DeepSummary
Bill Simmons is joined by Kyle Brandt to discuss the 1987 action sci-fi film 'The Running Man' starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. They analyze the movie's premise, set in a dystopian future where a violent game show pits criminals against professional killers. They praise the cheesy one-liners, over-the-top action sequences, and performances from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Richard Dawson as the game show host.
The two delve into the movie's surprising cultural relevance, predicting reality TV shows, deepfakes, and the rise of a reality TV host becoming president. They discuss their favorite scenes, nitpicks, and whether the movie holds up today. Craig Horlbeck, who hadn't seen the film before, also provides his fresh take.
Simmons and Brandt explore potential recasting choices, memorable quotes, and award hypothetical honors like 'most rewatchable scene' and 'best life lesson.' They engage in their signature categories and unanswerable questions, pondering the movie's lasting impact and enduring rewatchability.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The Running Man surprisingly predicted and satirized many aspects of modern culture like reality TV, deepfakes, social inequality, and a celebrity gameshow host becoming president.
- Despite being somewhat campy and over-the-top, the film benefited from the charismatic performances of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Richard Dawson in particular.
- The dialogue is full of memorably cheesy one-liners that have made the film an enduring cult classic and highly rewatchable.
- While not a critical or commercial smash, The Running Man has attained cult status as an entertainingly bombastic slice of 80s action movie excess.
- The futuristic premise allowed for creative, violent action set pieces involving colorful villains and environments that were novel for the time.
- The movie exemplified the height of Schwarzenegger's star power and charisma in the late 80s.
- Aspects of the production, like the creative team and some of the visual effects, have aged poorly compared to the entertainingly campy tone.
- The movie represented the ultimate mashup of 80s pop culture elements - action movies, game shows, sci-fi dystopia stories, pro wrestlers, etc.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I got to tell you, I'm a little tired cause I got up this morning. I've been doing Captain Freedom's workout and it's exhausting. I'm ready for pain and suffering.“ by Kyle Brandt
- “Every true football fan knows that the NFL season truly begins after the Super bowl champion has been crowned, and the Ringer NFL feed will keep you on top of all the news still happening around the league and heading into the 2024 25 season.“ by Bill Simmons
- “Bill, would you ever consider writing a column with a pen name?“ by Kyle Brandt
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Episode Information
The Rewatchables
The Ringer
4/30/24
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and Kyle Brandt don’t want to be the only assholes in heaven after rewatching the 1987 action sci-fi film ‘The Running Man,’ starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Richard Dawson, and María Conchita Alonso.
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
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