Watch the crowd
scenes...I'm in this one!
There are those films that one simply enjoys.
They aren't always critical favorites. They
aren't always box office smashes. Many times,
they are hidden away in small, independent
theaters or on general release shelves of your
local, independent video store. They don't win
awards, not because there's a conspiracy against
them but, quite simply, because they don't
deserve awards. Yet, somehow, they become fixed
in our memories and make us smile when we watch
them. In many ways, it is these films that most
remind us why we became lovers of
film...aficionados of cinema.
For me, "Madison" is such a film.
It is not a brilliant film, and beyond an award
for its positive message at the Heartland Film
Festival in 2001, "Madison" will not capture any
acting or directing or writing or filmmaking
prizes. It did finally, after four years in
limbo, get a wide release this year and has
barely made a ripple in the box office. It is a
film the way films are no longer made...simple,
straightforward and life-affirming with, dare I
say, "family values." It is a throwback to the
Disney films of the 70s and early 80s that
challenged us gently AND focused on entertaining
us without obscenities or violence or nudity or
controversy.
I am, admittedly, a tad biased in my opinion of
this film. Having served as an extra on the film
during its production in Madison, Indiana during
2000/2001, I've been dismayed for years at its
lack of public release. Having not seen the
final product, I trusted my own experience in
the film...one of fun, simplicity and genuine
camaraderie. This was the least pretentious,
least guarded film in which I'd ever
participated...the director was not a prima
donna...the stars were not inaccessible...the
entire team worked together to make this film
happen and, in my eyes, ended up making this
film quietly special.
"Madison" is the story of the "Miss Madison", a
hydroplane (in layman's terms "racing boat")
sponsored by and the pride of the city of
Madison, Indiana. This is based on a true story,
however, only native Hoosiers and fans of
hydroplane racing would be likely to discern
when the story takes a detour into fantasyland
or simply twists the truth. The story is like
many of the other sports stories filmed in
Indiana...the underdog gets a chance and becomes
the hero of the day. Is every state filled with
stories like these? I often wonder, because it
seems to be the Hoosier way of living.
"Madison" stars Jim Caviezel, who was in his
pre-Christ days when this film was made and was
just starting to attract better leading roles
when this film was made. Caviezel, as Jim
McCormick, feels like a native Hoosier with a
down-home charm, good ole'boy attitude and quiet
determination. He is a loyal, conflicted husband
and a man who recognizes and fiercely advocates
for those who supported him during hard times.
As his wife, Mary McCormack is reminiscent of
Bess Armstrong, late 70's/early 80's actress for
whom I had a huge crush. I can remember filming
and just sitting there looking at McCormack and
I just couldn't stop looking. Yes, I admit
it...I'm attracted to the retro look...and
McCormack is a definite throwback to the
traditional "mom" look in this film. She matches
this look, however, with a performance of quiet
intimacy and simplicity. It's an understated
performance that fits perfectly with the
atmosphere of the film.
Finally, as the son, native Hoosier Jake Lloyd
(yes, that Jake Lloyd from "Phantom Menace")
proves he actually can act with a performance
that will evoke Ron Howard's early work on "The
Andy Griffith Show." Is it a special
performance? No, but it sure gives a much better
indication how he ever got cast in "Phantom
Menace."
In supporting roles, we have an unusually calm
and attractive performance by Bruce Dern and
another comfortable, familiar performance from
Paul Dooley (who, ironically, starred in another
of the Hoosier sports films, "Breaking Away").
"Madison" is directed by William Bindley and
co-written by Bindley and his brother, Scott.
The film is not accurate in certain ways, and
rather stereotypical in others. For example,
Madison is a rather diverse rivertown...yet, you
may notice that not a single African-American
(that I can remember) is in the
film...hydroplane racing itself is (and always
has been) attended by the African-American
community, however, there's no indication of
that in the film. Likewise, Bindley chose to
dramatize the team conflicts in the film...where
the truth is that hydroplane racing teams have a
competitive, but typically cooperative spirit
AND there's always been a certain affection for
the "Miss Madison", even though with the
exception of this time period she's never had
much success (and yes, she still races).
Finally, nearly any Hoosier will tell you that
we are not nearly as "Hillbilly" as the film
seems to portray...while the film certainly does
seem to "celebrate" the backwardness...well,
there's a touch of truth in it that we Hoosiers
would like to deny.
"Madison" is not a brilliant film...yet it
didn't deserve to languish on a shelf for four
years. It's not one of THOSE films...it is a
film that fell victim to distribution problems
but is, in fact, a solid, entertaining and
worthy addition to the genre of family films.
It's one of those films that makes me realize
just how much I love cinema...I go out of my way
to find films such as this one...I want to find
the little film that is undiscovered and I want
to see the little guy's film get its chance to
shine. That, after all, is the Hoosier way.
© Written by
Richard Propes
TC Candler's Comment
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Jacob
Hall's Comment
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