Madison (2005)

Director:

William Bindley

Writers (WGA):

William Bindley &
Scott Bindley (written by)

Release Date:

22 April 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

A town's future is riding with one man.

Plot:

A story about a man's personal struggle to victory in the 1971 Madison, Indiana hydro-plane regatta.

Plot Keywords:

Hydroplane | Memoir | Father Son Relationship | Scolding | Loyalty

Cast

Jim Caviezel	...	Jim McCormick
Jake Lloyd	...	Mike McCormick
Mary McCormack	...	Bonnie McCormick
Bruce Dern	...	Harry Volpi
Paul Dooley	...	Mayor Don Vaughn
Brent Briscoe	...	Tony Steinhardt
Mark Fauser	...	Travis
Reed Diamond	...	Skip Naughton
Frank Knapp Jr.	...	Bobby Humphrey
Chelcie Ross	...	Roger Epperson
Byrne Piven	...	George Wallin
William Shockley	...	Rick Winston
Matt Letscher	...	Owen
Richard Lee Jackson	...	Buddy Johnson
Kristina Anapau	...	Tami Johnson
Vincent Ventresca	...	Walker Greif
Cody McMains	...	Bobby Epperson
John M. Watson Sr.	...	Walter
James Andelin	...	Merle
Carl Amari	...	Jake Merrill
Len Foley	...	Bill Kittle
Jane Galloway Heitz	...	Audrey (as Jane Heitz)
Kathleen Ewing	...	Bank Secretary
Laura Whyte	...	Bonnie's Mom
Bernie Landis	...	Lyle Dayhoff
Jim Hendrick	...	Himself
Dean Biasucci	...	ABC Reporter
Bob North	...	Keith
Emily Salutric	...	Racing Girl #1
Brie Larson	...	Racing Girl #2
Will Bindley	...	Racing Boy #1
Cully Smoller	...	Racing Boy #2
Roger Wolski	...	Angry Citizen
W.E. Bindley	...	Sideburns
Don Youngblood	...	Another Man
Fran Williamson	...	Offended Woman
Chris Dennis	...	Man in Crowd
Don Keaton	...	Businessman
Sharon Bishop	...	Darlene
Greg Thomas	...	Construction Worker
Joy Ellison	...	Bonnie's Friend
Tony Steinhardt	...	Hydroplane Fan
Denise Dal Vera	...	Housewife #1
Gabrielle Evans	...	Housewife #2
Kyle McClanahan	...	Kent
Randall Gienko	...	Peter
Mercedes Blanco	...	Autograph Seeker
Betsey Vonderheide	...	Gertie
Peter Marmentini	...	Crew Guy #1
Zack Rosenfield	...	Crew Guy #2
Cynthia Elterman	...	Miami Race Registrar
Sue Dennis	...	Chicago Race Registrar
Hank Johnston	...	Ricky
John Adrian Riley	...	Captain (as John Riley)
Mel Vonderheide	...	Priest
Jan Lucas	...	Woman in Crowd
James Fields	...	Davy Snyder
John Mellencamp	...	Adult Mike McCormick (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marcus Daniel	...	Fan Boy
Olivia Francessca	...	Bud Girl
Richard Stiller	...	Miss Budweiser Crew #1
Christopher Francis	...	Regatta Spectator (uncredited)
Corey Large	...	Johnson (uncredited)
Kimberly Magness	...	Regatta Spectator (uncredited)
Jane Rulon	...	Woman in Restaurant (uncredited)

Directed by
William Bindley

Writing credits (WGA)
William Bindley		&
Scott Bindley		written by

Produced by
Carl Amari	....	executive producer
Adam Carl	....	associate producer
Chris Dennis	....	executive producer
Len Foley	....	co-executive producer
Roy Millonzi	....	executive producer
Beau Nortell	....	co-producer
Hal Olofsson	....	associate producer
Lisa F. Riley	....	co-producer
Steve Salutric	....	executive producer
Martin Wiley	....	producer

Original Music by
Kevin Kiner

Cinematography by
James Glennon

Film Editing by
William Hoy

Casting by
Amy Lippens

Production Design by
Dorian Vernacchio

Art Direction by
Tim Cohn

Costume Design by
Jane Anderson

Makeup Department
Jeni Lee Dinkel	....	makeup department head
R.J. McCasland	....	makeup artist
Myke Michaels	....	makeup department head
Janette Nielsen	....	makeup artist
Suzi Ostos	....	makeup artist
Jeffrey Lyle Segal	....	assistant hair stylist
Richard Wetzel	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Daniel Carrey	....	additional post-production supervisor
Albert Coleman	....	post-production supervisor
Greg Malone	....	production supervisor
Robin Mulcahy Fisichella	....	production supervisor: Los Angeles
Martin Wiley	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Greg Guzik	....	second assistant director
John Mattingly	....	first assistant director: marine unit
Jaq Nigg	....	second assistant director: marine unit
Hal Olofsson	....	first assistant director
Eric A. Pot	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Paul Baker	....	assistant props
Greg Boes	....	lead welder
Flip Filippelli	....	art director: second unit
Charles Guanci Jr.	....	prop master
Gabriel Higgins	....	property master
Maria Higgins	....	buyer
Kevin Long	....	property master
Graham Robertson	....	graphic designer
Eric Steinway	....	set dresser
Thomas 'Noe' Welch	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Chris David	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matthew T. Duncan	....	temp. sound recordist
William Edward Duran	....	assistant sound editor
Nicholas James	....	sound effects editor
Mike Le Mare	....	supervising sound editor
David Marcus	....	assistant sound editor
Geoff Maxwell	....	sound mixer
Andy Peach	....	post-production sound recordist
Terry Rodman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matthias Schmitz	....	sound effects editor
Karola Storr	....	foley supervisor (as Carola Storr)
Karola Storr	....	sound editor (as Carola Storr)
Brent Thacker	....	cable person
Joel R. Wilhelmi	....	boom operator
Matthias Schmitz	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Thomas Rasada	....	special effects technician: Long Beach

Visual Effects by
Christopher Hagerthy	....	digital compositor
Mark Herman	....	visual effects editor
Yusaku Mizoguchi	....	main title designer
Mitch Paulson	....	digital preview colorist
Rod Schumacher	....	visual effects supervisor
Kristen Simmons	....	digital effects artist
Scott Simmons	....	digital effects supervisor: Live Wire Productions
Kevin Tuxford	....	digital effects artist
Eric Whitfield	....	visual effects editor
Richard Wirth	....	compositor

Stunts
Tom Bahr	....	stunt boat driver
Cort Hessler	....	water safety
Artie Malesci	....	marine coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Athy	....	grip
Dan Auerbach	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Dan Auerbach	....	director of photography: second unit
Larry Blanford	....	director of photography: second unit
Eric Vincent Cruse	....	key grip: second unit
Eric Vincent Cruse	....	rigger: second unit
Alex Esber	....	second assistant camera: marine unit
Russ Faust	....	third electrician
Jeff Fisher	....	best boy electric
John Gunselman	....	director of photography: additional photography
Michael Hoffer	....	key grip: Los Angeles
Jeff Lint	....	electrician
Elizabeth Miller	....	film loader (as Elizabeth Smith)
David Morenz	....	assistant camera
Christopher Ratledge	....	camera intern
Chris Rauch	....	dolly grip
Pablo Santiago-Brandwein	....	grip
Brent Thacker	....	video assist operator
Jim Timperman	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Neil Toussaint	....	first assistant camera: marine unit
Fred Weigle	....	assistant camera
Gregory White	....	assistant camera: Wescam camera
Steven J. Winslow	....	camera operator: Wescam camera, marine unit
Matthew Olmon	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Kyle Young	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Claire Simon	....	location casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Laura Guzik	....	costume supervisor
Annalisa Strickland	....	additional key set costumer
Erica Toriello	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Carey A. Campbell	....	post-production assistant
Martha Pike	....	first assistant editor
Ron Rauch	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
P.J. Bloom	....	music supervisor
Ray Espinola Jr.	....	music supervisor
James Fitzpatrick	....	music contractor
Evyen Klean	....	executive music producer
Christopher Young	....	composer: original themes

Transportation Department
Adrian Cannon	....	driver: Ms. McCarthy
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car

Other crew
Amy Agzarian	....	production accountant
Paul Barth	....	helicopter pilot
Stephen Bauer	....	gym trainer
Josh Broadbent	....	production assistant
Christopher J. Corabi	....	legal consultant
Elizabeth Dail	....	script supervisor: marine unit
Joy Ellison	....	dialect coach: Ms. Mc Cormick
Alan Forbes	....	location manager
Tyler W. Gaisford	....	key set production assistant
William Goerlitz III	....	staging crew: Set Moving Crew
Rusty Gorman	....	director: marine unit
J. Larsen Jay	....	assistant production coordinator: Los Angeles
John Kirby	....	acting coach
Dane Lantz	....	production office assistant
Missy Lantz	....	production coordinator
Scott Allen Logan	....	location manager
Karon May	....	script supervisor
Frederic Perrin	....	caterer
Denise Anderson Poore	....	additional production assistant
Kori Shadrick	....	key set production assistant
Marc Siegel	....	production assistant
Amy Smolev	....	first assistant accountant (as Amy Fitzer)
Zach Taylor	....	production office assistant
Patrick Thornhill	....	production assistant
Derek W. Tow	....	production assistant: day player
Amy R. Trachtman	....	assistant production coordinator
David Vlasits	....	assistant production coordinator: Chicago
Aliss Wang	....	post-production accountant
Mark Joseph	....	marketing (uncredited)
Jack Rourke	....	body double: Jim McCormick (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Addison Street Films
• North Shore Entertainment
• Road Pictures

Distributors

• Columbia TriStar Films (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios (2005) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Live Wire Productions & Visual FX  visual effects
• Motive Entertainment  marketing

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild language and sports peril

Runtime:

94 min | USA:99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG | Australia:G | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company:

Addison Street Films

Trivia:

After winning the 1971 Gold Cup, Jim McCormick and the Miss Madison made it 2 wins in a row, when he won the Atomic Cup in Tri City, Washington, three weeks later on July 26, 1971.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The McCormick resided in Owensboro, Kentucky; not in Madison, Indiana as the film stated.

Nice family sports flick set in middle-America

I'd like to first address the folks who haven't seen the film and are unfamiliar with it, or its topic...

This sleeper film, as noted, is based around the true story of an under-dog hometown racing boat team that tried to win the "big one" against long odds in front of their home crowd. But the boat, the effort required to make the race happen, and the race itself is really secondary to the relationship between a 10 year-old son (Jake Lloyd) and his father (Jim Caviezel) as the demands of work, family, the sense of civic duty and the boat begin to pull the relationship, as well as his marriage, apart under a great deal of stress.

Some have criticized this film as a formula driven "feel-good" sports film, and I suppose that this is true to a point. However, the acting is very believable and heart-felt. In fact, I think the emotion that Lloyd exhibits in the film is far superior to the rather wooden appearance he later made in Star Wars as young Anakin. Caviezel also does a great job as Jim McCormick, the father and husband who finds himself thrown into situations not necessarily of his choosing.

The cinematography definitely conceals the low-budget nature of the film. Filmed in the "where it really happened" location of Madison, Indiana, "Madison" definitely shows off this visual gem on the Ohio River as well as its surrounding country side and wide vistas of the river valley.

The film was shot and then set on a shelf for about five years. I was tickled to see that it at least was allowed distribution to the general public via DVD.

This film will fill an evening of family entertainment and allow you to see a fine performance from two actors before they went on to add their talents to two block busters: The Passion, and The Phantom Menace.

OK, part two... This is for the fans of the sport featured in this film that have been critical of the way things are portrayed in the movie. Two words: Lighten Up. I've been a sporadic fan of the Hydros, my in-laws are from the Madison area, and I had the fortune to be at the 1971 Madison "Gold Cup" race (granted I was seven at the time) and remember the hoopla surrounding the race (I also still have my admission badge). Despite all of the carping about the dramatic license taken with the story line, the fact remains that the core of the film is true. People looking for a documentary on the Miss Madison of 1971 should look elsewhere.

This film is hardly the first non-fiction related sports event that has been "re-worked" for the big screen. Take a look at any informed fan's review of their favorite past-time as presented in the cinema and you'll find plenty of the same: "XYZ batted left-handed, but was a 'righty' in the film", "They didn't really play XYZ in the final game", "They got the score wrong", "The fuel those race cars use burns flameless", "They spliced footage from different locations together during the scenes of the game", "They didn't use that type of equipment back then", etc., etc., etc. Here's a newsflash people: Movie-goers that aren't passionate about your favorite sport don't care. That's right, read that again... "They don't care." They want good "entertainment". Sure it's nice if all the facts are dramatic enough to make it to the screen, but don't be surprised if you see a "blow-out" turned into a "nail-biter", or a plot twist or two thrown in for effect. Don't get all bent out of shape and let it ruin your enjoyment of the film. People aren't going to think "Madison" is a fraud if they learn, among other things, that a P-51 was never parked in the courthouse square in Columbus in 1971. Nor to they care what the APBA calendar looked like that year.

At least the plot and acting in "Madison" are great. My number one sports passion is open-wheel Champcar racing and when "Driven" came out, not only was the film full of technical inaccuracies and impossibilities, the plot and acting stunk. Now THAT was an embarrassment to that form of racing! Finally, considering that Jim McCormick's son, his widow, and many others were more than happy with the treatment that "Madison" gave to the U-6 of 1971. If they are OK with it, then why can't you be too? If nothing else, it gives people a peak into the world of something they might never have heard of before: unlimited hydroplane racing. It might actually be good for the sport… For example, I now have a pretty good idea where I'll be come next 4th of July weekend. Sitting on the banks of the Ohio, eating one of my mother in-law's ham salad sandwiches, while watching the hydros pass under the Madison-Milton bridge sounds pretty good right now!