‘Warrior’ With Bill Simmons and Ryen Russillo

September 14, 2021 · Warrior (2011) · Action · Drama · Sport · 1:24:41

Categories

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes including Tommy's first sparring scene, Tommy asking dad to help train him, training montage, Brendan's first fight, third round of Coba vs Brendan, final fight entrance, and especially the last round with the national song▶ 38:05

Ryen RussilloTommy's first sparring partner scene with the 'Yo Rock' guy - calls it the best scene in the entire movie and an all-timer▶ 38:35

Casting What-Ifs

Bill SimmonsKurt Angle — Studio didn't want Nolte but filmmakers held firm; Kurt Angle played Russian villain Koba; Brian Callen based MMA character on Joe Rogan and should have been named Mo Logan or Lo Jogan; Frank Grillo based character on MMA trainer Greg Jackson▶ 54:49

Ryen RussilloFrank Grillo — Loves Russian villains and thinks they were ahead/after their times; appreciates Frank Grillo as underrated actor who 'brings it'▶ 55:00

Joey Pants Award

Bill SimmonsKevin Dunn — The unnamed actor who works in the high school and alerts Joe Edgerton that the school committee's pissed - also appeared in Dave, Mad Love, Veep, and Transformers▶ 57:25

Ryen RussilloKevin Dunn — Agreed with Bill's pick, confirming the actor is 'the Veep guy'▶ 57:48

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill SimmonsPresents multiple trivia facts: Hardy gained 28 pounds for the role then used the muscle for Bane, Edgerton tore his MCL halting production for 6 weeks, Hardy had broken toe/ribs/finger, writers used The National's 'About Today' on loop while writing final scene, Nolte got standing ovation for cut diner scene, Iraq scenes shot in Pittsburgh parking lot, movie remade in Bollywood and Russia, director wanted slow platform release but studio went wide▶ 1:02:25

Ryen RussilloMakes brief commentary on the trivia, questioning Edgerton's injury recovery since 'he's not really fighting' and noting he saw the Bollywood remake▶ 1:02:49

Apex Mountain

Bill SimmonsTom Hardy — O'Connor: artistic Apex Mountain; Tom Hardy: Bane; Edgerton: yes, this was his Apex; Atlantic City: this movie (Sparta); Underground MMA movies: 100% yes; Pittsburgh: 1979 Pirates still holds it▶ 1:04:52

Ryen RussilloTom Hardy — Agrees Hardy's Apex is either Bane or Mad Max, notes he doesn't do enough in other Nolan films; agrees Edgerton looked like he was going to have a good run after this▶ 1:05:03

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill SimmonsCould Tom Hardy have been Leo-level star; would movie be better if Tommy fought Koba instead of his brother; what type of injury did Tommy have (elbow vs shoulder break); Hardy's fight trunks or gloves for memorabilia▶ 1:15:14

Ryen RussilloHardy lacks Leo's softness for leading man roles; movie ending with brother fight was perfect and necessary for emotional resolution; relates real MMA example of Frank Mir fight where opponent didn't tap with broken arm; Hardy's fight trunks for memorabilia▶ 1:15:20

Who Won the Movie

Bill SimmonsNick Nolte — Nolte▶ 1:21:39

Ryen RussilloNick Nolte — Nolte▶ 1:21:40

Movies Referenced (46)

Title (year)	Links	Mentions	Mentioned by	First
Moneyball (2011)	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	7	Bill Simmons	▶ 7:03
Inception (2010)	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	5	Ryen Russillo, Bill Simmons	▶ 42:55
The Way Back (2010)	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	5	Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo	▶ 11:43
Fargo (1996)	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	4	Ryen Russillo, Bill Simmons	▶ 25:01
Creed (2015)	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	3	Bill Simmons	▶ 4:02
Dunkirk (2017)	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	3	Ryen Russillo	▶ 46:00
Mad Max (1979)	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	3	Ryen Russillo, Bill Simmons	▶ 45:36
The Artist (2011)	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	3	Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo	▶ 27:01
Black Mass (2015)	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	2	Ryen Russillo	▶ 1:06:59
Blood Diamond (2006)	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	2	Bill Simmons	▶ 1:15:34
Margin Call (2011)	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	2	Ryen Russillo	▶ 24:16
Rocky Balboa (2006)	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	2	Ryen Russillo, Bill Simmons	▶ 3:31

Directors Referenced (6)

Name	Links	Mentions	Mentioned by	Known For	First
Gavin O'Connor	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	29	Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo	The Accountant, Pride and Glory	▶ 8:01
Michael Ritchie	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	3	Bill Simmons	Fletch	▶ 21:21
Christopher Nolan	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	1	Ryen Russillo	Tenet, Interstellar, Inception	▶ 55:46
Jacob Hair	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	1	Ryen Russillo		▶ 33:40
Kevin Costner	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	1	Bill Simmons	Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves	▶ 56:00
Michael Mann	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	1	Bill Simmons	The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans	▶ 1:15:00

Actors Referenced (37)

Name	Links	Mentions	Mentioned by	Known For	First
Tom Hardy	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	44	Ryen Russillo, Bill Simmons	Inception, The Dark Knight Rises	▶ 7:31
Nick Nolte	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	30	Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo	Warrior	▶ 6:39
Joel Edgerton	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	19	Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo		▶ 3:45
Frank Grillo	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	14	Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo	The Grey	▶ 40:43
Joe Rogan	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	6	Bill Simmons		▶ 40:53
Moby	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	6	Ryen Russillo, Bill Simmons	The Next Three Days, The Saint	▶ 25:24
Stanley Tucci	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	6	Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo	Spotlight	▶ 1:00:07
Robert De Niro	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	4	Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo	Cape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver	▶ 26:07
Steve Levy	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	4	Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo		▶ 31:45
Don Lemon	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	3	Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo	Into the Storm	▶ 56:36
Eddie Murphy	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	3	Bill Simmons	The Nutty Professor, Beverly Hills Cop II	▶ 51:49
Judd Nelson	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	3	Bill Simmons	The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo's Fire	▶ 58:57

Writers Referenced (3)

Name	Links	Mentions	Mentioned by	Known For	First
Ron Shelton	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	2	Bill Simmons	White Men Can't Jump	▶ 20:40
Anthony Tambakis	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	1	Bill Simmons	Warrior	▶ 1:03:09
Roger Ebert	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	1	Bill Simmons		▶ 28:59

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Name	Links	Mentions	Mentioned by	Known For	First
Michael Grantland	IMDb ↗Lb ↗	2	Bill Simmons	The Other Guys	▶ 7:06