L.A. Confidential
1997 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Sean Fennessey · Andy Greenwald
Aired March 31, 2026
‹ All people
Commando
First Blood
The Bourne Identity
8MM
Gladiator
Gladiator
Gladiator
Collateral
Proof of Life
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
Picking Nits
Healed shoulder wound; Jenny's schooling; uncomfortable father-daughter scenes; unfazed car crash; convenient seaplane pilot; flight attendant flying a seaplane; barefoot hike
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:03Read transcript
- Arnold is shot in the shoulder, offers to fight one-armed, and two minutes later uses both arms as if the wound healed.
- The wound was needed to make the Bennett fight plausible at all, like the end of Gladiator, where Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) will not fight Russell Crowe's character unless he is wounded. — Kyle Brandt
- It is unclear whether Jenny goes to school or whether they are in hiding while still getting ice cream; the house was easy for the killers to find. — Bill Simmons
- The father-daughter opening is uncomfortable, shot like a harlequin romance with kisses on the lips and an 'I love you' sign; he carries her like a small child at the end. — Kyle Brandt
- Rae Dawn Chong's character is not upset enough when her British sports car is wrecked, and nobody is hurt in the crash. — Bill Simmons
- They conveniently find a seaplane she can fly, and she seemingly naps through the shootout. — Bill Simmons
- The seaplane base guarded by Uzi fire is in L.A., and a flight attendant trained only on a Cessna flying a seaplane is doubted. — Bill Simmons
- Why the villains did not kill the daughter once Arnold escaped is raised, then withdrawn after it is explained that they learn of the escape late; the host likens missing it to Tom Brady missing a read.
- In the opening, Arnold carries his barefoot daughter across rocks on a hike. — Shea Serrano
Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake
Ten-episode series with an Iraq veteran; Michael B. Jordan as Rambo; Russell Crowe as Teasle; Kevin Costner as Trautman
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:10:45Read transcript
- A 2021 version could star an Iraq veteran in a small town, working as a short-order cook who snaps early and drifts town to town like Bruce Banner. — Bill Simmons
- For a 2021 First Blood on Netflix, Michael B. Jordan as Rambo is not even a conversation. — Brian Koppelman
- For Teasle, Vin or the Rock would be amazing if they would do it; John Ham is floated then set aside. — Brian Koppelman
- Russell Crowe is the choice for a 50-to-55-year-old Teasle. — Brian Koppelman
- Ben Affleck could also play Teasle if he wanted to. — Brian Koppelman
- Rambo would have to be Black to give it a 2020s layer, since Vietnam and PTSD would not land the same way. — Brian Koppelman
- Charlize Theron as a female Teasle who fought in the first Iraq war is another option. — Brian Koppelman
- Kevin Costner as Troutman, who trained Jordan's Rambo, is a good call. — Brian Koppelman
Casting What-Ifs
Burt Reynolds was attached to an earlier version; Liman later approached Brad Pitt, Russell Crowe, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone, and Sarah Polley before the final casting.
This discussion recalls a choice from an earlier episode.
In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 00:55:36Read transcript
- Universal planned a 1983 version starring Bert Reynolds, but schedule conflicts stalled it. — Chris Ryan
- Doug Liman pursued Brad Pitt, who chose Spy Game instead. — Chris Ryan
- The panel calls Pitt's decision a missed franchise opportunity while acknowledging that his later life and career worked out. — Chris Ryan
- Russell Crowe was approached after Gladiator. — Chris Ryan
- The panel prefers Damon's everyman quality to Crowe's post-Gladiator superhero stature for Bourne. — Chris Ryan
- Arnold Schwarzenegger was approached. — Chris Ryan
- The panel finds Schwarzenegger hard to imagine in the role because of his age. — Chris Ryan
- Tom Cruise declined because he already played Ethan Hunt. — Chris Ryan
- Sylvester Stallone was reportedly considered because the book version of Bourne is older. — Chris Ryan
- Sarah Polley was Liman's preferred female lead, but her career choices favored smaller work and directing over a-list fame. — Chris Ryan
Casting What-Ifs
David Fincher; Russell Crowe; disputed casting rumors
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:11Read transcript
- Fincher is discussed as an initially approached director. One view thinks it would repeat Se7en and The Game; another expects fundamentally different choices and a more lasting sensory impact.
- Crowe is described as an earlier intended lead for a lower-budget version and is preferred by one speaker; Cage’s greater contemporary star power is said to explain the change. — Bill Simmons
- An internet claim that Mark Wahlberg turned down Max California is treated as uncertain; he spends too much time in the gym for the role. — Bill Simmons
- Friedkin, Verhoeven, and Gibson are mentioned as internet rumors whose reliability the panel questions. — Chris Ryan
- Travolta in the lead is proposed as a way to make the film even stranger through overacting. — Van Lathan
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:28:20Read transcript
- Russell Crowe receives two explicit winner choices. — Bill Simmons
- Joaquin Phoenix receives one explicit choice. — Bill Simmons
- Fields of wheat receive a joke choice. — Bill Simmons
Podcast choices
- Speaker not identified
- Russell Crowe
- Speaker not identified
- Russell Crowe
- Bill Simmons
- Fields of wheat
Apex Mountain
Russell Crowe, Connie Nielsen, and touching wheat
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:36Read transcript
- Russell Crowe receives three audible affirmative apex judgments. — Bill Simmons
- Hans Zimmer is proposed for Apex Mountain.
- Connie Nielsen receives an unquestionable affirmative ruling.
- Gladiator movies are disputed against Spartacus on quality and historical impact. — Bill Simmons
- Incest is denied because it peaks later in Game of Thrones. — Bill Simmons
- Touching wheat is jokingly affirmed as an apex, with Gladiator said to take the image fully mainstream. — Chris Ryan
Half-Assed Internet Research
The cost of digitally completing Oliver Reed footage, historical Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, Maximus, and Lucilla, Crowe’s injuries, the Gladiator effect, sequel plans, Nick Cave’s script, and the film’s unusual finality
In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 01:10:19Read transcript
- Digitally completing Oliver Reed footage reportedly cost an extra $3.2 million. — Bill Simmons
- Marcus Aurelius died during the Antonine Plague rather than being murdered by Commodus.
- Historical Commodus fought in arenas, brutalized disabled people, ruled after his father, and was strangled in his bath by the wrestler Narcissus. — Bill Simmons
- Maximus is identified as a fictional character.
- Lucilla was implicated in an assassination plot, exiled, and later executed on her brother’s order. — Bill Simmons
- Russell Crowe accumulated numerous injuries, including finger numbness, Achilles trouble, broken and cracked bones, tendon injuries, and a wound visible on screen.
- The film is credited with a “Gladiator effect” that revived popular interest in classical history and historical epics. — Bill Simmons
- Years of sequel ideas included a Maximus prequel and Lucius sequel.
- Nick Cave wrote an unmade sequel in which Maximus returns from hell, fights through history, and ends as a modern Pentagon general. — Chris Ryan
- The panel notes that a comparable modern action film would likely reserve its hero for sequels, while Gladiator gains power from Maximus dying. — Jason Concepcion
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:05:02Read transcript
- Oliver Reed is selected for his grand, scenery-chewing Proximo speeches. — Bill Simmons
- A research anecdote says Reed took an instant dislike to Crowe and challenged him to a fight. — Bill Simmons
Casting What-Ifs
Reported Maximus possibilities: Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas, Ben Mendelsohn, and Hugh Jackman; Christopher Plummer as Marcus Aurelius (Crowe’s unsuccessful preference)
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:03:37Read transcript
- Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas, Ben Mendelsohn, and Hugh Jackman are mentioned as reported possibilities, with the hosts unsure of the sourcing. — Bill Simmons
- Russell Crowe reportedly pushed for his Insider costar Christopher Plummer as Marcus Aurelius. — Bill Simmons
- Ridley Scott chose Richard Harris after reported back-and-forth. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:27:26Read transcript
- Schreiber takes it from two of three because the movie feels real through him, even though Butler is incredible; the third calls Schreiber the too-cool-for-school alternative pick and gets accused of being testy when not hosting.
- The Butler case: the text that got the holdout to watch was about Butler going for it, nobody else could be sixty to ninety percent as good in the role, Nick Cage and Russell Crowe have sailed, and it is a 98-to-97 call remembered as the Butler movie where he finally came through.
- Analogies close it out: Butler as Devin Booker at thirty-four finally reaching the conference finals versus Schreiber as LeBron James against Detroit, called one of the great Latino actor moments of all time.
Podcast choices
- Speaker not identified
- Pablo Schreiber
- Speaker not identified
- Pablo Schreiber
- Speaker not identified
- Gerard Butler
Casting What-Ifs
Russell Crowe as Vincent; Adam Sandler as Max and Edward Norton in either lead (uncertain); Val Kilmer as Fanning
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:59:35Read transcript
- Mimi Leder and Janusz Kamiński were attached before Crowe’s interest brought Mann to the project; Spike Lee, Scorsese, and Spielberg were also approached. — Bill Simmons
- Crowe would make a different but exciting Vincent, while Sandler would make the movie funnier but might prevent viewers from accepting Max. — Bill Simmons
- Edward Norton was reportedly offered both leads, Colin Farrell Vincent, and Cuba Gooding Jr. Max. — Bill Simmons
- Val Kilmer withdrew from Fanning because of Alexander, leaving the hosts imagining his facial-hair choices and 80-take phone scene. — Bill Simmons
- Dennis Farina was the original Bruce McGill possibility. — Bill Simmons
Who Won the Movie?
Crow (one clear ballot; apparent agreement garbled)
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:08:35Read transcript
- The first clear choice is Crow; an apparently agreeing response is transcribed unassailably crap, so only one ballot is certain. — Bill Simmons
- The performance is called the speaker’s favorite, above Gladiator; Insider is praised and LA Confidential is kept outside a personal top three. — Bill Simmons
- The response emphasizes how completely the actor owns the role. — Chris Ryan
Podcast choices
Displaying discussions 13 - 24 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