Bill Paxton: Our Top 10 Favorite Film Roles

0:00 All month long, I have been asking people what their favorite Bill Paxton role is because it's been Bill. It's Bill Paxton month, and Jason, I am not going to ask you what your favorite Bill Paxton role is, okay, because you and I are going to discuss our top ten favorite Bill Paxton roles. Yo, stop your grinnin and drop your lenen.

0:53 Hello everybody, I'm Jeff Johnson and this is a film by podcast. I am excited to have my friend and the co host of the Surely You Can't Be Serious podcasts with me today, the one, the only, the Jason Colvin. Hey man, I'm so happy to be here. Thanks for having me on. I have been listening to these episodes and of course weighing in and making a list of movies that haven't seen. So I'm excited to start to add, like I haven't seen Frailty. I'm excited to watch that one. Frailty, so good man. I'm excited to hear what you're gonna have to say about it, because because you're a dad, you're you're a father, and well, I won't say anymore because I haven't seen the movie and I want to spoil if I come.

1:44 Home and say, we're killing demons, Get in the truck, let's go. I can only can only imamage you what those Colvin childre are gonna be saying to you. That's right, Jason. Bill Paxton has one hundred acting credit, and today we're going to narrow them down to our top ten favorites. I know this is not gonna be easy. I know we're gonna be missing some notable ones. Right. Oh. You know, Jeff, when you asked me initially to do this with you, we talked about doing Next of Ken, Yeah, which is Bill Paxton, Liam Neeson, Patrick Swayze, Helen Huntson that I think Helen hunts in it, and a very young Ben Stiller. I thought I was onto something here because when we created Bill Paxton month, I knew that we were going to talk about the two films that he directed, and then I just wanted to pick two somewhat underrated films that he started in. Right, And it had been decades since I seen Next to Kin.

2:44 I remember you you called me up to say, hey, man, you know he's in this for like two minutes, right, I was. Like, what he gets killed in like the first five minutes? Oh, I completely forgot that. But I'll tell you what. I was happy to take that call because there's so many Bill Paxton performances that I would have loved to have talked about. I don't have the time. But then when you get when you get Jason Colvin in the studio, then it's like, well, hey, you know you're in for We got some good top tens, some top fives, and we can have a little bit more fun. So absolutely, that is what we are going to do today. Before we get going, Jason, I do have something here for you, because you know, we always like to talk about a couple of facts, maybe throw out a quote, and I gotta be honest with you, man, I feel like I'm the Bill Paxton biographer at this point because we've been doing this all month long. I've been I'm starting to run out of interesting facts in trivia. But I have got a list, and we've we've talked about a couple movies here and there that he would have been in or he was almost cast in. But I've been saving some of the juicier ones for you. Oh good, okay, So I'd love to I'd love to run through these real quick, and you know, kind of Colvin cut this tell me like, is it a better movie with Bill Paxton or is it a worse movie with Bill Paxton.

4:07 I can't imagine there being a worse movie because Bill Paxton. But when you think about who ended up with the role, maybe there'll be something to it. So okay, let's see what we got. Let's uh, let's let's let's go to the eighties. I know you love the eighties. I do, yes, So let's talk about nineteen eighty five, which is it's been forty years. You know you guys have been talking about some some really excellent movies from nineteen eighty five. Uh, we've talked about a couple, but two movies that you and I didn't talk about, at least so far. I don't know what. I don't know what shirreoy you can't be serious podcast has planned for the rest of the year. But Bill Paxton was almost cast in Steve Gutenberg's role in Cocoon in nineteen eighty five. Really wow, I think that works?

4:53 What do you what's your call there? No, I think that does work. I think he's everything that Steve Gert Guttenberg is. I mean, we've seen him handle romantic leads. Yeah, we've seen him handle comedic leads and drama, you know, and that's that role is kind of a three parter, you know, it's all mixed together right there, So I I could see that. I think I think I'm gonna stick with Steve Gutenberg. Okay, that's fair. Also, in nineteen eighty five, he had he was offered the role of Sergeant Proctor in Police Academy two, their first assignment. He actually turned it down because his buddy James Cameron offered him a role in a movie called Aliens.

5:47 Well, he made the right call there, obviously, But does he improve the Police Academy movies playing. Proc Dart Yeah, Pundah, significant provement, but not at the risk of losing what he does in Aliens. I don't know, that's right, no doubt about it. Okay. So we just talked about Indian Summer last last week on our show, and if you and Jason know you've seen it, I know you love the I love it. I love it. Yeah, And you know. At the beginning of this movie, he we even we talked about this how he kind of looks a lot like Roddy Piper from They Live you know, he's got the he's got the exact same haircut, he's got that that the same exact jacket, leather jacket, and it's just like you know, and I think I made a comment like, hey, this is Bill Paxton. Is is kind of like it's it's it's Roddy Piper if he if Roddy Piper stops working out every day, right, yeah, I can see that. Coincidentally, he was up for the role of Nada in They Live and John Carpenter ultimately went with Roddy Piper. Really, that's good. I like it amazing. Right, One more for the eighties for you, uh huh, I believe you. You have hailed this year as the best year in cinema for the nineteen Now I'm talking about Neen eighty nine. Huh.

7:02 He was He was considered for the Tom Holt's role in Parenthood. I can see that absolutely that it's an improvement. Yeah. Tom Hols may have been omidaeis, but Bill Paxton in that role, I could definitely see it. I think that's that might be an improvement there. All Right, get ready for a whirlwind of the nineties, because you're not gonna believe what I'm about to tell you all right, ok. Nineteen ninety one, he's up for the role of Cliffs Accord in The Rocketeer. Oh okay, Bill Paxton as the Rocketeer. You know, I don't know about the chemistry between him and Jennifer Connley, though, I don't think that works.

7:43 That one I'd have to be convinced of. But yeah, I'm interested in going to the Alternate Video Store and checking that one out. Let me just say that, Yeah, the Alternate Universe Video Store might might be the place to go for that one. Uh. Listeners, if you want more Rocketeer, go back and listen to our joke Johnston Rocketeer episode We did that? I think that was last season. Nineteen ninety four, he's up for Lance in Pulp Fiction, which ultimately went to Eric Stoltz. Oh yeah, one hundred percent. Yeah, well, Paxton, I mean, Pulp Fiction was a great movie, great ensemble cast. I've got nothing against Eric Stoltz, but. Listen, how often are we gonna steal roll from Eric Stoltzo?

8:27 Let the man have something so uh. Also nineteen ninety four, he's up for Michael Keaton's role in a movie called The Paper Did you ever see that one? Yeah, I did. I like that movie. I like that energy better with Paxton. No, I'm sticking with Keaton in that one. Okay. Nineteen ninety five, he was in the running for Alan Parrish in a film called Jamanji. Who Uh. He ultimately lost that role to Robin Williams. That's that's a tough one, but I gotta stick with Rob Williams on that one. I think I'm going. I think I'm going Paxton well Bill. Yeah, he's known for his his hygiens on set and his practical jokes and his crazy behavior. I think I think we could have had some fun with him in Jamanji. Okay, all right. Nineteen ninety six, Joel Schumacher was looking at him to play Jake Bergance in A Time to Kill.

9:19 He lost that role to Matthew McConaughey. I think I think Schumacher made the better call there. Yeah. That was McConaughey's breakout role. Yeah. Yeah, I'm sticking with mcconaughe in that one. Nineteen ninety seven, he's originally cast in the lead role for Oliver Stone's U turn Stone had wanted Sean Penn to do it. Sean Penn turned it down. Paxton took takes it. He backs out of the project a week before they start shooting, and fortunately for Oliver Stone, pen reconsidered. Any story on that. I was digging around, but I could not find out why he backed out at the last second. But it didn't help him too much much because he ultimately he went to read for a Stone movie called The Doors.

10:07 He went to read for Jim Morrison. Now, the funny story goes that he had just he was he was in he was shooting Navy steals at the time. So he's got the flat top, he's got the mustache. You know, he's playing Dane, you know. And he goes in to read Jim Morrison looking like that, and Stone looks at him and says, man, I just don't see it. Yeah, Plus Valkimer came in and destroyed everybody. So absolutely go back and check out our top ten favorite Val Kilmer episodes that we recently did. Go back and check out our Oliver Stone You Turn episode. I feel like I'm gonna be saying that a lot. There's we think we covered a lot of bill packs and stuff. That's what you have. Four hundred episodes in the bank.

10:47 Yeah, we're get there, We're this is this is three ninety nine today, woo way to go Big Big three ninety nine today with Jason Delvin nineteen ninety eight. Eight. He was up for Matthew Broderick's role in Godzilla. Push doesn't matter that. Yeah, nothing's saving that, So you know, I'm happy that he wasn't in it. Yes, two thousand and one. He was originally cast as Stiffler's dad in American Pie Part two. He left due to a scheduling conflict, and then they later just cut the role completely. I think Chris Pinn replaced him, but then they deleted the whole thing regardless. So okay, and then I don't want to end on a sad one. But I gotta tell you, Jason, I know you're an Avatar fan. I love Avatar. Yes, so you probably you probably noticed Avatar The Way of Water was dedicated to the memory of Bill Paxton. It turns out Cameron had hoped to cast him in all the Avatar sequels before his untimely death.

11:50 Yeah, that makes still sense. He and Jim Cameron were good buddies. Looking back. I mean there's some there's some great stuff. That I think we could have seen had he had he chosen the role or had the director chosen him. Some I think he successfully sidestepped, like like Godzilla. But hey, there is one. I just sent this to you so I know you haven't had time, okay, But I do want to talk really quick about one other project he directed. And it's a short film. And I guess you know because I know you haven't watched it yet. But in twenty eleven he came up with this story and directed this nine minute short. I feel like it's like a proof of concept trailer for what could have been what could be a really awesome movie. It's called Tattoo. It stars James Hong, who we know in Love as Lo Pan from Big Trouble, Little China, and it also stars Paxton friend Powers Booth and I don't want to spoil this for you, man, but it's it's just it's the way it's shot. It is gorgeous and listeners, I'm gonna tell you right now. Just go to go to go to YouTube type Bill Paxton Tattoo and it will come up.

13:09 It's a it's a nine minute short and it is It is really cool, and I'm telling you, Jason, when you see it, you're gonna call me and you're gonna be like, dude, this is the movie that we should have had, like oh man, Okay, so yeah, I want It's very looks a little supernatural, it's a little historical, it's a little little a little bit of a thriller, a little bit of a mystery, and all this is packed into nine minutes. Man, So listeners definitely check out Tattoo, a short film directed by Bill Paxton. It's out there awesome. All right, Jason, Uh, I'm ready to knock out ten of our favorite Bill Paxton performances. Let's talk about these characters.

13:56 I'm gonna start us off with number ten. We actually covered this movie. Go back and check go back and check out our Vertical Limit episode Martin Campbell director, But I'm talking about Elliott Vaughan from the two thousand survival thriller Vertical Limit. Come on, Anny, we both know Tom isn't going anywhere. You've done your best. You we can't Wavese resources not a lost cause, sae thing. Somebody's life is not a lost cause. It is if you know they can't be saved. Why should the three people die? If two can live. It's this is one of those weird moments where Bill Paxson is playing someone you just love. He looks, he looks at he's the life of the party, but he's also he's the bad guy. He's the villain. Uh we're talking fun Texas billionaire turn turns uh turns turns evil?

14:54 Now is evil right right there? I mean you're gonna do what you gotta do to survive. Yeah, yeah, yeah, fantastic performance by Bill. You know, he shows up on the mountain and he's you know, they're throwing the party on K two. Hey gonna We're do this Texas style, and you know, just like man, there's a lot of Bill Paxton in that role until he is trapped in that crevass and time is running out, the decks is running out. You know, they're worried about Pullmonaria demo setting in. You got the rescue crew coming to get him, led by Scott Glenn, who's got his own reasons for revenge against Bill Bill Paxton. You're like, what, why would you ever want to attack Bill Paxton? But we find out and it's definitely a fun movie. That's that's number ten.

15:44 You know, I enjoy. I know he's from Texas originally, and if you're from these parts, you can you can hear different dialects. Yeah, and you can tell who's. Faking it who's not faking it. I told you before, Jamie Gertz maybe the worst, oh Midwest, southern Midwest accent of all time. Yes, you and I even talked about that. Yes, And he, of course, you know, grew up in North Texas, which is not far from where I'm sitting at the moment. And h he just has that natural it's not too it's not over the top, but it is. You can tell it is a little bit Southern, you know, and he just kind of takes it with him.

16:26 And so that works for me. So when he pays plays Texas Billionaire or you know, older brother Jerk, it just kind of it all works, you know it does. Who do you got for number nine? Jason? So for number nine, let's talk about brock love It the treasure hunter from Titanic. I have museum trained experts out here making sure that these relics are preserved in catalog properly. Take a look at this drawing, and we found just today a piece of paper that's been underwater for eighty four years and my team are able to preserve it intact. Should this have remained unseeing at the bottom of the ocean for eternity? Yeah, nineteen ninety seven Epic Titanic.

17:09 Can I just say I have been on record and Dee likes to make fun of me, I don't care. I think that Titanic is one of the greatest movies ever made. I think it's a master at the helm I think Cameron. So I'm obviously a huge James Cameron fan. The detail that he went into to make this movie, the effort, the money, uh and just the overall quality of this movie I think is awesome. And then his buddy Bill Paxson is actually the kind of the modern day arc that we go to go through. He's the one who goes from greedy treasure hunter to Okay, now I realize really what happened that night?

17:52 So yeah, this is this is Paxton's fourth of five collaborations with James Cameron. I'll tell you what I I'm with you. I love James Cameron. I think Titanic is a phenomenal movie. Uh, D should be making fun of you because it did how many a billion something dollars at the at the box office. We all love Titanic. I don't care who you are. There's something for everybody in that movie. And I don't know about you, man, but when I watch it, a part of me is always like, Man, I wish we could have had the brock love It movie. Yeah, for sure, like like a like a prequel, like a see I don't know, just a spin off like Trotting. Yeah, yeah, that would have been great. Man. You are aware of the the infamous PCP incident on set, right, I am.

18:46 I just read up in that a little bit. Yeah, somebody spiked the clam chowder. Man who spikes clam chowder with PCP. It's angel dust, you know, as a as Lewis trading, Yeah, in trading places. But Paxton was one of the fifty plus people that that that got the full effect of that. And I know not from experience, from from research. It usually takes a good seven eight days to come off a PCP. Paxton said that he felt listless and not himself for about two weeks after that. Incredible. Yeah, you know, I'll tell you what else is incredible. This wasn't too long ago. There was an investigation that was concluded about the Titanic, and they proved that if the Titanic had hit the iceberg head on instead of veering off and sideswiping it, the ship would have been damaged, but it would not have sunk, and it would have arrived in New York City just two days later than then scheduled.

19:55 You know, one other thing on on Jim Cameron and Bill Paxton. I think it's interesting they work together. You know, they worked their way up as like prop guys and like you know guys who are building. I read a story where they were gluing big Mac boxes on walls that make it look like a science fiction movie. What. Yeah, you guys talked about that and on the show you could be serious podcast, right, Bill people. He like a set design art, you know, artist, and that's how he and Cameron became buddies. That'll be on the Stars. Wow, I just absolutely love I love those kinds of stories. Uh, number eight on our list, Jason. I don't have a whole lot to say about it, because I said a whole lot last week with David and with Amber. I'm talking about Jack from Indian Summer.

20:46 Take the pointer out for a little late nights. You know, when I was a kid, all I ever wanted to do was drive this thing. Hey Jack, how can you. So listeners? If you didn't listen to that one just came out last week. That's a fun episode. We shared some of our own camp stories as it were. But Jason, I'm gonna shut up. I want to hear your thoughts on his performance in Indian Summer. I love this movie. It's a sort of an undiscovered gym. Even our good buddy James Buckley said he hadn't even heard of it, which I can believe. So great fun movie.

21:28 It's like adults go back to camp, but it's not dumb stuff. It's not grown ups. It's Yeah, it's a more mature look at what would you do if if a group of your friends went back twenty years you know later and went to camp. And he's kind of the moral center of that story, right, he's got this he's got this issue. With his former camp leader. Yeah that they end up working out during the week. I don't want to give anything away. But yeah, it's a real sweet moment in the movie, and it's just such a great movie. And he kind of unexpectedly kind of becomes the hero of the story at the end. Maybe I agree. I absolutely agree. I love this film.

22:08 I love what Bill Paxton did in the film. It's one of those, Jason, we talk about how much we love coming of age stories, and this is like a coming of age in your Twilight era. You know, I shouldn't say twice because they're like in their thirties, but it's a coming of age story for adults, if that makes sense. Yeah, I'm with you, Indian Summer. It's a beautiful film. I would recommend that one to anyone, just as I would recommend our number seven pick. Talking about Morgan Herb from Tombstone. You're right, what they got me good to let them get to you, brother, you're the one.

22:52 Easy. I don't worry about that now. Remember what I said about saying a lot when you're dying. Yeah, yeah, think true. I can't see damn thing. One of the greatest westerns of all time? Who one of the greatest westerns of all time? You guys. You guys did an excellent episode on this because it was refresh. My member was it was Young Guns, Young Guns, Young Guns two versus Tombstone, right, it was That's correct. That's a whole lot, that's a whole lot of West Well.

23:33 And if you look at these casts, you know, I mean, of course the Young Guns cast is unbelievable. A man that Tombstone cast with. You know, Kurt Russell, You've got Powers Booth, You've got Michael Bean, You've got Sam Elliott, You've got Bill Paxton, You've got Dana Delaney, my friend Bill, Billy Zane, Jasons Priest. The amount of stars in the it was just such a laney. We could go on, we could this we come a Tombstone episode, but we don't need to do that. We could just listen what you guys did. But are you would you agree that the one thing that Tombstone could have used was maybe a little bit more Morgan irp. I do think that his presence would have been felt throughout the movie. But his death is really what sets everything into motion.

24:22 It absolutely does. Uh. The thing is Ken, Yeah, the thing is. Rumors persist that before he was fired, the film's original director, I think it's Kevin Gerar wrote and directed it. Uh. He had written a much bigger role for Paxton, but once George P. Cosmatos came on board, focus kind of shifted away from the IRPs and onto Dock and Whitett. So interesting, interesting situation. You know, I think that script's actually available online if you know where to look. So I think we are getting ready to cover another movie written by Kevin Jarry and directed by George Cosmatos, a little movie called Rambo First Blood Part two.

25:08 I am so excited for this, for this to happen on the Sure They Keept Me Serious Podcast Rambo two versus Commando. Yes, that is one heck of a slugfest from nineteen eighty five. And your co host, your co host, and our buddy, Dee Graves has not seen either one of them. How how did how did you escape the nineteen eighties without seeing those two classics? I want to I don't know. And as of this morning, I texted him like, have you watched. Any these yet? Not yet. I just I can't wait to hear his I know it's gonna be amazing thoughts. It's gonna blow. That will blow my mind because it blows my mind. They hasn't seen him yet. But yeah, listeners, don't go back, go forward. Coming soon on the show You Can't Me Serious Podcast Rambo two versus commando. So it should be three weeks from now. So three weeks from now. All right, we're three weeks out. Wait, I can't wait for number six. Jason, do you who do you got for number six?

26:04 Okay, number six, I think could easily slide up to the number one spot. It's that good. He steals every scene that he's in. It's pure comedy. Everything he says is hilarious, and it's Simon from True Lies. You can elude us forever, Collos. Wait, you got the wrong guy. My name is Simon. Look, look just let me go. There's no need to kill me. It came told. Your career is an international terrorist has been well documented. Oh yeah, yeah, no, no, no, I sell cars, that's all. Come on, I'm not a terrorist. I'm actually a complete coward. If I ever saw God, I don't no, no, please, don't, don't. Don't.

26:45 Don't kill me. I'm not a spy. I have to lie to women to get laid, and I don't score much. I got a little dick. It's pathetic. Oh oh oh god, oh worre spy himself. Uh. Paxton's third of five collaborations with James Cameron, and one of the funniest, if not the funniest. I think I think this is Amber Lewis. Uh she this was her pick for her favorite Bill Paxton role. Uh. She, she's got a thing for Simon Man. She loves she loves him, but he's not He is hilarious because he is.

27:29 He's like when you see him with with Jamie Jamie Lee, you buy into it, like this guy, Like where was Bill Paxton the super Spy? We missed out on that, But when he's riding shotgun with Arnie himself, Yeah, uh, just a wonderful role. It's one of those things where we've seen him play a play a less than than a moral guy. But Simon takes the cake. Man, he's so good. You know, when he's handing her the briefcase, you know, he has this elaborate scam where he's trying to get her in bed with him. Yeah, he offers him a little bit of excitement, hoping to you know, get him in bed, and he manages to pull off the amazing I'm over the top, but I'm trying to act like I'm not over the top, and yet it's funny in the movie, you know, Yeah, telling her that this is a briefcase, hold this for me.

28:30 I'll be back for it. You know, when he is describing Jimmy Lee's body to Arnold and he's being incredibly crass. I love that. It's a great moment for Cameron where you watch Arnold just smash his face with one punch and then you're like, well, did he just kill this guy? And then it's like but then you know, you're just an Arnold ted. You know, we're right back to that obnoxious laughter of Simon. So fantastic pick. Yeah, you're right, man, this is our number six, but it is easily could have been to the top. But again, we're not really ranking these per se. It's just it's our ten favorites. We're just yeah, did you know that Simon the character almost got his own spin off TV series?

29:16 You what? Yes? Why why didn't we get that? Packs time TV? Guy? Would you watch that show? I would have watched that every single week. That would have been that would I wouldn't have even let that pile up and binge watch it. I'd be like, no, I gotta see what's what Simon's up to. That character was so good. I would have watched it every week. Well, speaking of TV. Can we take a quick break from our top ten and talk? I just want to. I got a couple memorable Bill Paxton TV appearances that I'd love to talk about for a moment. Awesome. Going back to nineteen eighty six, Jason, he has a guest starring role on one of our favorite television shows. You can hear that music right now, you know what I'm talking about, Miami Vice. Let's see season three, episode ten of an episode called street Wise. He plays an undercover vice cop named Vic Romano, who you know, falls for the hooker with the heart of gold. We get mixed up with some cocaine. We got the bad guy played by it equally just as young Wesley Snipes, who is he's pretty much playing Nino Brown from from New jack City. Yeah, but this seems I mean this is this is the same year he did Wildcats, so he's like nineteen twenty yeah, yeah,

30:50 you know, very young. Yeah, but I'll tell you what Paxton is is pretty damn good as this. You know, he's he's working vice, he's undercovery. You know, Crockett and Tubs bust him and then you know they're like, hey, you know, you know Crockett's like, you can't see the line, Pal, you you're way past it, you know, you know because Bill Patson is like, I knew how to walk the line. And you know, it's like one of those great ones where Sonny's trying to give advice to the young vice cup. You know, this is season three, so he's got the he's Don Johnson has like the Spike haircut. Yes, you know, the pastels are in full effect, you know, minmy vice for you know, anyone that loves that show, you've got to get. I cannot recommend the Blu Ray Complete series enough.

31:36 It looks gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. What time am I coming over, Pal to watch this? You've got an all access pass? Man, come on? So moving on? Uh, you and I were talking. I had to tell I told you about this earlier, uh, nineteen ninety three. He does a he does a tales from the Crypt episode. Yeah, it's called people who Live in Brass Hearses. So I'll tell right now, if you want to watch my advice, the only way you're gonna get it is to order, you know, the physical media. But you can watch the tell Us from the Crypt episode that we're talking about it's on YouTube. Just you know, Tells from the Crypt Bill Paxton, It'll pop up, I promise you. He co stars with Brad Duraffe. You recognize that name.

32:21 Well, just because you and I were talking about it this afternoon, but otherwise I would not have recognized that name. This is amazing actor. You know he's in He played Grimaud Worm Tongue and Lord of the Rings. He was in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He played a messed up kid named Billy with Jack Nicholson. But a lot of everyone knows him. He's famous. He's the voice of Chucky. This is a wickedly funny story about murder, revenge and ice cream. Yeah. Interesting, interesting, Yeah, I'll say no more. But if you want to see uh Bill Paxton playing Billy de Luca and Tells from the Crypt, that's It's definitely a fun one for all the Paxton fans. I'd recommend it. Jason. I know you've probably seen this next episode I'm about to talk about one hundred times because you and I are two of the biggest Fraser fans. Yeah, and two thousand and three. He's in Season ten, episode twenty three, a Fraser. This was analyzed kiss. This was the time. You and I aren't really keen on this era of Fraser because he's he's he's involved with Julia, who we couldn't stand. But Bill Paxton plays one of the callers at the beginning of the show, Yeah, playing a guy named Ernie, and you know, he takes the call and you know, I'm Ernie. I'm angry at my dog.

33:40 You know, he's he's trying to hide the Texas axet, but it's still there, right, you know, Fraser attempts to explain that, you know, when people are angry with their pets, they're actually angry at themselves for something. So Ernie, why are you angry at the dog? And then you know Bill Paxson's like he keeps telling me to take my foil hat off. You know, Fraser roll eye roll, and then you know, next caller. But it's it's weird because like when you when you're watching Fraser, you never stop and think about the voices behind all these these these callers. But they're all noteworthy in some regard, right, Yeah. I think my favorite one is when Matthew Broderick calls in and he's working at a convenience store, and he said that the the me and the reflection is doing things that I don't approve of. Yes, yeah, but those guys.

34:36 Every time that you have a call into the Fraser Radio show, it's somebody famous. Yeah. Now one more TV memorable TV, and I listen, I'm passing over Big Love in Hatfield McCoy's because that was prestige. Everyone knows, you know that he was part of that. I'm kind of going for stuff that maybe people don't know. And that's why I want to end twenty fourteen season one. He did like six episodes. He played a guy named John Garrett on Marvel's Agents of Shield. Oh wow, interesting how he got this. So back in twenty thirteen, the year before, he's in a movie called Two Guns with Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington. And this is at a point where Bill had kind of felt like his career had stalled a little bit. You know, he wasn't getting much work. So he requests to be included on the promotional tour for Two Guns and it pays off because he gets hired four Agents of Shield on that promotional tour. And then this also leads to his role in Edge of Tomorrow, the Tom Cruise movie.

35:41 It's got like, oddly enough, doing a promotional tour for a movie leads to a minor resurgence. So I always think that's pretty cool. Good for him. I mean, he's a hard working guy, you know, get out there. He was I sold a little bit. Yeah. Fun fact his son played a younger version of his character in the last season of Agents of Shields. Oh cool. I thought that was kind of cool. Jason. I know we got to get back to our top ten, but before we do, let's take a quick break and when we get back, we'll finish up this top ten. Welcome back. Jason Covin from the Surely You Can't Be Serious Podcast is with us today. We are talking about our top ten favorite, Bill Paxton rolls. Jason. We've talked about some television work.

36:34 We've talked about a lot of amazing stuff that Bill Paxton almost did, and we have worked halfway through our list. I want to jump back in with number five. You talked about that. You mentioned this movie earlier. You haven't seen it yet. I know we're anxiously waiting to hear the Colvin opinion of this one. This is a movie called Frailty, which we covered at the beginning of this month. It's Bill Paxton's feature film directorial debut, and he plays the dad. That's a demon son.

37:17 Money in here. Boys, it's all right, don't please don't. If I could spare you this, I would, but we are God's servants and his will must be served. I'm just gonna be careful here. I don't want to spoil anything, Jason, because you haven't seen it, and I know we talked about it already. Uh, for our listeners that are that already heard that one, if you haven't go back listened to Amber and I had a pretty interesting conversation about this one because she had some she had some choice thoughts about this this movie, so. You know it was Amber's opinion really was the clincher for me on I've got to see this movie because clearly, I think you were a fan from the from the get go, right For her to be so like adamantly against it and then to see the end and then say I've got to go back and rewatch it, yep, that to me is a great reason because clearly there's something amazing that happened there I was worth seeing. So yeah, I have not watched it yet, but I'm excited to check it out.

38:28 This film is fantastic. Check it out. Moving on our number four Pick and Jason, I know you recently you and d had a conversation about this one. Who do you got? Absolutely this is Chet Donnelly the biggest But what of all from Weird Science? The boozzounds return? Yeah, Hi, girls, feeling kind of queasy? How about a nice creazy pork sandwich served in a dirty. Ash tray jet Jet. My name is Chet, and I didn't think it was a whales honey shit from Weird Science.

39:21 I'm just gonna go ahead and say it. I absolutely loved the recent two part of that you indeed did. This was a Weird Science against real genius geeks versus geniuses. You guys crush this woman, I tell you, like I own Weird Science. I've always I think I've had it from like VHS to DVD to Blu ray. It was listening to you guys talk about real genius though. That reminded me. Hey, wait a minute, I liked that movie a lot, but I haven't seen it in like probably twenty plus years. Oh really, Okay, Yeah, so just based off of your commentary. I hit order. It arrived today actually, so I got I got my four k uh real genius.

40:07 I'll be loading that into the Blu ray player here later this evening. And I have you to thank for that, you and U and D because I love you guys. Had to say thank you, ye. Chet, just so John Hughes let him off the leash and just said, hey, go for it. Improv insult your brother being the biggest turd you could possibly be to you know, Elan Mitchell Smith, and he does things like I mean even just little things like throwing eggs against the ceiling and catching that looks pretty good. Make yourself. Uh you guys, I don't. I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna spoil it because I'd rather listeners hear it from you. But you guys had a pretty cool story on the creation of of Chet the turd monster and how that came to be. I love that. I was cracking up when you guys are talking about that, So thank you. Yes from where it's science the ultimate evil big brother. I'm gonna say this, so go on a limit chat. Yeah yeah, he's said that alone. But if there's one thing you can say about Chet on his behalf. He respects his elders, he does. He is very upset when he sees Nanny and Grampy in the closet.

41:26 You know, boy, you. Have any idea how just respectful? That is? What are they doing in here? So you know, for all his for all his faults, Chet at least respects and loves his grandparents. So I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna close the book on Chet with that, Let's move on to number three. Uh. And I know people are like, at what point are you gonna say this? This role talking about Bill Harding? Jesus, Joe, I can't you just forget? If you don't just say it, Okay, you'll never know when's. It gonna be enough? Huh? How close you have to get and talk to me?

42:07 Kill things go wrong? You can't explain it, you can't predict it. Killing yourself won't bring your dad back. Sorry he died, but it was a long time ago. Gotta move on. Stop living in. The past and look at what you got right in front of you. What do you say me? Joe the Extreme from nineteen ninety six Twister Jason, We did a limited series called nineteen ninety six. You I was lucky enough you joined me to cover our Twister episode. So I feel like a broken record, But I'm gonna say, go back and check out our episode that Jason guest co hosted with me. We did. We talked about Twister, and you know, you talked about Jamie gertz accent earlier.

43:00 Which it's hard for me to say any ill thing about Jimmie Gertz because I love her. She's the queen, she one of the queens of nineteen eighty six. But that accent, man, it's terrible. It's awful. That haircut, that accent. I don't know what happened there. What is worse the haircut of the accent. It's hard to tell the accent, but I'm gonna say it. You know, luking for her. She's got a billion dollars in the bank, so you know, she's literally the richest actress in the world. That can't be right. She is the richest. Why would she be. The richest because she married a billionaire? Oh local, here you have it, Okay, sit here. I'm thinking hold on the Lost Boys, Quicksilver Crossroads, Quicksilver poler Babies, you know, right, well, something's not adding up here. Yeah, marry a billionaire. That'll do it. Okay, we didn't really talk about this on the on the episode, but I caught this. Helen Hunt was doing an interview talking about Twister, and they asked her about working with Bill and she said, and I quote, I think we immediately had the chemistry.

44:09 There's this old trope that is true. Sometimes you have chemistry with someone and you love everything they say and you want to jump in their arms. And other times they drive you crazy, and that's another kind of chemistry. So I think we both realized that was what was asked of us in this and she went on to to kind of compare their performance their chemistry to that of Carry Grant and Catherine Hepburn, which I think is absolutely sweet. Yeah, I love it now. That movie was of course big around here because it's one of the few movies that was shot in my town. Say you're on location with the Jason Golvin. I know, I think I called you about this time last year. I'm like, Hey, I'm at the I'm at the pickup station. But you're right, they do have chemistry.

44:52 When I watched Next of Ken last week, she's with Patrick Swayze and his brother is Bill Paxton. Yea, and I I felt this weird betrayal. I'm like that, yeah, you wrong along with him? Yeah yeah, because their chemistry is so good in Twister Twister, Yeah, their chemistry is amazing. Amber Lewis last week she called this a rom com with tornadoes. She's talking about how they how they how they interact with each other. So you know, rom com with tornadoes. Check out wrong, She's not wrong. Well, if Jason Policas is not wrong, you live there, You've you've faced down many a F four F five, so I would I would believe you over just about anybody.

45:32 So yeah, In fact, this podcast we had to push because tornadoes were ramping up. I was like, I don't know, Yeah, we're. Daylight, and You're like, hey, I might be I might be getting in the truck. And Jason won down here. I'm sure, all right, Jason uh Our Number two pick one of my absolute favorite Bill Paxton performances from one of my absolute favorite vampire films, talking about his role as Severn from nineteen eighty seven's Near Dark, Its Finger looking good.

46:18 You know, I need to watch this movie. I haven't seen this movie in decades. Ah, man, you're missing out. I mean you didn't miss out because you saw it, but yeah, you need to tune back in. Man. I know, well it said in Oklahoma number one, yep, and number two it's got Bishop and Vasquez from Aliens in there. Yeah, yeah, this is I mean, you know we talked about what listeners go back and check out our Cathain Bigelow Near Dark episode right because we covered this actually this was season one. I think we covered this. But it's amazing because Catherin Bigelow, James Cameron, they're kind of an item at this point. Yeah, she's looking to cast this and he's like, hey, you should check out I got this cash from Aliens. That's awesome. They already are a family. Hire them. And she goes on to hire Bill Paxton, Jeanette Goldstein, Lance Hendrickson, Michael Bean was supposed to join them. He did not care for the script, so as it Yeah, it's I mean, you know, I mean, you can't have everyone from Aliens show up in the vampire movie, but it would have been kind of cool.

47:27 But absolutely love this one. Like I said, Severn is one of the more fun vampires you'll see on screen. And there's a lot of Bill Paxton's personality in this character. And Jason, I know it's been a long time since you've seen it, but when you watch it next time, you que this subject can be like, holy crap, he's just playing Bill Paxton, only he's eating people because he's a vampire, you know. Ever, the practical joker, Bill decided to have some fun with the railroad workers at a nearby depot where the train stop would would every night. This frame would would cause production delays because it would roll in, you know, the horns and making all the noise. So one night he's in full makeup with the blood and the gore. Half his face is missing. Yeah, he walks up to one of the engineers and says, hey, man, there's been an accident and if you and if you think I'm bad, where do you see the other guy?

48:24 No confirmation on whether that guy needed a clean pair of underwear after that. But if you've seen, if you've seen Severn's look, he's his face. Yeah. Oh, he's absolutely gory and terrifying, but he's having so much fun in this movie. I absolutely love this this performance. Uh, for me, it was a it was hard not to make it the number one performance. But there's one more that we got to talk about, and I'm sure our listeners have already guessed who it's gonna be. But before we get to that one, Jason, I'm on record, you know I'm not a big fan of honorable mentions. If you're gonna do a top ten, I want to hear ten. Right, it's the top five. I want to hear. I want to hear five. I don't want to hear five and then like nineteen honorable mentions. That's cheating. But I would be remiss if I did not offer you the opportunity for some Honora mentions because you're the guest, and I know you love your honorable mention. So let me ask you what didn't make the top ten for you?

49:26 So the two movies that I enjoy him in that didn't make the top ten for me, I'm just gonna give you two. But his role as Fred Hayes in Apollo thirteen, I thought it was Fred Hayes Show. Yeah, And that's an awesome movie. It's an ensemble cast. He's not the lead. I mean, Tom Hanks is clearly the lead in that, so he can move seamlessly into in and out of lead role, backup role, romance, comedy action. Yep, so that one, and then of course he is Master Sergeant fair All in Edge of Tomorrow to Cruise. I don't think that movie is appreciated enough. I think that movie is amazing.

50:09 I don't understand why we don't have three of them already. And I mean you we got like what eight mission Impossibles now right, I got sneak preview passes to see the new one later tonight, and you know, but still like, take a break, go back to Edge of Tomorrow. It was awesome, absolutely awesome. That's a good pick man. I'm a I'm gonna go against grain here. I'm gonna offer one for you. Okay, all right, Jason. I know you are not the biggest fan of the horror genre, but I also know you're a completist and you are on a quest to see and possibly own all of the catalog of films from the nineteen eighties. I am that's my quest, So I'm gonna offer you an honorable mention.

50:57 Bill Paxton plays character named Paul Andrews in the nineteen eighty two film called Mortuary, whoa I'm sure you haven't. Eighty two have you seen You haven't seen this? Have you? No? I don't know. Okay, Okay, you've seen Bill Paxson get crazy in some of his roles. Right in Mortuary, you see him go batshit crazy. This is it's a campy, fun horror film. He plays this creepy and it's eighty two, so he's he's he's very young, obviously, but he plays this creepy mortician son who's the embalmer at this funeral house.

51:40 And he's kind of got a thing for this girl who he obsesses over, and the obsession kind of leads that he kind of goes. He takes he takes a little too far. I Oh. By the way, his dad, aside from owning the funeral home, also is like the leader of this cult. And there's there's some there's a crazy shit happening. But Bill Paxton, I'll tell you what. Just just go on YouTube and just pull up the trailer and watch it and you'll be like, I gotta watch this right now, right now. It's streaming free on Prime by the way, so it's right there for you. Okay, Bill Paxton, absolutely nutty in Mortuary. I would definitely horror fans are gonna love it. But I think Bill Paxton fans like, if you just love Bill Paxton, I think you'd enjoy it, especially if you haven't seen it. So, okay, I'll check it out. I'm going I'll give you an on ever mention. But I think it's time to talk about the number one role. Obviously, Jason and we are talking.

52:39 About Private Hudson from Aliens movement. What's position? I can't look in talk to me, hot, sudh. Multiple signals, they're clothing. I got signals. I got readings in front end behind where man, I don't see ship. He's right, there's nothing back here. Look, I'm telling you there's something moving and it ain't. Us, Private first Class William L. Hudson. I think it's interesting you know his first name, because nobody ever mentions it in the movie. They just call him Hudson. I'm an alien here, Hudson. Yeah, look over my eye, Hudson, sir.

53:23 He's yeah, can we stand up? I could quote that movie nonsense? Right? Yeah? We h That should that should be an episode. That should be a crossover episode where we just someone just reads the first line and just see like you know, like a like a game of catch, who drops the ball between like us and you guys and the all the All eighties Movies podcast, you know, uh Docing Base seventy seven. Yeah, seventh but John, Yeah the. List seventeen hours. You canna come in here, You can come in here and Wastes. You put her in jrs. Aren't you won't you put her in charge? You know? For all the for all the flak he gets about being a whiner and being a complainer, you got ad Mitt Hudson. He he picks it up at the end. He takes care business, He does his job, He secures the perimeter, and he goes out with a bang.

54:17 So I did. Guy's a hero's death. You know, he does die here his death this was This was the second of the five collaborations with James Cameron and I dare say his best man. You keep teasing this up, but I keep and every time you say it in my head, I'm like, Okay, let's see here. Terminator yep, Aliens yep, Titanic, True Lies yep. Uh one more and you're not gonna get it. Oh okay, Listeners, go back and check out Proud episode We actually did that one. That was a fun episode. That was a fun episode. No, he he actually he did the narration for Ghosts of the Abyss with James Cameron. He was, oh, okay, yeah he uh you know where the the Submarine movie or whatever. I've seen it. It's good. Yeah, good, he was.

55:07 They were actually down there like the day like he tells a story. I'm not gonna paraphrase it because I don't I can't remember at all, but I do know that they were down there shooting the day of nine to eleven, and he like in an interview he talked about what that that the the impact that had on him, Like they come up and they're like, hey, what's been going on? And yeah, I think you know, it's a normal day. You go underwater for fifteen twenty hours. Yeah yeah, and then you pop back up and the world has turned, like the world's changed. Change. So yeah, where you've been bombing of the ocean? Yeah, exactly, I have. Yeah. Uh, I'm gonna say it one more time because listen, it's we're talking about aliens. So who hasn't thought we've all had our turn? Right, So listeners, go back, check out check out our aliens episode from our limited series nineteen eighty six, And while you're at it, go and check out the show you Can't Be Serious podcast. They did an awesome Alien versus Aliens two parter with you. What's it? What was that like?

56:10 Your second season? Maybe twenty twenty one, So yeah, second season. There you go. I'm a big Shirley fan. You can tell. I collect the whole set. So hey, I was spiking the football too while you're right there. You know, your big question was what's the best movie in nineteen eighty six? And for me, it's always going to be Aliens. So I listen. I hate to say this while we're talking about Bill Paxton because while pretty much the whole world agrees with you that Aliens is the best film on nineteen eighty six, I was standing out there alone, well not alone, I had my I had my my, my friend, my best friend, Bradkzo standing next to me. We we had said Big Trouble Little China was the best film of nineteen eighty six, and we had we had some good reasons, but you know, that's one of those arguments, like I'm happy to win or lose because we're talking about Aliens. We're talking about Big Trouble, Little China. We're talking about James Cameron, We're talking about John Carpenter. Everybody wins in a conversation like that.

57:07 I know it's either that or under the Cherry Moon, right, I mean, it's. Somewhere. Dave and Scott just got a chill run up their spine because they're gonna do our They're gonna return to Cherry Moon later this summer. We got some fun planned. When I say that that may be the episode I look forward to the most, I can't. I can't overemphasize the excitement that I have for that episode. Man, we were talking about it. We just got back from Detroit. We went to the Motor City Comic Con, and to hear Dave begrudgingly talk about having to do this, I mean he said, like Luke complained about not going to getting to go to Tashi Station. He's just he's not looking forward to it. And I said, I'm sorry, but this is what people want. He's like, nobody wants this.

57:58 You want this. I said, so you're here. You heard it here first, Dave, if you're listening, Jason Colevin wants this. So he's looking forward to it, Patreon member Jason Colin. Yes, the celebrity of Oklahoma. Patreon member Jason Covin is looking forward to it. Wondering what our listeners are looking forward to. I want to know what do you guys think of our picks for these Bill Paxston rolls. Do we discuss your favorite one? You can let us know on social media. You'll find us on Facebook, Instagram, and x. You can check out a Film by Podcast dot com for all the episodes and a lot of other fun stuff we've been we've been doing. We've been tinkering with that website. We've been having some fun stuff pop up on there, so check that out. You can write to us at a Film by Podcast at gmail dot com with your questions, comments and concerns. I'll tell you right now you do that, we will read your response on the show. We'll send you some a film by swag and Uh, that's how we do that, Jason, I gotta be honest, man, It's I know we talk all the time, but it has been too long since we were talking on a podcast. Uh, movies or directors or actors and actresses that we love. So I'm glad that you were here today. Cannot thank you enough for it. Man, hey Man, thanks for having me on.

59:08 I appreciate you, and you are getting ready to do me the favor here in just a month or so, and we're gonna have you on the Shirley Podcast with us, and we're gonna be talking Superman Returns versus Batman and Robin What the heck happened to these movies? I listen at this point, I feel like I have to do what the heck happened? You know, I've I've hit every one of them so far, and I don't want to miss any And when you guys offer me a chance, like I think earlier this year, you're like, how do you feel about talking about Superman or Batman? I'm like, dude, are you serious? And then you told me. I was like, okay, well, different conversation. But I've been there, man, I'm ready. I'm ready. But Jason, I know that's coming up later this year. But you guys have a new episode arriving tomorrow, Yeah, on Tuesday. You know, what what do you got? What do you got for the listeners?

1:00:02 You know, summer's a big time for us, and so we've got tomorrow, We've got a track by track discussion of the Black Crows Shake Your Money Maker album, their debut album from nineteen ninety and then the week after that, we're gonna compare that to nineteen eighty nine Tesla's the great radio controversy with kind of their big hits from that era. And then after that we've got Rambo versus Commando, Schwarzenegger versus Stallone. It's gonna be amazing, and then the week after that we're doing Jimmy Buffett versus The Eagles Greatest Hits. Should have some fun stuff coming down the pipe for you. That is a blockbuster lineup heading our way from the showy KP Be Serious Podcast. I for one, am excited because I can tell you right now, I've seen Tesla in concert just a couple of years ago, and I am very familiar with the Black Crows album. That's gonna be a hard one to call. I don't envy you you and d making that final judgment, but but I trust you'll make the right call. I gotta think about that one because I've been I've been listening to the Black Crows recently, but now you're saying it, I'm like, well, I know how how much Tesla rocked, you know when we went to see him. So that's gonna be a great one. Man, Absolutely, thank you, Thank you very much. Jeff.

1:01:20 What do you have coming down the pipe out a film buy for us? Well, Jason, Uh, it's finally here. Next next week, the big one, our four hundredth episode. I never thought we'd be talking about number four hundred, but we decided to do something a little special. So we're going to talk about one of the biggest directors, and we're going to talk about arguably one of the biggest superhero movies of all time. And I promise you no one has ever discussed this movie. Wow, what do you got for us? Man, Jason? And we are going to talk about nineteen eighty nine's Batman.

1:02:06 Uh, Jeff, I don't want to be a jerk, but we've already discussed it. I've heard a million podcasts discussed Batman before. It's not that you know, it's not that special. Well, except we're not talking about the nineteen eighty nine Batman that you know, Jason. We're gonna take a trip to the Alternate Universe video store and we're gonna pick up a copy of Batman directed by Richard Donner, starring Mel Gibson, Robin Williams, Sean Young. You are blowing my mind, dude, I can't wait for this episode. I will say no more. I've been hinting at this a little bit here and there over the past couple months, but I will say no more. Listeners, tune in next week for a very special episode. We are heading to the Alternate Reality Video Store and we're gonna talk about one of our favorite movies from the Alternate nineteen eighty nine, Richard Donner's Batman. Wow, that's gonna be phenomenal. So come back check that out in the meantime. For all of you that are listening to the show, following us on social media and subscribing to our Patreon, whether it's here or in the Alternate Reality, we thank you. Thanks guys.

1:03:23 That was fun. That's it. Man Game Over? Man Game Over? Can I blow your socks off here real quick? Oh? I love when you do this. Go for it. Okay, So let's go back to nineteen eighty six. John Hughes calls him and says, Hey, I've got a small part of the movie. I'd love for you to be in it. It's the parking attendant in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. We uh, we talked about that on last week's episode. Good for you, all right, I'll cut that. I knew I picked that up somewhere recently.

1:04:04 You must have heard that on a film buy. Well, I thank you Jeff for informing me of that. I've got another. One for you, and not a film buy but let me let me, let me try to blow your socks off with this. Well, all right, so his quote unquote good friend that he met while shooting next to Ken Liam Neeson. Did you tell this one too? Oh you're yeah, we talked about this two weeks ago. That's what happens when I listened to your podcast. It just comes in my brain and sticks. Good job, tasty nuggets.

1:04:47 Go back and listen to the film by podcast where you could pick up these things on their original run. Good job. Oh thank you, Jason,