To Live and Die in L.A. poster
To Live and Die in L.A.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Petersen as a major star; Petersen and Johnson swapping paths; leaner Heat; better than The French Connection

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:21:37Read transcript
  • A hottest take argues Petersen was only a few choices from major stardom; reported rejections of Goodfellas, Heat and Platoon are discussed with uncertainty about particular roles and his preference for other work.
  • Costner roles such as Bull Durham, Field of Dreams and No Way Out are imagined for Petersen, emphasizing physical presence, sports credibility and sex appeal.
  • A hottest take imagines Petersen and Don Johnson swapping their 1984 career paths, with Costner’s choices as the model of successful movie-star escalation.
  • Other hottest takes describe the film as Heat without supporting-story fat and as better or more rewatchable than The French Connection; the earlier Petersen-stardom take is recalled.