The Substitute (1996)

Director:

Robert Mandel

Writers (WGA):

Roy Frumkes (written by) &
Rocco Simonelli (written by) ...

Release Date:

19 April 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

He has a lesson to teach. And nobody's going to have a problem with it.

Plot:

After a botched mission in Cuba, professional mercenary Shale and his crew Joey Six, Hollan, Rem, and Wellman head home to Miami...

Plot Keywords:

Thrown Through Window | Gun | Mercenary | Murder | Drugs

Cast

Tom Berenger	...	Jonathan Shale
Raymond Cruz	...	Joey Six
William Forsythe	...	Hollan
Luis Guzmán	...	Rem
Richard Brooks	...	Wellman
Ana Azcuy	...	TV Announcer
Diane Venora	...	Jane Hetzko
Glenn Plummer	...	Mr. Darrell Sherman
Sharron Corley	...	Jerome Brown
Vincent Laresca	...	Rodriguez
Maurice Compte	...	Tay
Marc Anthony	...	Juan Lacas
Ernie Hudson	...	Principal Claude Rolle
Beau Weaver	...	Janus Showreel Narrator
Cliff De Young	...	Matt Wolfson

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

South Korea:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Netherlands:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:R | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Germany:18 | Iceland:16 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Company:

Dinamo Entertainment

Trivia:

The movie was shot during the summer months and kids enrolled in summer classes were extras on the film. Free Papa John's pizza was served to anyone who would stay after school.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Shale throws the fourth kid from the window in the library scene his shirt is unbuttoned and you can see that he is not wearing his bullet-proof vest. In the next shot he is taking the vest off.

Quotes:

[Claude Rolle tells Shale about how the drugs are shipped to the school via bus]
Shale: And they said busing would never work.

Movie Connections:

References "Candid Camera" (1948)

Better than "Dangerous Minds"!

On a Friday, some weeks ago: the so-called television highlight for this evening was the "The Substitute", a film that got nothing but bad reviews by the TV guides. Nevertheless I decided to watch this flick - and after all it was really better than I had expected, because this movie contains enough action and suspense to keep you awake! The story is quite far-fetched but interesting in any case and actors like Tom Berenger, Diane Venora or Ernie Hudson do a solid job. Not as demanding as the brilliant "One Eight Seven" starring Samuel L. Jackson but definitely good entertainment!

6/10