THE PROGRAM (1993)

THE PROGRAM (1993)

Tagline:  Pressure surrounds them. Competition divides them. Talent unites them. A story of what it takes to survive.

(Drama, Action, College Is A Waste Of Time) [R]

I don't know, its the battle, the going to war with the other guys, hanging together, having our own dorm, staying in hotels the night before the games, setting ourselves apart, being different than everybody else, having a chance to be somebody, to do something that people look up to you for, your strength, your courage, not everybody can play football... were the lucky ones.

In this one, a college football coach played by James Caan (probably most famous for being in MISERY) is in charge of a struggling team. He gets a new recruit, a top tailback Darnell Jefferson (played by Omar Epps most famous for SCREAM 2), and has hopes of turning the team around. He gets help with his grades and such from Autumn Haley (played by Halle Berry from the X-MEN). He becomes attracted to her which brings its own issue. Meanwhile, the team's quarterback Joe Kane played by Craig Sheffer (known for SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL) is thought to be Heisman-worthy but has a drinking problem. Another prominent member of the team is battling a steroid addiction complicating things. Can this team overcome the pressure to perform and their own egos, in order to save their coach from a life as a pop-warner assistant in France or something like that? 

First off I should say this movie is well-acted, but story-wise there isn’t much of an offering here. It was nice to see Kristy Swanson (most famous for being BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER) who plays Joe Kane’s girlfriend, James Caan, Halle Berry, and more back on screen but it’s hard to tell what the whole point of this movie was. I guess the coach and Darnell are worthy of liking, but almost no one else in this movie aside from Swanson and Berry’s characters are portrayed as disparaging jerks. I played football my freshmen year in high school and no one was even remotely as much of a jerk as most of the dudes on this team. I am guessing the a lack of any real wrap-up. Clearly, the pressure wouldn’t be the same in high school, so I get that this movie was trying to highlight that, but overall it’s just really rough. 

THE LAST BOYSCOUT resembles this movie closely in the sense that both have to do with the pressure of college football and start with a game being played in the rain, but at least that one had dark humor. I should also say that if you were ranking football movies, this thing probably isn’t even in the top 20. THE PROGRAM lacks humor, solid storytelling, and much character development to make us care about these players the team, or the college in general. In spite of the great acting, this movie can’t be saved from its own lack of entertainment value. It feels less like a solid football movie than it does a depressing documentary. 

Overall this one gets a 3 out of 7. If it’s not even in the top 20 football movies (and it isn’t), I can’t really give it a 4 just for the acting alone, especially knowing director David S. Ward was also responsible for one of the best baseball movies ever made MAJOR LEAGUE. 

GRAPHICS ARE THE PROPERTY OF TOUCHSTONE PICTURES AND ARE USED FOR REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY. 

Please check out the link below by clicking on the picture. Because no one should die buttonless.

14 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. 15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The Lord's right hand has done mighty things! 16 The Lord's right hand is lifted high; the Lord's right hand has done mighty things!" Psalms 118:14-16