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American Gangster
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Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 3
- Movies in this archive
- 5
Rewatchables episodes featuring Francis Ford Coppola’s films
The Godfather Part II
1974 film
Bill Simmons · Sean Fennessey · Chris Ryan · Brian Koppelman
Aired December 17, 2019
Displaying all 3 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
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
Just One Oscar
Ridley Scott (directing)
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:40:07Read transcript
- Ridley Scott for directing is the extra-Oscar choice; the panel compares the 1979 directing nominees and argues Alien belongs among the retrospective five.
- The directing nominees are enumerated as Robert Benton for Kramer vs. Kramer, Bob Fosse for All That Jazz, Francis Ford Coppola for Apocalypse Now, Peter Yates for Breaking Away and Édouard Molinaro for La Cage aux Folles; the Best Picture nominees instead include Norma Rae in place of La Cage aux Folles.
Half-Assed Internet Research
Injuries, locations, history, effects, and production accounts
In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 01:05:09Read transcript
- Anne Ramsay reportedly broke her nose, while other cast members sustained bruises, damaged skin, broken fingers, and a broken foot during baseball work. — Bill Simmons
- Wrigley Field, League Stadium in Huntingburg, and Evansville supplied the tryout, home, and championship locations. — Bill Simmons
- Madonna's song was excluded from the soundtrack for contractual reasons, and Lori Petty described the period uniform as difficult to play in. — Bill Simmons
- Several cast members reportedly shared a house, socialized together, and received wine from Francis Ford Coppola. — Bill Simmons
- Petty reportedly hit the home run herself, ran the bases repeatedly, and became sick after the final take. — Bill Simmons
- The real league began under Philip Wrigley as softball; the film's switch to baseball is endorsed. — Bill Simmons
- Jimmy Dugan is described as drawing principally from Jimmie Foxx, with Hack Wilson also mentioned. — Mallory Rubin
- A stunt double performed the split catch, Penny Marshall created the urination effect, and Tom Hanks gained weight for the role. — Bill Simmons
- Madonna was moved from third base to the outfield because she struggled with ground balls. — Bill Simmons
- Brenda Feigen accused Penny Marshall of taking the project from her. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 02:29:35Read transcript
- Coppola, as with the first film, confirmed as one of the ten most important filmmakers. — Brian Koppelman
- De Niro announced himself as the next major movie star, doing it all in Italian. — Brian Koppelman
- Lee Strasberg, a teacher who had not performed, lays down a performance that never seems overmatched next to Pacino, like Brad Stevens climbing onto the court. — Brian Koppelman
- Pacino, called the greatest performance ever seen and the first thing thought of with this movie. — Bill Simmons
- A tangent asks whether Pacino resented De Niro becoming Brando's heir, comparing their later careers. — Sean Fennessey
- A zag picks Cazale and Duvall as the soul of the movie. — Chris Ryan
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:58:10Read transcript
- Coppola is selected for turning a trashy novel into landmark American cinema and setting a new course for filmmakers.
- Al Pacino is the strongest acting alternative.
- Gordon Willis is briefly considered before the speaker settles on Coppola rather than get “too cute”. — Bill Simmons
- Robert Evans is nominated for enabling the production. — Bill Simmons
- Marlon Brando is considered and rejected as the winner. — Sean Fennessey
- Robert Duvall is nominated during the extended closing discussion.
Displaying all 5 discussions
Films in the archive
Apocalypse Now
1979
The Conversation
1974
The Godfather
1972
The Godfather Part II
1974
The Godfather Part III
1990