The Rewatchables – ‘American Gangster’

Podcast: The Rewatchables | Host: Bill Simmons
Episode: 'American Gangster' With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan
Date: September 2, 2025

Overview

This milestone 400th episode of The Rewatchables dives deep into Ridley Scott’s gritty 2007 crime epic, American Gangster, starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan (CR), and Van Lathan reflect on the film’s legacy, its dense storytelling, behind-the-scenes drama, and the lasting allure of its characters and the era it depicts. The wide-ranging discussion touches on everything from the film’s place in the gangster genre and the performances of its stellar cast, to the cultural and historical contexts it navigates.

Main Themes & Purpose

• Celebrate American Gangster as the landmark 400th Rewatchables movie.
• Examine its strengths, flaws, and enduring rewatchability.
• Explore its production history, cast, and mythical elements.
• Discuss its place in the pantheon of crime epics and Denzel Washington’s legendary run.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why ‘American Gangster’? [05:37]

• Chosen by CR for its “groundswell” resurgence thanks to streaming suggestions and YouTube scenes.
• Bill notes the movie's density: “There's five fucking movies in here. And when you saw it the first time, you're just like—it's like being overfed at Thanksgiving.” [12:55]

2. First Impressions & Changing Attitudes [06:01, 10:22]

• Bill: “I saw it in the theater…I remember being exhilarated and disappointed. And then over the years, it's kind of grown.”
• CR likens the expectation to Miami Vice: “You're watching it and you're like, I want this to be Godfather. But…it's a different kind of movie.” [09:38]
• Over time, it’s become a “fun hang” of great scenes, rather than a tightly focused narrative.

3. What Makes the Movie Work? [07:16, 13:59]

• 1970s New York setting, blending various classic crime genres: “It's like if CR typed into ChatGPT, make me a movie combining French Connection, Scarface, Goodfellas, Heat, Serpico, Black Caesar, and Godfather 2. And ChatGPT was like, here it is. Oh, put Denzel Washington in it.” [07:08]
• Incredible cast: “One of the best casts assembled in the century.” (CR) [07:16]
• Memorable scenes over plot cohesion—a collection of “Best of Will Ferrell” SNL sketches.

4. Denzel, Crowe, and the Central Dynamic [13:24, 26:05]

• Denzel’s Performance:
  • On the Denzel “dialed up” scale: “He's like a six in this movie...he’s playing this pretty cool for the most part.” (Bill) [13:36]
  • “He is always one step away from violence.” (CR) [14:19]
• Debate over focus:
  • Should the film have tightened on Frank Lucas (Denzel) vs. Richie Roberts (Crowe)?
  • “The movie really should have been a Frank Lucas movie.” (Bill) [11:44]

5. The Film’s Structure & Genre Issues [08:14, 17:44]

• Overstuffed with subplots and genre elements—“there are five movies in here.”
• Trupo (Josh Brolin) and his corrupt cop squad could have been a film on their own.
• The abrupt ending and odd narrative shortcuts leave some arcs underdeveloped.

6. Cultural Context & Production Lore [08:23, 37:17]

• The film’s backstory is filled with Hollywood drama: directors shuffled (Fuqua, Fincher, De Palma, Peter Berg), casting pivots (Benicio Del Toro, Will Smith, Don Cheadle considered).
• Denzel’s first $20 million paycheck, Jay-Z’s themed album—indicators of the project’s pop cultural cachet.
• The initial “Black Godfather” reputation.

7. Denzel’s Run & Crowe’s Era [23:06, 29:03]

• Bill runs through Denzel’s 2000–2007 consecutive hits: “10 movies in a row over the span of eight years that you could just take on a desert island and be probably okay with.” [23:58]
• Russell Crowe’s career peak in the 2000s—string of high-profile movies culminating in American Gangster.
• Josh Brolin’s late-blooming success (“the era of Josh Brolin”).

8. Accuracy vs. Myth-Making [83:03, 116:09]

• Historical liberties: “A federal judge…said the film was 1% reality and 99% Hollywood.” (Bill)
• The “myth of Frank Lucas” obscures reality, fueling both the film’s entertainment value and later Oscar-campaign sabotage.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Movie’s Structure

"There's five fucking movies in here. And when you saw it the first time…it’s like being overfed at Thanksgiving."
— Bill Simmons [12:55]

On Denzel’s Performance

"He's like a six in this movie. There’s just a couple scenes…the piano scene where he just fucking brings it. But other than that, he's playing this pretty cool for the most part."
— Bill Simmons [13:59]

"Yet at the same time, he is always one step away from violence."
— Chris Ryan [14:19]

On the Overstuffed Cast

“This is one of the best casts assembled in the century…where do you stop?”
— Chris Ryan [07:16]

On the Production Hell

“The lore leading up to it, the rumors of the production, Denzel getting paid. The movie's going. Then the movie's not going. Fuqua's on the movie. Then Scott comes on the movie and changes the movie…years of it being kicked around.”
— Chris Ryan [08:23]

On What Aged the Best

“Every scene that Denzel is in, he's giving something crazy.”
— Van Lathan [119:05]

“Anytime a movie has a character named Bumpy, I’m probably feeling good about where we’re going.”
— Bill Simmons [70:29]

On Its Rewatchability

“This is a movie you can jump in at any time. It's almost like you don't even know where the movie starts or ends.”
— Van Lathan [118:49]

On Famous Scenes

“Frank kills Tango. That’s the scene in this movie that lives on. Every great gangster movie has to have a scene, just one scene that lives on throughout the movie. At least one.”
— Chris Ryan [56:33]

Important Timestamps

• Intro and Rewatchables history: 01:15–05:14
• Choice of ‘American Gangster’ for episode 400: 05:25–06:29
• Immediate impressions and expectations: 06:29–10:36
• Debate: whose movie is this—Lucas or Roberts?: 11:17–11:56
• Denzel’s portrayal and signature scenes: 13:18–15:13
• Complex, "overstuffed" narrative: 12:54–14:55
• Cultural/myth-making context around Frank Lucas and 1970s New York: 17:36–18:17, 53:37–54:20
• Frank shoots Tango scene: 56:20–57:47
• Production history and director changes: 37:17–41:45
• Denzel and Crowe’s career runs: 23:06–29:45
• Debate over Jay-Z’s American Gangster as a 2007 marker: 65:38–66:16
• What aged the best segments: 67:51–76:07
• Historical (in)accuracy and myth-busting: 83:03–83:28, 116:09–116:47
• Final thoughts and ‘Who won the movie?’: 117:55–120:34

Favorite Scenes & Rewatchables Rankings

1. Frank Lucas shoots Tango in the street [56:20]
   • CR: “That’s the scene in this movie that lives on…”
2. Frank’s family arrival in Harlem
3. Frank’s outburst at the party [59:05]
4. Ali-Frazier fight / the infamous chinchilla coat
5. Final Richie-Frank face-off [64:11]
6. Bangkok and Vietnam drug operation sequences
7. Blue Magic drug-lab montage [54:55]
8. Richie finding money in the car with his partner [49:33]
9. Trupo’s car blown up and subsequent threats [72:25]
10. Frank burning his coat after the wedding [15:03]

Noteworthy Deep Dives

• Production Turmoil: Studio panic, multiple directors, and massive pay-or-play deals for Denzel and Benicio Del Toro (who never even shot a frame).
• Cast Trivia: Four Oscar winners—Denzel, Crowe, Common, Cuba Gooding Jr.—plus a who’s-who of “that guy” all-stars (John Ortiz, Richie Coster, Armand Assante, etc).
• Jay-Z’s Inspired Album: The film’s impact on pop culture and hip-hop legacy.
• Location Authenticity: Recreating 1970s Harlem and the logistics of era-accurate set design.

What Aged Best/Worst

Aged Best

• Denzel’s “cool, calculated” performance.
• Immersive period set design and art direction.
• Frank Lucas’ subtle, explosive violence and code.
• The pulpy, scene-by-scene rewatchability.

Aged Worst

• Wild historical inaccuracies: “1% reality, 99% Hollywood” [83:03]
• Overstuffed subplots (e.g., Richie’s custody arc) that bog the film down.
• Fake Ali, Frazier, and Wilt Chamberlain at the iconic boxing match.
• Some performances (e.g., Armand Assante as a Mafia boss) questioned by the hosts.

Nitpicks, Memes & Hot Takes

• Why didn’t Frank take his franchise “national” with his drug supply advantage?
• Calls for Michael Mann or even De Palma/Fincher to have directed instead.
  • “This would have been Michael Mann’s second greatest movie behind Heat. I just think he crushes this movie.” (Bill) [93:20]
• Denzel’s performance as the origin for modern Denzel impersonations (“my man!”).
• Best double feature: Blow or French Connection.
• Who REALLY won the movie? Unanimous: Denzel.

Closing Thoughts

Fun, fast-paced, overstuffed with characters and threads—American Gangster may sprawl too wide to be a true modern classic, but its moments and performances have solidified its cult status. The episode is a celebration of excess—fittingly for a 400th installment—and a testament to the movie’s enduring “rewatchability,” anchored by Denzel’s indelible performance and the ongoing debate about what the film could’ve been.

For Further Viewing/Listening

• The Rewatchables archive: The Ringer – The Rewatchables
• Jay-Z’s American Gangster (album)
• French Connection, Blow, Heat, Carlito’s Way, Public Enemies

Hosts’ Contact

• Bill Simmons: @BillSimmons
• Chris Ryan: @ChrisRyan77
• Van Lathan: @VanLathan