Nearly 25 years after its debut, the 2000 sports comedy The Replacements is enjoying a surprising round of extra time Tubi. The film, starring Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman, was a panned dud in the eyes of critics on its original release, but audiences were taken with the star pairing and the story of underdog triumph. Now, this forgotten slice of 2000s nostalgia is finding a whole new audience on free streaming.
The Replacements tells the story of a beleaguered football team that finds hope in a motley group of replacement players during a pro-player strike. Reeves stars as Shane Falco, a quarterback who steps into the spotlight at a time when everything seems set to go south for the unlikely team. Gene Hackman’s seasoned coach, McGinty, brings the expected level of gravitas to his role as the tough-love giving counsel to the team. While many critics were put off by...
The Replacements tells the story of a beleaguered football team that finds hope in a motley group of replacement players during a pro-player strike. Reeves stars as Shane Falco, a quarterback who steps into the spotlight at a time when everything seems set to go south for the unlikely team. Gene Hackman’s seasoned coach, McGinty, brings the expected level of gravitas to his role as the tough-love giving counsel to the team. While many critics were put off by...
- 2/14/2025
- by Anthony Lund
- MovieWeb
Exclusive: Oscar-nominated Saving Private Ryan screenwriter Robert Rodat is set to write Semper Fi, the true story of Marine Maj. Thomas Schueman and his extraordinary Afghan interpreter Zainulla Zaki.
During fierce fighting in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, the two men formed an unbreakable brotherhood that transcended the differences in their cultures and ethnicities. After Schueman’s return to the U.S. he tried, with no success, to help Zaki and his family get out of Afghanistan. This summer, as the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan, Zaki and his family were targeted for execution by the Taliban due to his involvement with U.S. Forces. Schueman’s devotion to his comrade and his struggle to save him, his wife and four children led to a harrowing escape and a daring rescue at Kabul’s airport.
The project is being developed by producers Flashlight Films managing partner Allyn Stewart and veteran movie producer Hawk Koch,...
During fierce fighting in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, the two men formed an unbreakable brotherhood that transcended the differences in their cultures and ethnicities. After Schueman’s return to the U.S. he tried, with no success, to help Zaki and his family get out of Afghanistan. This summer, as the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan, Zaki and his family were targeted for execution by the Taliban due to his involvement with U.S. Forces. Schueman’s devotion to his comrade and his struggle to save him, his wife and four children led to a harrowing escape and a daring rescue at Kabul’s airport.
The project is being developed by producers Flashlight Films managing partner Allyn Stewart and veteran movie producer Hawk Koch,...
- 11/3/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Film review: 'Straight Through the Heart"
Set in a Baltimore suburb in 1959, Bob Swaim's "Straight Through the Heart" gives the usual, nostalgic coming-of-age story a bit of an edge.
The tale of a 12-year-old boy who comes to a new understanding of life via his experience of caring for a bitter neighbor dying of cancer, the film contains many heavy-handed, familiar elements but benefits greatly from finely textured performances by John Hurt, David Strathairn and Gregory Smith as the young boy. The French-New Zealand co-production was showcased recently at the 15th Miami Film Festival.
Danny (Smith), who spends much of his time avoiding neighborhood bullies, lives with his widower father (Strathairn) and Shakespeare-quoting sister, next door to the house in which Langer (Hurt) is preparing to die.
More than preparing, in fact; he's downright eager, so much so that when Danny's archery arrows accidentally fly into his bedroom, Langer stands by the window so they'll have a better chance of striking him. As punishment for a near-miss, Danny is ordered to spend time attending to Langer, whose primary interest is having Danny procure him cigarettes and whisky.
Danny's father, meanwhile, has his own problems, including an aggressively horny neighbor and another who is a near-psychotic World War II vet and accuses Danny's father of being a coward because he didn't serve in the military. The vet also has a disturbing habit of drunkenly firing his rifle on his front lawn at night.
Danny and Langer develop a close relationship, and soon Danny is wheeling the invalid around the neighborhood in his wagon. When Danny develops a desire to climb a nearby radio tower, Langer helps him devise a system of weights and pulleys to help him do it. The eventual attempt, in which Danny predictably runs into trouble, helps him realize the true extent of his father's courage.
Vince McKewin's screenplay plays much like a 1950s family sitcom, with the addition of then-forbidden topics such as adultery, attempted suicide, post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism. Though its frequent lurches into melodrama are dismayingly predictable, the film benefits from well-developed characterizations and incisive dialogue.
As underplayed by ever-reliable Strathairn, Danny's sensitive father is a quietly compelling character, while Hurt pulls out all the stops and delivers a highly entertaining turn as the colorful Langer, who regales his young charge with stories of his carousing. And Smith's Danny is the rare screen adolescent who is both credible and interesting.
STRAIGHT THROUGH THE HEART
A Banner Entertainment release
Director: Bob Swaim
Screenplay: Vince McKewin
Producer: Tom Parkinson
Director of photography: Allen Guilford
Editor: Marie Sophie Dubus
Executive producers: Robert Rea, Mark McClafferty
Color/stereo
Cast:
Danny Himes: Gregory Smith
Earl Himes: David Strathairn
Langer: John Hurt
Running time -- 97 minutes
No MPAA rating...
The tale of a 12-year-old boy who comes to a new understanding of life via his experience of caring for a bitter neighbor dying of cancer, the film contains many heavy-handed, familiar elements but benefits greatly from finely textured performances by John Hurt, David Strathairn and Gregory Smith as the young boy. The French-New Zealand co-production was showcased recently at the 15th Miami Film Festival.
Danny (Smith), who spends much of his time avoiding neighborhood bullies, lives with his widower father (Strathairn) and Shakespeare-quoting sister, next door to the house in which Langer (Hurt) is preparing to die.
More than preparing, in fact; he's downright eager, so much so that when Danny's archery arrows accidentally fly into his bedroom, Langer stands by the window so they'll have a better chance of striking him. As punishment for a near-miss, Danny is ordered to spend time attending to Langer, whose primary interest is having Danny procure him cigarettes and whisky.
Danny's father, meanwhile, has his own problems, including an aggressively horny neighbor and another who is a near-psychotic World War II vet and accuses Danny's father of being a coward because he didn't serve in the military. The vet also has a disturbing habit of drunkenly firing his rifle on his front lawn at night.
Danny and Langer develop a close relationship, and soon Danny is wheeling the invalid around the neighborhood in his wagon. When Danny develops a desire to climb a nearby radio tower, Langer helps him devise a system of weights and pulleys to help him do it. The eventual attempt, in which Danny predictably runs into trouble, helps him realize the true extent of his father's courage.
Vince McKewin's screenplay plays much like a 1950s family sitcom, with the addition of then-forbidden topics such as adultery, attempted suicide, post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism. Though its frequent lurches into melodrama are dismayingly predictable, the film benefits from well-developed characterizations and incisive dialogue.
As underplayed by ever-reliable Strathairn, Danny's sensitive father is a quietly compelling character, while Hurt pulls out all the stops and delivers a highly entertaining turn as the colorful Langer, who regales his young charge with stories of his carousing. And Smith's Danny is the rare screen adolescent who is both credible and interesting.
STRAIGHT THROUGH THE HEART
A Banner Entertainment release
Director: Bob Swaim
Screenplay: Vince McKewin
Producer: Tom Parkinson
Director of photography: Allen Guilford
Editor: Marie Sophie Dubus
Executive producers: Robert Rea, Mark McClafferty
Color/stereo
Cast:
Danny Himes: Gregory Smith
Earl Himes: David Strathairn
Langer: John Hurt
Running time -- 97 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 2/12/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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