The Rookie (2002/I)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

John Lee Hancock

Writer (WGA):

Mike Rich (written by)

Release Date:

29 March 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Sport

Tagline:

It's never too late to believe in your dreams.

Plot:

A Texas baseball coach makes the major league after agreeing to try out if his high school team made the playoffs.

Plot Keywords:

Coach | High School | Texas | Baseball | Father Son Relationship

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Nov. 10

9:30 AM

AMC

Cast

Dennis Quaid	...	Jimmy Morris
Rachel Griffiths	...	Lorri Morris
Jay Hernandez	...	Joaquin 'Wack' Campos
Beth Grant	...	Olline
Angus T. Jones	...	Hunter Morris
Brian Cox	...	Jim Morris Sr.
Rick Gonzalez	...	Rudy Bonilla
Chad Lindberg	...	Joe David West
Angelo Spizzirri	...	Joel De La Garza
Royce D. Applegate	...	Henry
Russell Richardson	...	Brooks
Raynor Scheine	...	Frank
David Blackwell	...	Cal
Blue Deckert	...	Baseball Scout Dave Patterson
Danny Kamin	...	Durham Manager Mac (as Daniel Kamin)
Matt Williams	...	Owl Player #1
Miguel Salas	...	Owl Player #2
Eddie Alvarado	...	Owl Player #3
Brandon Garner	...	Owl Player #4
Ernest Vidaure	...	Owl Player #5
Canuto Rey Guerrero	...	Owl Player #6
Rebecca Spicher	...	Jessica
Raymond Rivera	...	Janitor
Marco Sanchez	...	Sanchez
Cynthia Dorn	...	Esther
Robert Lewis	...	Steve Dearborn (as Robert Logan)
Cory Shane Harris	...	Cory Jones
Seth Spiker	...	Tryout Catcher
Beau Holden	...	Orlando Heckler
Brandon Smith	...	Orlando Manager
Chris Sheffield	...	Snow Covered Catcher
Cameron Banfield	...	Jimmy's Brother
Barbie Burke	...	Female Student
Carlos A. González	...	David
Kyle Scott Jackson	...	Baseball Scout
Bert Beatson	...	Player with Headphones
Anthony Moore	...	Kenny Justin (as Tony Moore)
Brian Shoop	...	Durham PR Director
Mark Ciardi	...	Tim Stewart
Matt Targac	...	Player behind Backstop
Tiger King	...	Durham Catcher
Willie Dirden	...	Locker Room Attendant
Chuck Morgan	...	Texas Rangers P.A. Announcer
Eric Nadel	...	Texas Rangers Radio Announcer
Richard Dillard	...	Devil Rays Manager
James Fletcher	...	Devil Rays Pitching Coach
John Wayne Shafer	...	Reporter #1
Charles Sanders	...	Reporter #2
Randall Wallace	...	Texas Oilman
Jaime Alvarado	...	Wack's Sister
Quincy Wickson	...	Little League Umpire
Keith Mears	...	High School Umpire #1
Tim Jackson	...	High School Umpire #2
John Williams	...	Orlando Umpire #1
Jim Morris	...	Orlando Umpire #2
Gavin Forbis	...	Orlando Catcher
J.D. Evermore	...	Relief Pitcher #1
Mark Robert Ellis	...	Relief Pitcher #2 (as Robert Ellis)
Julio Cedillo	...	Relief Pitcher #3
Fred Osuna	...	Major League Umpire #1
Mark Baletka	...	Major League Umpire #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lindsay Cady	...	Baseball fan
Deborah Abbott	...	Baseball Fan (uncredited)
Johnny Bartee	...	Baseball Fan / Cafe Customer (uncredited)
Jason Bohn	...	Baseball player (uncredited)
Matthew Brown	...	Baseball fan (uncredited)
Peter Cornwell	...	Baseball Fan (uncredited)
Lisa Del Dotto	...	Baseball Fan (uncredited)
Charles Gibson	...	Himself (uncredited)
Jade Hanley	...	Baseball Fan (uncredited)
John C. Hogwood	...	Baseball fan (uncredited)
Michael S. Koenig	...	Texas Ranger Baseball Player (uncredited)
Trevor Morgan	...	Young Jimmy (uncredited)
Dan Murphy	...	Baseball Fan (uncredited)
Ray L. Perez	...	Townsperson (uncredited)
Jess Price	...	Rangers' 3rd Baseman Tim Holden (uncredited)
Robert Rosado	...	Anthony Morgan (uncredited)
Brent Smiga	...	Hippie Fan (uncredited)
Aaron Wells	...	Student (uncredited)
Christine Wolf	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
John Lee Hancock

Writing credits (WGA)
Mike Rich		(written by)

Produced by
Mark Ciardi	....	producer
Gordon Gray	....	producer
Mark Johnson	....	producer
Philip Steuer	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
John Schwartzman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Eric L. Beason

Casting by
Ronna Kress
Beth Sepko

Production Design by
Barry Robison

Art Direction by
Kevin Constant

Set Decoration by
Barbara Munch

Costume Design by
Bruce Finlayson

Makeup Department
Angela Angel	....	key hair stylist
Ron Berkeley	....	makeup artist
Claude Díaz	....	key hair stylist: second unit
Tracy Fleming	....	assistant hair stylist
Kelly Nelson	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Richard E. Chapla Jr.	....	production supervisor
Susann Jones	....	post-production supervisor
Philip Steuer	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
H. Gordon Boos	....	first assistant director
Phil Hardage	....	assistant director (as Phillip L Hardage)
Daniel J. Shaw	....	assistant director

Art Department
Steve Allen	....	carpenter
Amy Bell	....	assistant property master
Bart Brown	....	set dresser
Jack Colmenero	....	set dresser
Colin De Rouin	....	assistant art director
Patricia Dillon	....	draper
John Frick	....	assistant art director
David Hack	....	lead man
Mark Hanks	....	set dresser
Chris M. Jackson	....	flat people
Robyn Jacobs	....	painter
Darren Patnode	....	on-set dresser
Shane Patrick	....	set dresser
James Pyburn	....	construction coordinator
Charles Seale	....	carpenter
Randy Severs	....	carpenter
Kara Sutherlin	....	stand-by scenic
Jason Sweers	....	graphic designer
Mark Wallace	....	property master
Tom Ward	....	propmaker gangboss
Ronnie White	....	carpenter
Phillip Williams	....	utility technician foreman
Cher Young	....	painter

Sound Department
Brian Basham	....	adr recordist
Ron Bedrosian	....	adr mixer
Claudia Carle	....	adr recordist
Jeremiah Clifton	....	additional adr artist
David E. Fluhr	....	sound re-recording mixer
Stan Ginsel	....	sound transfer
Devon Heffley Curry	....	adr editor
Tony Jenkins	....	foley mixer
Brian W. Jennings	....	sound editor
Jon Johnson	....	supervising sound editor
William Levins	....	sound effects editor
Michael McNerney	....	adr recordist
Christian P. Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jennifer Murphy	....	production sound mixer
Miguel Rivera	....	foley supervisor
Jeff Sawyer	....	sound editor
Brad Sokol	....	assistant sound editor
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley artist
Tami Treadwell	....	adr recordist
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist
Robert Troy	....	dialogue editor
Matthew Urbatchka	....	sound apprentice
Ben Wilkins	....	sound effects editor
Mark Zimbicki	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Margaret Johnson	....	special effects foreman
Randy E. Moore	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Jacqueline Allard	....	digital compositor
Michael Curtis	....	digital compositor
Patric Kenly	....	optical and digital line-up: Buena Vista Imaging
William Koshowany	....	digital compositor

Stunts
George A. Sack Jr.	....	stunt driver

Camera and Electrical Department
Troy Anderson	....	additional grip
Roger Basquette	....	video assist operator
Buzzy Burwell	....	electrician
Brown Cooper	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Courtney Harrell	....	additional second assistant camera
Edison Jackson	....	electrician
Kurt Kornemann	....	grip
James Marks	....	remote camera technician
Richard Mosier	....	assistant camera: "a" camera
Edward A. Navarro	....	electrician
Trevor Nelson	....	camera intern
Deana Newcomb	....	still photographer
Robert Presley	....	Steadicam operator
Donis Rhoden	....	company grip
Stephen Ritchey	....	grip
Andy Ryan	....	gaffer
Todd Schlopy	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera and Steadicam
Adam Drew Schwartz	....	assistant camera
Mike Sheeren	....	dolly grip
Les T. Tomita	....	key grip

Casting Department
Stacie Goodman	....	casting associate
Beth Sepko	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Fran Allgood	....	key costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Paul Covington	....	assistant editor: avid
Nathan R. Fitzgerald	....	second assistant editor
Mark Rathaus	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
John Bissell	....	music supervisor
Johnny Caruso	....	music editor
Michael Farrow	....	music scoring mixer
Tony Finno	....	music preparation
Sonny Kompanek	....	orchestrator
Bryan Lawson	....	assistant music editor
Yvonne McDonald	....	music coordinator
Rick Norman	....	music re-mixer
Adam Milo Smalley	....	music editor: score
Jason Stasium	....	digital score recordist
Steven A. Saltzman	....	additional music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Monica Allen	....	transportation dispatcher
Charles Coulter	....	driver: honeywagon
Greg Faucett	....	transportation co-captain
Phil Schriber	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Alexa Alden	....	script supervisor: additional photography
Natalie Angel	....	assistant to producers
Peter Atherton	....	assistant to cast
Wesley Bronez	....	stand-in
Anne Carr	....	relief medic
Doug Carter	....	production assistant
James Crowley	....	location manager
Amanda Curry	....	assistant accountant
Lisa Del Dotto	....	photo double: Rachel Griffiths
Lisa Del Dotto	....	stand-in: Rachel Griffiths
Shanti Delsarte	....	assistant production coordinator
Jim DeMarco	....	post-production accountant
Tom Dooley	....	photo double: Dennis Quaid
Tom Dooley	....	stand-in: Dennis Quaid
Matt Dunstone	....	key set staff assistant
Colin Edlund	....	craft service
Mark Robert Ellis	....	baseball coordinator
Rebecca Ewing	....	production assistant
Stuart Fink	....	unit publicist
Pam Fuller	....	additional script supervisor (as Pam Fuller Vasquez)
Josh Gold	....	production assistant
Gina Grande	....	script supervisor
Susan Hegarty	....	dialect coach: Rachel Griffiths
Beau Holden	....	assistant: Mr. Quaid
Chris M. Jackson	....	additional set production assistant
Valerie Johnson	....	additional set production assistant
Nyima Johnston	....	production assistant
Chad Keller	....	stand-in
Katie R. Kelly	....	assistant: John Lee Hancock
Kelly Kernan	....	assistant: Ms. Griffiths (as K.J. Kernan)
Brian King	....	title designer
Laura King	....	construction medic
Thomas William Landrum	....	assistant baseball coordinator
Johnny K.M. Lee	....	production assistant
Wesley Scott Lewis	....	baseball equipment manager
Peter Madamba	....	script researcher
Mark Miller	....	payroll accountant
Jon Mone	....	assistant: Mr. Ciardi and Mr. Gray
Shobie Partos	....	location manager
Shawn Pipkin	....	set production assistant
Dawn Robinette	....	second assistant accountant
Daniel Salas-Porras	....	production coordinator
Brooke Satrazemis	....	script supervisor: second unit
Jill Sayre	....	voice-over
Christopher Scull	....	key office production assistant
Lindsay Sloane	....	assistant: Mr. Johnson
Raigen Thornton	....	set paramedic
David Torn	....	solo guitar & textures
Donald H. Walker	....	production accountant
Leigh A. Wilbourn	....	assistant production office coordinator
Bo Wilkes	....	hospitality: Thrall Athletics
Tom Williams	....	assistant: Mr. Johnson
Cal Wrenn	....	baseball assistant

Production Companies

• 98 MPH Productions
• Gran Via
• Walt Disney Pictures

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2007) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista International Italia
• Buena Vista International (Argentina)
• Buena Vista International (UK)
• Buena Vista International
• Gativideo (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Buena Vista Imaging (digital effects)
• Cinesite (Hollywood) (additional digital effects)

Other Companies

• Act One Script Clearance  script clearance and research
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack
• Juniper Post  
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Sportsrobe  costumes

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:U | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | New Zealand:G | Sweden:Btl | Canada:F (Ontario) (original rating) | Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:G (Ontario) (video rating: 2004) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | UK:U | USA:G (certificate #38665)

Filming Locations:

Austin Studios - 1901 E. 51st Street, Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

98 MPH Productions

Trivia:

Cameo: [Jim Morris]In the district championship game, with the Owls down 2-1, "Wacko" Campos is up to bat, and sends an extra-base hit to right field that scores the tying run, even when third-base coach Jimmy Morris tries to hold the runner. There are two shots during that scene where you can see the real-life Jim Morris and his wife Lorri (both wearing sunglasses) rooting the team from behind the backstop. He's sporting his trademark mustache and is wearing a gray t-shirt.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The bat that all of the high school players were using was a 2000 Connexion, however, the movie takes place in 1999.

Quotes:

Jimmy: [Meeting his father after the game] You came.
Jim Morris Sr.: [Nods] Wasn't going to miss this one.
[pause]
Jim Morris Sr.: Watching you out there tonight... not many fathers get to do that.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Getaway: (#17.5)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Jump Around

excellent

This was one of the best bio-pics I have seen in years. Dennis Quaid is perfect as Jim Morris, a man who finally gets a shot at his lifelong dream-pitching in the big leagues. He is a high school science teacher/baseball coach whose players make a bet with him:if they win district, he tries out for the majors. You can probably guess what happens next. I found this story made even more powerful by the fact that it was based on a true story.

*** out of ****