Megalopolis 2024
Coppola's self-financed epic; the trailer just dropped and it's Cannes-bound, still without US distribution.
The Big Picture · Discussion · Draft
The Action Movie Scene Draft
May 17, 2024/ 107 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins · Chris Ryan
Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan draft action set pieces instead of movies: two scenes per host across the '80s, '90s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, and a wildcard round, from the Die Hard fire-hose jump to Paul riding the sandworm.
42 films across 2 segments.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
The newsCannes season, Costner vs. Coppola, and one more Fantastic Four casting update
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 2024
Costner's self-financed four-part Western, Chapter 1 out June 28, off a combative Deadline interview ('I'm not Ahab').
Challengers 2024
Headed to disc with no 4K and no special features, to Sean's dismay.
The Fall Guy 2024
The Gosling stuntman movie. Amanda's up for it, Andy wasn't.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga 2024
Part of the month's run of classical action, the through-line for the whole draft.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 2024
The other May tentpole in that same wave.
The teams drafting action movie scenes and set pieces
Amanda Dobbins
1980s
Aliens 1986
The Marine ambush in the hive, no bullets allowed: 'what are we supposed to use, harsh language?'
1980s
The Untouchables 1987
De Palma's Potemkin-steps train-station shootout, baby carriage and all.
1990s
Heat 1995
The downtown bank-robbery shootout, machine-gun fire echoing through the LA canyon. She wore the shirt.
Sean Fennessey
1980s
Die Hard 1988
McClane's fire-hose jump off the exploding roof, bare feet across the glass. McTiernan's most legible action.
2000s
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 2003
The Crazy 88 massacre at the House of Blue Leaves, Tarantino at his most kinetic.
2010s
Captain America: The Winter Soldier 2014
The elevator fight, Hydra piling in three at a time. The one time Marvel turns into John Wick.
2020s
Top Gun: Maverick 2022
The final mission: the video-game briefing paying off in the trench run, the drop, the climb.
Wildcard
Dune: Part Two 2024
Paul mounting and riding Shai-Hulud, the scene that gets the theater on its feet.
Chris Ryan
2010s
Mission: Impossible - Fallout 2018
The HALO jump: Cavill passing out midair and landing on his feet.
On the board, undrafted honorable mentions
The MatrixPoint BreakThe Bourne SupremacyThe Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersMad Max 2Mad Max: Fury RoadInglourious BasterdsFlightSkyfallWorld War ZSuperman IIInceptionHard BoiledScreamThe Raid 2House of Flying DaggersShaun of the DeadScott Pilgrim vs. the WorldAtomic BlondeHaywireWind RiverRoad House6 Underground
Also mentioned raised along the way
Also mentioned Dances with WolvesDeadpool & WolverineThe Fantastic Four: First StepsApocalypse NowFirst CowAsteroid CityJerry MaguireThe Thomas Crown Affair
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV Dune: ProphecyThe ContinentalLandmanThe Bear
Video games The Legend of ZeldaMadden NFLFIFA
Ads The Town (podcast)