Matt Dillon reportedly wanted the part but was judged too famous; his version would be more conventional or popcorn-oriented, and Cruise would also change the movie.
Rosenthal reportedly rejected Dillon because My Bodyguard had covered similar ground and his movie-star recognition could prevent viewers seeing only Mick.

Rating not yet verified

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 00:24:18Read transcript

Ebert admired the performances and unromanticized gang world but believed the inevitable showdown prevented greatness; the hosts disagree with his objection to the ending. No numerical rating or scale is spoken in this passage.
Ebert predicted important careers for Penn, Morales and Rosenthal, with potential for supporting actors as well.

Paco placement; conspicuous drugs; soda weapons/branding; escape penalty; crime films; unlocked doors

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 00:34:21Read transcript

Paco’s arrival is nominated, but pairing him with Viking is criticized as an obvious administrative failure given both men’s hostility to Mick.
Paco’s crew openly carrying a conspicuous drug suitcase through downtown Chicago is criticized.
A soda machine in detention is questioned because cans can become weapons; the generic cans used in the beating prompt speculation that RC Cola permitted its machine but not branded violence.
Mick’s escape seemingly adding no time to his sentence is questioned, along with the consequences for Horowitz’s office assault.
Showing juvenile inmates old crime movies and leaving cell doors unlocked are criticized.
The lack of a safer placement for Paco remains a nitpick.
Weapons hidden under radiators and Horowitz openly repairing electronics expose weak searches and limited investigation.

Gurry’s second career; ankle injury; Cagney premise; teeth; photographs; spit; police; Kiss of Death; Curtis cameo

In the discussion (9)

Approx. transcript time · 00:44:22Read transcript

Gurry reportedly left acting for investment work, explaining his short filmography; the hosts regret losing a potential great character actor.
Penn’s ankle injury during the escape reportedly halted filming for three months.
A producer called Richard Solo in the transcript reportedly requested a modern reform-school story in the Jimmy Cagney tradition from writer Richard Di Lello.
Penn reportedly wanted his teeth filed and capped to look damaged, but his mother intervened.
The opening photographs reportedly depict the actors in real life.
Penn wanted real spitting, while Morales requested oral hygiene precautions.
Penn reportedly accompanied Chicago police to observe street life and was roughed up by an officer who mistook him for a criminal.
The inmates watch Kiss of Death.
Jamie Lee Curtis reportedly has an early street cameo.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 00:59:31Read transcript

Chalamet is rejected as Mick; Jack O’Connell is the recasting choice based on Starred Up, though he may now be too old.

Oz influence; Gurry; Horowitz podcast; sequel; solitary tradeoff; Viking’s injuries

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:08:02Read transcript

The idea that Bad Boys created Oz is rejected; Gurry’s departure from acting remains emotionally puzzling despite the known business career.
Horowitz’s narration-like charisma inspires the idea of giving him a podcast.
Sequel possibilities include Mick finding J.C. gone, renewed conflict with Paco, the two men returning as rehabilitative prison staff or meeting again as older prisoners.
The tradeoff between four weeks in solitary and four additional months is debated, with the longer sentence tentatively preferred after considering isolation without internet access.
Viking’s injuries, possible blindness and recovery after the explosion remain unresolved; his apparent age is jokingly compared with an overgrown youth athlete.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:11:48Read transcript

Double-feature choices are Tuff Turf and The Warriors, contrasting another early-eighties crime coming-of-age story with a more fantastical gang film.

Horowitz wins; stronger after detention arrival

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:14:27Read transcript

The producer explicitly chooses Horowitz as his own winner and wants a spinoff.
The producer found the opening slightly cheesy but became fully engaged by the detention ensemble; trimming the first thirty minutes to twenty is supported.
Penn’s believable roughness is contrasted with more manufactured contemporary leading-man images, with Harrison Ford and Jeff Bridges as comparable older stars.