Radio

Rating:
Summary: I WISH RADIO HAD BEEN HIT BY THE TRAIN IN THE OPENING SCENE
Review: This movie is easily one of the most boring movies I have ever seen. "Radio" is your typical movie that is supposed to make people feel better about themselves after watching it because they pity a disadvantaged person. The film is so sugar-coated it could make you diabetic - and did I mention predictable? I doubt anyone will be shocked when Radio:

- gets mistreated by the police
- gets mistreated by his peers
- suffers a personal tragedy
- overcomes adversity and bigotry to emerge a community hero!

I don't care if it's "based on a true story", nobody's life follows hollywood stereotypes and cliches this closely. But wait! There is one surprise: ***SPOLIER ALERT!*** The team loses the football season! Half-way through the film. That's right, althought the tagline is "His Courage Made them Champions", Radio never makes anyone the champion of anything! Team after team fails to win, even with Radio as their "aren't we nice to include the retarded guy and laugh at him while we do it" mascot. I was ready for Ed Harris to have the Gatorade dumped all over him by a victory-crazed Radio, but alas, I was to be denied that scene.

In short, this movie is awful, but I guess if you liked "Pay It Forward" (which I imagine is just as sappy and bad) or other such sentimental crap, then this is the movie for you! Otherwise it will just make you want to die.

Rating:
Summary: great story, gret acting, feel good afterwards
Review: Cuba Gooding is so good at his role in this movie, and the stroy just gets better and better...it is amazing to think that it is abased on a true stroy, i really enjoyed the football aspect of it with my husband and he showed his tender side watching this film with me, its a great buy

Rating:
Summary: Feel Good Movie!
Review: "Radio" is just a really warm, tear-jerking film. I couldn't help but have a good feeling watching it and the performances by Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ed Harris are fantastic! It was also nice to see Deborah Winger in a movie, again. This is true story about the friendship between a high school football coach(Harris) and Radio, a young developmentally challenged young man (Gooding Jr.)he befriends after seeing him hanging around the practice football field and being taunted by the school football players. The friendship stands up to alot of outside pressure by the school and the community in general who doesn't understand Radio and who feel he would be better off away from the school and the other students. I really enjoyed this film. It is amazing what the power of love, friendship, and understanding can do! I would recommend this movie to anyone!

Rating:
Summary: A Must See Movie
Review: Even if you are not into football, which this film focuses on quite a lot considering Ed Harris is the local hometown hero coach. This is a more of a human relationship story than a football story. "Radio" was based on a true person's life story. If you get nothing else out of this movie, though that's not likely, I hope it's the quote by Ed Harris, "We want to treat each other half as good as he treats everyone of us." This is so true. This mentally challenged person known as Radio teaches the community what is and should be important. The story is moving on so many levels. The coach's family, the bond he has with Radio and why he did it. A sports jock and all too familiar scene learns that Radio is not the problem his father wants him to be. This is just a great movie that will make your emotions run the gammit. Brilliant!

Rating:
Summary: Radio: Heartwarming But Predictable
Review: This film, starring Ed Harris and Cuba Gooding Jr, tells the story of a mentally retarded South Carolina boy called Radio(Gooding) who is taken in by a local high school football coach named Harold Jones(Harris). Though Jones' compassion towards the boy will melt the hearts of some, others may be put off by the rather predictable ending. Halfway through the film I already knew that someone would try to get rid of Radio becasue of his differences. Predictable films are an unfortunate trend.

Rating:
Summary: A Kind Heart Can Soften Hard Hearts
Review: What director Michael Tollin has created in this movie, Radio, is a tale of innocence, affability, and kindness overcoming cynicism, callousness, and indifference. The title character, nicknamed Radio, played by Cuba Gooding Jr. is the youngest son of his widowed mother. He also happens to be mentally retarded. Set in 1976 in Anderson, South Carolina, the story itself begins well into Radio's life, at the age of seventeen. Because Radio's mother has to go it alone, she is forced to work endless hours in order to keep her head above water. Consequently, Radio is left to fend for himself each day for most of the day; yet, he is able to cope through it by keeping busy. Every day, he embarks on a daily journey through town with his trusty shopping cart and a few choice possessions to boot. Of particular interest to him is his radio of course, which if isn't already obvious, is his favorite possession.

For years, Radio has walked along the same path, passing the same places everyday. Along Radio's daily travels is T.L Hanna High School. For years, Radio has passed by the school with little interest or attention given him by the faculty, staff, or students. Football season rolls around, and by twist of fate, Radio is put into a situation where he is noticed by the players and especially the coach, Harold Jones. Jones becomes intrigued with Radio, and goes out of his way to be kind him. Eventually, Coach Jones takes him under his wing, giving Radio an opportunity to help the team. Before long, Jones develops a bond with Radio and begins looking out for him as if Radio were his own son. With his newfound daily routine, Radio begins to gain some popularity and has a renewed sense of purpose.

However, no one else is quite as taken with Radio as Coach Jones is at first. In fact, since Radio is truly different than most other "normal" people, he is seen as a freak by many. For the most part, Radio is able to disassociate himself from the malignant mistreatment he's gotten; but it is in these instances that examples of despicable, yet commonly familiar societal behaviors are played out before you. The dark and unkind side of human nature that is manifested in acts of mockery, marginalization, spitefulness, selfishness, contention, hate, impatience, and downright intolerance stare you right in the face. This movie has many scenes that should bring up memories to all of us who've witnessed or been involved in an appalling or inappropriate situation where we looked the other way and did nothing; a situation where we should've had the nerve or courage to do the right thing and take a stand against a particular wrongdoing.

Coach Jones is a man of principle however, and he takes that stand indomitably. Radio's presence is not appreciated by some very influential people, and although Coach Jones gets a great deal of grief because of Radio, he is unflinching and stands firm in sticking up for him. At one point, Jones finally comes clean and tells of a time when, as a boy, he regretfully did not help someone in need. His actions with Radio are a largely influenced by the haunting guilt that he'd carried throughout his life because of this inaction as a boy. He had carried that guilt for so long that when he saw in Radio an opportunity to be free of remorse for his inaction, he instinctively acted on it. This childhood event and the subsequent feelings that Coach Jones lived through as a boy seems to be largely responsible for his Luke 10:30-37 heart, strong sense of benevolence, and integrity. Indeed, to coach Jones, Radio represents an opportunity for redemption.

The beauty of the story though, is in how it reveals that kindness and love are the only way to counter and rise above darkness and negativity. Only light can extinguish darkness. While there are several characters that throughout the story represent the dark side of human nature, Radio's character, without question, represents the goodness and the light. It is his genuine enthusiasm, his pure and childlike innocence, his compassionate heart, and his benevolent spirit that shines magnificently. This story is an important lesson that should remind us of the value and dignity of every human life.

For those interested, the true story of James Robert Kennedy, or "Radio," and his relationship with Coach Harold Jones of T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson, S.C., is depicted in a 1996 Sports Illustrated article by Gary Smith. That piece has been reprinted in the book, "Beyond the Game: The Collected Sports writing of Gary Smith."

Rating:
Summary: I admit it....
Review: Okay, I admit it - I liked it.

It was funny, heartfelt, and involved two wonderful actors. I was seriously impressed by Cuba's actualization of Radio. He simply became the man.

Its not quite a "feel good" movie in the same way Rudy is though, this one was different.

A few times you got that sinking feeling in your chest and stomach as you anticipated stereotypical behavior towards mentally challenged individuals in our communities are persecuted. You even cry once or twice.

Its not a sad move though - and as I said, its not really a feel good movie either. Instead it is was it is:

A true story.

Rating:
Summary: Radio - A Movie for both the Heart and Mind
Review: Screenwriter Mike Rich and Columbia Tri-Star Pictures have created an outstanding sociological drama that speaks to the point of unconditional love for our fellow man and leaves us rooting for the underdog. The driving force and inspiration for making such a movie comes from the real life relationship of Harold Jones (Ed Harris), a high school football coach in South Carolina and James Kennedy, a mentally challenged young man fondly nicknamed Radio (Cuba Gooding Jr.). This odd pairing coupled with the conflicts that arise from the varying views of the people within their little township are the catalysts that draw the viewer in and teaches us something about ourselves.
This film merits four stars out of five due largely to its? ability to make us rethink the way we view people in our society that are deemed "outside of the norm" and the strong acting performance given by Cuba Gooding Jr. His achievement in capturing Radio?s indomitable spirit serves as an important source for the enjoyment you will experience as you open your heart and mind to this gem of a movie. One can see how well he has done this when we are introduced to the real Radio in action on the football field of his beloved high school as the credits run following the end of the movie.

Rating:
Summary: Turn the Radio On
Review: "Radio," pulls all the right strings. And the beauty of it is, it's a straightforward telling of a story, a well-written screenplay from writer Mike Rich, that leaves all indications that no strings are actually pulled. It will draw a damp eye from the most jaded of movie viewers, without ever seeming to pander to the emotions. "Radio," as a movie inspired by a true story, is an inspiration in itself. As a reviewer I don't toss out 5-star ratings like candy. For me, "Radio," is the real deal.

With the DVD we get to hear director's Mike Tollin explanation of the 3 levels of movies reflecting true life stories. There is the movie that is a true life story, the movie that is based on a true life stories (some liberties taken), and then the movie that is inspired (much more liberties taken). "Radio," falls in the "inspired category and it plays out well. The dramatic freedoms the film creation team took with the story based on South Carolina High School football with real life coach Harold Jones and Robert "Radio" Kennedy rings true.

Ed Harris, Debra Winger (usually irritating to me, but not here), and Cuba Gooding Jr. turn in fine performances but none topped by Gooding's portrayal of Radio. I would say Gooding turns in a better performance than that played in Jerry McGuire which of course won him an Oscar.

Watch "Radio." Go get the DVD. You'll be harkened back to film making that gets it right, that tells a story pure and simple, that focuses on the human souls and connections made in the human condition. "Radio," won't disappoint.

--MMW

Rating:
Summary: Oscar Worthy?
Review: No, this movie wasn't nominated for an Oscar but it should have been. Has Ed Harris every done a better job in a movie besides his effortless role in The Hours? He hit the nail right on the head with this one. I have never seen an actor grip the screen like he did. Alfre Woodward was excellent as usuall as the principal who questioned Ed Harris' character of becoming close friends with Radio. She far excceded her role in this movie than her last role in The Core. Last but certainly not least Cuba Gooding Jr. as Radio. Who honestly could have played that role any better? He made me laugh, almost cry, and feel pretty sad for the way he was treated in the beginning and all around good for the kindness that he showed to people who really wasn't that nice to him. Also, the actor's/actress' who played Ed Harris' daughter,wife, and assistant coach were good too. And lets not forget the actor who played the football player who wasn't very nice to Radio in the beginning and his father as well. WATCH RADIO IT IS TRULY A HEARTWARMER BECAUSE IT TEACHES EVERYONE HOW THEY SHOULD ACT TWARDS PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT. THIS MOVIE IS TRULY OSCAR WORTHY.