Cuba gooding jr radio

When we first started discussing our best football movies, I made the crucial mistake of writing this email in a group message asking people their top 5 football movies:.

As "Radio" starts to roll, the words appear on the screen: "Inspired by a true story. High School, and, particularly, its sports teams. But what does "inspired by" mean when the title character is alive, and even appears in the film? When the other main character has been a part of the production process? In Real Life: Radio first showed up at football practices in the mids, according to coach Harold Jones in a telephone interview.

Cuba gooding jr radio

I don't know the slightest thing about the true story that inspired "Radio," and I don't really want to, because the movie has convinced me that it's pretty close to real life. I believe that because 1 the closing credits include footage of the real Radio Kennedy and Coach Jones, and 2 because the movie isn't hyped up with the usual contrivances. Here is a film about football that doesn't even depend for its climax on the Big Game. There are scenes that in another movie might have seemed contrived -- the way the local boosters club gathers after every game in the downtown barbershop, for example, to get the coach's report and grill him. Isn't this the sort of thing that only happens in movie small-towns? Just like there's always a diner filled with regulars who apparently sit there 24 hours a day waiting to act as the local Greek chorus? The movie is based on a Sports Illustrated story, written by Gary Smith, about the way a series of Anderson teams and coaches have adopted James "Radio" Kennedy, a mentally disabled local man, as a team mascot and cheerleader. He is much beloved, and we sense that his good heart and cheer needed only the right opportunity to give him this mission in life. The movie focuses in fictional form on Radio's first season with the team, and about the bond that forms between the youngish man Cuba Gooding Jr. Radio, when first seen, goes on his harmless daily rounds through the town, pushing a shopping cart filled with treasures and listening to a beloved portable radio. One day a few football players lock him in an equipment shed and throw footballs at it, frightening him, and after Jones rescues Radio, he becomes committed to a project -- an obsession, really -- to involve Radio with the team. Jones' wife Linda Debra Winger of course has the obligatory scenes complaining that his mind is always on his work. His daughter Mary Helen Jones Sarah Drew of course has the obligatory scenes in which she stays out too late and gives other signs of needing more of her father's attention. But here's an unexpected thing: Not much is made in the obligatory way of these subplots, because Jones is a nice guy and his family understands him and the daughter sort of solves her own problems.

Caveat Spectator Limited profanity and mild crude language; brief maltreatment of a mentally handicapped individual. Ford's office at the Jervey Athletic Center several years ago in search of tickets to that weekend's Clemson game, cuba gooding jr radio, he thought it might be a good idea to bring Radio along. More like this.

Editor's note : The story below was originally published in the Independent Mail on October 29, Former T. He was As the players erupt in celebration, the man hunched over in the second row of the school bus seems oblivious to it all. His name is James Robert Kennedy, and he is the T. Hanna High School football team's unabashed No. Daniel, Mr.

The film co-stars Debra Winger and Alfre Woodard. It was filmed primarily in Walterboro, South Carolina. In the s, James Robert "Radio" Kennedy, a year-old mentally disabled man, lives alone with his mother who, as a nurse, spends much of the day at work. Radio spends much of his day roaming the town and pushing a shopping cart, which he uses to collect anything interesting he finds. Radio often pauses to observe the local high school football team in their training sessions, led by Coach Harold Jones. During one such session, the football falls out of bounds, allowing Radio to collect it and haul it away in his cart. A group of players retaliate the following day by tying Radio's hands and feet, locking him in the gear shed, and throwing footballs at the door to scare him. Coach Jones frees Radio and punishes the wrongdoers by making them run extra wind sprints after practice. Jones takes it upon himself to assist in Radio's care, and gives him his nickname due to his penchant for listening to the radio.

Cuba gooding jr radio

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Jones suspected. Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews. More: James 'Radio' Kennedy, movie inspiration and T. The scenes between Jones and this woman, lovingly played by S. Good film. Great movie with a great cast, filled with delightful morals and heart-felt scenes. In Real Life: Radio first showed up at football practices in the mids, according to coach Harold Jones in a telephone interview. Next page. No concerns at all? Epatha Merkerson is convincing as Radio's loving mom, and Debra Winger is strong in a small role that makes me want to see her in a larger one. Set in , 'Radio' is a thoroughly predictable, sentimental heart tugger that will have people either gagging on the syrup or crying in their popcorn. To make up for the wrongful arrest, the arresting officer is forced to ferry Radio around town to finish delivering the gifts. Ed Harris is well cast in a role like Coach Jones, because he brings along confident masculine authority without even having to think about it. By letting go of the hot dog, he could have cushioned his fall. Harris' soft-spoken strength makes us believe in the goodness of the man.

I don't know the slightest thing about the true story that inspired "Radio," and I don't really want to, because the movie has convinced me that it's pretty close to real life. I believe that because 1 the closing credits include footage of the real Radio Kennedy and Coach Jones, and 2 because the movie isn't hyped up with the usual contrivances.

See more reviews. The story of a high school coach and the developmentally challenged man who he took under his wing. You know who you are. Harris' soft-spoken strength makes us believe in the goodness of the man. So when Hanna assistant coach Terry Honeycutt went to Mr. In Reel Life: Radio, dressed in full academic regalia, hands out diplomas during the graduation ceremony. He's one of us. But the cap and gown? Coaches scribbled on legal pads; Radio squiggled his signature, like rows of lowercase cursive Ls, over and over. Cuba Gooding Jr. In Reel Life: Radio doesn't say a word for about the first 20 minutes of the movie. Get it Feb 26 -