Gridiron Gang (2006)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Phil Joanou

Writers (WGA):

Jeff Maguire (written by)
Jac Flanders (film "Gridiron Gang")

Release Date:

15 September 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

One goal. A second chance.

Plot:

Teenagers at a juvenile detention center, under the leadership of their counselor, gain self-esteem by playing football together.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Juvenile Delinquency | Fight | Fighting | Shot In The Arm

Cast

Dwayne Johnson	...	Sean Porter (as Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson)
Xzibit	...	Malcolm Moore
L. Scott Caldwell	...	Bobbi Porter
Leon Rippy	...	Paul Higa
Kevin Dunn	...	Ted Dexter
Jade Yorker	...	Willie Weathers
David V. Thomas	...	Kelvin Owens (as David Thomas)
Setu Taase	...	Junior Palaita
Mo	...	Leon Hayes
James Earl	...	Donald Madlock (as James Earl III)
Trever O'Brien	...	Kenny Bates
Brandon Smith	...	Bug Wendal (as Brandon Mychal Smith)
Jurnee Smollett	...	Danyelle Rollins
Michael J. Pagan	...	Roger Weathers
Jamal Mixon	...	Jamal Evans

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some startling scenes of violence, mature thematic material and language.

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

UK:12A | Ireland:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41479) | Singapore:PG | Malaysia:U | Germany:12 | Ireland:15A | Australia:M | Finland:K-13 | Argentina:Atp | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Agoura High School - 28545 W. Driver Avenue, Agoura Hills, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Industries

Trivia:

Though portrayed as the antagonist of the film, the real Paul Higa was one of the biggest advocates of the program.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Mustangs are playing the playoff game, #55 of the Panthers is seen in one scene with long sleeves, then moments later he has no sleeves.

Quotes:

Sean Porter: Most sixteen/seventeen year old kids, they make a bad choice. Something gets broken, they screw up in class, hurt somebody's feelings, show up at the prom drunk. They get sent to the Principal office, have their car keys taken away or get grounded. Then there's kids that make a bad choice, somebody ends up shot dead in a parking lot. Those kids get sent here.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "MADtv: (#12.1)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Celebration

This movie was awesome!

I just saw Gridiron Gang at a screening. It was great! The beginning was very violent, depressing, and scary- to the point where my friend and I considered leaving. It got better, though, and the violent beginning actually did a good job of setting up the story of the rival gangs. It was very well-acted, especially by The Rock. I was surprised because this is the first movie I've seen him in that I actually enjoyed. There was a good balance between the football aspect of the movie and the story itself. It wasn't just a "football movie"- it was about how playing on the football team was able to change the kids' lives. The ending was really good.