‘Hardball’ With Bill Simmons and Van Lathan
August 31, 2021 · Hardball (2001) · Comedy · Drama · Sport · 1:22:51
Categories
Casting What-Ifs
Bill Simmons▶ 12:34Keanu Reeves — There's no casting what ifs for this - if Keanu says no, we have no movie
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill Simmons▶ 31:40Multiple 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
Van Lathan▶ 33:40The classroom scene with the book report and the Big Papa crowd singing scene, noting he loves 'corny shit like that'
What's Aged the Best
Bill Simmons▶ 41:35Multiple 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
Van Lathan▶ 41:57Agrees 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
Dion Waiters Award
Bill Simmons▶ 58:18John 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
Van Lathan▶ 58:29John Hawkes — John Hawkes - agreed he's the winner despite being in five scenes, citing the thin cast and few options
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill Simmons▶ 1:01:25Multiple 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
Van Lathan▶ 1:01:59Explains 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
Apex Mountain
Bill Simmons▶ 1:05:05Keanu 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.
Van Lathan▶ 1:05:15Keanu 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.
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:10Multiple 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
Van Lathan▶ 1:07:26Agrees 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
Best Quote
Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:51"No one can kick my ass better than I can" - when Keanu puts his head through a glass window
Van Lathan▶ 1:16:22Agrees 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
Who Won the Movie
Bill Simmons▶ 1:19:57DeWayne Warren — G baby - says he doesn't remember ever giving this category to a fictional character but G baby won the movie
Van Lathan▶ 1:20:00DeWayne Warren — G baby - agrees that G baby is by far the most enduring part of Hardball
Movies Referenced (39)
Directors Referenced (1)
Steven Soderbergh
1 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Traffic▶ 13:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Actors Referenced (22)
Keanu Reeves
71 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for The Matrix, Speed, Point Break▶ 3:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Sammy Sosa
26 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Hardball▶ 42:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Diane Lane
5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Unfaithful, Under the Tuscan Sun▶ 45:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Cody Harbaugh
3 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for 127 Hours▶ 9:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Jennifer Aniston
3 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons · Known for We're the Millers▶ 56:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Sterling Brim
3 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Hardball▶ 40:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Wesley Snipes
3 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons · Known for Blade, New Jack City, Demolition Man▶ 17:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Paul Walker
2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Fast and the Furious, Furious 7, Running Scared▶ 29:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗
The Replacements
2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Say Anything, Jerry Maguire▶ 12:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗
Writers Referenced (2)
Daniel Coyle
1 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Hardball▶ 9:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗