HOST PROFILE

Van Lathan

A transcript-based look at what Van Lathan praised, questioned, and talked about most.

Transcripts identified75

Positive takes226

Critical takes23

Named opinions274

WHO SHOWS UP AROUND THEM

Frequent cohosts and people they praise

Select a face to see what the connection means. Cohost counts come from transcript-identified speakers.Explore every connection

Taste profileVan Lathan

PEOPLE THEY PRAISE

Who gets the most positive mentions

Jamie Lee Curtis4 total mentions · 1 mixed

3 02

Keanu Reeves3 total mentions · 0 mixed

3 03

Omar Epps3 total mentions · 0 mixed

3 04

Samuel L. Jackson4 total mentions · 2 mixed

2 05

Danny Glover3 total mentions · 1 mixed

2 06

Aaron Sorkin2 total mentions · 0 mixed

2 07

Alec Baldwin2 total mentions · 0 mixed

2 08

Arnold Schwarzenegger2 total mentions · 0 mixed

2 09

Delroy Lindo2 total mentions · 0 mixed

2 10

Demi Moore2 total mentions · 0 mixed

A positive mention is a transcript note marked favorable or strongly favorable and tied to Van Lathan.

WHERE THEY PUSH BACK

People drawing mixed or critical comments

Tyra Banks2 total mentions · 0 positive

2 02

Burt Young1 total mention · 0 positive

Courtney B. Vance1 total mention · 0 positive

Courtney B. Vance's principal1 total mention · 0 positive

Dennis Dugan1 total mention · 0 positive

Gretchen Mol / Joe1 total mention · 0 positive

Jeff Bezos1 total mention · 0 positive

Louise1 total mention · 0 positive

This counts comments about a performance or body of work. It is not a personal approval rating.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Representative opinions

Each note links back to the episode where it appeared.

Loved it8MM · 1999

Joaquin Phoenix

Describes Phoenix as a behind-the-eyes actor whose performances suggest hidden damage.

About 24 min into the transcript

Loved it8MM · 1999

Machine

Finds Machine scarier because he is just a normal-looking person who likes hurting people.

About 24 min into the transcript

Loved itAbove the Rim · 1994

Above the Rim

Says it perfectly captured his high-school hoop life and the world he knew.

About 0 min into the transcript

Loved itAbove the Rim · 1994

Birdie

Calls Birdie the best character and wants a spin-off for him.

About 16 min into the transcript

Loved itAbove the Rim · 1994

The soundtrack

Treats the soundtrack as a separate cultural expression, not just a supplement.

About 8 min into the transcript

Loved itAbove the Rim · 1994

New York streetball culture

Says the film nails the atmosphere of outdoor hoops and New York basketball culture.

About 48 min into the transcript

Loved itAbove the Rim · 1994

Soundtrack as best rap soundtrack ever

Strongly implies the soundtrack belongs in the top tier of 90s rap collections.

About 32 min into the transcript

Loved itAli · 2001

Muhammad Ali

Argues the movie is about a real man more interesting than the myth.

About 24 min into the transcript

Loved itAmerican Gangster · 2007

Josh Brolin

Sees Brolin as a borderline movie-stealer whose Trupo is perfect at this career stage.

About 8 min into the transcript

Loved itAnother 48 Hrs. · 1990

Cherry Ganz

Argues the villain is so purely psychopathic that the lack of backstory is a virtue.

About 64 min into the transcript

Loved itAnother 48 Hrs. · 1990

48 Hours / Lethal Weapon duo formula

Ranks classic black-white buddy duos and places Riggs/Murtaugh at the top.

About 104 min into the transcript

Loved itAnother 48 Hrs. · 1990

The Warriors

Uses it as a benchmark for tight, highly rewatchable action filmmaking.

About 40 min into the transcript

THEIR SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT

Debates tied to Van Lathan

8MM

Whether the movie is better with or without the Catherine Keener subplot

The family material gives the square detective emotional contrast, even if it is awkward.

8MM

Whether Andrew Kevin Walker’s darker original script would have been better

The added material is unnecessary; the released film is already depraved enough.

8MM

Who wins the movie

Machine or Schumacher could also be argued, but Phoenix is the standout talent.

8MM

Best villain in the movie

Machine is terrifying because he is just an ordinary guy who enjoys cruelty.

A Bronx Tale

Is Sonny a better father figure than Lorenzo?

Sonny may be the better father because he offers opportunity and freedom.

A Bronx Tale

Did the movie borrow too much from Goodfellas?

Yes, especially the bar-introduction energy.

A Bronx Tale

Would a black-cast remake work?

Yes, as a reimagined Bronx tale with a black cast.

Above the Rim

Is Above the Rim the best basketball movie ever?

Yes; he says it may be the best and is definitely his favorite.

ARCHIVE RECORD

Every appearance and movie category

The sections below use the existing episode catalog. The profile above comes only from transcript evidence.

Appearances76

Hanks decisions11

Cruise decisions22

First appearance2020

Every appearance

The Italian Job2003 · Action / Crime · 2026-08-10Cruise Hitch2005 · Romance / Comedy · 2026-07-20Cruise Ali2001 · Sports / Drama · 2026-07-06Hanks Single White Female1992 · Thriller / Erotic · 2026-06-08Cruise Tropic Thunder2008 · Comedy / Action · 2026-05-11Cruise Ghostbusters1984 · Comedy / Action · 2026-04-27Hanks Basic Instinct: Live from SF1992 · Thriller / Mystery · 2026-04-13Cruise Eddie and the Cruisers1983 · Music / Drama · 2026-04-06Cruise Crazy, Stupid, Love2011 · Romance / Comedy · 2026-02-23Cruise Wild Things1998 · Thriller / Erotic · 2026-02-02Tie Another 48 Hrs.1990 · Comedy / Action · 2026-01-21Hanks F12025 · Sports / Drama · 2025-12-22Cruise Rocky II1979 · Sports / Drama · 2025-12-01Cruise Snake Eyes1998 · Thriller / Crime · 2025-11-10Tie Halloween II1981 · Horror / Slasher · 2025-10-27Hanks American Gangster2007 · Crime / Drama · 2025-09-01Hanks Sinners2025 · Horror · 2025-08-17Cruise Species1995 · Sci-fi / Horror · 2025-07-21Cruise Die Hard with a Vengeance1995 · Action / Thriller · 2025-06-23Cruise Heaven Can Wait1978 · Sports / Fantasy · 2025-05-26Hanks Star Wars: A New Hope1977 · Fantasy / Sci-fi · 2025-05-05Cruise Minority Report2002 · Action / Sci-fi · 2025-04-21Cruise Blue Chips1994 · Sports / Drama · 2025-03-24Hanks Rocky1976 · Sports / Drama · 2025-03-03Cruise Crash2004 · Drama / Crime · 2025-02-24Cruise Den of Thieves (Live from L.A.)2018 · Action / Crime · 2025-01-06Hanks Disclosure1994 · Thriller / Mystery · 2024-12-09Cruise The Replacements2000 · Sports / Comedy · 2024-11-18Cruise Halloween 41988 · Horror · 2024-10-28Cruise Poltergeist1982 · Horror · 2024-10-07Hanks True Lies1994 · Comedy / Action · 2024-07-15Cruise Twister1996 · Action / Adventure · 2024-07-09Hanks The Bad News Bears1976 · Family / Comedy · 2024-06-25Hanks The Longest Yard1974 · Comedy / Sports · 2024-06-18Cruise Jerry Maguire1996 · Romance / Sports · 2024-05-13Cruise Internal Affairs1990 · Thriller / Crime · 2024-03-19OPEN Rounders (Live from New York)1998 · Crime / Sports · 2024-02-27OPEN Creed (Live from Philadelphia)2015 · Drama / Sports · 2024-02-20OPEN Flight2012 · Drama · 2024-01-09OPEN Searching for Bobby Fischer1993 · Sports / Drama · 2024-01-02OPEN National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation1989 · Comedy / Christmas · 2023-12-19OPEN Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves1991 · Drama / Adventure · 2023-11-07OPEN A Bronx Tale2003 · Crime / Drama · 2023-09-19OPEN National Lampoon’s Vacation1983 · Comedy / Adventure · 2023-08-08OPEN The Devil's Advocate1997 · Thriller / Horror · 2023-07-25OPEN Trading Places1983 · Comedy · 2023-05-16OPEN Iron Man2008 · Action / Sci-fi · 2023-05-02OPEN He Got Game1998 · Drama / Sports · 2023-04-04OPEN Big1988 · Comedy / Drama · 2023-01-24OPEN I Am Legend2007 · Sci-fi / Action · 2022-12-20OPEN Planes, Trains and Automobiles1987 · Comedy / Buddy · 2022-11-29OPEN The Edge1997 · Adventure / Drama · 2022-10-25OPEN Singles1992 · Romance / Comedy · 2022-09-13OPEN Above The Rim1994 · Drama / Sports · 2022-07-19OPEN Spider-Man (2002)2002 · Action / Fantasy · 2022-04-19OPEN Titanic1997 · Romance / Disaster · 2022-03-15OPEN Parenthood1989 · Comedy / Drama · 2022-02-15OPEN Juice1992 · Crime / Drama · 2022-01-11OPEN Ransom1996 · Thriller / Crime · 2021-11-09OPEN Hardball2001 · Sports / Drama · 2021-08-31OPEN The Bodyguard1992 · Romance / Drama · 2021-07-27OPEN Boyz n the Hood1991 · Drama / Crime · 2021-06-29OPEN Lethal Weapon 21989 · Buddy / Crime · 2021-05-11OPEN What About Bob?1991 · Comedy · 2021-05-04OPEN New Jack City1991 · Action / Crime · 2021-03-08OPEN Coming To America1988 · Comedy / Romance · 2021-02-18OPEN Sleeping With The Enemy1991 · Thriller / Mystery · 2021-02-16OPEN Terminator 21991 · Action / Sci-fi · 2021-01-26OPEN Mr. Holland's Opus1995 · Drama / Music · 2020-12-29OPEN 8MM1999 · Thriller / Mystery · 2020-11-24OPEN The American President1995 · Romance / Drama · 2020-11-03OPEN The Martian2015 · Sci-fi / Adventure · 2020-10-13OPEN Dangerous Minds1995 · Drama / Teen · 2020-09-03OPEN Bad Boys1995 · Buddy Cop / Action · 2020-08-13OPEN Boomerang1992 · Romance / Comedy · 2020-05-26OPEN Higher Learning1995 · Drama / Romance · 2020-02-19OPEN