The Godfather Part II
1974 film
Bill Simmons · Sean Fennessey · Chris Ryan · Brian Koppelman
Aired December 17, 2019
‹ All people
True Lies
Slap Shot
The Insider
The Insider
The Insider
The Insider
The Insider
Sea of Love
Sea of Love
Film credit
Al Pacino
Also referred to as Pacino
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 16
- Movies in this archive
- 17
Rewatchables episodes featuring Al Pacino’s films
Displaying episodes 13 - 16 of 16 in total
Mentioned in discussions
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:21:41Read transcript
- Mike Myers is initially said to have been offered the role; later discussion explicitly qualifies the conflicting reports. — Bill Simmons
- Steven Soderbergh reportedly tried to develop the remake before leaving for Out of Sight. — Bill Simmons
- Spielberg reportedly considered directing and producing with Jim Carrey and possibly Al Pacino. — Bill Simmons
- Carrey remained involved after Spielberg departed and contributed ideas before leaving; reports of a Mike Myers offer are explicitly uncertain. — Bill Simmons
- Stiller is judged better for awkward dinner-table humor than the more physical version imagined for Carrey. — Kyle Brandt
- Naomi Watts reportedly initially had Pam’s role and said producers replaced her because they did not find her sexy enough; that explanation is met with disbelief. — Bill Simmons
- Christopher Walken reportedly was the backup if De Niro declined, inviting a Wedding Crashers comparison. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:30:20Read transcript
- Gene Hackman reportedly partnered to adapt the novel and considered directing and playing Lecter or Crawford before withdrawing. — Bill Simmons
- Paul Verhoeven reportedly turned the film down and later expressed regret. — Bill Simmons
- Jonathan Demme reportedly wanted Sean Connery for Lecter, but Connery declined. — Bill Simmons
- Michelle Pfeiffer declined Clarice; the panel prefers Foster because Pfeiffer’s overt glamour would shift the character’s closed, professional center. — Bill Simmons
- Meg Ryan reportedly rejected the material as too gruesome, and Molly Ringwald auditioned but was considered too young. — Bill Simmons
- Ed Harris reportedly declined Jack Crawford because the role was not interesting enough. — Bill Simmons
- Reported Lecter possibilities include Daniel Day-Lewis, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Derek Jacobi, and Forest Whitaker; the panel openly doubts some unsourced casting lists while noting Whitaker publicly discussed auditioning. — Chris Ryan
Half-Assed Internet Research
Horse stunt; model jet; Digital Domain; tango rehearsal; hotel; body count
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 00:33:34Read transcript
- An anecdote says a frightened horse nearly threw Schwarzenegger off the roof and a stuntman saved him; the discussion expressly questions how reliable the story is. — Bill Simmons
- The near-fatal horse stunt anecdote is recalled for research, with explicit skepticism that it has grown exaggerated. — Bill Simmons
- Cameron and effects supervisor John Bruno reportedly planned to place a model plane on a real rooftop for a more convincing action sequence. — Bill Simmons
- Cameron’s founding of Digital Domain during this period is discussed as part of his continued drive to invent new filmmaking technology.
- The ice-tray joke is again traced to Tom Arnold’s divorce story. — Bill Simmons
- The hotel is identified as the Westin Bonaventure. — Bill Simmons
- The body count is reported as ninety, below the initial guesses.
- The discussion reports a $100 million budget, third-place annual box-office finish, and one visual-effects Oscar nomination. Its gross figure is transcribed as “$378 billion,” an apparent scale error retained as uncertain. — Bill Simmons
- Schwarzenegger reportedly rehearsed the tango for six months to match Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman, with the same music used. — Bill Simmons
Casting What-Ifs
Al Pacino for Reggie; Nick Nolte for Ned; Jack Carlson replaced by Dave Hanson.
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:59Read transcript
- Al Pacino wanted Reggie, but Hill chose Newman; the hosts joke about accommodating Pacino's height.
- Jack Carlson's WHA playoff call-up led to Dave Hanson replacing him as a brother and Jerry Houser playing Killer Carlson. — Bill Simmons
- According to the performer playing Johnny Upton, Nick Nolte sought Ned Braden, but former university player Ontkean won the role. The hosts prefer the outcome and Nolte in North Dallas Forty. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:28:26Read transcript
- Pacino is named as the unquestioned personal winner and the name is repeated.
- The agreement praises the performance and his year alongside Any Given Sunday. — Chris Ryan
Podcast choices
- Speaker not identified
- Al Pacino
Apex Mountain
McGill and the golfing henchman: yes
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:53Read transcript
- Bruce McGill is endorsed; Pacino and Crow are rejected, with Gladiator offered for Crow.
- The golfing henchman is endorsed, while Plummer’s peak is placed at The Sound of Music.
- Mann’s ability to finance this film is proposed as an apex, attributed to the success and latitude created by Heat.
The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award
Bruce McGill is the film selection; a later joke gives an overacting award to the hosts’ Pacino impressions.
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:11:05Read transcript
- McGill is called a double winner for the courtroom outburst and possibly a triple winner with the that-guy award.
- The performance is jokingly imagined as pushed beyond Pacino’s Heat outburst, while Mann’s taste for excess is discussed.
- A later joke gives the hosts an overacting award for their Pacino-and-Knicks impressions, not a new film-performance winner.
Half-Assed Internet Research
Writing, source access, hostile reactions, a journalist cameo and the decision to limit smoking
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:04:05Read transcript
- 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
What’s Aged the Best?
Plummer, with Pacino, cinematography, and the production process also praised
In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 00:44:43Read transcript
- Pacino is praised for listening, processing information and guiding conversations naturally while pursuing an objective. — Chris Ryan
- The Godfather2 and Sea of Love are comparison performances; Denzel and theater experience inform discussion of generous screen partners. — Sean Fennessey
- The Pacino–Crow combination is prized, and the movie transcribed as Boyer Raced is recalled as another strong Crow performance.
- The cinematography, Gulf imagery and inner workings of CBS are praised; the same corporate culture is reserved for aged-worst discussion. — Bill Simmons
- Plummer increasingly defines Wallace as the real broadcaster recedes from daily memory; posture, gestures and confidence matter more than a literal impression.
- The controlled smile and sip from a CBS Sports mug are admired details. — Bill Simmons
- The supporting-actor nominees are debated; Plummer deserved inclusion, while his later Beginners win is treated as career recognition and Pacino’s exclusion is criticized.
- The discussion marvels at Plummer’s late-career work and reported 1929 birth, then gives him the category.
- Lindsay Krauss is a later addition, praised as a recognizable actress and part of an unusually normal Pacino marriage. — Chris Ryan
- One speaker considers Plummer better than the supporting Oscar nominees except Jude Law, praising Law’s charisma in the Ripley role, and places Plummer at least in the top five. — Chris Ryan
- Another contribution says they would probably go with Cruise too, preserving this alternative preference separately from the Plummer/Jude Law comparison. — Sean Fennessey
Most Rewatchable Scene
Pacino unleashed, after a preference was revised to the Gulf and Mississippi courtroom
In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 00:34:11Read transcript
- The rainy car conversation and Tylenol story are admired, though the Knicks semifinals wording is criticized.
- The actor-to-actor feeling-out is a Michael Mann strength; the journalist must seduce and push the source while leaving the choice to him.
- The lunch scene makes the confidentiality and litigation obstacle clear through a well-written exposition exchange, eating and moving foreground figures.
- Recognizable supporting faces help track the complicated cast but can also distract. — Chris Ryan
- The Mississippi proceedings and Gulf contemplation are nominated; the later vacation beach image repeats the water motif. — Bill Simmons
- The sale discovery, Wallace siding with Don and early hotel visit reveal corporate pressure and Wallace concern about his legacy. — Sean Fennessey
- The explosive Hewitt confrontation is nominated, with Philip Baker Hall praised as an arch-villain.
- The driving-range intimidation signals real danger, compared with All the President’s Men; the suited golfer has a stronger swing than Crow. — Chris Ryan
- A first hotel-visit preference is revised to the Gulf and Bruce McGill courtroom eruption. — Craig Horlbeck
- The courtroom feels like an emotional turning point, but another preference requires Pacino and favors his explosive confrontation.
- The closing choice is Pacino unleashed; earlier differing preferences remain part of the discussion.
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Yankees-sting legality; cigarette count; Helen’s mother; relationship duration
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:22:24Read transcript
- The legal basis for the Yankees sting and immediate celebratory drinking are questioned. — Chris Ryan
- An informal count finds twelve on-screen Pacino cigarettes, with possible omissions acknowledged. — Bill Simmons
- Helen’s mother’s opinion of the relationship remains uncertain. — Bill Simmons
- The relationship’s likely short duration is questioned.
Apex Mountain
Ellen Barkin; personal-ad murder movies; late-1980s Yankees fans
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:17:27Read transcript
- Pacino is rejected. — Bill Simmons
- Barkin’s late-1980s period receives agreement, with this film narrowly preferred to The Big Easy. — Bill Simmons
- Goodman’s peak is placed later around Roseanne and The Big Lebowski. — Bill Simmons
- Personal-ad dating murder movies receive an affirmative selection.
- The title song is proposed, but its original popularity is raised as a competing peak.
- Pacino characters named Frank are ranked Slade, Serpico, Keller, with mild consideration of Serpico first. — Bill Simmons
- Late-1980s Yankees fans receive an affirmative selection. — Bill Simmons
- Rooker is rejected, with Cliffhanger suggested instead. — Bill Simmons
Displaying discussions 13 - 24 of 137 in total
Films in the archive
The Godfather Part II
1974
The Godfather Part III
1990
The Insider
1999
The Irishman
2019
Two for the Money
2005