The Battle of Shaker Heights (2003)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Directors:

Efram Potelle
Kyle Rankin

Writer:

Erica Beeney (written by)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Comedy

Tagline:

When you're 17, every day is war

Plot:

A young war reenactor makes a friend on the battlefield who helps him use strategy to take on his high school enemy...

Plot Keywords:

Bully | Father Son Relationship | Teen | War Reenactment | High School

Cast

Shia LaBeouf	...	Kelly Ernswiler (as Shia La Beouf)
Elden Henson	...	Bart Bowland
Amy Smart	...	Tabby
Billy Kay	...	Lance
Kathleen Quinlan	...	Eve
Shiri Appleby	...	Sarah
William Sadler	...	Abe
Ray Wise	...	Harrison
Philipp Karner	...	Maurice / German Soldier
Anson Mount	...	Miner Weber
Dale R. Simonton	...	Todd / German Soldier (as Dale Simonton)
Michael McShane	...	Mr. Norway
Hattie Winston	...	Principal Holmstead
Rick Cramer	...	German Officer / Mr. Thomas
France Nuyen	...	Xiou-Xiou Ling

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language and some drug references.

Runtime:

USA:79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-11 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:LH

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden - 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California, USA

Company:

LivePlanet

Trivia:

The test screenings showed that the audience had trouble figuring out whether it was a comedy or a teen drama. Directors Kyle Rankin and Efram Potelle and Miramax were fighting towards the end of post production on what genre it should be. The directors felt it should be a teen drama, Miramax thought it should be a comedy (because it was a marketing genre). Rankin and Potelle eventually gave in and cut it as a comedy.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Kelly is talking to Miner just before the wedding starts, the epaulet on his jacket goes from being untucked to tucked under the collar even though both of his hands are on the bicycle.

Quotes:

Principal Holmstead: Growing up is a hard enough thing as it is.
Kelly: Is that what your box of tissues is for?

Movie Connections:

Spin off from "Project Greenlight 2" (2003)

Soundtrack:

A Frivolous Distribution of Sundries

One of the best Movies of the Summer!

I saw Shaker, & just have to say I loved it! I went into the theatre thinking it would be a disaster like last years "Stolen Summer", but was greatly surprised. The movie holds its own as a comedy, & has many funny moments. In the theatre I was in, there was tons of laughter. Shia's performance impressed me the most. He was great at delivering the material, & was just as strong in the few dramatic scenes. I see a great future for this kid. All the dustin hoffman comparisons are justified. Elden is also quite good as Bart. Amy Smart was not as great as the rest of the cast, but still a decent performer.

Some critics dont like the movie, but it seems they are reviewing the TV show, rather than the movie. I've never trusted critics that much anyway. I would wholeheartedly reccomend anyone, whether you watch PGL or not to see the movie. The directors really salvaged what seemed like a certain disaster. Their editing skills are obviously 2nd to few in the biz. Hope to see them work again. Overall I would give the movie an 8/10 for its humor, & excellent performance by newcomer Shia Labeouf.

-James