ATL (2006)

Director:

Chris Robinson

Writers (WGA):

Tina Gordon Chism (screenplay)
Antwone Fisher (story)

Release Date:

31 March 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

A New American Story

Plot:

As four friends prepare for life after high school, different challenges bring about turning points in each of their lives. The dramas unfold and resolve at their local rollerskating rink, Cascade. |

Plot Keywords:

Rollerskating Rink | High School | Gold Tooth | Ivy League | Cleaning Crew

Awards:

7 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Dec. 21	8:00 PM	BET
Tue. Dec. 22	5:00 PM	BET

Cast

Greg Andrews	...	Jay
Monica Arnold	...	Waffle House Waitress (as Monica)
Brandon Bernard Benton	...	Student in Classroom
Adam Boyer	...	Bartender
April Clark	...	Tondie
Albert Daniels	...	Brooklyn
Steven R. Ewing	...	Fireman
Alvin Lee Fleming	...	Skateman
Big Gipp	...	Famous Customer (as Cameron Gipp)
Bart Hansard	...	Deputy
T.I.	...	Rashad (as Tip Harris)
Khadijah	...	Veda
Malika	...	Star
Bone Crusher	...	Bone Crusher (as Wayne Hardnett)
Monique Harris	...	Sexy Woman

Also Known As:

Jellybeans (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for drug content, language, sexual material and some violence.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #42542) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

1901 Metropolitan Parkway, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Sweet Tea Pictures LLC

Trivia:

Antwon Fisher wrote the story line for ATL and for Antwone Fisher (2002), his autobiographical movie. In both movies, the main characters say the phrase, "I can eat." Antwon Fisher says it twice: once with Denzel and again with his girlfriend. When he says the phrase to his girlfriend, he chuckles because he remembers saying it to Denzel. In ATL, Jackie Long's character, Esquire, says the same line to John Garnett.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: During the pool scene, the boom mic is visible in the reflection of New New's sunglasses.

Quotes:

Tondie: [to Ant] You tell me. You're the one that's shinin'.

Movie Connections:

References Scarface (1983)

Soundtrack:

Ride wit Me

Much Better Than I Expected

The New Urban drama/comedy ATL,about a group of friends coming of age in Atlanta,was better than I expected in so many ways:It was sweet.It had heart.It was funny in real and unexpected ways,and it had a pace and rhythm all its own.

Another reviewer mentioned "Cooley High" as a reference,but I would also add American Graffiti,especially in using a central location,in this case a roller skating rink,as the focus of the action,as the meeting place of the kids in the area.

I'm afraid that once the word gets around that this isn't another tough,gangster style film,that it will die quickly at the box office,as evidenced by the bored,loud teenagers I saw the film with tonight.

Are small,personal African American films like ATL and "Something New" doomed to failure because of their refusal to dumb down to their audiences with broad,crude humor?I hope not,but why should they be any different than white audiences that cant see a good thing if their lives depended on it either.

End of rant.Take a chance on a film that takes a chance.