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‘Blood Diamond’ With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan

June 14, 2023 · Blood Diamond (2006) · Adventure · Drama · Thriller · 1:21:20 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

Categories

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill SimmonsLeo's accent - calls it the weakest element though gives it a B+ and says it doesn't bother him that much▶ 20:57
Chris RyanAgrees the accent is problematic, noting Leo drops it when yelling/emotional, but also mentions Leo being too beautiful/movie star-like is distracting compared to other soldiers▶ 22:01

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsDanny giving the diamond back, saying goodbye to those guys and calling Matty▶ 40:40

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill SimmonsLeo's death scene on the mountain when he calls Jennifer Connelly is the best scene of Leo's career▶ 41:18

Great Shot Gordo Award

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill SimmonsMakes reference to 'that wide shot' but doesn't specify the exact location▶ 43:22

Dion Waiters Award

Chris RyanDavid HarewoodDavid Harewood who plays the CIA director in Homeland▶ 45:18

What's Aged the Best

Bill SimmonsLeo in 2006 - watching his journey from child actor to reaching the top of the mountain▶ 48:16
Chris RyanThe asides and patois/language of the movie, plus the road movie structure and journey establishing character relationships▶ 50:16

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill SimmonsPalm wine, which is used in three different ways - as an aphrodisiac and a disinfectant▶ 51:23
Chris RyanPalm wine - agrees it's both a disinfectant and a drink▶ 51:35

Is There a Better Title?

Bill SimmonsNo, there is not a better title▶ 56:05
Chris RyanNo, they nailed it because Blood Diamond introduced the concept to the world▶ 56:07

Best Quote

Bill SimmonsYou Americans love to talk about your feelings▶ 56:20

Casting What-Ifs

Bill SimmonsRussell CroweRussell Crowe was considered for Danny Archer but they went with Leo instead. For modern recasting: Daniel Kaluuya as Danny Archer, Sydney Sweeney as Maddie▶ 58:08
Chris RyanAgreed with Bill's modern casting choices, noting it would depend on whether updating the story to today and that it would be made through that perspective▶ 1:00:05

Apex Mountain

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill SimmonsAgreed they should mention the De Beers fact▶ 1:02:30
Chris RyanDe Beers diamond company was not psyched about this movie▶ 1:02:21

Racehorse Name Award

Bill SimmonsSuggested multiple options: Diamond Mine, Diamond, Danny Archer, and T.I.A.▶ 1:04:07

Movies Referenced (44)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
The Departed (2006)IMDb ↗Lb ↗9Bill Simmons▶ 3:31
Top Gun (1986)IMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 9:35
Civil War (2024)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 17:37
Gladiator (2000)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 13:23
Little Children (2006)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 8:31
Titanic (1997)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 3:53
Catch Me If You Can (2002)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 5:18
Courage Under Fire (1996)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 15:50
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 23:35
The Last Samurai (2003)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 16:13
The Village (2004)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 31:56
Babel (2006)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 23:28

Directors Referenced (6)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Martin ScorseseIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris RyanTaxi Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Streets▶ 4:48
Norman JewisonIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris RyanIn the Heat of the Night, Moonstruck▶ 18:22
Spike LeeIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris RyanDo the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It▶ 18:22
Cameron CroweIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsAlmost Famous, Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky▶ 7:40
Kosta JokicIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 3:47
Paul BellanyIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Stardust▶ 0:00

Actors Referenced (51)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Leonardo DiCaprioIMDb ↗Lb ↗11Chris RyanInception, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Departed▶ 2:22
Jennifer ConnellyIMDb ↗Lb ↗10Bill Simmons, Chris RyanA Beautiful Mind, House of Sand and Fog, Hulk▶ 22:28
Michael SheenIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 28:20
Jim CarreyIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill SimmonsAce Ventura: Pet Detective, Bruce Almighty, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind▶ 6:16
Russell CroweIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Chris RyanGladiator, A Beautiful Mind▶ 58:05
Hansu ZhanIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 13:01
Paul NewmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Chris RyanRoad to Perdition, The Verdict▶ 4:23
Sydney SweeneyIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 49:36
Timothée ChalametIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan, Bill SimmonsCall Me by Your Name, Lady Bird▶ 48:58
Alan ArkinIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsArgo, Little Miss Sunshine, Glengarry Glen Ross▶ 24:29
Arnold VoslooIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Chris RyanThe Mummy, Blood Diamond▶ 59:19
Daniel KaluuyaIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsGet Out, Black Panther▶ 54:38

Writers Referenced (5)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Julie SiegeIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 16:11
Roger EbertIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 28:51
Malcolm XIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanMalcolm X▶ 18:22
Tom ClancyIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanThe Hunt for Red October, The Sum of All Fears, Clear and Present Danger▶ 48:53
Tom HollandIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanChild's Play▶ 48:58