▶ 1:11:48
Chris RyanDisagrees with SPEAKER_00's pick, argues the scene provides useful dramatic information and you shouldn't miss it▶ 1:12:02
Is There a Better Title?
Bill SimmonsNo better title - likes 'Top Gun Maverick' and couldn't think of an alternative, rejecting 'Top Gun 2'▶ 1:12:16
Best Quote
Bill Simmons"Talk to Me Goose" and the exchange "I don't like that look, Mav" / "It's the only one I got"▶ 1:12:24
Chris RyanAgreed with "Talk to Me Goose" and noted good line readings throughout, mentioned Hondo's one-liners when Maverick starts performing▶ 1:12:27
Overacting Award
Bill SimmonsGlen Powell — Glen Powell - specifically the scene where he saves the day at the end, saying Powell is 'pouring some gravy and some hot sauce on that scene'▶ 1:20:40
Chris RyanGlen Powell — Glen Powell - agrees with the other host, noting that Powell 'dials it up' and 'maybe used some substances on the ball'▶ 1:20:32
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsBeach football montage had to be shot twice because Cruise wasn't satisfied with football accuracy; actors had to get back in shape after celebrating with milkshakes and tater tots. Also mentioned the J-125 speedboat details, Bruckheimer adding Simpson credit back, and Miles Teller learning piano himself▶ 1:27:50
Chris RyanConnected Miles Teller's piano skills to his Whiplash background and joked about Jennifer Connelly learning to pour drafts authentically▶ 1:29:30
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsTom Cruise — Post-prime Tom Cruise (yes), 1973 Porsche 911 (yes), Jennifer Connelly (possibly), Joe Kosinski (yes), Miles Teller (not yet), Glen Powell (not yet), San Diego (no, still Anchorman), Don Simpson (yes), Jon Hamm (no)▶ 1:29:51
Chris RyanJennifer Connelly — Jennifer Connelly (yes, 'it's this'), Joe Kosinski (discussed positively), San Diego (no, still Anchorman), Don Simpson (yes)▶ 1:31:27
Racehorse Name Award
Chris RyanAdded 'Smoke in the Air' as another good racehorse name but didn't clearly pick from the original nominees▶ 1:38:50
Just One Oscar
Bill SimmonsJoseph Kosinski — Joe Kaczynski (director) or Claudio Miranda (director of photography), but ultimately settles on Kaczynski▶ 1:44:12
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill SimmonsDiscusses both 'It's not the plane, it's the pilot' and 'Don't think, just do' but seems to lean toward the first option▶ 1:49:41
Movies Referenced (61)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Gun (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 46 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:41 |
| Jerry Maguire (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 12:21 |
| The Beach (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 19:14 |
| Talk to Me (2022) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 41:15 |
| All the Right Moves (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 12:48 |
| Eyes Wide Shut (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 12:30 |
| Magnolia (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 13:36 |
| Whiplash (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:29:30 |
| A Beautiful Mind (2001) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:31:20 |
| A Few Good Men (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 12:21 |
| Battleship (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 54:48 |
| Edge of Tomorrow (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 14:47 |
Directors Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Scott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Unstoppable, True Romance | ▶ 23:02 |
| Paul Thomas Anderson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Punch-Drunk Love, Licorice Pizza, There Will Be Blood | ▶ 17:24 |
| Ralph Lauren | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Annie Hall | ▶ 55:36 |
Actors Referenced (47)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Cruise | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 48 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Top Gun, Minority Report | ▶ 5:01 |
| Jennifer Connelly | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 21 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | A Beautiful Mind, House of Sand and Fog, Hulk | ▶ 28:19 |
| Miles Teller | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 19 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Whiplash | ▶ 7:27 |
| Val Kilmer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Doors, The Saint, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang | ▶ 5:43 |
| Kelly McGillis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Witness, Top Gun | ▶ 29:45 |
| Don Simpson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Days of Thunder, Beverly Hills Cop, The Rock | ▶ 23:29 |
| Ed Harris | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Truman Show | ▶ 26:01 |
| Jon Bernthal | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons | The Wolf of Wall Street, King Richard | ▶ 1:42:52 |
| Meg Ryan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | When Harry Met Sally..., Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail | ▶ 48:00 |
| Anthony Edwards | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Top Gun, Zodiac | ▶ 11:51 |
| Nolan Ryan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:31:36 | |
| Charles Parnell | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan | Top Gun: Maverick, The Killer | ▶ 48:34 |
Writers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher McQuarrie | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | The Usual Suspects, Mission: Impossible - Fallout | ▶ 15:48 |
| Eric Warren Singer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | American Hustle, Top Gun: Maverick, Only the Brave | ▶ 23:22 |