Customer Reviews

Madison [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As one who spent many a summer weekend in the town of Madison during the seventies, it's as if this movie were custom made for folks like us, so objectivity is somewhat out the window.

Nonetheless, one need not be a Hoosier to enjoy this movie, based on a true story about a small town team with no budget, professional talent, inventory or modern technology taking on the likes of "Budweiser" and "Atlas Van Lines" and succeeding beyond imagination.

This film won a standing ovation at the Cannes film festival. How often do you see a standing ovation for a film?

John Mellencamp's narration also adds a nice Hoosier touch.

For those who would quibble that the facts aren't 100% straight, the boats are not the correct vintage, etc. it is well to remember that this is a movie based on a true story, whereas the Wide World of Sports account is the better documentary.

When I first saw this movie it brought back the memories of years ago. I remembered those summer days when we would hear the sound of the piston powered boats on the Ohio River and couldn't wait to get down to the riverfront. It's a great movie for those who enjoy hydroplane racing and a small town atmosphere.

Overall, it was a very good movie. If you're an "old" diehard like me, you will quickly notice that most of the boats used were incorrect (boats that were actually pickle forks, boats long retired before this Gold Cup, etc.) I'm sure there is no big stockpile of vintage boats, and they did the best with what they had, especially the crash scenes using RC hydros. It was somewhat historically accurate probably due to problems portraying the actual drivers, sponsors, etc. However, it was an inspiring movie similar to "Rocky" and is well worth seeing. It was great to hear the old pistons again and brought back great memories. We saw it at the theatres, but I don't believe you will lose much on a home system.

I first heard about the movie, "Madison," on the Madison, Indiana website, "[...]," and then I saw the movie in a theatre down the street from my daughter's home in Burbank, California. This movie was made for Madisonians like me, I love movies and I love Madison, Indiana. I grew up there. I attended the Madison High School Class of 1958, 40th Reunion during Labor Day weekend in 1998. The reunion happened to coincide with the Regatta weekend. It was nice to know there was still a Madison Regatta and to hear the thunder boats roar up and down the river. I amazed that everyone I spoke with in Madison seemed so knowledgeable about hydroplane racing. They are not hicks. The harshest critics of the movie live in Madison, Indiana. Madison, Indiana has been the setting for two films in my lifetime, "Some Came Running (1958)", and, "Madison (2000)". That's pretty good for a nowhere town. The old town photographs pretty well. Madison is a good family film about hydroplane racing. The Bindley brothers did a fine job. I bought the DVD and will recommend it to my friends and associates.

Unlimited hydroplane boat racing may not be the most exciting sport in the world, unless you're from Madison, Indiana, where the sport was born - then it's everything. The town even owns its own boat, the Miss Madison. But she's on her last leg and has become the laughing stock of the racing circuit, much to the unhappiness of ten-year-old Mike McCormick - played by Jake Lloyd - who is just now getting to travel with the team. As the racing commission prepares to kick Madison off the circuit so a more lucrative team can join, the luck of the draw gives Madison the opportunity to save face and their place on the circuit by hosting the 1971 Gold Cup Championship. But it means coming up with the $50,000 prize money, getting their boat in shape, and finding a new driver. Can they do it?

It looks pretty hopeless to Mike, whose dad, Jim McCormick - played by Jim Caviezel (I Am David, Count of Monte Cristo, Passion of the Christ) - used to be a driver. But he was injured in an accident in which his best friend died and, since then, has contented himself with just being a part of the team. Now, as the town prepares for the Gold Cup, the driver they thought they had lined up is killed in another race. Jim sees no other way but for him to climb back into the cockpit, much to the chagrin of his wife - played by Mary McCormack - and everyone else's better judgment. Will he follow the same fate as his friend and the previous driver?

There are a lot of similarities between Madison and other small-town-Indiana sports films - like Hoosers and Breaking Away. (Paul Dooley played the father in that film, and plays the mayor in this one.) William Bindley directed and co-wrote Madison with his brother, Scott, and the result is a family film with a strong message about hope-in-the-face-of-hopelessness and high production values. Jim Caviezel gives his usual solid performance, as does most of the cast. There are memorable highlights, like the team stealing a World War II engine out of an antique plane on display in front of a nearby town's courthouse; a man-to-man talk disguised as a fishing trip between Mike and an old family friend - played wonderfully against type by Bruce Dern; and a great reenactment of ABC's Wide World of Sports covering the Gold Cup race. The boat racing is well filmed with a certain amount of excitement, especially in the flashback sequence.

But there is something missing. Even though the stakes are high for both Madison and Jim McCormick, when it's time for the big race, I'm not on the edge of my seat. Whatever is not working has to do with the script, and that one element keeps it from being a five-star film for me. It may just be too tame; or maybe boat racing is hard for non-adherents to get excited about; or perhaps the threat of death (the real antagonist) doesn't seem great enough. Much like another Jim Caviezel sports film project, Stroke of Genius, there is nothing outstanding here. However, it is good, old-fashioned storytelling with strong production values - and that's worth a lot.

Waitsel Smith

I love the town so I was pleased when I loved the movie. Madison was filmed on location in the Indiana river town. It is a family movie which involves father/son bonding, husband/wife conflicts, small town loyalties, and the sport of unlimited speed boat racing.

My wife and I have been visiting the town for over twenty years and it was fun to see so many familiar sites. In addition, there were a couple of walk ons by people we have become acquainted with in the town. And lastly, there is a happy ending. I love happy endings, especially when based on true stories.

I saw this film the same day as I saw Sin City- talk about whiplash! Both films are good in thier own ways, and both delight in the cliches of thier respective catagories (underdog sports movie and hard core noir).

Madison was made with alot of love, and it shows, it is a very pretty movie to look at and the final race climax is very well done. All in all it is a pleasent way to spend a couple of hours

I loved this movie,i knew nothing about the boat racing,only picked it because of the starring actor James Caviezel, that i also love.So,i had no preconceived notions about it other than the actors.As it turned out,it was worth it,and the songs played in the movie,brought back memories of a time for us all who lived back then.Only wish i could find the soundtrack or a list of the pop songs that were played??!!But be warned,there isn't much cussing or sex,so you will have to enjoy it for it's merits,like great acting,great story line,true or not,and the action and entertainment value..all of which get an a+ from me.

I purchased this movie for my husband, and we both enjoyed it. It was a neat story, although I must admit we were both disappointed that it wasn't quite family-friendly, as there was some language we wouldn't want our children to hear. Otherwise, it was very fun to watch, and we plan to rewatch it soon.

The story is great, even if you don't love drag boat racing. It's about a lost era (1950's) and they do a great job of restoring this time in the good old USA. We really loved this movie. My kids and my wife and mmyself alll had a great time watching it.