All the Right Moves (1983)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Michael Chapman

Writers:

Pat Jordan (article)
Michael Kane (written by)

Release Date:

21 October 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

He had a dream but the dream had begun to sour...busting to break out he had to make...

Plot:

A high school footballer desperate for a scholarship and his headstrong coach clash in a dying Pennsylvania steel town.

Plot Keywords:

Coach | High School | Pennsylvania | Scholarship | High School Football

Cast

Tom Cruise	...	Stefen Djordjevic
Craig T. Nelson	...	Nickerson
Lea Thompson	...	Lisa
Charles Cioffi	...	Pop
Gary Graham	...	Greg
Paul Carafotes	...	Salvucci
Chris Penn	...	Brian (as Christopher Penn)
Sandy Faison	...	Suzie
James A. Baffico	...	Bosko
Mel Winkler	...	Jess Covington
Walter Briggs	...	Rifleman
George Betor	...	Tank
Leon	...	Shadow (as Leon Robinson)
Jonas Chaka	...	Mouse (as Jonas C. Miller)
Keith Diamond	...	Fox (as Keith Ford)

Also Known As:

All Right

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Iceland:L | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #27119) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Conemaugh, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Lucille Ball Productions

Trivia:

Near the beginning of the film, while talking about his potential college coaching job, Nickerson mentions that it is between him and "you know who" from Aliquippa. The real-life coach of Aliquippa HS at the time the movie was made was 'Donald Yannessa', who portrayed the Walnut Heights coach.

Goofs:

Continuity: Stefan takes his plaid shirt off twice in the locker room before practice.

Quotes:

Steff: We didn't quit, you quit!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (#22.10)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

This Could Be Our Last Chance

Interesting tale of small town USA

Stef Djordjevic is one of a team of football players in Pennsylvania that is relying on a scholarship to leave the dying steel town and go to college. The only options open to them in the town are to work in the steel mill which is currently laying off workers. The film shows the many barriers that trap the youngsters in the town.

This is one of Cruise's first films and it is a lot less glossy than many of his star-driven projects now, it's a lot more rough and ready than he would let it be if he made it now. It is a very simple story and a very short film - it basically shows a group of friends trapped in the town who have dreams of more but must overcome obstacles to get to college. Cruise must overcome the team coach's dislike for him to get a recommendation, Penn finds himself with a pregnant girlfriend who he must marry, Paul Carafotes finds himself drawn into crime to make ends meet. The lesson of the film is that it's difficult to break a cycle where you're in an industrial town and are expected to go into the same type of work as your father etc.

The most interesting thing about this is how young all the actors are! We've all got used to their faces now and it's weird seeing how young Cruise, Penn and Lea Thompson once were. The story is OK but is a little clichéd and is all a bit tidy towards the end. The football action is not exciting but I suppose is a muddily realistic representation of small town school sports. The performances are good considering the young cast and Chris Penn and Craig T. Nelson provide the two best roles. Cruise is a little too overplayed and brings a bit too much teenage anger and angst to the role.

Overall it's an interesting film, a little clichéd but OK. Personally I found it a little boring and didn't really care what happened to Cruise but it's not too bad.