Main Cast: James Caviezel, Jake Lloyd, Mary McCormack, Bruce Dern, Brent Briscoe
Release Year: 2002
Country: US
Run Time: 99 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Based upon a true story, Madison is a father-son drama based on the highly publicized efforts in Madison, IN, during the hydroplane racing season of 1971. Jim McCormick (James Caviezel) has left behind his life of hydroplane boat racing to settle down and start a family and take a job as an air-conditioner repairman. Though he tries to embrace his new life, he still longs for his racing days, and the boat has become the town laughing stock. The town has also experienced harsh financial strain and the rich corporate sponsors of Jim's competitors have stolen the spotlight again and again. The town of Madison is suddenly asked to host the prestigious Gold Cup championship, and Jim cannot resist, though the town is far less supportive. Jim rallies the community for support in an attempt to bring the pride back to it, though his wife, Bonnie (Mary McCormack), is eager to move to the big city and out of the doldrums of Madison, and his son, Mike (Jake Lloyd), has become disillusioned with the idea of the boat races and watching the larger contenders win every time. But Jim stubbornly presses on and soon is permitted to play again with the big boys. The film also features veteran actors Bruce Dern, Brent Briscoe, and Paul Dooley. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
Paul Dooley - Mayor Don Vaughn; Reed Diamond - Skip Naughton; Frank Knapp - Bobby Humphrey; Chelcie Ross - Roger Epperson; Byrne Piven - George Wallin; William Shockley - Rick Winston; Matt Letscher - Owen Henderson; Richard Lee Jackson - Buddy; Kristina Anapau - Tami; Vincent Ventresca - Walker Grief; Cody McMains - Bobby Epperson; James Andelin - Merle; John M. Watson, Sr. - Walter; Mark Fauser - Travis
Credit
Adam Carl - Associate Producer, Greg Malone - Associate Producer, Hal Olofsson - Associate Producer, Amy Lippens - Casting, Stan Roy - Co-producer, Lisa Riley - Co-producer, Michael Roy - Co-producer, Norton Herrick - Co-producer, Jane Anderson - Costume Designer, Hal Olofsson - First Assistant Director, William Bindley - Director, William Hoy - Editor, Chris Dennis - Executive Producer, Roy Millonzi - Executive Producer, Steve Salutric - Executive Producer, Kevin Kiner - Composer (Music Score), Christopher Young - Songwriter, Dorian Vernacchio - Production Designer, Deborah Raymond - Production Designer, James Glennon - Cinematographer, Martin Wiley - Producer, Carl Amari - Producer, Scott Bindley - Producer, Geoff Maxwell - Sound/Sound Designer, Artie Malesci - Stunts Coordinator, William Bindley - Screenwriter, Scott Bindley - Screenwriter, Evyen Klean - Executive Music Producer, Mike LeMare - Supervising Sound Editor, Rod Schumacher - Visual Effects, Norton Herrick - Co-Executive Producer, Len Foley - Co-Executive Producer, William A. Krummerer - Co-Executive Producer
The Regatta regularly draws about 70,000-100,000 people and is a tremendous source of pride for residents of the town. Also significant is that Madison has the world's only community owned unlimited hydroplane, Miss Madison. The boat was traditionally near the bottom of the circuit. In 40+ years of racing, U-6 (its number regardless of its name) had won just six races before 2005.
One of those was an upset in the 1971 Regatta, which is the basis for the movie. Making that victory even sweeter was that it also for the APBA Gold Cup.
Caviezel's character, Jim McCormick, was a real-life veteran racer and boat owner who drove the Miss Madison in 1966 and 1969-71, then raced his own boat until seriously injured some years later.
Filmed in 2000 and completing post production in 2001, this film sat unreleased for nearly five years and was finally given a limited release on April 22, 2005. It ended up being the last film ever released by MGM as an independent company.
