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‘American Gangster’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan

September 2, 2025 · American Gangster (2007) · Biography · Crime · Drama · 2:01:01

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

Categories

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:03:08Idris Elba — Idris Elba - confirmed he also has Idris as his Dion Waiters pick
Chris Ryan▶ 1:03:27Idris Elba — Agreed with Idris Elba pick, noting how he goes up against Denzel and nails the character in one scene
Van Lathan▶ 1:03:11Idris Elba — Idris Elba - praised his drunk acting and how he plays it cool in his scene

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:22:28Historical accuracy issues with Lucas being fabricated/not sophisticated as portrayed, fake celebrity casting (Ali, Frazier, Chamberlain), Joe Morton's mustache, and the generic title 'American Gangster'
Chris Ryan▶ 1:27:06The central romance/relationship between Frank and his wife lacking depth and crash-out moments compared to other crime films
Van Lathan▶ 1:22:42Agrees on historical inaccuracies like the cadaver connection never existing, but defends some casting choices like Armand Assante

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:33:33This would have been Michael Mann's second greatest movie behind Heat
Chris Ryan▶ 1:31:14Josh Brolin has had the best post-American Gangster career of anyone in American Gangster
Van Lathan▶ 1:32:07Ridley Scott ruined what could have been a classic, overwhelmingly classic

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:37:41Ray Liotta — Ray Liotta as Armando Sante (mafia boss character), Eva Mendez as Frank's wife
Chris Ryan▶ 1:37:51Ray Liotta — Ray Liotta as Truppo or Richie (cop characters), agrees with Eva Mendez casting, Judd Nelson as Armando Sante
Van Lathan▶ 1:38:02Eva Mendes — Agrees with Eva Mendez as Frank's wife casting

Hanks or Cruise

Bill Simmons▶ 1:46:57Tom Hanks — Hanks as Richie
Chris Ryan▶ 1:45:56Tom Cruise — Cruise as Richie
Van Lathan▶ 1:46:52Tom Hanks — Hanks as Richie

Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake

Bill Simmons▶ 1:50:56All-white cast remake of American Gangster with Adam Scott as Nicky Barnes, Rob McElhinney, Tom Cruise as Frank, and J.J. Reddick as Stevie
Chris Ryan▶ 1:50:35All-white cast remake with Adam Scott as Nicky Barnes and Mark Ruffalo
Van Lathan▶ 1:50:37All-white cast remake of American Gangster with Adam Scott as Nicky Barnes, Tom Cruise as Frank, Sally Field as Frank's mom, and J.J. Reddick as Stevie with the story changed to basketball

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:51:31Lists multiple utility players: Wayne Jenkins, Danny Trejo, Mad Dog Russo, Doris Burke, Sam Jackson, Nell, Byron Mayo, Tony Romo, Chris Collinsworth, Daniel Plainview, Long Legs, Bangkok Craig, Wilford Brimley
Chris Ryan▶ 1:51:54Does an extended Bangkok Craig impression/monologue about Frank Lucas and the drug trade

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:52:52How is Mark Ruffalo not in this movie - he could have played 19 different parts
Chris Ryan▶ 1:53:46How long would this movie have to be for it to be too long? Could have been six hours including an hour in Vietnam and Bangkok
Van Lathan▶ 1:54:45Did Frank's wife set him up? She made him wear the jacket - I think the government got to her

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:56:58Quitting while your head is not the same as quitting
Van Lathan▶ 1:57:01Quitting while your head is not the same as quitting

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:57:03Virtuosity — Virtuosity and The French Connection
Chris Ryan▶ 1:57:07Supports the pairing, explaining the thematic connection between the films regarding drugs

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:58:09Denzel Washington — Denzel Washington (considered Crowe but settled on Denzel)
Van Lathan▶ 1:58:05Blow — Initially mentions 'Blow' but context suggests this may not be his actual pick for who won the movie

Movies Referenced (68)

Gladiator (2000)

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan▶ 27:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Heat (1995)

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 4:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Blow (2001)

7 mentions · Van Lathan, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 16:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Miami Vice (2006)

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 9:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Alien (1979)

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 43:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Into the Blue (2005)

5 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 19:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Proof of Life (2000)

5 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 27:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Deep (1977)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan▶ 19:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The French Connection (1971)

4 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 53:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Blade Runner (1982)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 44:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cast Away (2000)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 5:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Harlem Nights (1989)

3 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 1:42:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (15)

Ridley Scott

19 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for The Martian, Blade Runner▶ 7:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Antoine Fuqua

9 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for The Magnificent Seven, The Equalizer▶ 23:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Mann

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans▶ 2:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sean Penn

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Mystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking▶ 43:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Woody Allen

4 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Annie Hall, Deconstructing Harry▶ 1:02:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Spike Lee

3 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons · Known for Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It▶ 13:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dan Winters

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for 101 Dalmatians▶ 19:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Iyi Tubi

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Ex Machina, World War Z▶ 21:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kevin Garnett

2 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Uncut Gems▶ 1:24:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Peter Berg

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Last Seduction, Very Bad Things▶ 38:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Quentin Tarantino

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, From Dusk Till Dawn▶ 2:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ron Howard

2 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons · Known for A Beautiful Mind▶ 29:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (79)

Denzel Washington

73 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 7:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Russell Crowe

24 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind▶ 9:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Josh Brolin

23 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan · Known for No Country for Old Men▶ 5:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Ortiz

13 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Silver Linings Playbook, American Gangster, Miami Vice▶ 37:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Cruise

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Top Gun, Minority Report▶ 22:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ray Liotta

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Goodfellas, Field of Dreams▶ 1:27:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Idris Elba

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Van Lathan▶ 16:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jay Pharoah

6 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 9:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jessica Alba

6 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Fantastic Four, Sin City▶ 19:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Joe Morton

6 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons · Known for Terminator 2: Judgment Day▶ 1:24:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cuba Gooding Jr.

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Jerry Maguire▶ 36:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Magic Johnson

4 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Brown Sugar▶ 1:02:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (7)

Terry George

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Chris Ryan · Known for Hotel Rwanda, In the Name of the Father▶ 17:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Aaron Sorkin

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for A Few Good Men▶ 2:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

August Wilson

1 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 26:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Brian Grazer

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13▶ 1:39:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Brian Koppelman

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Runaway Jury, Runner Runner, Michael Clayton▶ 1:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Judd Apatow

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The King of Staten Island, Knocked Up▶ 2:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 49:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (2)

Adam Macbeth

2 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 26:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bet Rourich

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:39:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗