The Rewatchables ‘Escape From New York’ With Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, and Chris Ryan
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Apr 29, 2020 
Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, and Chris Ryan discuss the revolutionary action movie 'Escape From New York'. They highlight its impact on the genre, sarcastic tone, and memorable scenes. They also talk about earrings as a symbol of villainy and the coincidence of a plane landing on the Twin Towers. The hosts analyze action movie rules, unexpected fights, rewatchable scenes, and trivia about the film. They touch on the surrounding area and Duke's influence, and compare the original movie to its sequel 'Escape from LA'.
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Balanced Premise And Weirdness
- The film balances a tightly defined premise with unpredictable, weird set pieces (Gladiator fights, sewer crazies) to sustain excitement.
- Those surprising tonal shifts let John Carpenter blend Western, prison, and dystopian genres effectively.
Iconic Gladiator Fight
- The gladiator fight scene ranks as one of the film's most thrilling and memorable action sequences for the hosts.
- Bill compares its impact at age 12 to the excitement of Rocky II's big fight.
Timeless Synth Soundtrack
- Carpenter's synth score remains emotionally and tonally modern, influencing later films like Drive.
- The music gives the film both futurism and menace that still resonates today.