The Battle of Shaker Heights (2003)

Directors:

Efram Potelle
Kyle Rankin

Writer:

Erica Beeney (written by)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Comedy

Tagline:

When you're 17, every day is war

Plot:

A young war reenactor makes a friend on the battlefield who helps him use strategy to take on his high school enemy...

Plot Keywords:

High School | Father Son Relationship | War Reenactment | Father Son Conflict | Bully Comeuppance

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Shia LaBeouf	...	Kelly Ernswiler (as Shia La Beouf)
Elden Henson	...	Bart Bowland
Amy Smart	...	Tabby
Billy Kay	...	Lance
Kathleen Quinlan	...	Eve
Shiri Appleby	...	Sarah
William Sadler	...	Abe
Ray Wise	...	Harrison
Philipp Karner	...	Maurice / German Soldier
Anson Mount	...	Miner Weber
Dale R. Simonton	...	Todd / German Soldier (as Dale Simonton)
Michael McShane	...	Mr. Norway
Hattie Winston	...	Principal Holmstead
Rick Cramer	...	German Officer / Mr. Thomas
France Nuyen	...	Xiou-Xiou Ling

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language and some drug references.

Runtime:

USA:79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-11 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:LH

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden - 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California, USA

Company:

LivePlanet

Trivia:

The test screenings showed that the audience had trouble figuring out whether it was a comedy or a teen drama. Directors Kyle Rankin and Efram Potelle and Miramax were fighting towards the end of post production on what genre it should be. The directors felt it should be a teen drama, Miramax thought it should be a comedy (because it was a marketing genre). Rankin and Potelle eventually gave in and cut it as a comedy.

Goofs:

Continuity: The position of the lawnmower on the lawn in subsequent shots at the end of the movie.

Quotes:

Kelly Ernswiler: A funny thing just happened to me. I thought you were dead on the couch.

Movie Connections:

Spin off from "Project Greenlight 2" (2003)

Soundtrack:

Beautiful Day

Well done Project Greenlight

For a first time effort for writer and director(s) this was a fine little movie. Million dollar budget, no time, documentary cameras. . . . I think they did just fine. Besides, who else is giving people a shot at getting started in this business? Ben Affleck and Matt Damon could probably avoid a lot of grief if they turned their backs on this whole thing, but they're trying something no one else in Hollywood is right now. Why are the knives out for this movie more than My Bosses Daughter?

Shia is a great actor who probably saved the film in many ways. I enjoyed it. The theatre I was in was full, and people were laughing. I wouldn't buy the DVD, but I certainly think it was worth my time and money. I hope Project Greenlight continues, and maybe they pick directors by asking them to do a scene from their favorite script. Then we might find people who are more comfortable with the material.