MYSTERY, ALASKA RATING: 8 / 10 --> Great movie
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I will admit that I was sick of seeing the trailer of this film every time that I went out to the theatres over the past year. It was apparently pushed back a couple of times, but here it is now, right before the real hockey season gets under way. Anyway, it isn't every day that Hollywood comes out with a hockey movie which isn't turned into an actual NHL franchise, so I was still willing to give this one a shot. Good move.
PLOT: A small wintery town that prides itself on its dignity and game of hockey, soon find themselves on the receiving end of a proposal from the actual New York Rangers. The NHL team want to challenge the small town goobers to an exhibition game, after a flattering article about their rich tradition of hockey fills the pages of Sports Illustrated.
CRITIQUE: I love hockey. You don't have to like hockey to like this movie, but being Canadian, and liking hockey, both allowed me to appreciate this film's universal message on a deeper level. Three films which kept resonating in my mind as I watched this small but effective film, were the underdog done good flick, RUDY, the character driven small town tale, BEAUTIFUL GIRLS (8/10), and the bigger budgeted FOR LOVE OF THE GAME (7.5/10). Consider this one an amalgamation of the three. Sound like you've "been there, done that"? Maybe. But this movie worked for me. It's about heart. It's about drive, inspiration, pride, tradition, love of a game which anyone, including non-hockey fans, could truly appreciate. It's also about relationships and the hardships that people have to endure to survive a small town micro-culture, a feeling of second banana to a sport, and opportunities missed and achieved. I don't live in a small town, but I am always smitten by films of these kind which successfully convey the small town feel to someone who has never been. It's easy to see how many of these communities are deemed to be extended families, as every little thing once does somehow seems to affect every one else in the group. So strange.
Not only was this film able to convey this atmosphere convincingly with many sharply written characters all grieving on some level or another, but even more importantly, it was able to resonate the importance and deeply ingrained feeling of love for a sport, which allowed us to feel for these characters, and obviously, root for them in the big game. You should know that this film does not feature a lot of hockey play. In fact, I would say that it is more of a character-driven film based around a common "obsession" which happens to be the game of hockey. There are funny moments, dramatic moments, touching moments, and obviously moments of fun hockey. I enjoyed all of the performances in the film, except for the Burt Reynolds character who seemed a little too narrowly drawn for my taste, but kudos to Russell Crowe and the rest of the gang for portraying these folks as real human beings, instead of stick figures from the minds of Hollywood execs. There is also a cute cameo near the end of the film (Read the little known facts if you really want to know who it is) which seemed soooo appropriate for this movie. Some may find this film corny and derivative, but God help me if I didn't enjoy its every moment. Another unnamed critic hailed this film to the "Rocky of hockey", and despite the complete banality of that statement, I would have to agree in respect to its intent. If you're in the mood for a feel-good, character-driven drama featuring some good performances, funny and tender moments, then this is one that you should definitely check out.
Little Known Facts about this film and its stars: When you consider the fact that this actor is Canadian, has gone on the record as saying that he loves hockey, and that he starred in director Jay Roach's two previous directing efforts (Roach is the director of this film and married to the singer from The Bangles, Susanna Hoffs), it shouldn't surprise you to find out that actor Mike Myers makes a quirky and humorous cameo near the end of this film. He plays a hockey commentator. Actor Russell Crowe was born in New Zealand but now calls Australia home. You might remember his wife in this film, actress Mary McCormack, from her popular role of Alison Stern, wife of the self-acclaimed "king of all media" Howard Stern, in the movie PRIVATE PARTS (7/10). Shot entirely in Alberta, Canada, this film apparently led to at least one barroom brawl when actor Russell Crowe was alleged to have gotten himself into such an altercation during the filming months of this movie. In case you are living on the planet Mars and still don't know who writer David E. Kelly is, he is the man behind the two Emmy-winning shows, "Ally McBeal" and "The Practice". He's also known for being the man who once got Michelle Pfeiffer to agree to marry him in 1993, and has since been married to the lovely actress, and the man who penned three other motion pictures, TO GILLIAN ON HER 37TH BIRTHDAY, the monster tale, LAKE PLACID and FROM THE HIP, which has apparently based on some of his own experiences as a lawyer. Sadly, it starred actor Judd Nelson :) David actually used to be a lawyer in Boston and attended both Princeton University and Boston University Law School. This film was originally titled POND RULES.
Review Date: October 3, 1999
Director: Jay Roach
Writers: David E. Kelley and Sean O'Byrne
Producers: Howard Baldwin, Karen Baldwin and David E. Kelley
Actors: Russell Crowe as John Biebe
Hank Azaria as Charles Danner
Burt Reynolds as Judge Burns
Genre: Drama
Year of Release: 1999
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(c) 1999 Berge Garabedian
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