Categories & segments

American Gangster The Rewatchables
American Gangster

What’s Aged the Best?

Production design, capitalism themes, Denzel’s new career era, historical texture, and the film’s aphorisms

In the discussion (14)
Approx. transcript time · 01:07:00Read transcript
  • Arthur Max’s layered production design and set dressing have aged well — Chris Ryan
  • The script’s connection between corner-store economics and buying direct from manufacturers has aged well — Chris Ryan
  • The film’s treatment of capitalism as more central than crime has aged well — Chris Ryan
  • The drug-packing montage has aged well
  • The film is identified as the start of Denzel Washington’s self-directed elder-star era — Van Lathan
  • A character named Bumpy is treated as an immediate sign of a compelling gangster story — Bill Simmons
  • The Vietnam addiction and smuggling context is praised as material worthy of more screen time — Chris Ryan
  • Shooting 360 scenes across 180 locations is praised — Bill Simmons
  • Ted Levine’s presence has aged well — Bill Simmons
  • Trupo’s reaction after his car explodes has aged well
  • Frank pouring sugar in his coffee as a bodyguard signal has aged well — Bill Simmons
  • John Ortiz’s run from Miami Vice through Public Enemies is praised — Bill Simmons
  • Five Frank Lucas aphorisms are highlighted as durable lines — Bill Simmons
  • The post-meeting golf aside by Trupo’s crew is praised
American Gangster The Rewatchables
American Gangster

The Slow Ride / Kid Cudi – Pursuit of Happiness Award for Best Needle Drop

Public Enemy’s “Can’t Truss It” at Frank’s release

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:28Read transcript
  • “Across 110th Street” is nominated — Bill Simmons
  • “Amazing Grace” during the mass arrest is nominated — Bill Simmons
  • Public Enemy’s “Can’t Truss It” during Frank’s release is selected — Van Lathan
  • Retroactively adding Jay-Z songs is proposed, then rejected because it would break the period setting
American Gangster The Rewatchables
American Gangster

Did This Movie Need a Random Sports Scene?

Yes; Billy Martin watching Stevie Lucas pitch and an Ali-Frazier round

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:20:53Read transcript
  • Harry Dean Stanton as Billy Martin watching Stevie Lucas pitch is proposed — Chris Ryan
  • An actual round of the Ali-Frazier fight is proposed — Chris Ryan
  • Pickup basketball or golf with the cops are noted as other missing sports possibilities — Chris Ryan
American Gangster The Rewatchables
American Gangster

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

The movie’s extensive historical fabrication

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:47Read transcript
  • Frank Lucas is said to have been less sophisticated than the film portrays — Bill Simmons
  • Richie Roberts’s child and much of his domestic story are described as fabricated — Bill Simmons
  • A federal judge is reported to have called the film one percent reality — Bill Simmons
  • The Golden Triangle and cadaver-smuggling claims are described as disputed or false — Bill Simmons
American Gangster The Rewatchables
American Gangster

What’s Aged the Worst?

Poor athlete doubles, historical inaccuracies, Armand Assante concerns, the title, and an excessively racist prosecutor scene

In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 01:22:56Read transcript
  • The Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier doubles have aged poorly — Bill Simmons
  • The Wilt Chamberlain double is also criticized — Bill Simmons
  • Joe Morton’s stylized mustache is criticized, though the real subject may have worn it
  • Armand Assante playing the Italian mob boss is initially criticized on mistaken ethnicity grounds
  • Research establishing Assante’s Italian and Irish ancestry retracts that objection — Bill Simmons
  • The romance between Frank and Eva is judged underdeveloped — Chris Ryan
  • Blue Magic is proposed as a better title than American Gangster
  • No-knock warrants have aged poorly — Van Lathan
  • The prosecutor’s racist dialogue during the coffin search is criticized as excessive and dramatically crude — Van Lathan
American Gangster The Rewatchables
American Gangster

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Josh Brolin’s post-film career and alternate-director arguments drive three hot takes

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:30:26Read transcript
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