That Championship Season (1999) (TV)

Director:

Paul Sorvino

Writers (WGA):

Jason Miller (play)
Jason Miller (teleplay)

Release Date:

6 June 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Four former high school basketball champions and their coach come together annually to celebrate the...

Plot Keywords:

Pulitzer Prize Source | Remake | Based On Play

Cast

Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Phil Romano
Terry Kinney	...	James Daly
Tony Shalhoub	...	George Sitkowski
Gary Sinise	...	Tom Daley
Paul Sorvino	...	Coach
Joe Bays	...	Cop
Susan M. Carr	...	Helen
Denise Kaye	...	Marion
Carol Lawrence	...	Claire's Mother
Jerri Manthey	...	Claire (as Jerri Lynn London)
Nicolas Risher	...	James, Jr.
Jeff Rogers	...	Hammond Basketball Player
Bill Sorvino	...	Clerk
Frank Lozano	...	Game Announcer (as Frank Rodriguez)
Louis L. Weiss	...	Old Violin Player
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Raja Collins	...	Basketball player (uncredited)
Gailard Sartain	...	High School Principal (uncredited)

Directed by
Paul Sorvino

Writing credits (WGA)
Jason Miller		(play)
Jason Miller		(teleplay)

Produced by
Steve Greener	....	producer
Jeremiah Samuels	....	co-producer
Gary Sinise	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Larry Blank

Cinematography by
Bruce Surtees

Film Editing by
Leo Trombetta

Casting by
Mary Jo Slater

Production Design by
John DeCuir Jr.

Set Decoration by
Ellen Brill

Costume Design by
Theadora Van Runkle

Makeup Department
Emjay Olson	....	hair department head
James Ryder	....	makeup artist: Vincent D'Onofrio

Production Management
Conrad Hool	....	production manager
Mel Swope	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
J. Tom Archuleta	....	first assistant director
Kevin Duncan	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Ron Churchman	....	propmaker foreman
Steven E. Eyrse	....	head painter
Steven E. Eyrse	....	scenic artist
Robert A. Maisto	....	construction coordinator (as Bobby Maisto)
Michael Kocurek	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Douglas Machala	....	set dresser (uncredited)
George Maya	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Cormac Funge	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Hertlein	....	dialogue editor
Thomas Jones	....	adr supervisor
David Kelson	....	production sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Michelle Crenshaw	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Anthony M. Gutierrez	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Jason Rothkowitz	....	second assistant camera
Rick Tucker	....	key grip
Sean Higgins	....	dimmer board operator (uncredited)
David D. Scott	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
Suzanne Surtees	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Katina Le Kerr	....	costume supervisor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Duke Foster	....	transportation coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Lynnet Price	....	assistant coordinator
Marty Elfalan	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Peter Friedlander	....	assistant: Gary Sinise (uncredited)
Ken Struck	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
David Thornsberry	....	location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• MGM/UA Home Entertainment
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Riverside Community College Marching Band  special thanks

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language including some sex-related dialogue

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:R

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "That Championship Season" by Jason Miller opened at the Booth Theater in New York on September 14, 1972, ran for 700 performances and won the 1973 Tony Award for the Bes Play and the Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 1973.

Movie Connections:

Version of That Championship Season (1982)

Worth a Watch

This movie is based on a play, and is the second adaptation of this work. Paul Sorvino plays the basketball coach of a team of players that against all odds took home the championship 20 years ago. They have all met for a reunion. Terry Kinney plays James, a Junior High principal, and will quickly get on your nerves with all his whining and feel sorry for me role. Vincent D'Onofrio, as Phil, plays an obnoxious businessman with just the right amount of "money" cockiness. Tony Shalhoub is George, the current Mayor of the town, and appears to be on the verge of some sort of breakdown. Gary Sinise plays Tom, a writer, turned alcoholic, and in my opinion, is excellent in the role. While they are all suppose to be celebrating their championship, conflicts, jealousy, and fighting abound. As the men come to terms with what was, and is now, they are forced to look at their lives in a non-pleasant way. It's unusual to have a group of men talking and crying about what could have been, and I found it interesting watching them relate to each other. It's not the best movie I've seen, but it's certainly good enough for a viewing.