Synopsis:
Radio is a dramatic and uplifting tale inspired by true events that focus on the mentoring relationship between a high school football coach (Ed Harris) and Radio (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) -- who his...
Radio is a dramatic and uplifting tale inspired by true events that focus on the mentoring relationship between a high school football coach (Ed Harris) and Radio (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) -- who his mother describes as "the same as everybody else, just a little slower than most" -- and how their unique friendship ultimately transforms the entrenched attitudes of a small South Carolina town.
James Robert Kennedy (Gooding, Jr.) -- nicknamed ‘Radio’ because of his vintage radio collection and his love of music -- is a loner in Anderson, South Carolina, pushing his ever-present grocery cart up and down the streets. He speaks to no one and is rarely spoken to, until one day, Coach Harold Jones (Harris), one of the town’s most respected men, and coach of the popular high school football team, befriends him.
Radio is suspicious at first. But Coach Jones is persistent, even enlisting the help of Radio’s mother (S. Epatha Merkerson). Jones’ friends and family are taken aback as well since, until he met Radio, all his energies were poured exclusively into football.
Slowly, Coach Jones earns Radio’s trust and opens up a new world to him. He invites Radio to help out at football practice and during games and to sit in on his classes at school, despite the initial misgivings of Principal Daniels (Alfre Woodard). He also champions him to the football players, the students and faculty. Coach Jones’ life is also enriched by Radio, from whom he learns to value friendship and family ties as much as he does coaching football.
Still, there are those in town who believe that Coach Jones’ devotion to the young man is distracting him from his duties as head coach of the football team. There are several attempts to have Radio barred from the classroom and, after his mother’s untimely death, remanded to a mental-health facility.
Coach Jones valiantly fights off these efforts, but he is finally forced to make a difficult decision, which will impact both his growing friendship with Radio and his career as a football coach.
Revolution Studios Presents A Tollin/Robbins Production Radio, a Columbia Pictures release. The film stars Academy Award® winner Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Radio and four-time Academy Award® nominee Ed Harris as Coach Harold Jones. The cast also includes Academy Award® nominee Alfre Woodard as Principal Daniels, S. Epatha Merkerson as Maggie Kennedy, Radio's mother and three-time Academy Award® nominee Debra Winger as Linda Jones, Coach Jones’ wife.
The film is directed by Mike Tollin and written by Mike Rich. Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins and Herbert W. Gains are the producers. The executive producers are Todd Garner and Caitlin Scanlon. The director of photography is Don Burgess, ASC. The production designer is Clay A. Griffith. The film is edited by Chris Lebenzon, A.C.E. and Harvey Rosenstock, A.C.E. The casting is by Margery Simkin. The music is by James Horner. The costume designer is Denise Wingate. The music supervision is by Laura Wasserman.
Radio has been rated PG for Mild Language and Thematic Elements
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