‘Hardball’ With Bill Simmons and Van Lathan
August 31, 2021 · Hardball (2001) · Comedy · Drama · Sport · 1:22:51
Categories
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsKeanu Reeves — There's no casting what ifs for this - if Keanu says no, we have no movie▶ 12:34
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes: when Keanu meets the kids in the dugout, Kofi's book report scene in class, Miles pitching with headphones (turning into Pedro Martinez), Keanu's gambling scene outside the bar, G-Baby getting his jersey and the Big Papa crowd scene, and Keanu's speech after G-Baby dies▶ 31:40
Van LathanThe classroom scene with the book report and the Big Papa crowd singing scene, noting he loves 'corny shit like that'▶ 33:40
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsMultiple picks: the 'we go into the ship' chant creation, John Hawks' performance and later career success, the baseball game scene with Sammy Sosa cameo, the unintentional comedy of Keanu's overacting, G-Baby negotiating Kofi's return to the team, and the Chicago Bad News Bears concept▶ 41:35
Van LathanAgrees with the 'we go into the ship' chant and discusses how the Sammy Sosa extortion story seems believable now given what we know about Sosa▶ 41:57
Dion Waiters Award
Bill SimmonsJohn Hawkes — Suggested John Hawkes (Keanu's gambling buddy) but noted he might be in too many scenes, then proposed Michael B. Jordan as young Wallace▶ 58:18
Van LathanJohn Hawkes — John Hawkes - agreed he's the winner despite being in five scenes, citing the thin cast and few options▶ 58:29
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsMultiple production facts: baseball scenes filmed at Tiger Stadium instead of Wrigley Field (missing the ivy), Sluggers bar exists but at different location than shown, they used CBA footage instead of real Bulls-Heat games, and could have used real NBA footage under fair use like Uncut Gems did▶ 1:01:25
Van LathanExplains the baseball stadium discrepancy - suggests it might have been a Cubs vs White Sox interleague game at the White Sox home stadium, which would explain why it wasn't Wrigley Field▶ 1:01:59
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsKeanu Reeves — Keanu Reeves - no for overall career, but funeral scene in this movie may be his best single scene performance; also likes his Devil's Advocate performance. Sammy Sosa - yes, this was his peak moment in 2001 before steroid controversies.▶ 1:05:05
Van LathanKeanu Reeves — Keanu Reeves - agrees the funeral scene is probably his best single scene, though acknowledges he has other solid performances. Supports Devil's Advocate as a great movie.▶ 1:05:15
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsMultiple questions including: Who would get the Sammy Sosa cameo in a 2021 remake (suggests Aaron Judge, Otani, or Tim Anderson), inconsistencies with team roster numbers throughout the movie, and Diane Lane's character being unrealistically single despite being highly desirable▶ 1:07:10
Van LathanAgrees Tim Anderson would be good choice for kids to look up to in Chicago, discusses ticket scalping in Money Talks with Chris Tucker, and agrees about Diane Lane's character being unrealistically single▶ 1:07:26
Best Quote
Bill Simmons"No one can kick my ass better than I can" - when Keanu puts his head through a glass window▶ 1:15:51
Van LathanAgrees with Bill's pick and mentions there are other good quotes but can't remember the specific lines, references Me Myself and Irene having similar quotes▶ 1:16:22
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsDeWayne Warren — G baby - says he doesn't remember ever giving this category to a fictional character but G baby won the movie▶ 1:19:57
Van LathanDeWayne Warren — G baby - agrees that G baby is by far the most enduring part of Hardball▶ 1:20:00
Movies Referenced (32)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Wick (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 23:28 |
| Point Break (1991) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 24:42 |
| Coach Carter (2005) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 7:59 |
| The Matrix (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 24:02 |
| Any Given Sunday (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 11:57 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:01:00 |
| For Love of the Game (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 11:58 |
| Remember the Titans (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 16:28 |
| Dracula (1992) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 24:26 |
| He Got Game (1998) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 11:51 |
| The Rock (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 15:02 |
| Uncut Gems (2019) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:03:33 |
Directors Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Soderbergh | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | ▶ 13:21 |
Actors Referenced (24)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keanu Reeves | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 71 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | The Matrix, Speed, Point Break | ▶ 3:09 |
| Sammy Sosa | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 26 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Hardball | ▶ 42:37 |
| Michael B. Jordan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Black Panther, Creed, Fruitvale Station | ▶ 19:40 |
| Diane Lane | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Unfaithful, Under the Tuscan Sun | ▶ 45:07 |
| The Game | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Street Kings, The A-Team, Coach Carter | ▶ 11:51 |
| Cody Harbaugh | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan | 127 Hours | ▶ 9:48 |
| Jennifer Aniston | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | We're the Millers | ▶ 56:36 |
| Michael B. | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan | ▶ 41:01 | |
| Sterling Brim | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan | Hardball | ▶ 40:46 |
| Wesley Snipes | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | Blade, New Jack City, Demolition Man | ▶ 17:12 |
| Elando Baltimore | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 40:28 | |
| Hed P.E. | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Van Lathan | ▶ 1:17:27 |
Writers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Coyle | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | Hardball | ▶ 9:02 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 29:42 |