Woodlawn (2015)

A gifted high school football player must learn to embrace his talent and his faith as he battles racial tensions on and off the field.

Directors:

Andrew Erwin, Jon Erwin

Writers:

Jon Erwin, Todd Gerelds (book)

Stars:

Caleb Castille, Sean Astin, Jon Voight

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sean Astin	...	Hank Erwin
Nic Bishop	...	Tandy Gerelds
Caleb Castille	...	Tony Nathan
Sherri Shepherd	...	Momma Nathan
Jon Voight	...	Paul Bryant
Joy Brunson	...	Johnnie
Lance E. Nichols	...	Junior (as Lance Nichols)
DeVon Franklin	...	Preacher
C. Thomas Howell	...	Shorty
Kevin Sizemore	...	Jerry Stearns
Brett Rice	...	Whitehurst
Virginia Williams	...	Debbie
Brando Eaton	...	Morton
Richard Kohnke	...	Jeff Rutledge
Jet Jurgensmeyer	...	Todd

Storyline

When Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, Alabama is controversially desegregated in 1973, Tony Nathan, a gifted black high school football player, joins the school's predominantly white football team along with several other black players. The coach, Tandy Gerelds, tells the team to use their shared anger to unite them, but black and white players clash on and off the field. After a riot at the school, Gerelds consents to allowing traveling sports chaplain Hank Erwin to speak to the team as a "motivational speaker". Hank's speech moves nearly the entire team to accept Hank's invitation to commit their lives to Jesus Christ, and join together in prayer. Gerelds does not accept the invitation, and is unsure what to make of the event..

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Plot Keywords:

faith | team | coach | high school | christianity | 

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Taglines:

One Hope. One Truth. One Way (John 14:6)

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements including some racial tension/violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie marks the second time Jon Voight portrays a football coach. The first time was in Varsity Blues.

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Goofs

During the game between Woodlawn and Banks where it is pouring with rain, the Woodlawn sideline players and coaches are seen to be wet. However, the Banks sideline players and coaches are dry with dry hair and clothing. The rain can be seen falling in front of them.

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Quotes

Paul Bryant: You know the difference between you and these people? They're cowards, and you ain't.

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Connections

Featured in One: The Woodlawn Study: The Cost of Following (2016)

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Soundtracks

Friendship Train
Written by Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
Performed by The Temptations
Courtesy of Midtown Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

I wept and cheered through it all!

This movie was like stepping back in time. My husband and I grew up in Alabama during this time frame and experienced pretty much everything in the film; segregation, desegregation, race wars and the Jesus Revolution. These events are not exaggerated! They actually happened not only at Woodlawn but in cities all over America. They happened in the schools and churches in our town...this is truth and we personally have never recovered from that time period...when God showed up. Must see story! Billy Graham came to our little town...David Wilkerson came too...This film accurately and poignantly portrays a vivid spiritual awakening that we could certainly use a heavy dose of right now in this country.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 October 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Woodlawn

Filming Locations:

Legion Field - 400 Graymont Avenue W, Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,002,226, 18 October 2015

Gross USA:

$14,394,097

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,401,617

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kevin Downes Productions, Crescent City Pictures, FortyFour Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1