IMDb > The Substitute (1996)
The Substitute
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The Substitute (1996) More at IMDbPro »

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The Substitute (1996) -- Open-ended Trailer from Artisan

Overview

User Rating:
5.4/10   4,380 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Robert Mandel
Writers (WGA):
Roy Frumkes (written by) &
Rocco Simonelli (written by) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Substitute on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
19 April 1996 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller more
Tagline:
He has a lesson to teach. And nobody's going to have a problem with it. more
Plot:
After a botched mission in Cuba, professional mercenary Shale and his crew Joey Six, Hollan, Rem, and Wellman head home to Miami... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
NewsDesk:
(6 articles)
Roy Frumkes Talks Street Trash 3
 (From HorrorYearbook. 15 October 2009, 11:04 AM, PDT)

[DVD News] - "Slime City" Grindhouse Collection
 (From OhMyGore. 1 May 2009, 2:28 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Possibly the Best Film of All Time? more (43 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for strong violence, language and brief nudity.
Runtime:
114 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby

Fun Stuff

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. more
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. more
Quotes:
Jerome Brown: Yo, Mr. Smiph, you lose any homeboys?
Shale: Yeah Jerome, I lost a few homeboys.
more
Movie Connections:
References "Candid Camera" (1948) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful.
Possibly the Best Film of All Time?, 20 November 2004
Author: Will Fister from Moline, IL

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.

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