| Varsity Blues |
Theatrical release poster |
| Directed by |
Brian Robbins |
| Produced by |
Brian Robbins,
Tova Laiter |
| Written by |
W. Peter Iliff |
| Starring |
James Van Der Beek,
Amy Smart,
Paul Walker,
Ali Larter,
Jon Voight,
Scott Caan,
Tiffany C. Love |
| Distributed by |
Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) |
January 15, 1999 |
| Running time |
106 min |
| Language |
English |
| Budget |
~ US$16,000,000 |
| Gross revenue |
$54,294,169 |
Varsity Blues is a 1999 film that follows a small-town high school football team and their overbearing coach through a tumultuous season. The players must deal with the pressures of adolescence and their football obsessed community while having their hard coach on their back constantly. In the small town of West Canaan, Texas, football is a way of life, and losing is not an option.
Varsity Blues drew a domestic box office gross of $52 million. Its budget was estimated at $16 million.[citation needed]
Plot
Jonathan "Mox" Moxon (James Van Der Beek) is an academically gifted back-up quarterback for the West Canaan High School football team. Despite his relative popularity at school, easy friendships with several other players, and smart and sassy girlfriend Jules Harbor (Amy Smart), Mox is dissatisfied with his life. He wants to leave Texas to go to school at Brown University. He also dislikes his football-obsessed father and dreads playing football under legendary coach Bud Kilmer (Jon Voight). Bud Kilmer is a verbally abusive control freak whose philosophy can be summed up as "win at all costs." He has a strong track record as coach, remarking in a speech that "in my thirty years of coaching football at West Caanan, I have brought two state titles, and 22 district championships!" Kilmer's philosophy finally takes its toll on Coyotes' quarterback Lance Harbor (Paul Walker); It is revealed that Lance, who is Mox's best friend, had been manipulated into taking cortisone shots into an injured knee that finally gave out on a huge sack. Lance is rushed to the hospital, where doctors are appalled at the massive amount of scar tissue found under his knee.
Mox, who has accompanied Lance to the hospital, is shocked when Kilmer tells the doctor that he knew nothing at all about Lance's knee problems, when in fact Kilmer ordered the trainer to inject the shots.
In need of a new quarterback, Kilmer reluctantly names Mox to replace Lance as captain and starting quarterback. The move brings unexpected dividends for Mox, one of them being Darcy Sears (Ali Larter), Lance's beautiful blonde cheerleader girlfriend, who is interested in marrying a football player in order to escape small town life. Darcy even goes so far as to attempt to seduce Moxon, sporting a bikini made of whipped cream over her otherwise naked body, but he rebuffs her as gently as he can.
Becoming fed up with Kilmer and not feeling a strong need to win, Mox starts calling his own plays on the field without Kilmer's approval. He also finally tells his football obsessed father off at one point screaming at him "I don't want your life!" Moxon's father had been a football player at West Caanan, and although Kilmer dismissed him as a "no talent pussy" he did say that he at least listened (unlike Moxon). Kilmer, who becomes aware that Mox has won a full scholarship to Brown, warns Mox that if he doesn't fall in line, he will alter his transcripts in order to reverse the decision on his scholarship.
Another friend of Mox's, Wendell Brown, is injured on the field shortly thereafter. Kilmer manipulates Wendell into taking a shot of cortisone to deaden the pain from his injury, allowing him to continue even in the face of a permanent injury. Wendell, who is desperate to be recruited by a good college, grants his consent. At this moment, Mox tells Kilmer he'll quit the team if the needle enters Wendell's knee. Undaunted, Kilmer orders Charlie Tweeder (Scott Caan), a friend of both Mox and Wendell, to take the snaps. Tweeder refuses. Mox tells Kilmer that the only way they'll return to the field is without him. Realizing that he will be forced to forfeit the game, Kilmer loses control and attacks Mox. The other players break up the fight and then refuse to take to the field. Knowing his loss of control has cost him his credibility, Kilmer tries in vain to rally support and spark the team's spirit into trusting him, but not one player follows him out of the locker room. Kilmer continues down the locker room hall, and seeing no one following him, turns the other direction and into his office. The team goes on to win the game without his guidance.
In a voice-over epilogue, Mox states that he "never played football again. Lance went on to a successful coaching career (he did not work at Wal-Mart as feared by Darcy), Wendell received a scholarship to Grambling, Billy Bob cried because he's a bit of a crier, Tweeder drank beer because Tweeder drinks beers, and Kilmer retired, never to coach football again. However, his statue still stands because it was too heavy to move. I took the scholarship and will graduate from Brown University."
Errata
Like all other Ivy League universities, Brown University does not offer scholarships based on academic or athletic achievement.[1] Such schools do however, pay for students in grants, provided they meet the academic criterion necessary for matriculation and have sufficient financial need.
This film was shot in and around Elgin, Texas, which is about 15 miles east of Austin.
Robert Brown, who had a small part in the film, still resides in North Austin and currently plays wide receiver for the Austin Vipers.
Cast
Awards
- 1999 Teen Choice Awards
- Best Breakout Performance: James Van Der Beek (won)
- Best Dramatic Film (nominated)
- 1999 MTV Movie Awards
- Best Breakout Performance: James Van Der Beek (won)
- Best Movie Song (nominated)
- 2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
- Best Male Newcomer: James Van Der Beek (nominated)
References
- ^ Brown University - Financial Aid Initiatives Unique to Brown University
External links
