L.A. Confidential
1997 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey · Andy Greenwald
Aired March 31, 2026
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L.A. Confidential
Quiz Show
Jeremiah Johnson
American Gangster
American Gangster
The Saint
In the Line of Fire
Blood Diamond
Margin Call
Panic Room
Focus
Fight Club
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 6
- Movies in this archive
- 7
Rewatchables episodes featuring Russell Crowe’s films
Displaying all 6 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
Who Won the Movie?
Russell Crowe; the writers
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 02:20:36Read transcript
- The opening answer sounds like Curtis Hansen, followed by a name transcribed as Hell, Golland; both identities remain uncertain in this passage. — Chris Ryan
- Crowe is declared the winner for the breakout launching a decade of major stardom. — Sean Fennessey
- The writers are separately favored for shaping the screenplay. — Sean Fennessey
Podcast choices
- Sean Fennessey
- The writers
Recasting Couch
Young Russell Crowe as Dick Goodwin
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:44Read transcript
- Young Russell Crowe was proposed for Goodwin at an early point in his career. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Harrison Ford, Daniel Day-Lewis, Russell Crowe, Brad Pitt, and several current actors are considered by decade.
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:06:44Read transcript
- Harrison Ford is selected for a 1982 version. — Bill Simmons
- Daniel DeLewis is selected for 1992. — Bill Simmons
- Russell Crowe is selected for 2002. — Bill Simmons
- Brad Pitt is selected for 2012 over Damon. — Bill Simmons
- Chris Pratt, Hemsworth, Austin Butler, Michael B. Jordan, Denzel, Ryan Gosling, and Glenn Powell are considered for a current or alternate version. — Bill Simmons
- A British Jeremiah is strongly rejected. — Bill Simmons
Apex Mountain
Sprawling, disjointed gangster films; Lymari Nadal; bad portrayals of 1960s and 1970s athletes; drug-kingpin biopics: yes
In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 01:40:44Read transcript
- Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, and Ridley Scott are rejected as apex choices — Chris Ryan
- Sprawling, disjointed gangster films are assigned an apex — Chris Ryan
- John Ortiz is discussed as near an apex performance — Bill Simmons
- John Hawkes is judged not yet at his apex — Bill Simmons
- Harlem films are rejected, with Mo’ Better Blues preferred — Van Lathan
- Miami Vice is selected for the Golden Triangle on screen — Bill Simmons
- Josh Brolin is rejected because No Country for Old Men released the same year
- Lymari Nadal is assigned her apex as Frank’s wife
- Bad portrayals of 1960s and 1970s athletes are assigned an apex
- Real drug-kingpin biopics are assigned an apex, with Blow and Paid in Full as comparators — Van Lathan
Half-Assed Internet Research
Budget penalties, gifts, real-world family connections, locations, and a Godfather Part III idea
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:38:11Read transcript
- Brian Grazer and Ridley Scott reportedly returned three million dollars after overrunning the budget — Bill Simmons
- The BET series American Gangster is noted as predating the movie — Bill Simmons
- Russell Crowe reportedly gave RZA a mint 1961 Gretsch guitar and they remained friends — Bill Simmons
- Frank Lucas’s real driver is identified as Sean Combs’s father, who was killed when Combs was two — Chris Ryan
- The production used parts of upper Manhattan that could still pass for 1970s New York — Chris Ryan
- Francis Ford Coppola reportedly considered a Frank Lucas-like character for The Godfather Part III — Chris Ryan
What’s Aged the Best?
The volatile, talented on-set personality is nostalgically defended.
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:11:05Read transcript
- A participant misses the difficult-star mystique, comparing Kilmer with Russell Crowe and temperamental musicians; this is an opinion, not endorsement of verified incidents. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Pullman, Baldwin or Mulroney as Al; Ridgely or Hall as president; Washington, Gyllenhaal, Crowe and Larson for a modern version
In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 01:06:30Read transcript
- Redford as Frank opposite Hoffman as Mitch is an imagined All the President’s Men reunion. — Bill Simmons
- Bill Pullman is suggested as Al and receives agreement. — Chris Ryan
- William Baldwin is also suggested as Al. — Chris Ryan
- Robert Ridgely is proposed to make the largely anonymous president more memorable. — Bill Simmons
- Philip Baker Hall is another proposed president. — Bill Simmons
- Dermot Mulroney is proposed instead of Dylan McDermott, though the problem is judged a mismatch between actor and character. — Chris Ryan
- Denzel Washington is proposed for a modern Frank; a fictional disgrace could replace the Kennedy history. — Chris Ryan
- Gyllenhaal is proposed as a modern Mitch. — Chris Ryan
- Gosling is questioned as insufficiently explosive for Mitch. — Chris Ryan
- A Washington–Russell Crowe reunion is floated, with concern about Crowe’s physical suitability. — Bill Simmons
- Brie Larson is proposed for a better role in a modern version. — Bill Simmons
- A more vulnerable, self-deprecating treatment of Washington’s age would be appealing. — Bill Simmons
- Laura Linney is mentioned as another possible casting fit. — Bill Simmons
Casting What-Ifs
Russell Crowe was the other reported possibility for Danny Archer; the film chose Leonardo DiCaprio.
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:58:28Read transcript
- Russell Crowe is the only alternate casting possibility the panel found. — Bill Simmons
- The choice is framed against Crowe’s earlier work with Jennifer Connelly in A Beautiful Mind. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Hanks as Sam (disputed); Crowe; Gandolfini; Hoffman; financing-driven Clooney
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:12:00Read transcript
- The existing cast is initially considered so strong that no obvious replacement comes to mind. — Bill Simmons
- A present-day feature might require a star such as Clooney in the Irons role to obtain financing. — Brian Koppelman
- Hanks as Sam would exploit the audience’s instinct to trust him and his skill at vulnerable human moments, possibly making the moral struggle stronger. — Ryen Russillo
- Hanks’s lack of screen sleaze makes him a disputed Sam replacement; he would handle the dog and speeches well but deliver the salesman’s compromised moments differently. — Brian Koppelman
- An Insider-style, heavier Russell Crowe is an alternative Sam, followed by a joking unnecessary Jersey accent. — Brian Koppelman
- Gandolfini would be an excellent Sam.
- Gandolfini could also play John; a claim he could play almost everyone is corrected to exclude Quinto as well as Seth.
- Philip Seymour Hoffman is another highly praised Sam alternative. — Brian Koppelman
Casting What-Ifs
Nicole Kidman originally played Meg before injury led to Jodie Foster
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:35:59Read transcript
- Nicole Kidman began filming as Meg but aggravated a knee injury and was replaced by Jodie Foster — Chris Ryan
- Fincher is said to have reshaped Meg from Kidman’s more glamorous reading toward Foster’s practical, political portrayal — Bill Simmons
- Foster reportedly became available after Russell Crowe’s injury halted a film she was directing, then her pregnancy complicated this production — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Russell Crowe as McEwen; Ving Rhames as Owens
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:20Read transcript
- Pay Russell Crowe a million to play the crazy Australia car guy McEwen for two scenes, heavier and bearded, around his Noah period. — Bill Simmons
- The confusing dad part might be less confusing with Ving Rames, another Soderbergh connection; one participant expected the dad to turn out to be Rames, though it would make even less sense. — Bill Simmons
- Ving Rames's six-year 90s run is on the short list of forgotten iconic runs. — Bill Simmons
Casting What-Ifs
Matt Damon or Sean Penn as the narrator; Russell Crowe as Tyler; Janeane Garofalo, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon or Courtney Love as Marla; Radiohead score
In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 00:37:10Read transcript
- The studio wanted Matt Damon or Sean Penn for the narrator while Fincher wanted Norton; Norton was also up for The Talented Mr. Ripley, Man on the Moon and Runaway Jury in a casting merry-go-round. — Bill Simmons
- An alternate universe where Damon does Fight Club and Norton does The Talented Mr. Ripley is fun to imagine, though Damon's Ripley is one of his best roles. — Bill Simmons
- Norton and Damon competed for The Rainmaker, Coppola steered Norton to American History X, and Damon has said he was devastated to miss Primal Fear; Scent of a Woman went to Chris O'Donnell. — Chris Ryan
- Damon brings relatability and Norton a cerebral quality; Damon could have played either part, Pitt only Tyler, and Norton not Tyler. — Chris Ryan
- Leo was a little young post-Titanic but this would have been his dream part a few years later; Pitt's casting works because he is who guys daydreamed of being. — Chris Ryan
- David O. Russell was approached to direct and declined; one producer wanted Russell Crowe as Tyler, but senior producer Linson wanted Pitt. — Bill Simmons
- Crowe was about to go on his Gladiator-Insider-Beautiful Mind run and would have crushed the part with an Aussie hooligan authenticity, though Pitt is still preferred. — Bill Simmons
- Fincher's first choice for Marla was Janine Garofalo; she reportedly accepted, then was dropped as not right for the role at Norton's urging, framed as the birth of the behind-the-scenes Norton monster. — Bill Simmons
- Per Variety, Sarah Michelle Geller was sought but was doing Buffy; the studio wanted Reese Witherspoon, whom Fincher thought too young, and then Courtney Love, who was dating Norton, before landing on Bonham Carter. — Bill Simmons
- Marla is said to have Courtney Love meets Joan Crawford energy, leading to a tangent about loving the band's 90s songs. — Bill Simmons
- Fincher wanted Radiohead to score the film; it would have been eerier and more somber than the Dust Brothers' electronic score, not necessarily better, though the movie needs the Dust Brothers' energy. — Chris Ryan
- Norton worked 129 days on the film, over four months. — Bill Simmons
- Julie Louis Dreyfus and Winona Ryder as Marla candidates from the research are doubted as made-up IMDb trivia. — Bill Simmons
Displaying discussions 1 - 12 of 26 in total
Films in the archive
A Beautiful Mind
2001
American Gangster
2007
Gladiator
2000
L.A. Confidential
1997
Proof of Life
2000
The Insider
1999
The Nice Guys
2016