‘Above the Rim’ With Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, and Wosny Lambre
July 19, 2022 · Above the Rim (1994) · Crime · Drama · Sport · 1:49:24
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsBirdie recruiting Kyle at the club, the one-on-one basketball game scene with Bernie Mac, and Birdie dissing Bug leading into Kyle versus Shep▶ 32:45
Van LathanDiscussed the emotional impact of Bernie Mac's 'they can't erase what we were' line and various basketball scenes but didn't clearly state specific picks▶ 36:28
Wosny LambreThe one-on-one basketball game scene and the opening credits scene where nutso jumps off the roof▶ 38:39
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsMultiple picks: Marlon Wayans' performance, MJ aerial assault poster, movie's premise (both best and worst), trailer using 'Holla If You Hear Me', rooting for both teams in final game, the poster, and token white guy on Kyle's team▶ 51:49
Van LathanTonya Pinkins' performance as the mother - called it 'insanely good' and 'perfect in almost every scene'▶ 56:44
Wosny LambreThe depiction of New York streetball culture - the yellow tape, crowded courts, and crowd involvement in the game▶ 56:16
Den of Thieves Benihana Award
Bill SimmonsDiscusses the basketball court location (Rucker Park-style court) but doesn't give a definitive pick▶ 59:10
Best Quote
Bill SimmonsFolks need to move past the stuff that happens to them, or they stop moving at all▶ 1:12:49
Wosny LambreMultiple quotes including 'They can't erase what we were, man', 'Everything costs in here', 'Your dick is like an anteater', and 'He's playing ball without a ball'▶ 1:09:58
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsThe scene of Kyle scoring the winning basket with John Thompson celebrating marks the official beginning of the end of the Big East▶ 1:15:00
Wosny LambreMontrose's version of the movie would be a better movie - following the white basketball player from racist Bensonhurst dealing with cultural conflicts▶ 1:13:23
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsDenzel Washington — Mentions Alan Payne (G-Money) was original choice for Kyle Lee Watson, but finds it hard to believe Denzel Washington was offered Shep role, thinks Leon might be exaggerating▶ 1:16:11
Van LathanDenzel Washington — Defends the possibility that Denzel could have been offered the Shep role, citing his later work in He Got Game and other films like Ricochet▶ 1:17:07
Overacting Award
Bill SimmonsDuane Martin — Discusses both Wood Harris ('I'm a motherfucking soldier!') and Dwayne Martin but leans toward Dwayne Martin▶ 1:17:49
Van LathanDuane Martin — Dwayne Martin - specifically calls out his scenes with his mom as 'unforgivable' overacting▶ 1:18:28
Wosny LambreDuane Martin — Agrees that Dwayne Martin has multiple overacted scenes, mentions 'the stuff with his mom'▶ 1:18:23
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsShared various trivia facts including Tanya Pinkett being 3 years older than Dwayne Martin, Dwayne Martin's NYU basketball career, Leon's Loyola Marymount scholarship story, Tupac and Wayans sharing a trailer, and Speedy Williams as street baller consultant▶ 1:25:18
Van LathanConfirmed Speedy Williams was basketball technical director/consultant and discussed how the movie kicked off hyper focus on New York basketball culture including Soul in the Hole documentary and The Last Shot book▶ 1:27:09
Wosny LambreNoted continuity issues with weather/clothing in basketball scenes and discussed the cultural relevance of 1990s New York basketball, particularly the Knicks team as sex symbols▶ 1:26:09
Hall of Fame Plaque
Bill SimmonsInitially suggests Birdie with the bandana, but then acknowledges other options like Poe, Justice, or Juice▶ 1:31:20
Wosny LambreBirdie, noting that many think Tupac's public persona has its origins in this movie▶ 1:31:35
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsMultiple questions: How does Nutso get his name, worst fake dunk in movies (Marlon Wayans vs Ed Norton), which coach scarier to interview (Birdie vs Popovich), did the mom stay/get married, does Marlon Wayans survive the club▶ 1:39:02
Van LathanEd Norton couldn't really dunk despite being swole, Woody Harrelson looked like he could actually play basketball, Marlon Wayans definitely got killed in the club▶ 1:40:55
Wosny LambreNutso probably had a short temper and was always volatile, Bad Boy Records built their label on sampling 80s songs for 90s hits▶ 1:39:13
Best Double Feature
Bill SimmonsBlue Chips — Above the Rim and Blue Chips - both came out within a month of each other in 1994▶ 1:44:10
Van LathanHoop Dreams — Hoop Dreams first, then Above the Rim second - real Chicago basketball story followed by park basketball entertainment▶ 1:43:12
Wosny LambreThe Sixth Man — Above the Rim and The Sixth Man - double Marlon Wayans movies with equally unrealistic elements▶ 1:43:47
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill SimmonsAgrees with the mom lesson, plus adds that playing basketball outdoors by yourself with no basketball means you need mental help▶ 1:48:24
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsTupac Shakur — Initially said Tupac won, but then agreed the soundtrack wins if it's eligible▶ 1:48:49
Van LathanTupac Shakur — Said if soundtrack is eligible then it won, but for humans it's Tupac who gave a grade A performance▶ 1:48:51
Movies Referenced (26)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooter (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Wosny Lambre, Van Lathan | ▶ 43:57 |
| The Rock (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Wosny Lambre | ▶ 18:19 |
| American History X (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 1:40:43 |
| He Got Game (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan | ▶ 4:22 |
| Creed (2015) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan | ▶ 1:02:41 |
| Do the Right Thing (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Wosny Lambre | ▶ 1:13:28 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 24:48 |
| Lincoln (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Wosny Lambre | ▶ 1:07:19 |
| Unstoppable (2010) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 42:34 |
| Wall Street (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:05:11 |
| Black Panther (2018) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Wosny Lambre | ▶ 29:45 |
| Blade (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | ▶ 1:47:26 |
Directors Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony D. Syracuse | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:15:25 | |
| Rebecca Forth | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Wosny Lambre | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | ▶ 9:04 |
| Spike Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Wosny Lambre | Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It | ▶ 1:07:23 |
| Jacob Hair | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | ▶ 1:32:07 | |
| Sean Penn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Mystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking | ▶ 30:25 |
Actors Referenced (62)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tupac Shakur | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 33 | Bill Simmons, Wosny Lambre, Van Lathan | Juice | ▶ 2:19 |
| Bernie Mac | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 15 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Wosny Lambre | Ocean's Eleven | ▶ 2:22 |
| Marlon Wayans | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Wosny Lambre | White Chicks | ▶ 2:27 |
| Wood Harris | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Wosny Lambre, Van Lathan | Remember the Titans, Ant-Man | ▶ 22:54 |
| Tonya Pinkins | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Wosny Lambre, Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | Enchanted | ▶ 2:24 |
| The Game | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Wosny Lambre | Street Kings, The A-Team, Coach Carter | ▶ 4:22 |
| Denzel Washington | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 1:16:27 | |
| John Starks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Wosny Lambre | ▶ 1:28:56 | |
| Above & Beyond | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | How to Be Single | ▶ 2:03 |
| David Ruffin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:20:09 | |
| Ray Allen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Wosny Lambre | ▶ 1:34:45 | |
| Shooter | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Wosny Lambre | ▶ 54:59 |
Writers Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 32:25 | |
| Barry Michael Cooper | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | New Jack City | ▶ 15:07 |
| Malcolm X | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Malcolm X | ▶ 1:16:36 |
| Peter Morwood | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 51:49 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Other Guys | ▶ 2:51 |