‘American Gigolo’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Mallory Rubin
November 1, 2022 · American Gigolo (1980) · Crime · Drama · Mystery · 1:54:22 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
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Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsJohn Travolta — John Travolta was originally cast and dropped out in 1979, Richard Gere was fourth choice and jumped in two weeks before shooting▶ 37:03
Mallory RubinRichard Gere — Believes Richard Gere was better suited for the mysterious past aspect of the character than Travolta would have been▶ 42:27
Sean FennesseyJohn Travolta — Discusses that Travolta being in the movie could have prevented his 1980s career dip, and analyzes Schrader's provocative comments about Travolta's reasons for dropping out▶ 37:19
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Bill SimmonsWhen he goes to see the nanny at the end and gets that shot, milking it instead of drinking it▶ 1:08:44
Mallory RubinThe same scene where he orders a Manhattan but asks for just a shot of bourbon, showing how the drink reflects his circumstances▶ 1:08:56
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsThe last couple scenes with the drop cuts where it seems like Schrader wasn't happy with the ending and threw some things against the wall▶ 1:09:41
Mallory RubinThe Lauren Hutton sex scene with the blue sheet, overhead shots, and bizarre clinical approach that reminds her of Tom Brady's NFL combine photo▶ 1:10:55
Sean FennesseyThe four interrogation/charging scenes before the final scene where he's being told he's charged - doesn't understand why Schrader included those▶ 1:10:24
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Mallory RubinThere's not enough sex in this movie that is about a gigolo, and it's intentional▶ 1:18:04
Sean FennesseyLauren Hutton is a huge flaw in this film - both the character and performance. The movie would be better if Nina Van Pallandt was in Lauren Hutton's role instead▶ 1:18:24
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsHector Elizondo — Listed three nominees: Bill Duke, Hector Elizondo, and Kay Callan (the rich lady whose husband provides her alibi at the end)▶ 1:23:52
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsMultiple trivia facts: Nina van Pallandt became famous as Clifford Irving's mistress, then Gere later played Irving in 'The Hoax'; Schrader's story about convincing Barry Diller to cast Gere over Travolta by leveraging Urban Cowboy; Richard Gere's Apex Mountain is Officer and a Gentleman▶ 1:26:41
Mallory RubinRichard Gere's Apex Mountain is Officer and a Gentleman, though she also suggests 1990 with Pretty Woman and Internal Affairs could be considered; Lauren Hutton shouldn't have been in American Gigolo so it can't be her Apex Mountain▶ 1:28:35
Sean FennesseyJulie Delpy played Nina Van Pallandt in 'The Hoax'; Officer and a Gentleman got multiple Oscar nominations (screenplay, editing, score, song) but didn't get Gere nominated▶ 1:26:55
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsWhy the protagonist drives around with the jewels for 10 minutes like a dumbass after hiding them under the car - needs cocaine to explain these bad decisions▶ 1:38:58
Mallory RubinWhy he doesn't check the obvious place (car undercarriage) first before ripping apart the car interior, and why he parks so badly when police are after him▶ 1:39:04
Sean FennesseyWhether Ryman actually pushed the wife or just didn't intervene - something we don't really know but seems possible▶ 1:38:47
Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake
Bill SimmonsSequel set in mid-80s with wealthier LA setting where the character is running his own operation▶ 1:40:13
Sean FennesseyAmerican Gigolo: Getting Back in the Game - sequel where he's fallen behind and needs to get back in, training to get his body back, adapting to changed sexual mores▶ 1:40:42
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsRichard Gere — Richard Gere - calls it a seminal performance that launched him into superstardom▶ 1:47:28
Sean FennesseyRichard Gere — Agrees Gere won but also mentions Giorgio Moroder and Armani did very well from the movie▶ 1:47:37
Movies Referenced (37)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pretty Woman (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin | ▶ 41:29 |
| Palm Springs (2020) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 20:08 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:15:16 |
| Identity (2003) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Mallory Rubin | ▶ 8:11 |
| Risky Business (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 18:19 |
| Taxi Driver (1976) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 4:20 |
| The Beach (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Mallory Rubin | ▶ 16:10 |
| Basic Instinct (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 8:47 |
| Crank (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:29:42 |
| Days of Heaven (1978) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:48:02 |
| Akira (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:32:03 |
| Barbarian (2022) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:53:39 |
Directors Referenced (5)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Mann | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans | ▶ 18:17 |
| Tim Palen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | The Hunger Games | ▶ 52:24 |
| Tom Brady | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin | The Hot Chick | ▶ 36:52 |
| Brian De Palma | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Body Double, Dressed to Kill, The Bonfire of the Vanities | ▶ 4:26 |
| Sidney Lumet | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | 12 Angry Men | ▶ 45:05 |
Actors Referenced (46)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Gere | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 40 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Mallory Rubin | Pretty Woman, An Officer and a Gentleman | ▶ 3:23 |
| Lauren Hutton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 23 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Mallory Rubin | American Gigolo | ▶ 31:10 |
| Julie Delpy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Before Sunrise | ▶ 1:01:20 |
| Bill Duke | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Predator, Commando | ▶ 1:02:07 |
| Giorgio Moroder | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Top Gun, Over the Top | ▶ 12:36 |
| Woody Harrelson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Natural Born Killers | ▶ 1:19:34 |
| Christopher Reeve | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:18:49 | |
| Glenn Close | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Fatal Attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy | ▶ 1:25:14 |
| Hector Elizondo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride | ▶ 58:18 |
| Jon Bernthal | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | The Wolf of Wall Street, King Richard | ▶ 1:17:37 |
| Angie Dickinson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Dressed to Kill | ▶ 57:24 |
| Chevy Chase | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation | ▶ 1:19:14 |
Writers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Schrader | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 29 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Mallory Rubin | First Reformed | ▶ 3:46 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 45:52 | |
| Daft Punk | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Saint | ▶ 3:43 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Bailey | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | In the Line of Fire, American Gigolo | ▶ 38:00 |