Product Description

The Miss Madison may have seen better days, but she's about to go out in a blaze of glory. The pride of Madison, Indiana, the dilapidated hydroplane's been entered in the 1971 Gold Cup Championship race, whose $50,000 prize money has been raised by the town itself. Chosen to pilot the craft is Jim McCormick (Jim Caviezel, The Passion of the Christ), a local man who's sacrificed his family's future to enter the race. Supported by an idolizing son (Jake Lloyd, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace), an understanding wife (Mary McCormack, Full Frontal) and a legendary mechanic (Academy Award®-Nominee Bruce Dern, Best Supporting Actor, Coming Home, 1978), Jim takes the Miss Madison on her final voyage, in a race to the finish that will leave you cheering!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10914 in DVD
• Brand: Team Marketing
• Released on: 2005-09-13
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 99 minutes

Features

• Officially Licensed
• Highest Quality Recording

Amazon.com
Tailor-made for family viewing, Madison is the kind of decent, all-ages movie that's all too rare these days, and that alone makes it a pleasant alternative to Disney and Pixar hits. And while this barely factual drama plays fast and loose with actual historical details in the sport of hydroplane racing, it's a rousing (if utterly conventional) tale of underdogs under pressure--a boat racer's version of Hoosiers, if you will. Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ) stars as Jim McCormick, who drove the Miss Madison hydroplane to unlikely victory in the 1971 Gold Cup race in Madison, Indiana, where low morale and failing economy created a strong need for local heroes. It's a predictable movie in every way, with a heavy-handed screenplay and direction that's nothing if not earnest, but Caviezel's reliable as always, and the capable supporting cast includes Mary McCormack, Bruce Dern, and Jake Lloyd (from Star Wars: Episode I). Best of all, the recreations of early '70s-vintage hydroplane races are guaranteed to please devotees of the sport and anyone with a cinematic need for speed. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Good family movie
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.

An excellent "feel good" film for the whole family
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.

Good Racing Movie
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.