Varsity Blues (1999)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Brian Robbins

Writer (WGA):

W. Peter Iliff (written by)

Release Date:

15 January 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Make your own rules.

Plot:

In small-town Texas, high school football is a religion. The head coach is deified, as long as the team...

Plot Keywords:

Texas | High School Football | High School | Vomit | Athletic Scholarship

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 26

3:30 PM

TNT

Cast

James Van Der Beek	...	Jonathon 'Mox' Moxon
Amy Smart	...	Jules Harbor
Jon Voight	...	Coach Bud Kilmer
Paul Walker	...	Lance Harbor
Ron Lester	...	Billy Bob
Scott Caan	...	Charlie Tweeder
Richard Lineback	...	Joe Harbor
Ali Larter	...	Darcy Sears
Tiffany C. Love	...	Collette Harbor
Eliel Swinton	...	Wendell Brown
Thomas F. Duffy	...	Sam Moxon
Jill Parker-Jones	...	Mo Moxon (as Jill Parker Jones)
Tonie Perensky	...	Miss Davis
Joe Pichler	...	Kyle Moxon
Mark Walters	...	Chet McNurty
Brady Coleman	...	Bigelow
James N. Harrell	...	Murray (as James Harrell)
Jesse Plemons	...	Tommy Harbor
Sam Pleasant	...	Mini Mart Cashier
Tim Crowley	...	Coach Bates
Don Cass	...	Young deputy #2
James Michael O'Brien	...	Brett
Mark Robert Ellis	...	Referee (as Robert Ellis)
Robert Lott	...	Middle-aged fan (Class of 1980) (as Robert S. Lott)
Barry Switzer	...	Bronco coach
Mona Lee Fultz	...	Old Miss Logan (as Mona Lee)
Kevin Reid	...	Wilkes
Eric Jungmann	...	Elliot
Laura Olson	...	Teen babe #1
Ryan Allen	...	Teen babe #2
Bristi Havins	...	Cute naked girl
Jon Hyrns	...	Bald guy (as John Hyrns)
Rome Azzaro	...	Young father
Marco Perella	...	Dr. Benton
Doyle Carter	...	Doctor / Field
Tony Frank	...	Clerk
Sue Rock	...	Minnie
Olin Buchanan	...	Reporter
David Williams	...	Coyote player
John Gatins	...	Smiling man
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joe Stevens	...	Young deputy #1
Kelly Atwood	...	Fan in crowd (uncredited)
Stacy Bellew	...	Cheerleader (uncredited)
Al Castellanos	...	Football fan (uncredited)
Sean Corrigan	...	Fan (uncredited)
James Douglas	...	Bronco player (uncredited)
Michelle Fairbanks	...	Student (uncredited)
Jessica Holcomb	...	Cheerleader (uncredited)
Rana Morrison	...	Cheerleader (uncredited)
Romano Reyes	...	Football Player (uncredited)
Mylinda Royer	...	Cheerleader (uncredited)
Keithian Sammons	...	Ball Boy (uncredited)
Brad Schreiber	...	Ellwood football player (uncredited)
David Sharp	...	Coyotes Fan (uncredited)
Andie X	...	Trainer (uncredited)

Directed by
Brian Robbins

Writing credits (WGA)
W. Peter Iliff		(written by)

Produced by
Herb Gains	....	co-producer (as Herbert W. Gains)
David Gale	....	executive producer
Ruben Hostka	....	co-producer
Elysa Koplovitz	....	associate producer
Tova Laiter	....	producer
Brian Robbins	....	producer
Van Toffler	....	executive producer
Michael Tollin	....	producer
Martin Wiley	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Mark Isham

Cinematography by
Chuck Cohen

Film Editing by
Ned Bastille

Casting by
Sarah Finn
Bob Krakower

Production Design by
Jaymes Hinkle

Art Direction by
Keith Donnelly

Set Decoration by
Tad Smalley

Costume Design by
Wendy Chuck

Makeup Department
Catherine Conrad	....	supervising makeup artist
Dino Ganziano	....	hair stylist: Mr. Voight
Bryan Hebert	....	supervising hair stylist
Sharon McDonald	....	assistant hair stylist
Stephen B. Robinson	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Herb Gains	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Fortmuller	....	assistant director
John Gordon	....	additional second assistant director
Franklyn Gottbetter	....	second second assistant director
Vincent Palmo Jr.	....	second assistant director
Albert M. Shapiro	....	assistant director

Art Department
Curtis Akin	....	property master
Steve Allen	....	carpenter
Don L. Carr	....	property person (as Don Carr)
Mark Hanks	....	set dresser
Lawrence Heyman	....	set dresser
Robyn L. Jacobs	....	set dresser (as Robyn Jacobs)
Jim Kanan	....	lead scenic
Karen Luzius	....	lead person
Ana Martinez	....	art department coordinator
David McQuade	....	property person (as Dave McQuade)
James Mize	....	lead foreperson
Robert Tate Nichols	....	foreperson
John Parker	....	set dresser
Steven G. Paulk	....	production painter
Raymond Raymond	....	paint foreperson
Adam Short	....	assistant art director
Robert K. Weinberger	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Mary Andrews	....	supervising adr editor
Bob Baron	....	adr mixer
Noah Blough	....	sound effects editor
Scott Curtis	....	foley editor
Zack Davis	....	adr editor
Jason England	....	assistant dialogue editor
Ronald Eng	....	sound effects editor (as Ron Eng)
Tammy Fearing	....	foley editor
Christopher Flick	....	foley editor
Stan Ginsel	....	sound transfer
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist
Pamela G. Kimber	....	assistant sound editor
Susan Kurtz	....	dialogue editor
Courtenay Marvin	....	assistant sound editor
Sarah Monat	....	foley artist
Frank A. Montaño	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jennifer Murphy	....	sound
Steve Pederson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Perry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer (as Randy K. Singer)
Ron Sistare	....	boom operator
Thomas W. Small	....	supervising foley editor (as Thomas Small)
Beth Sterner	....	supervising sound editor
David E. Stone	....	sound editor
David Williams	....	supervising dialogue editor

Stunts
Jack Cruz	....	stunts
Peter Gardere	....	stunts
Robert Grogan	....	stunts
Christopher Lucas Leaman	....	stunts
Ben Loggins	....	stunts
Clint Small	....	stunts
Russell Towery	....	stunt coordinator
Erik Aude	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Jack Cruz	....	stunt double: Ron Lester (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Roger Basquette	....	video assist operator
Bobby Bastarache	....	electrician
Sarah Bowman	....	film loader: "b" camera
David Brink	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Joe Chess	....	Steadicam operator
Joe Chess	....	camera operator
Scott Fawley	....	best boy grip
Gerrit Garretsen	....	dolly grip
Steven A. Guerrero	....	grip
Adam Harrison	....	electrician
Mark A. Lindsay	....	gaffer (as Mark Lindsay)
Greg Lomas	....	second company rigging grip
Glenn E. Moran	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Glenn Moran)
Rob Morey	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Robert Morey)
P.K. Munson	....	second assistant camera
Darryl Murchison	....	rigging gaffer
Deana Newcomb	....	still photographer
Phil Pastuhov	....	aerial director of photography
Beth Puorro	....	film loader
Maricella Ramirez	....	assistant Steadicam operator
Stephen Ritchey	....	grip
Peter D. Roome	....	additional first assistant camera
Wally Rowell	....	electrician
Ralph Scherer	....	first company grip
Jas. Shelton	....	electrician
Orly 'Sonny' Stires	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Angelo Louis Suasnovar Jr.	....	first company rigging grip (as Angelo Suasnovar)
Ron Vargas	....	first assistant camera

Casting Department
Amy Dawn Anderson	....	casting associate
Barbara Brinkley	....	casting location
Toni Cobb Brock	....	location casting (as Toni Cobb)
Chad Keller	....	casting assistant
Tina Kerr	....	extras casting
Dayna Polehanki	....	casting associate
Deedra Ricketts	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bill Edwards	....	costume supervisor
Jessica Fasman	....	assistant costume designer
Nina Proctor	....	costumer
Caroline Pruet	....	supervising set costumer
Roric Ruegsegger	....	wardrobe technical advisor

Editorial Department
Richard Alderete	....	assistant film editor
Travis G. Rendich	....	apprentice film editor
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Andrew Seklir	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Gary Calamar	....	music supervisor
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Thomas Golubic	....	music coordinator
Stephen Krause	....	scoring mixer
Ken Kugler	....	conductor
Ken Kugler	....	orchestrator
Helena Lea	....	music editor
John Rodd	....	orchestral scoring recordist
G. Marq Roswell	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Dwight Cary	....	transportation co-captain (as Dwight 'Curly' Cary)
David Little	....	transportation co-captain
Lonnie Nelson	....	transportation captain
Phil Schriber	....	transportation coordinator
Russell E. Scott	....	picture cars (uncredited)

Other crew
Natalie Angel	....	production assistant
Michael Barnes	....	financial legal services
Tod Campbell	....	production assistant
Dominic Cancilla	....	assistant production coordinator
Anne Carr	....	additional medic
Jeremie Day	....	assistant: Mr. Tollin
Marie Elder	....	production accountant
Mark Robert Ellis	....	football coordinator
Sara Flamm	....	assistant to producer
Cliff Fleming	....	aerial coordinator
Jay Floyd	....	clearance administrator
Pam Fuller	....	script supervisor (as Pam Fuller Vasquez)
Katy Genovese	....	payroll accountant
Courtney Harrell	....	production assistant
Jonathan Hennessey	....	production assistant
Frank Hinkel	....	production assistant (as J. Frank Hinkel)
Donald R. Howe Jr.	....	production assistant (as Don Howe)
Joey Hudgins	....	production assistant
Kelly Kernan	....	assistant location manager
Tina Kerr	....	crowd promotions
Laura King	....	construction medic
Tamara Klindt	....	production assistant
Ken Lewin	....	location manager
Chris Miller	....	technical services
Linda Mims	....	craft service
Rana Morrison	....	location assistance
Elton Moy	....	craft service
Carla Nowlin	....	production assistant
Scott Perez	....	production assistant
Dan Perri	....	title designer
Bronwyn Preston	....	unit publicist
Josh Price	....	production assistant
Dawn Robinette	....	second assistant accountant
David Rosenblatt	....	production assistant
Momita Sengupta	....	production liaison
Kerri Smeltzer	....	production assistant
Joshua J. Smith	....	production secretary
Miker Stovall	....	production assistant
Sharla Sumpter	....	assistant: Mr. Robbins
Lisa Swain	....	production coordinator
Jeanine Wilson	....	first assistant accountant
Ruhi Zandra	....	production assistant
Catherine Middleton	....	accounting assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Tova Laiter Production
• MTV Films
• Marquee Tollin/Robins
• Paramount Pictures
• Tova Laiter Production (in association with)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox Network (2001) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (laserdisc)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Spain)
• United International Pictures (UIP)
• United International Pictures (Far East)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack
• Sportsrobe  costumes

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language throughout, sexuality and nudity, and some substance abuse.

Runtime:

106 min | Germany:100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-10 | France:U | Germany:12 | Ireland:15 | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Tova Laiter Production

Trivia:

All the beer in the movie, though it appears to be Budweiser, is actually just labeled "Beer". However, in the barbecue scene you can clearly see that the can Lance's father puts on his head is labeled "Lonestar," an actual beer that is popular in Texas.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the opening sequence a radio announcer says kickoff time for the Bingville game is 7:30, however the sign outside the school lists the game time as 7:00

Quotes:

Charlie Tweeder: Jonathan Moxon your are under arrest for not being naked with some sophomore chick who wants to bathe you with her tongue, now take off your clothes and get in the car.

Movie Connections:

References Jack (1996)

Soundtrack:

Disappear

Fairly entertaining, despite all the cliches

Like a number of other reviewers, I though "Varsity Blues" wouldn't amount to much more than "Dawson Plays Football", MTV-style. Well, it's not -- it's actually quite good. It deals fairly realistically with the trials and tribulations of Dawson . . . sorry, Mox (James Van Der Beek), the backup quarterback more interested in "Catcher in the Rye" than in his own playbook, who is forced to become the starter for his team. The movie's filled with cliches: the town obsessed with the football team; the overweight, goofy lineman; the slutty cheerleader with the heart of gold; the arrogant coach; the teacher straight out of an early 80's Van Halen video; etc, etc. Surprisingly, there's enough twisted and wrinkles thrown into these cliches to make the story seem pretty fresh, if not entirely original. You know how the story's going to end, but you're not always sure how it's going to get there, and that's what keeps it interesting.

Van Der Beek is very good, much better that I ever thought I'd give him credit for. Also good: Paul Walker as the original starting quarterback, and Amy Smart as Van Der Beek's smart girlfriend. They played real characters as opposed to stereotypes, and I thought their performances really made the movie. Surprisingly, I thought the weakest link was Jon Voight as the head coach. He was a cardboard villain, no substance to him whatsoever. I kept waiting for the film to explain why he wanted to win so bad, why he'd push his kids with such inhuman cruelty . . . and besides "because he wants to win", an answer was never given. Too bad, although I think this was more the fault of the script than of Mr. Voight.

It's certainly not the best movie ever made -- for that matter, it's not even the best football movie ever made -- but it's still good. It has heart, and most of the performances make this film a cut above most of the "Teen Films" that are out there. A fun rental.

B-