‘Crash’ With Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, and Joanna Robinson
February 25, 2025 · Crash (2004) · Crime · Drama · Thriller · 1:47:55 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsJohn Cusack — Presented the main casting what-ifs: Forrest Whitaker for Terrence Howard/Don Cheadle role, Cusack for Matt Dillon, Heath Ledger for Ryan Phillippe. Thought Cusack in the Dillon role would have been 'super awesome' and agreed Heath Ledger would make it a different movie. For recasting director suggested Quentin Tarantino.▶ 1:12:28
Joanna RobinsonHeath Ledger — Heath Ledger would be a huge improvement over Ryan Phillippe, and Cusack would have made it a much better movie in the Matt Dillon role. For recasting the Ryan Phillippe role suggested Matt Damon, Tobey Maguire, or Casey Affleck as better options.▶ 1:12:57
Van LathanJohn Cusack — Enthusiastic about Cusack in the Matt Dillon role calling it 'legitimately great' and 'fantastic.' Also liked Josh Hartnett for the young cop role and Casey Affleck as a good option for the Ryan Phillippe role.▶ 1:13:28
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsTerrence Howard — Ruled out Sandra Bullock, Brendan Fraser, Matt Dillon, Don Cheadle, Michael Payne, Ryan Philippe, Thandiwe Newton, Lorenz Tate, Ludacris, Jennifer Esposito. Agreed on Terrence Howard (2005 with Hustle and Flow) and Paul Haggis as Apex Mountains.▶ 1:19:50
Van LathanTerrence Howard — Discussed Terrence Howard's Apex Mountain, acknowledging Empire Season 1 was big but agreed Best Actor nomination for Hustle and Flow in 2005 was probably his peak.▶ 1:20:05
Hanks or Cruise
Bill SimmonsTom Cruise — Cruise - likes the idea of Cruise in Matt Dillon's role, mentions Magnolia angle with dad issues and angry/evil Cruise as cop▶ 1:23:13
Craig HorlbeckTom Cruise — Cruise - likes Cruise in this, compares it to Magnolia type movie, could put Cruise's Magnolia character into this film▶ 1:23:26
Joanna RobinsonTom Cruise — Cruise - wants cokeier energy for this LA movie, calls it 'Magnolia Methadone'▶ 1:22:50
Van LathanTom Hanks — Hanks in Brendan Fraser's character role - would love to see Hanks in that morally gray role▶ 1:22:21
Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake
Bill SimmonsA prestige TV version with all black cast could work, though he wouldn't want to watch it; also suggests Cord Jefferson doing a shot-by-shot remake of Crash as a comedy▶ 1:31:08
Joanna RobinsonThe sequel would be the hunt for Ryan Philippe - Don Cheadle looking for his brother's murderer who is still on the police force▶ 1:31:49
Van LathanIt's touchable - could orient a prestige show around Don Cheadle's case with the dirty cop, expanding to city hall, DA, and his brother, with a black showrunner▶ 1:31:24
Is This Movie Better With
Joanna RobinsonWilford Brimley — Wilford Brimley in the Fickner role, similar to his scene in The Firm▶ 1:32:47
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsIf this movie had a black director but was the exact same movie, what happens? Also asks what piece of memorabilia would you want or not want - picks fortified underwear as what he would NOT want▶ 1:33:43
Joanna RobinsonHow did this movie beat Brokeback Mountain? Notes that if you're redoing Oscars, that's one of the first ones you redo▶ 1:34:12
Van LathanA black director making the exact same movie would get no Oscars and would be destroyed from all sides - they'd run him out of time▶ 1:34:01
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Joanna Robinsonpublic transportation - it's not so bad, it's better than getting a part with Ryan▶ 1:36:38
Best Double Feature
Joanna Robinson25th Hour — Reacted positively to the 25th Hour suggestion, noting it handles racist rants better than other films▶ 1:37:04
Movies Referenced (45)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnolia (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons, Craig Horlbeck | ▶ 57:20 |
| Interstellar (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Van Lathan, Joanna Robinson | ▶ 54:08 |
| Iron Man (2008) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson | ▶ 45:17 |
| The Help (2011) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan, Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons | ▶ 58:39 |
| Inception (2010) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Craig Horlbeck, Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 54:35 |
| Troy (2004) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan, Joanna Robinson | ▶ 43:45 |
| Cruel Intentions (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Joanna Robinson | ▶ 1:02:04 |
| Green Book (2018) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 15:22 |
| Memento (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Joanna Robinson | ▶ 54:43 |
| Million Dollar Baby (2004) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Joanna Robinson | ▶ 20:00 |
| Anora (2024) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 10:35 |
| Crank (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 54:53 |
Directors Referenced (8)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Nolan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson | Tenet, Interstellar, Inception | ▶ 54:38 |
| Spike Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan | Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It | ▶ 1:17:19 |
| Ang Lee | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Joanna Robinson | Life of Pi | ▶ 10:18 |
| Quentin Tarantino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, From Dusk Till Dawn | ▶ 1:17:00 |
| Andrea Bias | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Black Adam, A Simple Favor, The Intern | ▶ 48:06 |
| Gus Van Sant | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:32:17 | |
| Martin Scorsese | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Taxi Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Streets | ▶ 1:24:35 |
| Tom Brady | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Hot Chick | ▶ 1:42:20 |
Actors Referenced (52)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Dillon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 29 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Van Lathan | There's Something About Mary, Crash | ▶ 4:04 |
| Terrence Howard | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 24 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Joanna Robinson | Hustle & Flow, Crash, Iron Man | ▶ 5:00 |
| Don Cheadle | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 16 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson | Crash | ▶ 5:31 |
| Sandra Bullock | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 15 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Van Lathan | The Proposal, Miss Congeniality, Speed | ▶ 5:08 |
| Tom Cruise | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 14 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Craig Horlbeck | Top Gun, Minority Report | ▶ 1:22:14 |
| Brendan Fraser | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson | The Mummy, Crash | ▶ 5:08 |
| Ryan Phillippe | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Joanna Robinson, Van Lathan | Gosford Park, Crash, Cruel Intentions | ▶ 47:41 |
| Keith David | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Van Lathan | They Live, Armageddon | ▶ 51:51 |
| Casey Affleck | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Van Lathan | Manchester by the Sea, Light of My Life | ▶ 1:16:42 |
| Heath Ledger | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons | Brokeback Mountain, The Dark Knight, A Knight's Tale | ▶ 1:12:40 |
| Jennifer Esposito | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Crash | ▶ 21:49 |
| Josh Hartnett | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Joanna Robinson | Black Hawk Down, 30 Days of Night | ▶ 1:13:15 |
Writers Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Haggis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 20 | Bill Simmons, Joanna Robinson, Van Lathan | Crash | ▶ 19:04 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Joanna Robinson, Bill Simmons, Craig Horlbeck | ▶ 11:13 | |
| William Goldman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Craig Horlbeck | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men, The Princess Bride | ▶ 12:01 |
| Cord Jefferson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | American Fiction | ▶ 1:32:04 |
| Carl Sagan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | ▶ 55:16 | |
| Ryan Coogler | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | Black Panther, Creed | ▶ 17:15 |