Cheaters (2000) (TV)

Director:

John Stockwell

Writer (WGA):

John Stockwell (written by)

Release Date:

20 May 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Putting The System To The Test

Plot:

Eleven students conspire with their teacher to cheat on an academic competition.

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | Cheating | Competition | Chicago Illinois | Motivation

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Jeff Daniels	...	Dr. Gerard Plecki
Jena Malone	...	Jolie Fitch
Paul Sorvino	...	Constantine Kiamos
Luke Edwards	...	Darius Bettus
Blake Heron	...	Matt Kur
Dov Tiefenbach	...	Irwin Flickas
Dan Warry-Smith	...	Paul Kurgan
Anna Raj	...	Agnieska Maryniarczyk
Dominik Podbielski	...	Dominik Wesolowski
Ned Eisenberg	...	Robert Clifford
Robert Joy	...	Larry Minkoff
Lenka Peterson	...	Mrs. Plecki
Alex Poch-Goldin	...	Jerry Marconi (as Alex Poch Goldin)
Karen Glave	...	Corrine Davis
Marcia Bennett	...	Joan Isenberg
Ed Wadley	...	Statistician
Jackie Richardson	...	Mrs. Fadely
Jeff A. Wright	...	Josh Haden (as Jeff Wright)
Karyn Dwyer	...	Angela Lam
Joan Esposito	...	WNBC Reporter
Dan Duran	...	Correspondent at Steinmetz
Christopher Bondy	...	State Competition MC (as Chris Bondy)
Vic Cummings	...	Regionals MC
Jordan Hughes	...	Kid Stealing Test
Sandi Stahlbrand	...	USAD Announcer
Monika Kowalczuk	...	Agnieska's Mother
Bill Lake	...	Steinmetz Coach
J.C. Kenny	...	Reporter Outside Steinmetz
Nicola Kelly	...	Hollywood Producer
Ree Andrews	...	Whitney Young Team Member #1
Yank Azman	...	Tribune Reporter #2
Boyd Banks	...	State Speech Judge
Carla Bennett	...	Whitney Young Cheerleader #1
Catherine Blythe	...	Reporter #1
Steve Brinder	...	Talk Show Producer
Katherine Caldwell	...	Whitney Young Cheerleader #2
Elio Campbell	...	Whitney Young Teacher #1
Tina Campbell	...	Whitney Young Cheerleader #3
Kerry-Ann Chabot	...	Whitney Young Team Member #2
Bill Chernin	...	Whitney Young Teacher #2
K.C. Collins	...	Kid with Walkman (as Chris Collins)
Justin Croxen	...	Vice Lord
Vie Delandro	...	Girl with Newspaper
Bobby Del Rio	...	Free Food Kid
Lynne Deragon	...	Gloria Abrams
Sava Drayton	...	Whitney Young Team Member #3
Dan Gallagher	...	Paul's Father
Melody Garrett	...	D. Sharon Grant
Ashleigh Gillan	...	Whitney Young Team Member #4
Tchastoni Goodridge	...	Girl Fighting in Class
Tamara Handler	...	Flickas' Mother
Kyra Harper	...	Darius' Mother
Thomas Hauff	...	Marconi Reporter #2
John Healy	...	Matt's Father
Johnson Huynh	...	Whitney Young Team Member #5
Joe Kicak	...	Bicycle Messenger
James Kirchner	...	Jolie's Father
Chantelle Leonardo	...	Whitney Young Cheerleader #4
Angelique Lewis	...	Whitney Young Team Member #6 (as Angel Lewis)
Jeannette Linton	...	Pineapple Girl
Jefferson Mappin	...	George Kelly
Jane Moffat	...	Jolie's Mother
Jack Newman	...	Tribune Reporter
Elisabeth Oas	...	Legal Secretary
Rory O'Shea	...	Press Conference Reporter #2
Andy Pandoff	...	Plecki's Neighbor
Paul Pierro	...	Commodities Broker
Gerald Plecki	...	Teacher (as Gerard Plecki)
Agnes Podbielski	...	Church Girl
Kamila Podbielski	...	Agnieska's Sister
Victoria Podbielski	...	Agnieska's Sister
Nella Renello	...	Steinmetz Teacher #1
Bill Riley	...	Reginal Speech Judge
Philemon Selwan	...	Priest (as Father Philemon Selwan)
Jossie Sevilleno	...	Whitney Young Team Member #7
Aisa Soloduszkiewicz	...	Aisa, Girl Reading Paradise Lost
Harold St. Croix	...	Steinmetz Teacher #2
John Stockwell	...	News Producer
Ola Sturik	...	Angela Lam Interviewer
Susanne Sutchy	...	Receptionist
Lisa Turina	...	Clifford's Secretary
Robin Ward	...	Darius' Interviewer
Earl Williams	...	Security Guard
Ruth Williams	...	Singer with High School Band
Nichole Wray-Rose	...	Whitney Young Cheerleader #9
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nina Polan	...	(unconfirmed)
Richard M. Daley	...	Himself - Mayor of Chicago (archive footage) (uncredited)
Eli Ham	...	Football Player (uncredited)

Directed by
John Stockwell

Writing credits (WGA)
John Stockwell		(written by)

Produced by
Liz Amsden	....	associate producer
Suzanne Coston	....	executive producer
Rick Dallago	....	line producer
Suzanne De Passe	....	executive producer (as Suzanne de Passe)
Greg Gugliotta	....	co-producer
Mark S. Hoerr	....	associate producer
Shanna Nussbaum	....	co-producer (as Shanna Tyndall)
Kevin Reidy	....	producer
Gloria Jean Sykes	....	producer

Original Music by
Paul Haslinger

Cinematography by
David Hennings

Film Editing by
Eric A. Sears		(as Eric Sears)
Scott K. Wallace

Casting by
Randi Hiller
Diane Kerbel

Production Design by
Craig Lathrop

Art Direction by
Edward Bonutto

Set Decoration by
Steven Essam

Costume Design by
Lisa Martin

Makeup Department
Kelly Brennan	....	key hair stylist
Mario Cacioppo	....	key makeup artist (as Mario G. Cacioppo)
Connie Kallos	....	key makeup artist: Chicago
James Lacey	....	assistant makeup artist
Edelgard K. Pfluegl	....	makeup artist (as Edelgard Pfluegl)
Lianne Turturici	....	makeup artist: extras
Kelly Whetter	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Marc Dassas	....	production manager
Juanita F. Diana	....	post-production supervisor
Virginia Landis Albertson	....	post-production supervisor
Karyn McCarthy	....	production manager: Chicago

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chris Baillie	....	third assistant director
Nelson Jack Davis	....	trainee assistant director (as Nelson Davis)
Susan E. Fiore	....	second assistant director (as Susan Fiore)
Catriona Girotti	....	trainee assistant director
Gary B. Goldman	....	first assistant director: Chicago
Stacey Jenkins	....	third assistant director
Lorraine M. Kearsey	....	second assistant director: Canada
Matt Miller	....	second second assistant director: Chicago
Rick Morris	....	trainee assistant director
Eric A. Pot	....	second assistant director: Chicago
Drew Ann Rosenberg	....	first assistant director
David Tebby	....	trainee assistant director (as Dave Tebby)

Art Department
Colin Adams	....	assistant property master
Pat Flood	....	assistant art director
Alexandra Hooper	....	set decoration buyer
Ross McCormick	....	lead man
John Moran	....	assistant art director
Brian Patrick	....	on-set decorator
Valma Pfaff	....	assistant art director
Robert Shipman	....	property master
Renata Zaleska	....	props buyer

Sound Department
Rick Ash	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alek Bromke	....	adr recordist
Jeff K. Brunello	....	sound effects editor
Richard Calistan	....	adr mixer
Paul Campbell	....	second boom operator (as Paul W. Campbell)
Craig Clark	....	adr supervisor
Craig Clark	....	dialogue supervisor
Joe Earle	....	sound re-recording mixer
Antoinette Faragallah	....	foley artist
Matt Harmon	....	sound assistant
Jerry Howard	....	sound assistant
Bobby Johanson	....	adr mixer
Bell John	....	boom operator
Sam Londe	....	sound effects editor
Machine Head	....	sound designer
Leonard Marcel	....	supervising sound editor
James Marchione	....	adr recordist (as Jim Marchione)
Steven Morrow	....	production sound mixer: Los Angeles
Myron Nettinga	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ed Poty	....	adr mixer
Mark Relyea	....	adr editor
Colin Rogers	....	adr editor
Joseph T. Sabella	....	foley artist (as Joseph Sabella)
Dirk Sanders	....	head sound assistant
Craig Schafer	....	foley mixer
Robert Scherer	....	sound mixer
Robert Scherer	....	sound recordist
Tom Seller	....	adr recordist
Reuben Simon	....	sound effects editor
D. Chris Smith	....	sound designer
Jeff Sparks	....	sound effects assistant
Ben Switzer	....	adr recordist
Bryan O. Watkins	....	adr mixer (as Bryan Watkins)
David Weinstock	....	sound recordist: second unit
Cary West	....	sound assistant

Special Effects by
Mark Lawton	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Robert Fortenberry	....	optical color timer
Deborah Irwin	....	visual effects producer
Michael Lennick	....	motion control photography
Ray McMillan	....	motion control supervisor

Stunts
Randy Butcher	....	stunts
Peter Cox	....	stunts
James Fierro	....	stunts (as Jim Fierro)
Nick Nolan	....	stunts
Robert Racki	....	stunts
Alison Reid	....	stunt coordinator
Helen Scott	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Lothar Bahr	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Lothar 'Lex' Bahr)
John Bouskill	....	electrician
Gary Bower	....	dolly grip
Rocky Brown	....	crane grip
Michael Carella	....	first assistant camera
Chris Collins	....	first assistant camera: Chicago
Gilles Corbeil	....	Steadicam operator
Gilles Corbeil	....	camera operator
Gerrit Dangremond	....	camera operator: Chicago
Richard Davidson	....	generator operator
Dennis De La Mata	....	key grip: Chicago
Michael Decina	....	grip
Chad Erickson	....	camera loader: Chicago
Chad Ericson	....	camera loader: Chicago
Gregg Gannett	....	second assistant camera: Chicago (as Greg Gannett)
James Kohne	....	key grip
Steve Kolodziej	....	24 frame video operator
Shaun Kuebeck	....	grip
Norman Laing	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Bernie Lalonde	....	key rigging grip
Daniel F. Larkin	....	first assistant camera: Chicago
Mark R. Lindberg	....	gaffer: Chicago (as Mark Lindberg)
Toomas Loo	....	rigging gaffer
Joachim Martin	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Joachim 'Jock' Martin)
Robert McRae	....	gaffer
Hugh Montgomerie	....	electrician
Mike Ohorodnyk	....	best boy grip
Michael Purdon	....	second assistant camera
Rafy	....	still photographer
Doug Reid	....	best boy electric
Lawrence Smith	....	electrician
Michael Turcotte	....	camera trainee

Casting Department
Bette Chadwick	....	additional casting
Ali Farrell	....	additional casting
Courtney Gross	....	casting associate: Los Angeles
Jenny Lewis	....	casting assistant: Toronto
Mark A. Ridge	....	extras casting: Chicago
Jane Rogers	....	extras casting
Jennifer Ryan	....	extras casting assistant
Eva Saks	....	additional casting
Claire Simon	....	location casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Laura DiMarcantonio	....	assistant costume designer
Gayle Franklin	....	extras costume set supervisor
Angie Vastagh	....	costumes coordinator

Editorial Department
Margaret Adachi	....	assistant editor
Candace Austin	....	post-production assistant
Benjamin Gilbert	....	post-production assistant
Christina Kim	....	post-production coordinator
Chris Miller	....	post-production services
Richard B. Molina	....	assistant editor: avid
Lainie Mumbrue	....	post-production coordinator
Mike Stanwick	....	color timer
Marianne Urioste	....	associate editor
Scott Wallace	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Wolfgang Amadeus	....	music mixer
P.J. Bloom	....	music supervisor
Ray Espinola Jr.	....	music coordinator
Ron Finn	....	music editor
Evyen Klean	....	music supervisor
Chris McGeary	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Calvin Chin	....	transportation coordinator: Chicago
Stuart Hughes	....	transportation coordinator
Robert Wallace	....	driver

Other crew
Jim Alvino	....	technical advisor: USAD
Drazen Baric	....	assistant location manager
Julie Black	....	assistant: Jeff Daniels
Rose Caraet	....	assistant: Susanne De Passe
Donald James Carson	....	clearance coordinator
Trisha DeLuca	....	office production assistant
Karen Doble	....	production coordinator
James Franey	....	location production assistant
Gayle Franklin	....	extras set supervisor
Marsha Haake	....	assistant coordinator: Chicago
P.J. Haines	....	chef
Jacqueline M. Hammond	....	clearance coordinator
Sandra Lynne Hyhkö	....	assistant production coordinator
Adrienne Jackson	....	assistant: Suzanne Coston
Wendy Kerwin	....	truck supervisor
Kevin Kirkham	....	photo double for Jeff Daniels
Alex Kontsalakis	....	first assistant accountant
Arlene Lum Lock	....	accounting assistant
Sandra Lum Lock	....	production accountant
Sean Longley	....	key craft services
Lisa Masseur	....	production coordinator: Chicago
Jonathan Matthews	....	location manager
Mark McCarville	....	location manager: Chicago
Donna E. Oakes	....	craft services: Chicago
Deborah Ricketts	....	stock footage coordinator
Jesse Rupert	....	accounting assistant
Andre Schulz	....	set supervisor
David Shubert	....	office production assistant
Samara Truster	....	assistant: John Stockwell
Elaine Yarish	....	script supervisor
Marijan Ivan Zelic	....	office production assistant

Production Companies

• Nitelite Entertainment
• De Passe Entertainment
• Home Box Office (HBO)

Distributors

• HBO Films
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Stardis Pictures (2007) (Spain) (DVD)
• mediacs AG (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Toronto Film Studios  movie studio

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Germany:12 | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Central Tech. High School, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Nitelite Entertainment

Trivia:

The real-life Jolie Fitch, who was played by Jena Malone, was interviewed by the press in 2000 (at the time of the release of the movie), noting that she had dropped out of college because she was pregnant. She now works at a department store in the suburbs of Chicago.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Dr. Plecki and the students are watching "Stand and Deliver" at his house, the scenes from that movie are shown out of order in "Cheaters".

Quotes:

Darius Bettus:Well, if we could get the tests, I'm sure Whitney Young has them too.
Jolie Fitch:Of course they do. Doesn't the decathlon have their offices at Whitney Young? I mean, you do the math.
Dominik Wesolowski:So, two wrongs would make a right?
Darius Bettus:No. Two wrongs make it even.

Movie Connections:

Features Stand and Deliver (1988)

Soundtrack:

Roads

Brilliant - Seek Out This Movie!

I was so stunned by the power of this movie that I had to watch it a second time to give it a more objective assessment. I came away from the second viewing every bit as impressed.

We learn from the opening scene of the movie that things will turn out badly for the cheaters, the kids who made up the 1994-95 Academic Decathlon team for Chicago's working-class Steinmetz High, and that their downfall was of their own making. But this movie refuses to be a simple morality play. It looks at the scandal from the viewpoint of the participants, and examines why they cheated and how they came to justify their actions. It's a refreshingly honest look at how effectively the mind can blur the distinction between right and wrong. Each character's moment of decision is captured so effectively that the viewer may very well find himself rooting for the teacher and his students as they exult in their short-lived triumph.

The whole story plays out in a realistically-portrayed inner city school, and succinctly presents the values that flourish in such an environment, where ideas of what's fair are colored by the feeling that life hasn't been very fair to these kids from the very beginning. One comes to realize that the central characters' greatest triumph came not in their ill-gotten victory, but in simply wanting to overachieve against all odds in such an environment.

The acting in this movie is top-notch across the board, from Paul Sorvino, Jeff Daniels, and each of the seven kids. But special mention has to go to Jena Malone for her memorable portrayal of Jolie, the brilliant and sharp-tongued inspirational leader of the team who remains defiant to the very end.

I give this movie a 10!