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| Jim
Caviezel (standing on boat) plays the late Jim McCormick in
the movie “Madison.” |
MGM
announces official release
of movie 'Madison' on April 22
Premiere
party plans for city are still unfolding; buzz is on
By Don Ward
Editor
MADISON, Ind. (March 2005) – If all goes according to
plan, Madison, Ind., will be the site of the world premiere on April
16 for the movie “Madison.” MGM Studios on Feb. 25 officially
announced the film’s limited national release April 22 in 15
to 20 U.S. cities.
The film, shot on location in Madison in late 1999 and 2000 in other
cities, captures the true-life story of the late Jim McCormick’s
victory in the 1971 Gold Cup Unlimited hydroplane race before the
hometown fans. It stars actor Jim Caviezel (“The Passion of
Christ,” The Count of Monte Cristo”) as McCormick. Jake
Lloyd plays the young Mike McCormick, Jim’s son. Seymour, Ind.,
native and rock star John Mellencamp provides the narration throughout.
And Madison singer Rusty Bladen has a song in the film, his own
“Ride That River.”
The premiere party being planned at Madison’s Ohio Theater
is still tentative, city official say. But all efforts are under
way to bring in some of the actors and others who worked on the
independent film. Caviezel may not be able to make it for the premiere
because he will be busy shooting a film in April.
“It was truly a pleasure to work with Jim Caviezel – he’s
an actor who is as timeless as the true story which inspired the
film,” said Bindley, 42, an Indianapolis native who co-wrote
the script with his brother, Scott, 39.
Those actors expected to attend include Jake Lloyd, who lives in
the Indianapolis area; Frank Knapp, who lives in Tennessee; Mark
Fauser of Marion, Ind.; and Brent Briscoe of Los Angeles. Since
the filming of “Madison,” actress Mary McCormack has risen
to fame as a regular on the NBC TV series “West Wing.”
McCormack, Bruce Dern and Paul Dooley will be invited to attend,
officials say.
“I’m just waiting to hear when
they confirm the date of the premiere,” said Fauser, a screenwriter
and actor who plays Miss Madison race team member Travis. “I
believe in this movie and I’m so proud of what the Bindley
brothers have done, and then to see it all the way through. It gives
all of us screenwriters hope.”
Madison City Projects Administrator Betsey Vonderheide said the
initial idea for a public showing on a large screen at the foot
of Broadway has been dropped because of the exorbitant costs. The
premiere will likely be limited to 1,000 people on Saturday night,
she said, although officials are exploring the possibility of more
screenings on Sunday, April 17.
The MGM press release reads: “In the inspiring tradition of
screen favorites such as ‘Rocky,’ ‘Hoosier’
and ‘Breaking Away,’ the movie ‘Madison’ is
a true slice of Americana. High-speed, heart-stopping thrills meet
pride, perseverance and an all-or-nothing shot at greatness on the
banks of the Ohio River town called Madison.”
Indianapolis initially had the most screens showing the film that
first weekend, officials said. In recent weeks, the number of cities
to get the film has significantly grown. Other Indiana towns now
being considered include Columbus, Marion, Terre Haute and Evansville.
Elsewhere, the film is to be shown in Louisville, Chicago, Seattle,
Los Angeles and New York. Other cities being considered include
San Diego, Cincinnati, Dayton, St. Louis, Mo., Fort Myers, Fla,
Charlotte, N.C., and Owensboro, Ky. Other cities are being considered
as well.
“It will be a lot of fun to bring the film out in the city
where it was made,” said Carl Amari, a Chicago filmmaker who
financed and executive produced the 94-minute film. “We plan
to get all the investors and people who helped make the film together
for one big party. They’ve done a wonderful job finishing the
film, and I think people are going to love it. Now we just need
to get the word out at the grassroots level.”
Even those who saw the rough cut of the film
at the 2001 Sundance and Heartland Film Festivals are in for a treat,
Amari said. The film has been polished and improved, he said, and
it now has a professional score behind it, created by the 100-piece
Prague Philaharmonic Orchestra.
A soundtrack of the pop songs used in the movie is also planned,
including Bladen’s.
To generate grassroots support so the film can expand to more theaters,
MGM has tapped the marketing expertise of Motive Entertainment,
the same company that helped make Mel Gibson’s “The Passion
of the Christ” and “The Polar Express” huge box office
successes.
Several private screenings were held for “key interest groups,”
Amari said, to build a buzz for the family oriented film. These
include the newly formed American Boat Racing Association, which
now operates the Unlimited hydroplane circuit, the National Marine
Manufacturing Association, and for religious and family oriented
groups.
“We have a film that makes people
feel good, and we want to capitalize on that,” Amari said.
“This is a movie that hits them in their sweet spot, so we’re
going for word-of-mouth support by targeting these key groups. It’s
called gorilla marketing, where you get out there and shake hands.”
A private screening was held Feb. 18 in Indianapolis and another
Feb. 25 in Chicago. The latter included 25 faith community leaders,
Amari said. The film will be shown in March at Willow Creek Community
Church in South Barrington, Ill., a Chicago suburb.
Tony Steinhardt of Madison was on the original race team in 1971
and provided technical assistance on the film. He said the reaction
to the film at ABRA screenings has been “phenomenal. I’ve
seen emotional reaction and heard really good comments.” He
said the film would likely do wonders for the city, county and state
of Indiana in terms of tourism.
Several top movie industry reviewers have
given the film high marks. “Good, old-fashioned entertainment
in the best sense of the term,” said “Entertainment Tonight’s”
Leonard Maltin. “Classic, quality filmmaking’s expertly
realized. Superb,” said the Sundance Film Festival’s Geoffrey
Gilmore. “Warm and absorbing, in the tradition of ‘Breaking
Away.’ I highly recommend it,” said NBC movie critic Jeffrey
Lyons.
The movie is being listed among the upcoming films on the Showcase
Cinemas website. The site lists the film in its schedule at its
Preston Highway and Gene Snyder Freeway cinema complex. It is expected
to be shown at Madison’s Great Escape Theater on the hilltop.
The film has received a “PG” rating for “mild language
and sports peril.”
• For more information, visit the official movie website:
www.madisonthemovie.com. To view the movie trailer and message board,
visit RoundAbout’s “Madison” movie web page at: www.roundaboutmadison.com.
• Editor’s Note: You can
view the movie trailer in its entirety online at:
www.madisonthemovie.com/madison.html.
Click on “Madison.”
“Madison” Movie Credits
Made in USA, 2001
Release Date: Late Summer 2004
Distributors: MGM
Runtime: 94 min.
Executive Producers: Carl Amari, Chris Dennis, Steve Salutric, Roy
Millonzi
Producers: Martin Wiley, William Bindley
Co-Producer: Lisa Lloyd
Screenwriters: William Bindley, Scott Bindley
Director: William Bindley (Credits: “The Eighteenth Angel,”
“Judicial Consent”)
Principal Cast: Jim Caviezel (Jim McCormick), Jake Lloyd (Mike McCormick),
Mary McCormack (Bonnie McCormick), Bruce Dern (Harry Volpi), Paul
Dooley (Mayor Don Vaughn), Brent Briscoe (Tony Steinhardt).
Additional Cast: Frank Knapp (Bobby Humphrey), Kristina Anapau (Tami),
James Andelin (Merle), Reed Diamond (Skip), Mark Fauser (Travis),
Richard Lee Jackson (Buddy), Matthew Letscher (Owen Henderson),
Cody McMains (Bobby Epperson), William Shockley (Rick Winston),
Vincent Ventresca (Walker Grief), John M. Watson Sr. (Walter).
Storyline: A somewhat fictionalized account of a true story about
an Unlimited hydroplane driver’s surprise victory in the 1971
Gold Cup at Madison, Ind.
Official website: http://www.madisonthemovie.com
Copyright 1999-2008, Kentuckiana Publishing, Inc.
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