Play It to the Bone (1999)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

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:

Boxer | Las Vegas | Friendship | Tuxedo | Homosexual

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	...	Himself - HBO Commentator
Larry Merchant	...	Himself - HBO Commentator
Mike Tyson	...	Himself
Darrell Foster	...	Referee
Michael Buffer	...	Michal Buffer - Ring Announcer
Rod Stewart	...	Himself
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	...	Himself - Ringside Fan
Wesley Snipes	...	Himself - Ringside Fan
James Woods	...	Himself - Ringside Fan
Natasha Gregson Wagner	...	Herself - Ringside Fan
Drew Carey	...	Himself - Ringside Fan
Jennifer Tilly	...	Herself - Ringside Fan
Tony Curtis	...	Himself - Ringside Fan
Bob Arum	...	Himself - Ringside Fan
Lovey Arum	...	Herself - Ringside Fan
Angel Manfredy	...	Himself - Ringside Fan
Yvette Manfredy	...	Herself - 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	...	Himself (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	....	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
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
Larry Sushinski	....	best boy electric
Joseph T. Terranova	....	assistant chief lighting technician

Casting Department
Kim Coleman	....	casting associate
Josh Gallegos	....	casting production assistant

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)
Alex Wurman	....	music arranger: choral
Alex Wurman	....	musician: Hammond organ

Transportation Department
Gil Amaral	....	driver: picture cars
Phil Balani	....	driver
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car
Jim Petti	....	transportation
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
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
Tom Todoroff	....	acting consultant (uncredited)

Production Companies

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

Distributors

• Advanced (Germany)
• Buena Vista Pictures
• CTV International (France)
• GAGA Communications
• Independent Films (2000) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2002) (Portugal) (DVD)
• 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

• Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz & Weinstein  legal services
• Phoenix Film Office  special thanks

Also Known As:

Play It (USA) (promotional 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:

Woody Harrelson reportedly based his character on boxer Angel Manfredy.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the Greek restaurant, as Grace leaves for the restrooms outside, an extra (girl reading a paper) passes the boxers as they stay seated. In the next shot the same girl, reading the paper, comes on walking from where she must have been before we saw her following in the direction Grace left.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

References Rocky (1976)

Soundtrack:

Why Are You So Mean to Me?

STORY'S GOT A GLASS JAW, BUT FIGHT'S A KO

A boxing film from minor or no league sports milieu chronicler Ron Shelton (Bull Durham, White Men Can't Jump) with the not exactly untested talents of Antonio Banderas, Woody Harrelson, Tom Sizemore, Robert Wagner, Richard Masur, Lolita Davidovich and Lucy Liu. What's wrong with this picture? Nothing once you get to the last third and the actual fight ensues. It's the first 90 minutes that's not quite a knock out. In our overly commercialized and celebrity athlete obsessed world culture, Shelton has made a career out of showing us the world of the also-rans (and jumped and hit and thrown, etc.). For every record breaking multi-millioned contract holder making even more telling the world to guzzle the Gatorade, there's a hundred guys like "Durham's" Crash Davis trying to eke out one more season before taking a job at the sports shop or hardware store. This is "Bone's" big stumble, not really establishing what kinda of lives these two has-beens lead now that they are reduced to working as sparring partners at a no-name local L.A. gym. Shelton would have written this a whole lot smarter if he had picked a venue he knew better back east, say New Orleans or St. Louis for Banderas' Cesar and Harrelson's Vince to hail from. It would have made the road trip a helluva lot more interesting visually, moving through prairie to mountains to desert. Instead, we get dried brush and rocks as back drop for Cesar and Vince's back and forth that is supposed to tell us who they are. And who they are isn't all that interesting, which is what's going to doom this film with audiences. This is story that starts off in the most contrived way. In a chain of events that starts with the undercard of a Mike Tyson fight in Vegas getting hopelessly stoned and haplessly dead, respectively, we are then asked to believe that the promoter would even in panic call two guys who don't even really fight any more. The film really needs the audience to believe and believe in these guys after this and Shelton fails to make Vince and Cesar unique enough. People might plunk down their eight bucks for a flick with stupendous special effects, but a great fight? Which is the one thing that "Play It To The Bone" has - a helluva fight. For filmgoers who thought the book had been written on showing a boxing match with either the high art stylization of "Raging Bull" or the pop art sequences of the Rocky franchise, prepare for the most brutally realistic display of the sweet science yet shown. In a sequence that uses a refreshing paucity of slow-mo shots, we are taken through ten rounds of sympathy-welt-raising fisticuffs. At least we know the time Shelton didn't spend on researching his characters wasn't wasted hobnobbing with Tyson and the other real-life boxing personalities who pop up in cameos during this section. It was spent watching God knows how many hours of old boxing film.

The sequence also manages a subtle commentary on the empty spectacle of such "event" sporting events, as the oblivious main event crowd gets sucked into Vince and Cesar's career defining contest. Here's what a boxing match is supposed to be about: two hungry guys out to prove they are top dog. And right up to the conclusion Shelton is on his way to making the first uninspired 90 minutes disappear - then he pulls his last punches and ruins it. This is when the anemic character develpment and unorginality catches up with him. The audience feels sucker-punched going out the door.