The Substitute (1996)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Robert Mandel

Writers (WGA):

Roy Frumkes (written by) &
Rocco Simonelli (written by) ...

Release Date:

19 April 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

He has a lesson to teach. And nobody's going to have a problem with it.

Plot:

After a botched mission in Cuba, professional mercenary Shale and his crew Joey Six, Hollan, Rem, and Wellman head home to Miami...

Plot Keywords:

School | High School | Drugs | Substitute | Gang

Cast

Tom Berenger	...	Jonathan Shale
Raymond Cruz	...	Joey Six
William Forsythe	...	Hollan
Luis Guzmán	...	Rem
Richard Brooks	...	Wellman
Ana Azcuy	...	TV Announcer
Diane Venora	...	Jane Hetzko
Glenn Plummer	...	Mr. Darrell Sherman
Sharron Corley	...	Jerome Brown
Vincent Laresca	...	Rodriguez
Maurice Compte	...	Tay
Marc Anthony	...	Juan Lacas
Ernie Hudson	...	Principal Claude Rolle
Beau Weaver	...	Janus Showreel Narrator
Cliff De Young	...	Matt Wolfson

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:R | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Germany:18 | Iceland:16 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Company:

Dinamo Entertainment

Trivia:

The movie was shot during the summer months and kids enrolled in summer classes were extras on the film. Free Papa John's pizza was served to anyone who would stay after school.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the Jai Alai court when the rival merc is trying to hit Shale, the pelota (jai alai ball) falls out of the cesta on his wind up, but the it is still thrown.

Quotes:

Jerome Brown: Yo, Mr. Smiph, you lose any homeboys?
Shale: Yeah Jerome, I lost a few homeboys.

Movie Connections:

References "Candid Camera" (1948)

Possibly the Best Film of All Time?

Maybe, maybe not. But as far as the action flick genre is concerned this might just rank up there as at least one of the best. Sorry FT. Berenger gives the performance of his life here as a mercenary who goes undercover as a teacher at a school run by drug dealing thugs. Additional kudos go to Ernie Hudson who gives a riveting performance as the high school principal on the brink. Even J Lo's present squeeze Marc Anthony gets into the act as the surly gang leading nemisis to Berenger's good guy portrayal. Director Robert Mandel of School Ties fame does a phenomenal job tying up all the loose ends presented throughout Roy Frumkes and Rocco Simonelli's brilliant screenplay and treating the viewer to a climax that is both intensely shocking as well as entertaining. The beach scene where Berenger's girlfriend played by the lovely Diane Verona a perfect example of why this movie is a real standout. Verona is first seen jogging along the beach while the viewer is treated to the soundtrack's Mongo Jerry's "In the Summertime". Then out of the blue, in broad daylight, in front of dozen's of onlookers, a thug runs up and whacks her knee with a lead pipe ala Nancy Kerigan's Olympic ordeal. Tom Berenger then comes (out of the blue) to her aid and carries her off to the hospital. My only complaint was that were not more scenes in the movie like this one.