Play It to the Bone (1999)

Director:

Ron Shelton

Writer (WGA):

Ron Shelton (written by)

Release Date:

21 January 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Two best friends take a shot at hitting it big.

Plot:

Two best friends and former boxers travel to Las Vegas to fight for the first time.

Plot Keywords:

Friendship | Boxer | Cleavage | Sunglasses | Jumprope

Cast

Antonio Banderas	...	Cesar Dominguez
Woody Harrelson	...	Vince Boudreau
Lolita Davidovich	...	Grace Pasic
Tom Sizemore	...	Joe Domino
Lucy Liu	...	Lia
Robert Wagner	...	Hank Goody
Richard Masur	...	Artie
Willie Garson	...	Cappie Caplan
Cylk Cozart	...	Rudy
Jack Carter	...	Dante Solomon
Aida Turturro	...	Mad Greek Waitress
Louie Leonardo	...	Freddy Green
Slade Barnett	...	Vegas Cop
Cameron Milzer	...	Vegas Paramedic
Julio García	...	Chiquito Rosario
Johnny Ortiz	...	Gym Owner
Jordy Oakland	...	Julie
William Utay	...	Sal (as Will Utay)
Joseph Arsenault	...	Bobby
Fred Lewis	...	Vegas Lawyer
Maurice Singer	...	Vegas Lawyer
Robert Sale	...	Robert Velario
Joe Cortez	...	Garden Referee
Bruce Buffer	...	Garden Ring Announcer
Teddy Atlas	...	Cesar's Garden Trainer
Dana Lee	...	Man with Ferrari
Rob Ingersoll	...	Jesus
Robby Robinson	...	Skeeter Lewis
Mitch Halpern	...	Vince's Big Fight Referee
Chuck Hull	...	Vince's Big Fight Ring Announcer
Jim Lampley	...	Jim Lampley - HBO Commentator
Al Bernstein	...	Sportswriter
Reynaldo Rey	...	Sportswriter
Eloy Casados	...	Vince's Trainer
Henry G. Sanders	...	Cesar's Trainer
Vasil Chuck Bodak	...	Cesar's Cutman
Jacob 'Stitch' Duran	...	Vince's Cutman
Al Benner	...	Jesse, Cesar's Cornerman
Pat Barry	...	Lupe, Vince's Cornerman
Steve Lawrence	...	Himself
George Foreman	...	HBO Commentator
Larry Merchant	...	HBO Commentator
Mike Tyson	...	Mike Tyson
Darrell Foster	...	Referee
Michael Buffer	...	Michal Buffer - Ring Announcer
Rod Stewart	...	Rod Stewart
Bill Caplan	...	Dr. Velvil Ginsberg
Marc Ratner	...	Boxing Commissioner
Jane Broadfoot	...	Timekeeper
Carlos Padilla	...	Timekeeper
Debbie Caplan	...	Press Assistant
Elizabeth Caplan	...	Press Assistant
Denise Pernula	...	Ring Card Girl
Verónica Becerra	...	Ring Card Girl (as Veronica Becerra)
Tamara Gilber	...	Fantasy Girl
Fulvia Sánchez	...	Fantasy Girl (as Fulvia Sanchez)
Faye Mangabang	...	Fantasy Girl
Alison Walsh	...	Bartender
Anna Divac	...	Grace's Party Friend (as Ana Divac)
Tom Todoroff	...	Croupier
Kevin Costner	...	Ringside Fan
Wesley Snipes	...	Ringside Fan
James Woods	...	Ringside Fan
Natasha Gregson Wagner	...	Ringside Fan
Drew Carey	...	Ringside Fan
Jennifer Tilly	...	Ringside Fan
Tony Curtis	...	Ringside Fan
Bob Arum	...	Ringside Fan
Lovey Arum	...	Ringside Fan
Angel Manfredy	...	Ringside Fan
Yvette Manfredy	...	Ringeside Fan
Buddy Greco	...	Party Guest
Lezlie Anders	...	Party Guest
Dick Williams	...	Party Guest
Patricia Ford	...	Party Guest
Gennifer Flowers	...	Party Guest
Steve Schirripa	...	Party Guest
Tony Tucker	...	Party Guest
Bo Belinsky	...	Party Guest (as Bo Bolinski)
Joey Maxim	...	Party Guest
John Momot	...	Party Guest
Bill Dwyre	...	Ringside Sportswriter
Steve Springer	...	Ringside Sportswriter
Bruce Trampler	...	Ringside Sportswriter
Rick Reilly	...	Ringside Sportswriter
Bert Randolph Sugar	...	Ringside Sportswriter (as Bert Sugar)
Jason Levin	...	Ringside Sportswriter
Royce Feour	...	Ringside Sportswriter
Ron Borges	...	Ringside Sportswriter
Michael Katz	...	Ringside Sportswriter
Doug Krikorian	...	Ringside Sportswriter
Randy Harvey	...	Ringside Sportswriter
Timothy Smith	...	Ringside Sportswriter (as Tim Smith)
Michael Rosenthal	...	Ringside Sportswriter
George Kimball	...	Ringside Sportswriter
Bernard Fernández	...	Ringside Sportswriter (as Bernard Fernandez)
Timothy Dahlberg	...	Ringside Sportswriter
Tim Graham	...	Ringside Sportswriter (as Tim Graeham)
Joe Hawk	...	Ringside Sportswriter
Chris Thorne	...	Ringside Sportswriter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vincent Cipolla	...	Fight Promoter (uncredited)
Harv Lawrence	...	Ringside Judge (uncredited)
Marco López	...	Ringeside Fan (uncredited)
Linnea Quigley	...	Overdosed Hooker (uncredited)
Maeve Quinlan	...	Tiffany (uncredited)
Michael A. Rizza	...	Ringside Photographer (uncredited)

Directed by
Ron Shelton

Writing credits (WGA)
Ron Shelton		(written by)

Produced by
Stephen Chin	....	producer
Kellie Davis	....	associate producer
David V. Lester	....	executive producer (as David Lester)

Original Music by
Alex Wurman

Cinematography by
Mark Vargo		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Patrick Flannery
Paul Seydor

Casting by
Victoria Thomas

Production Design by
Claire Jenora Bowin

Art Direction by
Mary Saisselin

Set Decoration by
Danielle Berman

Costume Design by
Kathryn Morrison

Makeup Department
Ken Chase	....	makeup artist
Cheryl Eckert	....	key hair stylist
Steve LaPorte	....	makeup designer

Production Management
Brad Arensman	....	post-production supervisor
David Siegel	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
H. Gordon Boos	....	first assistant director
Eric Fox Hays	....	second assistant director
David V. Lester	....	second unit director
Emily McGovern	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Patrick Bolton	....	set dresser
Gary Clark	....	lead paint foreman
Bill Iiams	....	construction coordinator
Mark David Kersey	....	head greensman
David Mocsary	....	lead man
Kevin Shaw	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Cesar Aguirre	....	utility sound technician
David Bach	....	dialogue editor
Dean Beville	....	sound effects editor
Jason Brennan	....	mix assistant (as Jason Brennor)
Peter Brown	....	sound effects editor
David V. Butler	....	sound editor
Stephen Hunter Flick	....	supervising sound editor
Alexandra Gonzales	....	dialogue editor
William Jacobs	....	supervising sound editor
Ryan Juggler	....	assistant sound editor
Jeffrey Kaplan	....	dialogue editor
Samuel Lehmer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Patricio A. Libenson	....	sound recordist
Martin Lopez	....	sound effects editor
Charles Maynes	....	sound effects designer
Charles Maynes	....	sound effects editor
Jon Michaels	....	assistant sound editor
Linda Murphy	....	boom operator
Ryan Murphy	....	sound recordist
Jeffrey Perkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tim Rakoczy	....	assistant sound editor
Art Rochester	....	production sound mixer
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Addison Teague	....	sound intern
Paul Berolzheimer	....	special sound effects design (uncredited)
Paula Fairfield	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Flavio Leocata	....	assistant sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Philip Bartko	....	special effects technician
Gary D'Amico	....	special effects supervisor

Stunts
Cleveland Corder	....	boxing double: Antonio Banderas
Sean Culver	....	boxing double: Woody Harrelson
Chandra De Alessandro	....	stunt double: Lolita Davidovitch (as Chandra Jones)
Anita Hart	....	stunt double: Lolita Davidovitch
Michiko Nishiwaki	....	stunt double: Lucy Liu

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Alexonis	....	best boy grip
Richard Brooks Burton	....	aerial first assistant camera
Eric M. Davis	....	lighting technician
Harry K. Garvin	....	Steadicam operator
Harry K. Garvin	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Cory Geryak	....	gaffer
Scott C. Keys	....	rigging electrician
Jim McComas	....	electrician
Jason Newton	....	key grip
David B. Nowell	....	camera operator: second unit
Frank Parrish	....	second assistant camera
Arnaud Peiny	....	rigging key grip
Andres L. Porras	....	camera operator
Tony Rivetti	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Tony Rivetti	....	steadicam
Larry Sushinski	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Joseph T. Terranova	....	assistant chief lighting technician

Casting Department
Kim Coleman	....	casting associate
Josh Gallegos	....	casting production assistant
Jennifer Madeloff	....	local casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Leslie Herman	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Elisa Cohen	....	assistant editor
Andrew Drazek	....	post-production intern
Mick Erausquin	....	apprentice editor
Clay Rawlins	....	assistant editor
Matvey Shatz	....	color timer

Music Department
Tom Calderaro	....	orchestrator
Andy Georges	....	musician: guitar
Gordon Goodwin	....	conductor
Jim Harrison	....	supervising music editor
Teddy Kumpel	....	musician: slide guitar (as Edward Kumpel)
John Lehmkuhl	....	music programmer: drums
Sterling Meredith	....	music supervisor
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Dawn Soler	....	music supervisor (as Dawn Solér)
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn
Alex Wurman	....	music arranger: choral
Alex Wurman	....	musician: Hammond organ

Transportation Department
Gil Amaral	....	driver: picture cars
Hedy Phil Balani	....	driver
Alberto Coto	....	driver
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car
Jim Petti	....	transportation co-captain
Marty Radcliff	....	driver
Jonathan A. Rosenfeld	....	transportation coordinator
Brian Steagall	....	transportation captain
Jeff Verdick	....	picture car coordinator

Other crew
Bill Caplan	....	technical advisor: boxing
Carlos P. Cunha	....	production assistant
Katherine Dorrer	....	location scout: Washington D.C.
Darrell Foster	....	boxing choreographer
Darrell Foster	....	boxing trainer
Wilma Garscadden-Gahret	....	script supervisor
Orlando R. Gonzales	....	production secretary
Lisa Hackler	....	assistant coordinator
Nancy Haecker	....	assistant location manager
Daren Hicks	....	production coordinator
Malle Jensen	....	assistant: Mr. Banderas
Ryan Keating	....	photo double: Michael Buffer
Ryan Keating	....	stand-in: Michael Buffer
Michael Klastorin	....	unit publicist
Linda Larmon	....	set medic
Michael Neal	....	payroll accountant
David Paris	....	pilot
Alan D. Purwin	....	pilot (as Alan Purwin)
Lauren Ross	....	location manager
Hal Sadoff	....	production financing
Rick Shuster	....	pilot (as Rich Shuster)
Jim Wheelan	....	location consultant (as James H. Wheelan)
Matt Woodard	....	production assistant
David Yang	....	assistant to producer
Jeff J. Davis	....	craft service lead (uncredited)
Tom Todoroff	....	acting consultant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Play It Inc.
• Shanghai'd Films
• Touchstone Pictures

Distributors

• Independent Films (2000) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Advanced (Germany)
• Buena Vista Pictures
• CTV International (France)
• GAGA
• Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2002) (Portugal) (DVD)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray)
• New Films International
• Redbus Film Distribution (UK)
• Touchstone Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (rental)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (retail)
• Yorin (2003) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz & Weinstein  legal services
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Phoenix Film Office  special thanks

Also Known As:

"Play It" - USA (promotional title)
"My Sweet Guys" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for brutal ring violence, strong sexuality including dialogue, nudity, pervasive language and some drug content

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Australia:MA | South Korea:18 | Philippines:PG-13 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Baker, California, USA

Company:

Play It Inc.

Trivia:

Unused score by William Ross.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Hank smacks Grace in the face with his right hand, but the cut appears on the right side of her lip. He uses the back of his hand.

Quotes:

Vince Boudreau:You don't have to hate a man to completely destroy him.

Movie Connections:

References Rocky (1976)

Soundtrack:

I Must Tell Jesus

It looks to the journey as the focal point but the writing is far too bland and underdone to make it interesting

With the Tyson fight coming to Vegas, organisers Hank Goody and Joe Domino have put together quite a few big names on the undercard. However when one of their fighters turns up drugged out with two hookers and his opponent is pronounced dead at the scene of a car accident, they are forced to try and rustle up two fighters with a few hours notice and turns to friends Vince and Cesar. Taking the offer, the friends set off with Cesar's girlfriend to make the trip to Vegas for the fight – a trip that sees them learning more about one another while also trying to prepare to try and knock each other out.

I looked at the cast list for this film and wondered why such a film had managed to come and go in the UK without me even having heard of it. So many well-known actors, a big sports director and loads of star cameos – surely it must be great, well, in a word, no. This is not to say that it is awful because it isn't, it is just that the writing is nowhere near good enough to sustain the film and as a result the film is never engaging on any level. The film has a fight over the final 30 minutes, including set up, but the majority of the film sees us riding in the car with the three main characters. This focus puts a lot of onus onto them as characters and their stories to be interesting and engaging – the dynamics and the history in that car needs to be the edge, to be the hook that kept me interested. It has its interesting stuff but major things like Grace's relationship with the two men but it doesn't do anything with it whatsoever. Even during the fight her split emotions are made very clear but the actual script never bothers to develop it or make it more than very obvious padding. Sadly the majority of the dialogue was just bickering that didn't develop the characters at all and made their stories just fall flat in the telling because we don't really care about them. Bickering, as White Men Can't Jump showed us, can be fun when it is delivered as a source of comedy but here there are no laughs because it doesn't seem to want to be a comedy either. Its target seemed to have been a character sports film with laughs – but it pretty much misses all of those.

This is not to say that the actual fight isn't fun because it is pretty enjoyable if you like that sort of thing. Yes it is all a bit unrealistic but it is pretty exciting at points and only gets silly at key moments. It isn't a great fight but it is at least a relief to get away from the empty bickering of the majority of the film. Sadly it ends on a low point and then drags back into the empty script again for about 10 minutes before just ending without really telling us anything. Physically Harrelson and Banderas both look good – although Woody looks the buffest and is an imposing presence. Sadly he just plays his usual character and, without the material, he is exposed. Banderas tries harder to bring some character out in his role but he is just shadow boxing because the script is not there with him. Davidovich is OK but it is evident that she had no idea why her character feels for both the men or why it is so persistent – nor does she know what to do with it and, although light and fun, she alone cannot add substance. Lucy Liu is annoying and seems only there to fill time, flash flesh and fake an orgasm for the audience. Sizemore is fun but obvious, as is Wagner but both men are very underused. The cameos all roll in at the end of the film but other than saying 'oh look it's' they don't really add anything.

Overall this is a pretty poor film. It could have been better if the writing had developed the characters and made the dialogue relevant and interesting instead of just making it a load of bickering, but it didn't. The fight is enjoyable but mainly because it is a welcome break from the average stuff that has gone before, but fans of boxing will scoff at it even if it is quite fun for the most part. Generally it is a missed opportunity with an average script and no real aspirations; not bad just really weak.