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‘American Gangster’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan
September 2, 2025 · American Gangster (2007) · Biography · Crime · Drama · 2:01:01 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Dion Waiters Award
Chris RyanIdris Elba — Agreed with Idris Elba pick, noting how he goes up against Denzel and nails the character in one scene▶ 1:03:27
Van LathanIdris Elba — Idris Elba - praised his drunk acting and how he plays it cool in his scene▶ 1:03:11
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsHistorical accuracy issues with Lucas being fabricated/not sophisticated as portrayed, fake celebrity casting (Ali, Frazier, Chamberlain), Joe Morton's mustache, and the generic title 'American Gangster'▶ 1:22:28
Chris RyanThe central romance/relationship between Frank and his wife lacking depth and crash-out moments compared to other crime films▶ 1:27:06
Van LathanAgrees on historical inaccuracies like the cadaver connection never existing, but defends some casting choices like Armand Assante▶ 1:22:42
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Chris RyanJosh Brolin has had the best post-American Gangster career of anyone in American Gangster▶ 1:31:14
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsRay Liotta — Ray Liotta as Armando Sante (mafia boss character), Eva Mendez as Frank's wife▶ 1:37:41
Chris RyanRay Liotta — Ray Liotta as Truppo or Richie (cop characters), agrees with Eva Mendez casting, Judd Nelson as Armando Sante▶ 1:37:51
Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake
Bill SimmonsAll-white cast remake of American Gangster with Adam Scott as Nicky Barnes, Rob McElhinney, Tom Cruise as Frank, and J.J. Reddick as Stevie▶ 1:50:56
Van LathanAll-white cast remake of American Gangster with Adam Scott as Nicky Barnes, Tom Cruise as Frank, Sally Field as Frank's mom, and J.J. Reddick as Stevie with the story changed to basketball▶ 1:50:37
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsLists multiple utility players: Wayne Jenkins, Danny Trejo, Mad Dog Russo, Doris Burke, Sam Jackson, Nell, Byron Mayo, Tony Romo, Chris Collinsworth, Daniel Plainview, Long Legs, Bangkok Craig, Wilford Brimley▶ 1:51:31
Chris RyanDoes an extended Bangkok Craig impression/monologue about Frank Lucas and the drug trade▶ 1:51:54
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsHow is Mark Ruffalo not in this movie - he could have played 19 different parts▶ 1:52:52
Chris RyanHow long would this movie have to be for it to be too long? Could have been six hours including an hour in Vietnam and Bangkok▶ 1:53:46
Van LathanDid Frank's wife set him up? She made him wear the jacket - I think the government got to her▶ 1:54:45
Best Double Feature
Chris RyanSupports the pairing, explaining the thematic connection between the films regarding drugs▶ 1:57:07
Who Won the Movie
Van LathanBlow — Initially mentions 'Blow' but context suggests this may not be his actual pick for who won the movie▶ 1:58:05
Movies Referenced (63)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gladiator (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | ▶ 27:30 |
| Miami Vice (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 9:51 |
| Alien (1979) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 43:25 |
| Into the Blue (2005) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 19:49 |
| Proof of Life (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 27:45 |
| The French Connection (1971) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 53:32 |
| Blade Runner (1982) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 44:17 |
| Cast Away (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 5:23 |
| Man of Steel (2013) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan | ▶ 33:35 |
| Training Day (2001) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 23:37 |
| A Beautiful Mind (2001) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 28:50 |
| A Good Year (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 27:27 |
Directors Referenced (15)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridley Scott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 19 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | The Martian, Blade Runner | ▶ 7:55 |
| Antoine Fuqua | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Magnificent Seven, The Equalizer | ▶ 23:41 |
| Michael Mann | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans | ▶ 2:23 |
| Sean Penn | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Mystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking | ▶ 43:40 |
| Woody Allen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Annie Hall | ▶ 1:02:18 |
| Spike Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It | ▶ 13:25 |
| Dan Winters | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | 101 Dalmatians | ▶ 19:09 |
| Iyi Tubi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Ex Machina, World War Z | ▶ 21:14 |
| Kevin Garnett | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan | Uncut Gems | ▶ 1:24:12 |
| Peter Berg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Very Bad Things | ▶ 38:20 |
| Quentin Tarantino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, From Dusk Till Dawn | ▶ 2:04 |
| Ron Howard | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | A Beautiful Mind | ▶ 29:15 |
Actors Referenced (80)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denzel Washington | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 73 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 7:19 | |
| Russell Crowe | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 24 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind | ▶ 9:45 |
| Josh Brolin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 23 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | No Country for Old Men | ▶ 5:34 |
| John Ortiz | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Silver Linings Playbook, American Gangster, Miami Vice | ▶ 37:02 |
| Tom Cruise | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Top Gun, Minority Report | ▶ 22:28 |
| Ray Liotta | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Goodfellas, Field of Dreams | ▶ 1:27:09 |
| Idris Elba | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan | ▶ 16:24 | |
| Jay Pharoah | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 9:04 | |
| Jessica Alba | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Fantastic Four, Sin City | ▶ 19:53 |
| Joe Morton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | Terminator 2: Judgment Day | ▶ 1:24:24 |
| Cuba Gooding Jr. | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Jerry Maguire | ▶ 36:21 |
| Magic Johnson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:02:44 |
Writers Referenced (8)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terry George | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan | Hotel Rwanda, In the Name of the Father | ▶ 17:04 |
| Aaron Sorkin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | A Few Good Men | ▶ 2:23 |
| August Wilson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 26:06 | |
| Brian Grazer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13 | ▶ 1:39:06 |
| Brian Koppelman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Runaway Jury, Michael Clayton | ▶ 1:55 |
| Judd Apatow | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The King of Staten Island, Knocked Up | ▶ 2:23 |
| Mark Jacobson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 37:47 | |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 49:08 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Macbeth | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 26:06 | |
| Bet Rourich | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:39:14 |