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IMDb > Mystery, Alaska (1999)
Mystery, Alaska
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Mystery, Alaska (1999) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.3/10   12,198 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 5% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Jay Roach
Writers (WGA):
David E. Kelley (written by) &
Sean O'Byrne (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Mystery, Alaska on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 October 1999 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama | Sport more
Tagline:
A Small Town on the Outskirts of Greatness
Plot:
This comedy is about the residents of a small town who get over-excited when their hockey team gets chosen to host a televised event full summary | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
No Jeopardy Here
 (From Studio Briefing - Film News. 5 October 1999)

Jeopardy Doubles
 (From Studio Briefing - Film News. 4 October 1999)

User Comments:
It's More Than A Hockey Game more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Russell Crowe ... John Biebe

Hank Azaria ... Charles Danner

Mary McCormack ... Donna Biebe

Burt Reynolds ... Judge Walter Burns

Colm Meaney ... Mayor Scott Pitcher

Lolita Davidovich ... Mary Jane Pitcher
Maury Chaykin ... Bailey Pruitt

Ron Eldard ... 'Skank' Marden
Ryan Northcott ... Stevie Weeks
Michael Buie ... Connor Banks

Kevin Durand ... 'Tree' Lane
Scott Grimes ... 'Birdie' Burns

Jason Gray-Stanford ... Bobby Michan
Brent Stait ... Kevin Holt
Leroy Peltier ... Ben Winetka
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Disney's Hockey Project (USA) (working title)
Pond Rules (USA) (working title)
The Game (USA) (original script title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for language and sexuality.
Runtime:
119 min
Country:
Canada | USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Filming Locations:
Alberta, Canada more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
This movie was originally going to be filmed in Rossland, British Columbia - the future location of Miracle (2004) - and was going to be known as "Face Off." Eventually they decided to use Canmore, Alberta, and went with the current name. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: When Bailey dies in New York, it's winter in Mystery, Alaska, yet when his body is returned to Mystery, he's buried right away. This is generally impossible, as the ground is frozen solid and hard as concrete, and those that are die in Alaska during the winter are interred after the thaw. Sometimes that means up to 7 months between death and burial. more
Quotes:
[John is jealous after seeing his wife and Charles Danner laughing together in the stands, while John was busy trying to coach the team. Donna doesn't understand why he is upset]
Donna Biebe: John?
John Biebe: You've been smilin' a lot lately.
Donna Biebe: [smiling, still puzzled] Excuse me?
John Biebe: Ever since he came back. Charlie. You been smilin' a little more.
Donna Biebe: [finally understanding] John. That was high school.
[He walks a few steps, kicking the snow to reveal the frozen pond below. Then he kicks at the ice again and speaks metaphorically]
John Biebe: This is not a pond!
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Ben Affleck/Fiona Apple (#25.13)" (2000) more
Soundtrack:
Lightning Strike Me Down more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
27 out of 28 people found the following comment useful:-
It's More Than A Hockey Game, 15 August 2000
9/10
Author: jhclues from Salem, Oregon

It's cold in the small hamlet of Mystery, Alaska, but there's plenty of warmth in `Mystery, Alaska,' the film, directed by Jay Roach, about the town and the sport that is ingrained in the collective consciousness of the community. Hockey is the game, and when a former resident, now a journalist, writes a story about Mystery's home-town team and their `Saturday Game,' and it ends up as a three page spread complete with pictures in Sports Illustrated, it has far reaching effects on the populace of this small dot on the map. Soon the town is turned upside down, embroiled in an event, the proportions of which, to them, are huge. Needless to say, it involves hockey and an encounter with a high-profile professional team. Yes, there is a lot of hockey in this movie, but be advised, this film is not `about' hockey; this is a movie about people– real people– and what makes them tick. Roach has crafted a thoroughly entertaining and emotional story of want and need, dignity and desire, obsession and love, and he's captured it all through the winning performances of a stellar ensemble cast, the most prominent of which is Russell Crowe. The charismatic Crowe, finally on his way to superstardom thanks to his turn in `Gladiator' plays John Biebe, Mystery's sheriff and captain of the hockey team. His rugged good looks and persona fit the character perfectly, and he puts all of his myriad personal resources to work to put it across, and that he does. Also notable is the personable Mary McCormack as John's wife, Donna, who does a great job of fleshing out the character of this woman who made what she deems to be the right choices in her life, without regrets or apologies to herself or anyone else. It's a refreshing portrayal, and the chemistry between her and Crowe is unmistakable. Also adding to the overall texture of this film are Hank Azaria, as Charles Danner, the journalist who gets the whole thing rolling; Burt Reynolds, as Judge Walter Burns, a man forced to deal with his own personal issues, which include a son, Birdie (Scott Grimes), a member of the hockey team; Colm Meany, as Scott Pitcher, Mayor of Mystery, and Lolita Davidovich as his wife, Mary Jane; Maury Chaykin, as Bailey Pruitt, the man who seems to personify the very essence of Mystery's spirit; and Ron Eldard as `Skank,' another member of the team who's good for two things–suffice to say that hockey is one of them. Mercifully, `Mystery, Alaska' never pursues the beat-the-dead-horse cliched mentality that sports `teaches one to be a team player and builds character.' Instead, Roach has given us a worthwhile, memorable movie with a human touch, and because of that, in the end these are people you care about, as individuals as well as a community. The climactic game is exciting and far from predictable, beginning with the celebrity they bring in to sing the National Anthem. This may not be one of Russell Crowe's biggest or highest profile movies, but this is one he's going to be able to look back upon with pride, because it's right up there with his best. Remember, you don't have to be a sports fan to enjoy this movie; all that's required is that you have a membership in the club know as Mankind. I rate this one 9/10.

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Hockey Error nessiesens
Stevie Weeks... silveredition999
'He passes it to Laviolette' Wing_nut
cmon Rangers bobwas99
Russell Crowe's Skating Ability andrewlittle_87
Where could I get a jersey? sherlockemery
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