All the Right Moves (1983)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Michael Chapman

Writers:

Pat Jordan (article)
Michael Kane (written by)

Release Date:

21 October 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

He had a dream but the dream had begun to sour...busting to break out he had to make...

Plot:

A high school footballer desperate for a scholarship and his headstrong coach clash in a dying Pennsylvania steel town.

Plot Keywords:

Coach | High School | Pennsylvania | Scholarship | High School Football

Cast

Tom Cruise	...	Stefen Djordjevic
Craig T. Nelson	...	Nickerson
Lea Thompson	...	Lisa
Charles Cioffi	...	Pop
Gary Graham	...	Greg
Paul Carafotes	...	Salvucci
Chris Penn	...	Brian (as Christopher Penn)
Sandy Faison	...	Suzie
James A. Baffico	...	Bosko
Mel Winkler	...	Jess Covington
Walter Briggs	...	Rifleman
George Betor	...	Tank
Leon	...	Shadow (as Leon Robinson)
Jonas Chaka	...	Mouse (as Jonas C. Miller)
Keith Diamond	...	Fox (as Keith Ford)

Also Known As:

All Right

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Iceland:L | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #27119) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Conemaugh, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Lucille Ball Productions

Trivia:

The name of the fictional town of Ampipe is derived from the equally fictional American Pipe and Steel Company. There is a real town northwest of Pittsburgh called Ambridge. It was a company town of the American Bridge Company.

Goofs:

Continuity: Stefan takes his plaid shirt off twice in the locker room before practice.

Quotes:

Steff: We didn't quit, you quit!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'War of the Worlds': Characters - The Family Unit (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Blue Skies Forever

an under-rated piece of entertainment

A few years ago, I bought the video version of All The Right Moves without having seen it before. I loved it! The characters kept my eyes glued to the screen for the whole 90 minutes.

I emphasized with Stef's internal struggle to rise above his surroundings. Stef, played by one of my fave actors Tom Cruise, is similar to his character Joel from Risky Business. Both Stef and Joel have high hopes for their futures and almost jeopardize them.

As with his character Hayden Fox on the TV series Coach, Craig T. Nelson plays a football coach who is rough around the edges but has the capacity to redeem himself later.

Lea Thompson's Lisa has more value to the movie than just another girlfriend figure. She too has hopes for the future and feels cheated by the athlete-favored scholarship programs. When Stef verbally pushes her away, she doesn't immediately forgive him; she pulls him into her world first.

Nobody (so far) has mentioned the sound track; it's my favorite part of the movie. The songs do a superb job of setting the tone for the given scene. For example, when Stef is rounding second base with Lisa in the car, the bus ride to the big football game, the party, and the end credits. Sometimes, I watch ATRM just to hear "Blue Skies Forever," sung by Frankie Miller.

All the Right Moves is a good film to watch if you like high school football; are expecting an athletic scholarship; or if you don't like your coach. This movie paved the way for other football flicks like Varsity Blues. Look for it on The Family Channel or at used-movie stores.