The Program
Several players from different backgrounds try to cope with the pressures of playing football at a major university…
- Director:David S. Ward
- Genre:Action / Drama / Sport
- Runtime:112 minutes
Cast
James Caan : Sam Winters
Halle Berry : Autumn Haley
Omar Epps : Darnell Jefferson
Craig Sheffer : Joe Kane
Kristy Swanson : Camille Shafer
The ESU Timberwolves are entering a season with high expectations after two disappointing seasons. The film begins with a loss to end the prior season, along with the school president putting pressure on Sam Winters to win this coming season or face a possible firing. Quarterback Joe Kane spends the Christmas bowl season with his alcoholic father and brother, while NFL prospect Alvin Mack gives his mother a present to go with the new house she will soon have when he turns pro. The film then follows the recruiting of Darnell Jefferson, a highly rated running back, and his eventual commitment to ESU.
The film then cuts to the following fall, as football season is about to get underway. Fall camp commences, with Jefferson fumbling during practice and subsequently forced to carry a football with him at all times. Winters warns that if any other player brings the football back to him, “you’ll wish you were never born.” Kane has trouble with the pressure put upon him by the school and its Heisman campaign prepared for him, and drinks to deal with his stress. He meets a tennis player, Camille, (Kristy Swanson) and as their first date they go on a thrilling and scary motorcycle ride. They then develop a relationship. Mack’s indifference to academics is shown clearly in a tutoring session where he couldn’t care less about learning the material, but his strong ability to read offenses and football strategy during film study shows his commitment to football. Lattimer is obviously taking performance-enhancing drugs as he goes from a backup to starter on defense in one season (after gaining 30 lbs. of muscle in the offseason), and showing signs of “roid rage” when he learns he will be a starter at the beginning of the season. Lattimer walks into the parking lot, and shatters car windows with his head while screaming “STARTING DEFENSE!! PLACE AT THE TABLE!!”
The film progresses to show the problems of a “big-time” football program. Winters’ daughter is expelled for taking a test for Bobby Collins, a backup quarterback. Kane and ESU then lose a close game to Michigan, calling into question Kane’s ability to win the Heisman. Later incidents occur when Lattimer assaults a girl unwilling to “hook up” with him, but her father is a large football booster and gets her to drop the charges (Lattimer is forced to take urine tests with coach Winters watching). Lattimer is suspended for three games based on this steroid use. All-American Alvin Mack criticizes him, but Lattimer defends himself by saying “Not everyone has your ability Alvin, you do what you have to do to play.” Also, Kane is forced into rehab when he is involved in a bar fight and DUI after the Michigan loss. With Kane out for 4 games, the team goes 2-2. Read more
Watch full The Program online streaming for free
