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‘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 Simmons▶ 37:03John Travolta — John Travolta was originally cast and dropped out in 1979, Richard Gere was fourth choice and jumped in two weeks before shooting
Mallory Rubin▶ 42:27Richard Gere — Believes Richard Gere was better suited for the mysterious past aspect of the character than Travolta would have been
Sean Fennessey▶ 37:19John 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

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 46:50The opening credits with the 450 SL, Blondie, and Armani fitting

Great Shot Gordo Award

Bill Simmons▶ 47:06the high shot of him driving down the PCH

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:44When he goes to see the nanny at the end and gets that shot, milking it instead of drinking it
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:08:56The same scene where he orders a Manhattan but asks for just a shot of bourbon, showing how the drink reflects his circumstances

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:09:12Ann's Beach House (initially mentioned Sunset Plaza apartments but switched)
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:09:21Pacific Coast Highway

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:09:41The 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
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:10:55The Lauren Hutton sex scene with the blue sheet, overhead shots, and bizarre clinical approach that reminds her of Tom Brady's NFL combine photo
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:10:24The four interrogation/charging scenes before the final scene where he's being told he's charged - doesn't understand why Schrader included those

Ron Burgundy Flute Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:48the political event scene

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:52No

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:55I don't like playing the same numbers too often they get possessive
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:16:12Giving pleasure to women I'm supposed to feel guilty about that
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:16:19I do know a whore when I see one

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:16:42They should have had a sequel set in mid-80s LA during the Gordon Gekko era
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:18:04There's not enough sex in this movie that is about a gigolo, and it's intentional
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:18:24Lauren 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

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:23:52Hector Elizondo — Listed three nominees: Bill Duke, Hector Elizondo, and Kay Callan (the rich lady whose husband provides her alibi at the end)

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:24:17Bill Duke

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 1:26:41Multiple 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
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:28:35Richard 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
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:26:55Julie 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

Racehorse Name Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:38Julian K
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:34:32Mentioned side dick as a possibility but didn't give a definitive final pick

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:38:58Why 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
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:39:04Why 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
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:38:47Whether Ryman actually pushed the wife or just didn't intervene - something we don't really know but seems possible

Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake

Bill Simmons▶ 1:40:13Sequel set in mid-80s with wealthier LA setting where the character is running his own operation
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:40:42American 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

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:41:01Philip Baker Hall — Philip Baker Hall as the senator
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:41:17Wayne Jenkins instead of Detective Sunday
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:41:08Samuel L. Jackson — Sam Jackson as Leon

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:47:06It don't matter how much Julie, the other side will always pay more
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:47:11Julian saying take your pleasure when you can
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:47:17But I do know a whore when I see one

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:47:28Richard Gere — Richard Gere - calls it a seminal performance that launched him into superstardom
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:47:25Richard Gere
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:47:37Richard Gere — Agrees Gere won but also mentions Giorgio Moroder and Armani did very well from the movie

Movies Referenced (40)

Pretty Woman (1990)

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin▶ 41:29IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Internal Affairs (1990)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Mallory Rubin▶ 45:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Urban Cowboy (1980)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Mallory Rubin▶ 37:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fargo (1996)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Risky Business (1983)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 18:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Taxi Driver (1976)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 4:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Basic Instinct (1992)

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 8:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Blue Collar (1978)

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 7:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Days of Heaven (1978)

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 1:48:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

First Reformed (2017)

2 mentions · Mallory Rubin, Sean Fennessey▶ 21:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Master Gardener (2022)

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 38:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ordinary People (1980)

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 47:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (4)

Michael Mann

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans▶ 18:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Brady

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin · Known for The Hot Chick▶ 36:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Brian De Palma

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Body Double, Dressed to Kill, The Bonfire of the Vanities▶ 4:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sidney Lumet

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, 12 Angry Men▶ 45:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (45)

Richard Gere

40 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Mallory Rubin · Known for Chicago, Pretty Woman, An Officer and a Gentleman▶ 3:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lauren Hutton

23 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Mallory Rubin · Known for American Gigolo, Once Bitten▶ 31:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Julie Delpy

14 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Two Days in Paris, Before Sunrise▶ 1:01:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bill Duke

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Predator, Commando▶ 1:02:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Giorgio Moroder

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for Top Gun, Flashdance, Over the Top▶ 12:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Woody Harrelson

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons · Known for Natural Born Killers▶ 1:19:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Christopher Reeve

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Superman, Superman II▶ 1:18:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Glenn Close

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Fatal Attraction, The Wife, Guardians of the Galaxy▶ 1:25:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Hector Elizondo

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, Beverly Hills Cop III▶ 58:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jon Bernthal

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Wolf of Wall Street, King Richard, Fury▶ 1:17:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Angie Dickinson

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Rio Bravo, Dressed to Kill, Point Blank▶ 57:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chevy Chase

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation▶ 1:19:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (3)

Paul Schrader

29 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Mallory Rubin · Known for First Reformed, The Card Counter▶ 3:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 45:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Daft Punk

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Tron: Legacy, The Saint▶ 3:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

John Bailey

10 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for In the Line of Fire, American Gigolo▶ 38:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗