Turn
off the radio!
"Radio" is an
oddly unappealing "inspirational" story based on
a a real life account in 1976 South Carolina
with a high school football coach who takes
under his wing a young, developmentally disabled
man.
Cuba Gooding Jr. plays the role without going
for the glamour...which is to be admired. I
can't stand films where you have glamourized and
shiny, happy disabled people. It irritates me
beyond words. Yet, I never took a liking to this
character either...I certainly felt sorry for
him in an early scene where he suffered abuse at
the hands of members of the football team...yet,
I never quite bought into the transformation
into an accepted part of the team...and I never
quite could figure out why coach took a liking
to him. In many ways, he seemed like little more
than a spoiled brat. The first time he ordered
both kinds of pie available at the restaurant it
was cute...after that, it just made him appear
manipulative and spoiled.
Gooding does create a unique character here, and
it's certainly a welcome relief from the "Boat
Trip" fiasco...Ed Harris seems an odd choice as
the sympathetic coach...yeah, he can play the
coach...but, I never bought into the sympathy.
Competently performed smaller roles included the
wonderful Alfre Woodard, Debra Winger as the
coach's wife and most of the football team.
The script is a poorly written, forced mishmash
of emotions and the score melodramatic. Director
Michael Tollin has directed the more acclaimed
"Hardwood Dreams," a fine documentary. I
couldn't help but wish this film had been a
documentary, as well.
©
Written by Richard Propes
TC Candler's Comment
N/A
Jacob
Hall's Comment
N/A
