Grays Almanac

Home/Episodes/Shot Caller

‘Shot Caller’ With Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan

April 2, 2024 · Shot Caller (2017) · Crime · Drama · Thriller · 1:45:27 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

Categories

Hall of Fame Plaque

Bill Simmons▶ 16:26Prison movie pyramid with Shawshank Redemption at the top, followed by Cool Hand Luke and Bad Boys at level 2, then Jericho Mile/Longest Yard/Shot Caller at level 3, Blood In Blood Out/Brubaker/American History X/Escape from Alcatraz at level 4, and American Me/Midnight Express/Sleepers/Lock Up/The Hurricane at the bottom level
Chris Ryan▶ 16:48Would put Cool Hand Luke at the top instead of Shawshank, and suggested adding Bronson and Starred Up as additional worthy prison movies

Would Roger Ebert Have Liked This Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 29:33Uses ChatGPT's prediction that Ebert would give Shot Caller 3-3.5 stars, appreciating character development and themes but critiquing sensationalized elements
Chris Ryan▶ 30:443 stars out of 4 (thinks 3.5 would be too high)

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 32:38The Bernthal party scene, the double date into car accident scene, and Jacob goes to jail with the lawyer's pep talk

Movies Referenced (26)

Den of Thieves (2018)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 13:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Escape from Alcatraz (1979)

4 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 6:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

American Me (1992)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 17:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 16:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

American History X (1998)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 17:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bad Boys (1995)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 8:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Lock Up (1989)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 17:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Midnight Express (1978)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 8:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Rock (1996)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 18:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Whiplash (2014)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 36:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Blink Twice (2024)

1 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 23:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bridesmaids (2011)

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 27:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (3)

Clint Eastwood

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven▶ 21:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Mann

5 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans▶ 12:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jack O'Connell

1 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 18:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (25)

Jon Bernthal

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for The Wolf of Wall Street, King Richard, Fury▶ 42:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Aaron Paul

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for El Camino, Need for Speed▶ 27:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Holt McCallany

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Fight Club▶ 46:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Josh Holloway

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol▶ 25:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Walker

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Fast and the Furious, Furious 7, Running Scared▶ 23:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert Redford

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Natural, Ordinary People, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid▶ 8:22IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Game

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Street Kings, The A-Team, Coach Carter▶ 1:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ben Mendelsohn

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Animal Kingdom, The Dark Knight Rises▶ 18:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Brad Pitt

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Fight Club, 12 Monkeys, Mr. & Mrs. Smith▶ 25:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Breaking Benjamin

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for National Treasure, Hellboy▶ 27:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Caleb Williams

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 42:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Campbell Scott

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Big Night, Roger Dodger, Singles▶ 36:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (1)

Roger Ebert

7 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 29:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗