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‘Dangerous Minds’ With Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, and Van Lathan

September 3, 2020 · Dangerous Minds (1995) · Biography · Drama · 1:21:36

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Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill SimmonsGangsta's Paradise was offered to Bad Boys but they didn't want to pay for it; Stevie Wonder required removal of curse words and got 95% of publishing; Roger Ebert gave the movie 1.5 stars▶ 35:04
Van LathanStevie Wonder later cashed in again with Wild Wild West and Do I Do with Ja Rule after seeing the success▶ 36:23

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes including opening credits, Luanne's first day, Emilio sticks up for Miss Johnson, scene at Luanne's house (Oscar clip for Pfeiffer), Luanne finds out Emilio died and tells the class, and the ending▶ 38:13
Shea SerranoThe dinner scene with Raul, because of how he moves around in that scene and the storytelling dynamics▶ 43:34
Van LathanThe restaurant scene, specifically because of how Raul grows up during the scene - from being too afraid to talk to the waiter to asserting himself▶ 46:04

Casting What-Ifs

Bill SimmonsAndy GarciaDiscusses Andy Garcia being cast as a love interest for Pfeiffer's character, filming scenes that were later cut from the movie entirely▶ 58:44

Joey Pants Award

Bill SimmonsDina HarrisCallie (Dina Harris) - because every time he sees her he thinks 'Oh, that's Callie' but doesn't know her real name▶ 1:00:13
Shea SerranoRenoly SantiagoRuled that Raul/Ranoli Santiago doesn't qualify because his part is too pivotal and substantial in this movie, though he would count as 'that guy' in Con Air▶ 59:51

Dion Waiters Award

Bill SimmonsAcknowledges difficulty since everyone has too much screen time; suggests shifting to 'who stole the movie' (Raul); mentions parents and waiters as only eligible candidates but doesn't give specific pick▶ 1:02:18
Van LathanCourtney B. VancePrincipal Courtney B. Vance - calls him one of the most vile characters ever seen, only in four scenes but very impactful▶ 1:03:05

Apex Mountain

Bill SimmonsCoolioYes for Coolio, yes for every high school kid in the movie, no for Michelle Pfeiffer (says Fabulous Baker Boys), no for white savior complex movies (says The Blind Side is), yes for Butterfingers candy bars▶ 1:08:03
Shea SerranoGreen BookMentions Green Book also won Oscar when discussing white savior complex movies▶ 1:08:27
Van LathanDangerous MindsYes for white savior complex school teacher movies (says this is absolutely first place)▶ 1:08:33

Best Quote

Bill SimmonsSometimes you start out wrong and you can't get going▶ 1:13:16

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill SimmonsDid she only teach one class? What was she doing the other seven periods? Also questioned the unnamed white students in the class who we never learn about.▶ 1:15:06
Shea SerranoDid Raul graduate? Wanted to see that scene and was drawn to his character's journey of potentially being first in family to graduate high school.▶ 1:18:18
Van LathanWhy weren't the other minds dangerous enough? What about everybody else - was this just one period or her homeroom?▶ 1:15:15

Who Won the Movie

Bill SimmonsRenoly SantiagoRaul - most important character, in the whole time, threaded through with most of the best moments and the whole arc▶ 1:18:58
Shea SerranoRenoly SantiagoAgrees with Raul winning▶ 1:19:01

Movies Referenced (27)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Bad Boys (1995)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 35:04
Scarface (1983)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 17:25
Batman Returns (1992)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 18:13
Con Air (1997)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano▶ 59:40
Good Time (2017)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 0:50
Men in Black (1997)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Van Lathan▶ 34:50
Saturday Night Fever (1977)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 31:14
Alien (1979)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1▶ 34:52
Coach Carter (2005)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 4:21
Dying of the Light (2014)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1▶ 1:39
Far and Away (1992)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Van Lathan▶ 52:44
Green Book (2018)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Shea Serrano▶ 1:08:27

Directors Referenced (3)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Antoine FuquaIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsThe Magnificent Seven, The Equalizer▶ 48:51
Kevin CostnerIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Shea SerranoDances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves▶ 4:06
Tom BradyIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsThe Hot Chick▶ 42:43

Actors Referenced (33)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Michelle PfeifferIMDb ↗Lb ↗32Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Shea SerranoWhat Lies Beneath▶ 7:44
Stevie WonderIMDb ↗Lb ↗8Bill Simmons, Van LathanWild Wild West▶ 35:23
Don SimpsonIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Shea SerranoDays of Thunder, Beverly Hills Cop, The Rock▶ 10:58
Andy GarciaIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Shea SerranoOcean's Eleven, The Godfather Part III▶ 22:39
Luann LeeIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill SimmonsBeverly Hills Cop II▶ 4:30
Michelle RodriguezIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Shea Serrano, Bill SimmonsFurious 7, Fast & Furious 6▶ 1:01:06
Sandra BullockIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill SimmonsThe Proposal, Miss Congeniality, Speed▶ 3:09
Tik TokIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:36
Will SmithIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Van LathanMen in Black, I Am Legend▶ 34:44
Courtney B. VanceIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Van LathanThe Hunt for Red October▶ 55:20
Demi MooreIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Shea Serrano, Van LathanStriptease, Indecent Proposal▶ 1:09:08
James SpaderIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Van Lathan▶ 20:59

Writers Referenced (3)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
'Weird Al' YankovicIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Van Lathan, Shea Serrano▶ 29:47
Fam UdeorjiIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Van Lathan▶ 9:02
Roger EbertIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 36:33