The Ringer (2005)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Barry W. Blaustein

Writer (WGA):

Ricky Blitt (written by)

Release Date:

23 December 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sport

Tagline:

Only a jackass would fix the Special Olympics

Plot:

A young guy's only option to erase a really bad debt is to rig the Special Olympics by posing as a contestant.

Plot Keywords:

Special Olympics | Hurdles | Dance | Pentathlon | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Johnny Knoxville	...	Steve Barker
Brian Cox	...	Gary Barker
Katherine Heigl	...	Lynn Sheridan
Jed Rees	...	Glen
Bill Chott	...	Thomas
Edward Barbanell	...	Billy
Leonard Earl Howze	...	Mark
Geoffrey Arend	...	Winston
John Taylor	...	Rudy
Luis Avalos	...	Stavi
Leonard Flowers	...	Jimmy
Zen Gesner	...	David Patrick
Steve Levy	...	Steve Levy
Alcides Dias	...	Michael (as Al 'Train' Dias)
Mike Cerrone	...	Paulie
Terry Funk	...	Frankie
Janna Ambort	...	Karen
Bo Kane	...	Matt
Mohammad Ahmed	...	Dr. Ahmed (as Mohammad M. Ahmed)
Brad Leland	...	Mr. Henderson
Cassandra L. Small	...	Waitress - Bar
John Rothman	...	Priest
Nicole Bradley	...	Yolie
Sean Gildea	...	Elliot (as Sean P. Gildea)
Lauren-Elaine Edleson	...	Brandi
Ruth N. Straw	...	Sally
Richard Dillard	...	Olympic Official
Hugo Perez	...	Mailroom Guy
Steven Chester Prince	...	Peter - Delivery
Diana Heart	...	Girl in Wheelchair
J.D. Stahr	...	Starter
Heidi B. Bush	...	Heidi
Kara Rastrelli	...	Kara
Troy Jackson	...	Sandman
Bryan Dilbeck	...	Bryan Dilbeck
Carlos Sierra	...	Carlos Sierra
Michael Clossin	...	Closs
Meagan Flynn	...	Susan (as Meagan Flynn)
Rosie Shriver	...	Movie Patron
Shane Mallory	...	Volunteer
Jesse Ventura	...	Motivational Speaker (voice)
Sara Peterman	...	Autograph Seeker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Brantley	...	Sports Agent
Kimberly R. Johnson	...	Sports Agent (unconfirmed)
Niki Aguirre	...	Special Olympics Athlete (uncredited)
Johnny Bartee	...	Stadium Spectator (uncredited)
Joseph Thomas Campos	...	Special Ed Athlete (uncredited)
Larry Cashion	...	Special Olympics Volunteer (uncredited)
Kelly Cook	...	Athlete (uncredited)
Damian Fannin	...	Special Olympics Volunteer (uncredited)
Joanna Gallagher	...	Special Olympics Volunteer (uncredited)
Charles E. Gray	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Michael E. Harvey	...	Special Olympics Volunteer (uncredited)
Eric Hernandez	...	Athlete (uncredited)
Mark E. Howell	...	Special Olympics Athlete (uncredited)
Kids Of Widney High	...	As themselves (uncredited)
Adam Langley	...	Special Olympics Volunteer (uncredited)
Bobby Lord	...	Special Olympics Athlete (uncredited)
Robert E. Martinez	...	Special Olympics Fan (uncredited)
Michael Monagan	...	Kids of Widney High (Band Leader) (uncredited)
Adam North	...	Popcorn Guy (uncredited)
Rajiv Patel	...	Special Olympics Volunteer (uncredited)
Robert C. Pemelton	...	Office Worker (uncredited)
Ava Santana	...	Special Olympics Volunteer (uncredited)
Kerbey Smith	...	Dance Girl (uncredited)
Jeff Teague	...	Olympic Judge (uncredited)
Santiago Villalobos	...	Field Judge (uncredited)

Directed by
Barry W. Blaustein

Writing credits (WGA)
Ricky Blitt		(written by)

Produced by
Bobby Farrelly	....	producer
Peter Farrelly	....	producer
Marc S. Fischer	....	co-producer
Clemens E. Franek	....	co-producer (as Clemens Emanuel Franek)
K.C. Hodenfield	....	associate producer
John Jacobs	....	producer
Tim Shriver	....	executive producer
Bradley Thomas	....	producer

Original Music by
Mark Mothersbaugh

Cinematography by
Mark Irwin

Film Editing by
George Folsey Jr.

Casting by
Jo Edna Boldin
Toni Cobb Brock
Nancy Foy

Production Design by
Arlan Jay Vetter

Art Direction by
John Frick

Set Decoration by
Tim Eckel
Phil Shirey

Costume Design by
Lisa Jensen

Makeup Department
Troy Breeding	....	key makeup artist
Melissa Forney	....	key hair stylist (as Melissa 'Missy' Forney)
Tony Gardner	....	special makeup effects artist
Roxie Norman	....	hair department head
Charmaine Richards	....	hair stylist
Pamela S. Westmore	....	makeup department head (as Pamela Westmore)
Charles Yusko	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Richard E. Chapla Jr.	....	production supervisor
Garrett Grant	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chris Castaldi	....	second second assistant director
Greg Guzik	....	second assistant director: reshoots
K.C. Hodenfield	....	first assistant director
Katie Tull	....	additional second assistant director

Art Department
Marc Baird	....	storyboard artist
Dawn M. Baker	....	scenic artist
Brad Blei	....	set dresser
Kelly Bogdan	....	property assistant
April Crump	....	set dresser
Phyllis Detrich	....	property master
Ia Enstera-layadi	....	set dresser
Erick Garibay	....	property assistant
Mark Hanks	....	leadman
Randy Huke	....	assistant set decorator
Lynn A. Johanson	....	scenic artist
Margaret Johnson	....	greensman foreman
Joe McCusker	....	construction coordinator
Mari Phillips	....	prop assistant
Paul Pleasant	....	art department intern
Scott A. Reeder	....	assistant property master
Michael Wilks	....	on-set dresser
Robert R. Wonson	....	set dresser
Randal Woodward	....	stand-by painter
Marcus LaPorte	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bob Beemer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steven J. Berger	....	assistant sound
Howard Carle	....	adr mixer
Jeremiah Clifton	....	adr engineer
Alan Decker	....	sound re-recording mixer: temp mix
David Esparza	....	sound effects editor
Vincent Guisetti	....	foley artist
Pamela Kahn	....	foley artist
Howard London	....	adr mixer
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist
Nancy Nugent	....	supervising dialogue editor (as Nancy Kyong Nugent)
Fred Peck III	....	sound re-recordist
Kyle Rochlin	....	foley mixer
R. Russell Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jonathon 'Earl' Stein	....	production sound mixer
Tom Sturgis	....	second boom operator
Tom Sturgis	....	sound utility
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Jon Udell	....	boom operator
Lisa Varetakis	....	supervising foley editor

Special Effects by
Bob Trevino	....	special effects supervisor
Jeffery D. Woodrel	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Cosmas Paul Bolger Jr.	....	visual effects supervisor
Stephen Gaconnier	....	visual effects supervisor
Heather Ignarro	....	visual effects coordinator
John W. McInnis	....	previz artist
Marco S. Paolini	....	digital compositor
Mitch Paulson	....	digital preview colorist
Tommy Tran	....	model maker

Stunts
Richard Bucher	....	stunt double: Johnny Knoxville
Mark Chavarria	....	stunts
Kevin L. Jackson	....	stunt double
Markus Langhans	....	stunts
Michael Trisler	....	stunt double: Johnny Knoxville
Dain Turner	....	stunts
Tierre Turner	....	stunt coordinator
Mary Adeline Wright	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Stephen Beasley	....	rigging gaffer
Danny Brazen	....	best boy grip
Darwin Montana Browne	....	key grip
Jeffrey N. Civa	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Trey Clinesmith	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Theda Cunningham	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Bruce Deck	....	camera operator: video camera
Des Doyle	....	clapper loader
Mark Edwards	....	assistant camera
Kat Gibson	....	additional second assistant camera
Scott Graves	....	best boy electric
Donald R. Howe Jr.	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Greg Lomas	....	dolly grip
Eric Montes	....	rigging electrician
Edward A. Navarro	....	additional electrician
Deana Newcomb	....	still photographer
Stephen Ritchey	....	lamp/dimmer operator
Wally Rowell	....	additional electrician
Peter Simonite	....	daily first assistant camera
Angelo Louis Suasnovar Jr.	....	rigging key grip
Gregg Thompson	....	grip
Greg Travis	....	set electrician
Stephen J. Ullman	....	camera operator
Jay W. Yowler	....	gaffer

Animation Department
John H. Smith	....	background artist

Casting Department
Sally Allen	....	extras casting coordinator
Cindy Binnings	....	extras casting assistant
Letty Chavarria	....	extras casting assistant
Kim Everett	....	casting associate
Kit Gwin	....	local casting associate
Michael Hothorn	....	casting executive
Dave Kraft	....	extras casting assistant
Melissa Mercer	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Stephany Baskin	....	set costumer
Steve Constancio	....	set costumer
Nyima Johnston	....	costumer
Keith G. Lewis	....	wardrobe supervisor
Amy Maner	....	buyer: costume department
Elizabeth Shelton	....	associate costume designer
John H. Smith	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Marisa Clayton	....	post-production coordinator: Modern VideoFilm
Joel Heller	....	associate editor
Charles Kaplan	....	apprentice editor
George Missor	....	epk assistant editor
Mark Scovil	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Joe Crnko	....	conductor (as Joseph Crnko)
Christopher Guardino	....	co-producer: musical score
Brad Haehnel	....	music mixer
Stephen Lotwis	....	music editor
Manish Raval	....	music supervisor
Tom Wolfe	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Charles Coulter	....	driver: honeywagon
Greg Faucett	....	transportation coordinator
Keri Moorhouse	....	transportation administrator
Russell E. Scott	....	picture cars

Other crew
Natalie Angel	....	production coordinator
Jimmy Badstibner	....	assistant: Marc S. Fischer/Garrett Grant (as James Badstibner)
Michael Barnes	....	financial legal services
Kevin Barnett	....	assistant: Bobby Farrelly
Jay Biederman	....	assistant: Peter Farrelly
Scott Brooks	....	assistant: Bradley Thomas
Doug Carter	....	production assistant
Brian De Esch	....	production assistant
Matt Eppedio	....	assistant: Barry W. Blaustein
Pam Fuller	....	script supervisor (as Pam Fuller Vasquez)
Joanna Gallagher	....	choreographer
Kayse Goodell	....	production assistant
Thomas J. Healy IV	....	location scout
Jose Angel Hernandez	....	location scout
John Johns	....	video playback engineer
Kelly Kernan	....	location manager
Tiffany Noel Kinder	....	location scout: pre-production
Laura King	....	on-set medic
Tracie Laymon	....	production assistant
Johnny K.M. Lee	....	office assistant
Lori C. Miller	....	title designer
Laura O'Keefe	....	set production assistant
Shobie Partos	....	assistant location manager
Allen 'Biff' Petty	....	office production assistant
John M. Pisani	....	unit publicist
Karen Ramirez	....	production assistant
Tara Reimers	....	production assistant
Jeremy Reisig	....	set production assistant
Christopher Scull	....	additional set production assistant
Sandy Sfeir	....	first assistant accountant
Sandhya Shardanand	....	assistant production coordinator
Tim Sheehan	....	assistant: Tommy Knoxville (as Timothy Sheehan)
Mary C. Snyder	....	title designer
Max Sturgeon	....	additional production assistant
Christi Tidman	....	production accountant
Laura A. Walker	....	additional production assistant
Steve White	....	location scout
Marc C. Geschwind	....	extras coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Conundrum Entertainment

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Hispano Foxfilms S.A.E. (2005) (Spain) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2006) (Argentina) (all media)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Custom Film Effects (opticals)
• Digital Filmworks (visual effects)
• Janimation

Other Companies

• Behind the Scenes Freight  shipping by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Herold Studios  german dubbing
• Inflatable Crowd Company, The  inflatable mannequins
• Northwest Sinfonia  orchestra
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  cellular fax rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  nextel cell phone rentals
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility (as Soundtrack Boston)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and some drug references.

Runtime:

94 min | Argentina:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

UK:12A | Ireland:PG | Germany:6 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Malaysia:U | Argentina:13 | Iceland:LH | Finland:K-7 | Netherlands:6 | South Korea:12 | Greece:K | USA:PG-13 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Conundrum Entertainment

Trivia:

Originally set for a US theatrical release in 2004 the film was pushed back secondary to concern from studio executives over its content.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jeffy and the other guys are sitting next to the pool, the water bottle sitting on the table changes from full to half-full just after Jimmy shows up and just after the camera goes back to the guys.

Quotes:

Thomas: [to Steve] Should I wear my top up
[lifts top up]
Thomas: ... or down
[pulls top down]
Thomas: ... or up
[pulls top up again]
Thomas: ... or possibly... tucked in
[tucks in top]

Movie Connections:

References "According to Jim" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Fox Sports Network College Basketball Theme 2001

This Movie Is Great For Special Olympic Athletes!

As Head of Delegation for a Special Olympic Texas team who has athletes featured in this movie, I have to take exception with the concept of assuming the athletes are being teased and made fun of in this movie. I spent most of 3 months on the set watching the filming 2 years ago and I know how very carefully Special Olympics International has watched the development of this movie. They have been involved in every aspect of this movie, from script development to final product. I also know how very careful Special Olympics is with putting their seal of approval on projects. They simply do not endorse ANYTHING, yet they are completely and 100% behind this movie.

I have seen the movie and can't wait to take every member of my team. Many of them have seen the movie and indeed are in it. At the premiere in Austin December 6 my athletes were howling with laughter and having a great time. While I will admit that Johnny Knoxville, the Farrelly Brothers and Special Olympics do not seem to make the best mix in the world, this works. And it is a beautiful movie. There are a few dirty words (like Forrest Gump) and a few tasteless jokes, but it is screamingly funny and has worlds of heart. The athletes are always, ALWAYS treated with the utmost respect. Unlike most movies about the mentally handicapped, there are major parts in this movie played by genuine special Olympic athletes, and they used some 200 special Olympic extra's. This was a labor of love, on both sides of the camera. It deserves to be viewed and respected. The producers had a vision of bringing to life and light the fact that mentally challenged people are well rounded and enjoyable people. They did it beautifully. Go see the movie and laugh with all your heart.