
Director: Jay
Roach
Writers: David
E. Kelley and Sean
O'Byrne
Also starring: Hank Azaria, Mary McCormack, Lolita Davidovich,
Burt Reynolds, Ron Eldard, Colm Meaney, Mawry Ellaskis
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here for Fan Reviews
Top
marks all around. Writing, dialogue, performances, nice
closure, setting, this movie has it all. The audience
I saw it with had a great time, it is the kind of movie
that engages you and encourages a little loosening up.
Crowe's
John Biebe is one of those rare characters who can pull
off being perfectly likeable.
He is
the penultimate good guy who's only little vice is that
he perhaps takes his sports a little too seriously. He
is an excellent, scruffy, saintly sheriff.
Ron
Eldard turns in a wonderful giggling town womanizer, someone
with a buoyant outlook on life that anyone might envy.
The movie has a lot in common with Hoosiers without
the life or death fate of children in the balance.
The
skating, the hockey, the cold is great (though I was very
happy to watch it from a comfy warm California cinema)
and whatever difficulty one might have with the suspension
of disbelief at least gets a tip of the hat from the writers.
Myself, I completely believe the hockey part, it is a
fickle game. Of course Mike Meyers
was perfect.
Christian
Science Monitor, October 8 1999 says:
Three
stars (same as they gave American Beauty)
Mystery, Alaska, population 633,
lives for the Saturday game of hockey. Rules are set and
players picked by a committee. When a former town member
who's now a television producer returns offering to bring
the New York Rangers to play a game against the local
guys, lives are turned topsy-turvy. It's a sweet and gripping
sports drama. It also asks whether the slower pace of
small-town life is enough or if it's better to leave for
different challenges in the big city. By Katherine Dillin
Sweet, solidly entertaining, formulaic.
Sex/Nudity: 5 instances of implied or actual sexual
activity. Violence: 13 instances, mostly hockey
related violence. Profanity: 67 expressions, mostly
harsh. Drugs: 1 scene with alcohol.
Read
more at CANOE.COM:
Rink
Dreams: Mystery, Alaska wants
you to feel good about hockey...
Jam Movie Reviews, 10/01/99: "...a comedic power play", and "Small
Town Charmer"
Mystery,
Alaska article:
August issue at boxoffice.com
It's just an excellent film
all around. It's got a strong cast
of "regular" looking people, and the actors
all relate well to each other.
I loved the story, and I thought Russell was great as
John Biebe.
Basically, it's got humor, relationships, romance, and
sports -- the
perfect "date" movie!
Rated: five crowes
~Krissy
This was a thoroughly enjoyable film. The interplay
of the characters and "way out north" humour were brilliant.
I have a personal feel for this film. When your surname
is Beeby you don't expect to hear it thrown about a film
of any character. My father, THE John Beeby (and my brother
Michael) are quietly impressed. I digress. Excellent acting
from all. Good humour throughout and a heart warming finish
with our heroes losing the match but remaining the winners
in our hearts.
Rated: four crowes
--Maggot
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