A Season on the Brink (2002) (TV)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Robert Mandel

Writers (WGA):

John Feinstein (book)
David W. Rintels (teleplay)

Release Date:

10 March 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Plot:

"A Season on the Brink: A Year with Bob Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers" is based on the best-selling book by John Feinstein...

Plot Keywords:

Vulgarity | Basketball | Coach | Indiana University | Based On Book

Cast

Brian Dennehy	...	Bobby Knight
Al Thompson	...	Delray Brooks
Benz Antoine	...	Joby Wright
James Lafferty	...	Steve Alford
Michael James Johnson	...	Daryl Thomas
Dan Becker	...	Dan Dakich
Patrick Williams	...	Stew Robinson
Yorick Parke	...	Andre Harris
Gary Hudson	...	Ron Felling
Mike Weekes	...	Todd Jadlow
Duane Murray	...	Kohn Smith
Thomas Hauff	...	Ed Williams
Phoenix Gonzales	...	Charlene
Manfred Maretzki	...	Joseph Wisnofsky
Chad Bruce	...	Elisberg

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

Brazil:87 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R | USA:TV-MA (TV version)

Filming Locations:

University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Company:

Argentum Film Produktion und Betriebes KG

Trivia:

This was the first movie by ESPN.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: A majority of the game sequences were shot at the now torn down Winnipeg Arena, standing in for Assembley Hall in Bloomington Indiana. In one scene where Bobby Knight is kneeling while talking to players on the sidelines, above his head can be seen championship banners of the defunct Winnipeg Jets hockey team.

Quotes:

Bobby Knight: We're starting a season we're not even close to being ready for. We can't beat a single team on our schedule, not one. And, one thing for sure, somebody besides me is gonna have to start providing some leadership around here. Now personally, I don't think you could lead a whore into bed, but you're gonna have to...starting now.
Steve Alford: I'll try, Coach.
Bobby Knight: Don't try...do it.

A captivating and emotional tour-de-force.

Absorbing and highly interesting portrait of how Bobby Knight (Brian Dennehy) handled the numerous on-going dilemmas while coaching the Indiana Hoosiers during the tumultous 1985-86 season. I don't know anyone else who could handle playing "The General" besides Dennehy. Playing Bob Knight isn't exactly like playing a character from a William Shakespeare story. The atmosphere that is displayed here during any of the games, practices, or off the court isn't only real, but very bleak and unforgiving. The movie is based on a novel (of the same title) written by John Feinstein. I give the people at ESPN who decided to back the movie a lot of credit. A captivating and emotional tour-de-force.