Mystery, Alaska (1999)

Director:

Jay Roach

Writers (WGA):

David E. Kelley (written by) &
Sean O'Byrne (written by)

Release Date:

1 October 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

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

Plot Keywords:

Small Town | Alaska | New York | Underdog | Adultery

Cast

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
Adam Beach	...	Galin Winetka
Cameron Bancroft	...	'Tinker' Connolly
Michael McKean	...	Mr. Walsh
Rachel Wilson	...	Marla Burns
Beth Littleford	...	Janice Pettiboe
Megyn Price	...	Sarah Heinz
Judith Ivey	...	Joanne Burns
Stephen Hair	...	Jack Danby
Joshua Silberg	...	Michael Biebe
Regan Sean O'Byrne Macelwain	...	Joey Biebe
Terry David Mulligan	...	Dr. Henry Savage
Rod Jarvis	...	Referee
Lindsay Jarvis	...	Linesman
Mike Myers	...	Donnie Shulzhoffer
Jim Fox	...	Himself
Doug McLeod	...	Himself
Phil Esposito	...	Himself
Betty Linde	...	Mirabelle Houle
Randall Arney	...	TV Director
Little Richard	...	Himself
Gary Murdoch	...	Bodyguard
Genevieve Fraser	...	Student Charlotte
Taylor Smith	...	Student Tommy
Matt Clarke	...	Joe
Scott Olynek	...	Bob
Zane Snow	...	Jeff
Joe Turvey	...	Walt
Brenda Shuttleworth	...	Deputy Betty Fisher
Michael Auger	...	Gordon Herrod
Shaun Johnston	...	D.A. Dollof
Karen Gartner	...	Jury Foreman
Bruce Nozick	...	NHL Lawyer
Gerry Becker	...	Players' Union Lawyer
L. Scott Caldwell	...	Judge McGibbons
Steve Levy	...	Himself
Barry Melrose	...	Himself
Warren Beckett	...	Hockey Player
Mike Church	...	Hockey Player
Beau Evans	...	Hockey Player
Ryan Haggins	...	Hockey Player
Fred Hettle	...	Hockey Player
Travis Pulse	...	Hockey Player
Todd Karman	...	Hockey Player
Dale Kushner	...	Hockey Player
Marty Lacroix	...	Hockey Player
Dave Lovsin	...	Hockey Player
George Maniotakis	...	Hockey Player
Darren Morrison	...	Hockey Player
Dean Payne	...	Hockey Player
Jason Peipmann	...	Hockey Player
Justin Sather	...	Hockey Player
Jason Smith	...	Hockey Player
Travis Stephenson	...	Hockey Player
Brad Turner	...	Hockey Player
Grant Van Laar	...	Hockey Player
Jim Wheatcroft	...	Hockey Player
Cory Wills	...	Hockey Player
Jason Wist	...	Hockey Player
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Lereaney	...	Howard Sebron (scenes deleted)
Tie Domi	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Tara Howie	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Johanna Klein	...	Hockey Fan (uncredited)
Tom Miller	...	TV Assistant Director (uncredited)

Directed by
Jay Roach

Writing credits (WGA)
David E. Kelley		(written by) &
Sean O'Byrne		(written by)

Produced by
Howard Baldwin	....	producer
Karen Elise Baldwin	....	co-producer (as Karen Baldwin)
Richard M. Cohen	....	co-producer (as Richard Cohen)
Jack Gilardi Jr.	....	co-producer (as Jack L. Gilardi Jr.)
David E. Kelley	....	producer
Dan Kolsrud	....	executive producer
Shauna Robertson	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
Peter Deming		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jon Poll

Casting by
John Brace
Linda Lowy

Production Design by
Rusty Smith

Art Direction by
Denise Hudson
Andrew Neskoromny

Set Decoration by
Elizabeth Wilcox

Costume Design by
Deena Appel

Makeup Department
Dina Crittenden	....	makeup artist
Laura Demoissac	....	hair stylist
Victoria Down	....	key makeup artist
Mary Hedges Lampert	....	hair stylist: Mr. Reynolds (as Mary Lampert)
Samantha Rumball	....	makeup artist
Pauline L. Tremblay	....	key hair stylist (as Pauline Tremblay)
Jon C. White	....	hair stylist (as Jon White)

Production Management
Fran Rosati	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Boyum	....	second unit director
Harley Cohen	....	third assistant director
Richard Cowan	....	first assistant director
David Klohn	....	second assistant director
Anthony Lundrigan	....	trainee assistant director
Eddy Santos	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Victoria Balharry	....	art department administrator
Britt Bancroft	....	set decoration buyer (as Britt Matheson)
Gordon Brunner	....	on-set dresser
Tony Chavez	....	propmaker
Ron Darby	....	carpenter
Ken Friss	....	property assistant
Allan Galajda	....	assistant art director (as Alan Galajda)
Kieran Gelfand	....	painter
Gabriel Hardman	....	storyboard artist
R. Mark Hughes	....	assistant property master (as Mark Hughes)
Charles Koetke	....	painter
Bryan Korenberg	....	property master
John Marcynuk	....	draftsperson
Alan McCullagh	....	set dresser
Louise Middleton	....	assistant art director
Leyton Morris	....	construction coordinator
Matt Reddy	....	assistant set decorator
Dwight Upshaw	....	head greensman
Darren J. Wilkie	....	assistant construction coordinator
Linda Williams	....	assistant set decorator
Ken Wills	....	assistant property master
Paul Healy	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
George H. Anderson	....	supervising sound editor (as George Anderson)
Jim Brookshire	....	dialogue editor
Damon Cohoon	....	assistant sound editor
Shane Connelly	....	cable person
Andy D'Addario	....	re-recording mixer
Tom E. Dahl	....	re-recording mixer (as Tom Dahl)
Julie Feiner	....	adr editor
Dana LeBlanc Frankley	....	assistant sound editor (as Dana Leblanc)
Anthony J. Giacinti	....	boom operator (as Tony Giancinti)
Steve Hammond	....	foley artist
Ivan Johnson	....	sound recordist
Nicholas Vincent Korda	....	adr editor (as Nicholas V. Korda)
Goro Koyama	....	foley artist
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
James Matheny	....	dialogue editor
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Art Schiro	....	pdl
Roy Seeger	....	foley supervisor
D. Chris Smith	....	sound effects editor (as David Chris Smith)
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Larry Sutton	....	production sound mixer
Renee Tondelli	....	adr supervisor
David F. Van Slyke	....	sound effects editor
Kerry Dean Williams	....	dialogue editor (as Kerry Williams)

Special Effects by
Gary Paller	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Bill Church	....	visual effects
John Coats	....	visual effects
Michael Curtis	....	digital compositor
Mark Dornfeld	....	optical effects supervisor
David D. Johnson	....	visual effects supervisor
Steve Koch	....	visual effects

Stunts
Guy Bews	....	stunt coordinator
Guy Bews	....	stunt player
Corry Glass	....	stunt player (as Corry Glass Lowry)
Jason Glass	....	stunt player
Kirk Jarrett	....	stunt player
Shanne Leavitt	....	stunt player
Jodi Stecyk	....	stunt player (as Jodie Stecyk)
Brad Turner	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Adshead	....	best boy grip
Toby Armitt	....	assistant camera
Chris Banting	....	grip
Greg Beaton	....	assistant camera
John Clothier	....	Steadicam operator
John Clothier	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Douglas Craik	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Doug Craik)
Regan Enderl	....	assistant camera
Michael Flood	....	electrician (as Mike Flood)
Jim Gregor	....	rigging gaffer
Jennifer Ann Henry	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, re-shoots
Jeff Jur	....	additional photographer
Brian A. Kuchera	....	key grip (as Brian Alan Kuchera)
Burton 'Joe' Kuchera	....	assistant chief electrician (as Burton Joe Kuchera)
Burton 'Joe' Kuchera	....	chief lighting technician: second unit (as Burton Joe Kuchera)
John Kuchera	....	dolly grip (as Brent J. Kuchera)
Doug Lavender	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Michael LaViolette	....	chief electrician
Corey Lee	....	best boy grip: second unit
Richard G. Mason	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Richard Mason)
Rob McEwan	....	still photographer
Tim Milligan	....	dolly grip
Cam North	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Chooch Paglaro	....	24 frame video operator
Rob Parisien	....	video assist operator
Gordon Schmidt	....	best boy
Rick D. Schmidt	....	rigging grip (as Richard Schmidt)
Clint Silzer	....	dolly grip: "b" camera unit
Christopher G. Sprague	....	rigging best boy
David Vernerey	....	generator operator
Roger Vernon	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Roger Vernon	....	director of photography: second unit
Carrie Wilson	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera

Casting Department
Michelle Allen	....	casting: Vancouver
Candice Elzinga	....	casting: Calgary
Regan Forman	....	casting assistant: Los Angeles
Tina Gerussi	....	casting: Toronto
Louise Mackiewicz	....	extras casting (as Louise MacKiewicz)
Tami Nasu	....	casting associate
Janet Powers	....	extras casting
Anna Liza Recto	....	casting assistant: New York

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lorraine Carson	....	assistant costume designer
Michael Castellano	....	dresser: Mr. Crowe
Edward T. Hanley	....	costume manager: hockey costume/equipment (as Ed Hanley)
Steve Holloway	....	costume coordinator: hockey costume/equipment
Paul Lavigne	....	set costumer (as Paul J. Lavigne)
Diane Routly	....	set costumer
Kim Schwandt	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Larry Becker	....	apprentice film editor: Canada
Curtis Croeni	....	first assistant film editor
Greg Hayden	....	additional film editor
Lara Johnston	....	assistant film editor: Canada
Margaret Liu	....	assistant film editor
Mato	....	color timer
Dov Samuel	....	first assistant film editor: Canada
Mary Beth Smith	....	negative cutter
Jana Triska	....	apprentice film editor

Music Department
Dick Bernstein	....	temp music editor
Carter Burwell	....	conductor
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor (as Sandy De Crescent)
Michael Farrow	....	music scoring mixer
John Houlihan	....	music consultant
Jo Ann Kane	....	music preparation (as JoAnn Kane)
Sonny Kompanek	....	orchestrator
Kathy Nelson	....	executive in charge of music: Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group
Angie Rubin	....	additional music editor
Adam Milo Smalley	....	music editor (as Adam M. Smalley)
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Michael K. Bauer	....	associate temp music editor (uncredited)
Joseph Magee	....	production music mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Brian Aebly	....	transportation co-captain
Bruce Milward	....	driver: hair/makeup/wardrobe
Coleman Robinson	....	transportation coordinator (as J. Coleman Robinson)
Kevin Simpson	....	transportation captain
Doug Slupski	....	driver: construction

Other crew
Janine Anderton	....	production coordinator
Jill Antal	....	payroll accountant
Sarah Ballard	....	assistant: Mr. Chaykin
Jessica Clothier	....	script supervisor
Patricia Compton	....	assistant location manager
James W. Croke	....	production assistant
Judy Dickerson	....	dialect coach: Mr. Crowe (as Judi Dickerson)
Rob Doak	....	video: second unit
Ian Doig	....	animal trainer: wild animals
Warner B. Einer	....	location manager (as Warner Einer)
Jeffrey Fayle	....	extras wrangler
Sean Patrick Finnan	....	production assistant
Anne Fraleigh	....	assistant production coordinator
Sam Gainer	....	production secretary
Terri Greening	....	production accountant (as Terry Lynn Greening)
Scott Jackson	....	assistant: Mr. Reynolds
Brian King	....	title designer
Chris Lamb	....	location production assistant
Brad Logel	....	production assistant
Robert Long	....	assistant: Mr. Crowe
Byron MacDonald	....	production accountant (as Byron Macdonald)
Shaun Mckay	....	assistant accountant (as Shaun McKay)
Susanne Merrett	....	craft service
Marion Milner	....	script supervisor: second unit
Lee Anne Muldoon	....	unit publicist (as Leeanne Muldoon)
Bill Papariella	....	production executive
Abraham Park	....	post-production accountant
Lisa Saylan	....	assistant: Mr. Azaria
Larry Stuckey	....	assistant: Mr. Roach
Bruce Toy	....	chef
Brad Turner	....	assistant hockey coordinator
Riley Walsh	....	production assistant
Sherry Wills	....	craft service (as Sherrie Wills)
Sherry Wills	....	first aid (as Sherrie Wills)
Keith Wohl	....	teleprompter operator
Craig Yeaton	....	hockey coordinator
Lynnanne Zager	....	adr loop group
George Ramage	....	electrical consultant (uncredited)

Thanks
Bert Dyck	....	the producers wish to thank (as Mayor Bert Dyck)
Peter G. Horn	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Baldwin/Cohen Productions
• Hollywood Pictures
• Rocking Chair Productions

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• Gativideo (2000) (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Pacific Vision Productions (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Buena Vista Imaging  titles and opticals
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• DGC  acknowledgment (as DGC Alberta)
• Eastman Film  produced and distributed on
• Filmworks Catering  catering
• FotoKem Laboratory  color timing (as Fotokem)
• I.A.T.S.E 212  the producers wish to thank (as the crew from I.A.T.S.E. 212, Calgary.)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Los Tres Papagayos  portable ice surface
• NHL Enterprises  used with permission of (all trademarks and copyrights of the National Hockey League and its Member Clubs)
• NHL Productions  used with permission of (NHL footage)
• Panavision Canada  camera and lenses (as Panavision®)
• People of Canmore, Alberta, The  the producers wish to thank
• People of the Province of Alberta, The  the producers wish to thank
• Signet Soundelux Studios  score mixed at
• Sportsrobe  costumes
• Technicolor  prints by (as Technicolor®)
• Time  used by permission (Sports Illustrated is a registered trademark of)
• Todd-AO Scoring Stage  score recorded at (as Todd AO Scoring Stage)

Also Known As:

Disney's Hockey Project (USA) (working title)
Pond Rules (USA) (working title)
The Game (USA) (original script title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sexuality.

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Malaysia:18PL (uncut) | Malaysia:U (cut) | USA:R (No. 36293) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Germany:6 | New Zealand:M | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Alberta, Canada

Company:

Baldwin/Cohen Productions

Trivia:

The metal "goaltender" that John ('Russell Crowe (I)') uses for shooting practice is painted to look like former Montreal Canadiens goalie and NHL Hall Of Famer, Ken Dryden.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the female news reporter (Janice Pettiboe) arrives at town hall and gets out of her car, she talks to Chuck and the mayor (both of whom also speak), but she is the only one who's breath can be seen due to the cold.

Quotes:

Donnie Shulzhoffer: This is hockey, OK? It's not rocket surgery.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Ben Affleck/Fiona Apple (#25.13)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Mr. Big Cha Cha

It's More Than A Hockey Game

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.