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. — Bill Simmons
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. — Bill Simmons
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. — Bill Simmons
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. — Bill Simmons
Nick Nolte reportedly declined Dennis Peck for Another 48 Hrs.; Gere is considered essential despite a long and questionable list of other purported candidates.
Swap Annabella Sciorra and Nancy Travis: Sciorra's passion and contrast with Peck would strengthen Raymond's marriage story.
Christopher Reeve is an intriguing against-type option; Don Johnson has the right appeal, though his acting range is questioned. Harrison Ford is another preferred alternative.
Denzel Washington could play Peck, but the racial dynamics would make a substantially different movie.
Ryan Gosling is the modern Peck choice, with Murder by Numbers recalled as evidence he can play a villain.
Rocky says Apollo won their private third fight. Bill doubts whether he is sparing the son’s feelings; Van thinks Apollo probably won. The uncertainty remains unresolved. — Bill Simmons
Nitpicks/unanswerable: Adonis’s financial-services job and work history are unclear, and weekend Tijuana boxing seems incompatible with managing clients’ money; Don Johnson is an appealing adviser-name joke.
Unanswerable: would Creed’s breakthrough uplift Philadelphia during poor Eagles and Sixers seasons? His Los Angeles–Philadelphia–Liverpool route is jokingly the reverse of Chris’s family migration.
Unanswerable: why does Rocky’s son not visit during chemotherapy, and did Tone Trump retain or post his photograph with Adonis after their fight? — Bill Simmons
Unanswerable: Adonis as the success of Philadelphia’s Process is a sports joke; Mary Anne’s wealth and his privileged upbringing are discussed without a firm financial answer.
Nitpicks/unanswerable: Adonis’s financial-services job and work history are unclear, and weekend Tijuana boxing seems incompatible with managing clients’ money; Don Johnson is an appealing adviser-name joke.
Nitpick: Donnie’s Godfather impression crosses fictional worlds because Talia Shire appears in both franchises. — Chris Ryan
Nitpicks: Adonis has too little ring experience for this fight, despite a Ngannou comparison. Tijuana matchmaking is questioned; Van describes paid easy opponents as possible, but says he never did it. — Van Lathan
Nitpicks: Rocky’s rapid cancer recovery and international travel, Bianca’s abrupt backstage intimacy, Conlan’s physique and vulnerability, and Donnie’s swollen-eye makeup. — Bill Simmons
Changing Adonis’s maternal surname is challenged, then the objection is withdrawn when both Johnson and Creed are noted on the trunks. — Van Lathan
Conlan’s warm post-fight respect seems abrupt after their hostility, though reconciliation is called common in boxing; the length of his British gun sentence prompts jokes.
The original title is reported as Man of the People.
Roth and Mann reportedly wrote the first draft at the Broadway deli, with the bar-versus-table detail questioned.
Crow could not discuss the events with Wigand because the confidentiality restriction still applied outside court. — Bill Simmons
Wallace reportedly disliked the film; a Mann account describes a hostile Hewitt elevator encounter that turns into criticism of Bergman. — Bill Simmons
Bergman’s Berkeley and Frontline roles are reported, and Pete Hamill is identified as the journalist cameo receiving the leak. — Bill Simmons
Wigand reportedly did not want cigarettes shown, though Middle East smoking is noted; more smoke is argued to suit Pacino and the atmosphere. — Chris Ryan
The effect of smoking imagery is acknowledged while discussing convincing and awkward screen smokers, including television Don Johnson and Goodfellas De Niro. — Chris Ryan
Don Johnson is admired as a plausible Ness, reportedly recommended by Armani and constrained by Miami Vice; the hosts imagine his version smoking. — Bill Simmons
Mickey Rourke reportedly turned down Ness, but his temperament is considered wrong for the film compared with Angel Heart. — Bill Simmons
Bob Hoskins reportedly lost Capone when De Niro accepted; the payment is corrected from $250,000 to $200,000, followed by the joke about other films he could be paid not to appear in. — Bill Simmons
Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones are considered more credible Ness possibilities than a broad Gibson/Keaton list; a Brando Capone offer is mentioned tentatively. The hosts distinguish contemporary reporting from unreliable internet casting lists. — Bill Simmons
Willis is incredible, but the pick is Damon Wayans for a dynamite movie-star performance he never got the chance to repeat. — Chris Ryan
The pick is agreed with: multiple people could have played the Bruce Willis role, including Don Johnson, but nobody else in 1991 could have been Jimmy Dix (Eddie too old, Denzel too established, Wesley Snipes weird, Jamie Fox too early). — Bill Simmons
It was right time, right place for Wayans, who is likable, and it is a bummer he never got better scripts. — Bill Simmons
Tony Scott was considered but rejected because this is not seen as a signature Tony Scott movie and it sounds agonizing to make. — Bill Simmons
In a book about cocaine-era late 80s and 90s movies, this would be a chapter. — Bill Simmons
Chelsea Field could be improved on, with respect to her as Mrs. Scott Bacula, though the part is better as written.
Renee Rousseau is floated for the wife, but the reply is that Chelsea Field wears the toll of the failed marriage and Rousseau would not be dragged down by someone like Joe. — Chris Ryan
A jab about finally doing a Two for the Money pod follows. — Chris Ryan
Treating Renee Russo as vetoed, Don Johnson is proposed for Joe and welcomed, seven years out of Miami Vice. — Bill Simmons
Gibson is argued as a great, wild-eyed Garrison who would better represent Stone's mind, and who later made Conspiracy Theory; another questions casting an Australian. — Sean Fennessey
Harrison Ford doesn't make sense but is a big what-if, with a wish he had more movies like this.
Don Johnson tried hard for Garrison and has post-Miami Vice appeal, but doesn't read smart enough to be the district attorney. — Brian Koppelman
Jeff Bridges would have been amazing; 'Hank' (as transcribed) might work but may be two years too young and too aw-shucks. — Brian Koppelman
Frank Whaley was going to be Oswald, and after the part went to Oldman he was made the imposter.
Willem DeFoe (as transcribed) and John Malkovich turned down the Ferry role; Malkovich in the red wig would have been mind-boggling.
Stone considered Marlon Brando for Mr. X, joked to need SNL monologue-style cue cards.
Origin: Stone met Warner Brothers about a Howard Hughes film, but Warren Beatty had the rights, so JFK was the backup pitch; jokes follow about carrying three pitches and a Doug Collins 1972 Olympics pitch.
