The Replacements (2000)

During a pro football strike, the owners hire substitute players.

Director:

Howard Deutch

Writer:

Vince McKewin

Stars:

Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, Brooke Langton

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keanu Reeves	...	Shane Falco
Gene Hackman	...	Jimmy McGinty
Brooke Langton	...	Annabelle Farrell
Orlando Jones	...	Clifford Franklin
Faizon Love	...	Jamal
Michael Taliferro	...	Andre (as Michael 'Bear' Taliferro)
Ace Yonamine	...	Fumiko
Troy Winbush	...	Walter Cochran
David Denman	...	Brian Murphy
Jon Favreau	...	Bateman
Michael Jace	...	Wilkinson
Rhys Ifans	...	Nigel Gruff
Gailard Sartain	...	Pilachowski
Art LaFleur	...	Banes
Brett Cullen	...	Eddie Martel

Storyline

A comedy based on the 1987 professional football players' strike. Gene Hackman plays the coach of the team, Jack Warden is the owner, Brett Cullen is the All-Pro quarterback that goes on strike and Keanu Reeves is the "scab" who replaces the star QB.

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Plot Keywords:

strike | coach | football player | misfits | sumo wrestler | 

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Taglines:

Pros on strike. Everyday guys get to play.

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Genres:

Comedy | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some crude sexual humor and language

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. Warner Bros.

Country:

USA

Language:

English American Sign Language

Release Date:

11 August 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Helden aus der zweiten Reihe

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,039,214, 13 August 2000, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$44,737,059, 19 November 2000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,317,452

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bel Air Entertainment,Dylan Sellers Productions,Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Training and practice took place at Glen Burnie High School, in Glen Burnie, Maryland. The football coach worked with the cast and crew on football plays.

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Goofs

When McGinty is telling Falco that Martell has crossed, the head-on shot of Falco absorbing this news shows him looking to his left, when the camera angle changes to show him from behind, he is looking to his right.

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Quotes

Jimmy McGinty: [stopping Danny before he runs on the field] Danny, I need the ball.
Daniel Bateman: You need the ball.
Jimmy McGinty: I need you to get me the ball.
Daniel Bateman: I'm going to get you the ball.
Jimmy McGinty: [starts shouting repeatedly to rev Danny up] Are you gonna get me the ball!
Daniel Bateman: [shouting back repeatedly] I wanna get you the ball!
[then runs on the field]
Jimmy McGinty: I hope he doesn't kill someone.

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Connections

Spoofed in The Comebacks (2007)

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Soundtracks

The Look In Your Eyes
Written by John Debney, Marc Bonilla and Michael Mason
Performed by Bob Schneider & Font 48

User Reviews

Brilliant, fuzzy, feel good movie.

I haven't bothered watching professional football since Joe Montana retired but this movie got me interested again. While I can appreciate the comments of other reviewers that it is a formula movie and has many inaccuracies when it comes to the football action it is pure and unadulterated fun. The bottom line is this movie is downright funny, from start to finish. The cast are absolutely wonderful and the casting director did a brilliant job of bringing this gang together. Gene Hackman of course is perfect as the coach.... "I'll pull you off the field you spoiled son of a bitch".... Rhys Ifans absolute perfection as Gruff (after a **** you remark from Jimbo) "You'll have to find your dick first Shamu", to the shoot em up bros from the hood, to "get me the ball, get me the ball" The acting was absolutely wonderful in this movie. I have to admit I didn't like the guy that played Martell but perhaps that's because I wasn't supposed to like him, perhaps it shows what a good job he did. And Keanu, dear, sweet, so maligned Keanu, I read a reviewer once who said of Keanu's acting that it is "almost transparent" and in this movie it is, he doesn't eat scenery he just does his job, low key, perfectly in character, and for those who know anything at all about acting all you have to do is watch his eyes. He has a Harrison Ford like quality of being able to express a wealth of emotions with his eyes and in this movie he pulls it off perfectly. I also read somewhere that during the making of this movie it was discovered that Keanu really did have "an arm" and at one point threw a 69 yard pass. I have seen this movie in excess of 20 times and will no doubt see it 20 more times, it is the best feel-good movie I have ever seen. When I want drama and suspense I will watch "The Green Mile" when I want simple, comedy that just leaves me with a huge grin I will watch the replacements. Oh yeah and I just want to kiss the person who put Keanu in a No. 16 uniform *S*