The Program

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The Program Photos

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Movie Info

A college football coach (James Caan) forfeits all but winning to get his troubled team to the big game.

Rating:

R
Genre:

drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

David S. Ward
Producer:

Samuel Goldwyn Jr.
Release Date (Streaming):

Dec 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA):

$22.8M
Runtime:

1h 53m
Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures
Sound Mix:

Stereo, Surround

Cast & Crew

James Caan
Sam Winters

Halle Berry
Autumn Haley

Omar Epps
Darnell Jefferson

Craig Sheffer
Joe Kane

Kristy Swanson
Camille Shafer

Abraham Benrubi
Bud-Lite Kaminski

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Critic Reviews for The Program

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (9) | Rotten (12)

Those are fairly standard story lines in a football movie, so that leaves the assorted relationship subplots, which frankly, are worse.

January 24, 2014 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

John Petrakis
Chicago Tribune
Most of the focus is on Sheffer, whose character is too enigmatic, while Epps , Berry and Swanson gamely try to pull for extra dramatic yardage but can't do much with their underwritten roles.

March 26, 2009

Brian Lowry
Variety
The Program is a routine Joe College movie, with the added twist that Joe College is Joe Kane (Craig Sheffer), a prime contender for the Heisman Trophy.

August 30, 2004

Janet Maslin
New York Times
One might want to consider wearing a helmet while watching.

January 1, 2000 | Full Review…

Norman Chad
Washington Post
The Program is a mish-mash of cliches.

January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

James Berardinelli
ReelViews
As noisy and ludicrous as all this sounds, the movie does have its share of guilty pleasures. Like the kid on steroids, it's revved so high that it's out of control.

January 1, 2000 | Full Review…

Hal Hinson
Washington Post
While The Program has its light-hearted moments, it mostly crunches along as a problem-oriented sports soap opera. And Ward has a difficult time pulling together all his disparate elements of his story...

June 4, 2018 | Full Review…

Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
Very good, revealing film about the extraordinary pressure of modern competitive sport and the man who has become something of a negative role model, even though his backstory as a cancer survivor does allow room for sympathy.

November 27, 2015 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Jim Schembri
3AW
Quote not available.

October 9, 2005 | Rating: 2/5

Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily
Quote not available.

July 25, 2005 | Rating: 2/5

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Quote not available.

February 11, 2005 | Rating: 3/5

Greg Maki
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Quote not available.

August 7, 2004 | Rating: 2/5

Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

View All Critic Reviews (21)

Audience Reviews for The Program

Aug 06, 2011

poor sports film that disappeared as soon as it was released

Brendan N Super Reviewer
Nov 28, 2007

this film was huge with my friends upon its release but its themes were a little silly for me. really just a brainless football film for people who look for cheap tricks.

danny d Super Reviewer
Nov 05, 2006

This is a great football film. The film shows the good and the dark side of American college football. The film stars James Caan as the football coach who tries to get his team a winning season. Of course he looks the other way when it comes to many things with his players education and trouble with steroid use and behaviour off the field. A good supporting cast makes up this movie. This is a must see for any football fan. If you liked Varsity Blues and Any Given Sunday then give this movie a watch.

Corey n Super Reviewer