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Movies / On DVD / Madison
Madison

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Madison (2005)

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29 %
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Reviews Counted: 31

Fresh: 9

Rotten:22

Average Rating: 4.4/10

Consensus: A pedictable and heavy-handed sports drama.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for some mild language and sports peril

Runtime: 1 hr 39 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:2004

Box Office: $466,285

Synopsis: The independent feature film “Madison” is a father-son action/drama based on the inspiring true story of the tiny river town of Madison, Indiana and its legendary efforts during the hydroplane... The independent feature film “Madison” is a father-son action/drama based on the inspiring true story of the tiny river town of Madison, Indiana and its legendary efforts during the hydroplane racing season of 1971. In addition to the thrills of 180-mph flat-bottomed boat racing, the picture captures the spirit of a small American River town struggling to stay alive as water transportation has virtually disappeared.

In 1971, Jim McCormick (Jim Caviezel) has left the dangers of hydroplane boat racing behind him in favor of a wife, a family and a job as the town’s air-conditioner repairman. But deep inside, the dream of once again piloting the community-owned Miss Madison lives on. Sadly, like the town of Madison itself, the Miss Madison is a shadow of her former self. Several years old and in constant disrepair, the boat has become the laughing stock of hydroplane racing. And the make matters worse, Madison’s competitors on the circuit, such as the Miss Budweiser, have rich corporate sponsorships, top-of-the-line equipment, round-the-clock maintenance and huge, well-paid crews. The Miss Madison struggles to even make an appearance in the distant cities of Seattle, Chicago and Miami where the boats must race.

When Madison, on a fluke, is offered the chance to host the prestigious Gold Cup championship, it’s too much for McCormick to resist, even though no one else on the circuit wants them to do it – or thinks they can afford it. But McCormick rallies his community in an attempt to bring exposure and excitement to the dying town.

Along the way, Jim must deal with a skeptical town, a demoralized crew, a wife, Bonnie (Mary McCormack), eager to move the family to a big city economy, and a progressively more disillusioned son, Mike (Jake Lloyd), tired of always being the underdog and watching big money wing out over big heart at every race.

But McCormick is not to be deterred. With the help of his right hand Tony (Brent Briscoe), and a reluctant favor from long retired boat mechanic Harry Volpi (Academy Award nominee Bruce Dern), he stubbornly marches on.

Not only does the town step up to the plate and host the race with aplomb, they offer the rest of the teams a glimpse to small town charm and hospitality. And while for Jim McCormick the opportunity to race again is sweet, sweeter still is getting the chance to show his son the importance of being proud of who he is and from where he comes. -- © Premiere Marketing and Distribution Group [More]

Starring: James Caviezel, Jake Lloyd, Mary McCormack, Bruce Dern

Starring: James Caviezel, Jake Lloyd, Mary McCormack, Bruce Dern, Brent Briscoe, Paul Dooley

Director: William Bindley

Director: William Bindley
Screenwriter: Scott Bindley
Producer: Martin Wiley, Carl Amari
Studio: Premiere Marketing and Distribution Group

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Release:

Sep 13, 2005

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Reviews for Madison

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
08/16/07
David Jenkins
Time Out New York
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out

...the film's storyline follows an exceedingly familiar trajectory.

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
10/22/05
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
07/05/05
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

As the clichés mount up, it's easy to see why the film has been waiting for a release since 2001.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
04/29/05
Daniel Eagan
Film Journal International

Madison only reinforces stereotypes that 'old-fashioned' and 'small-town' mean 'good' while 'modern' and 'big city' mean 'bad.'

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
04/26/05
Jeffrey Overstreet
Christianity Today

You’ve seen a movie that has the exact same scene after scene and the sport's just been different.

Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | comment Comment
04/25/05
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It is done with such sincerity and good feeling that I found myself far more interested in the proceedings that I could have possibly expected.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
04/25/05
Peter Sobczynski
eFilmCritic.com

Unembarrassed with its rah-rah populism, the movie is definitely anti-cynicism, and often quite enjoyable in its sincerity.

Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
04/22/05
Brett Buckalew
FilmStew.com

Even though it's based on a true story, writer-director William Bindley and his cowriting brother, Scott, manage to squeeze just about every sports-movie cliché ever invented into this tale.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
04/22/05
Ken Fox
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A touching, spirited family movie that, in the Rocky tradition, is about a sports challenge that represents the hopes and aspirations of characters with little reason to expect success.

Full Review Source: Seattle Times | comment Comment
04/22/05
Tom Keogh
Seattle Times

Direct, folksy, more than a bit boosterish, the movie pulls you along to the wow finish.

Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | comment Comment
04/22/05
David Elliott
San Diego Union-Tribune

A stubbornly up-with-people schmaltzfest, it's the kind of corn that gives angst a good name.

Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | comment Comment
04/22/05
Stephen Whitty
Newark Star-Ledger
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

There isn't a scene, an action or a character that rings true, yet the narrative summary of the events that inspired it is a matter of record.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
04/22/05
Jack Mathews
New York Daily News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Madison brings us the news that miracles really can happen, and an apparent case of divine intervention is the only reason this artifact is being dumped into theaters.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
04/22/05
Kyle Smith
New York Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This one's a little soggy.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
04/22/05
E! Online

What is it about Indiana that inspires movies about small-town dreamers who come from behind to win?

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
04/21/05
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Near-comic predictability, 'What else could go wrong?' plotting and cliche-ridden screenplay sink it.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
04/21/05
Kevin Crust
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The sport deserves a much better movie.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
04/21/05
William Arnold
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Neither Madison the town nor Madison the movie ever feels fully inhabited.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
04/21/05
Justin Chang
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
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Latest News for Madison

May 31, 2002: The one home run in the movie is the closing race… which is pretty much the exact race you know is coming from the first frames of the movie. Opens in new window
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