The Program Poster

The Program (1993)

Action | Romance 
Rayting:   6.4/10 9.3K votes
Country: USA
Language: English | German
Release date: 24 September 1993

Several players from different backgrounds try to cope with the pressures of playing football at a major university. Each deals with the pressure differently, some turn to drinking, others to drugs, and some to studying.

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User Reviews

SnoopyStyle 2 February 2016

Eastern State University football coach Sam Winters (James Caan) is under pressure after a second year unable to get into a bowl game. His quarterback Joe Kane (Craig Sheffer) is dealing with an alcoholic father and a Heisman campaign. He falls for tennis player Camille Shafer (Kristy Swanson). The big recruiting effort is tailback Darnell Jefferson (Omar Epps) and they use female student Autumn Haley (Halle Berry) as the lure. Once in school, he finds that she already has a boyfriend who is the starting tailback. Alvin Mack promises to buy his mother a house counting on signing an NFL contract. Andrew Bryniarski is the muscle-bound lineman found using steroids and attacking a girl.

This seems like a greatest hit of college football scandals. The scattered approach leaves this problematic. I don't have a big problem with any of the stories but none of them really takes the lead. Sheffer isn't compelling enough to be the star. Omar Epps comes close to be star material and it would be interesting to have him as the lead character. There are just too many main story material.

lizard_k1ng 24 June 2000

Fmovies: During the course of high school and college, we always come across numerous stereotypes. The 'jock' stereotype is possibly the most recognized. This movie transcended that and only focused on the brotherhood and comradery that arises from playing an organised sport. Not only did I enjoy this movie to a great extent I thought it to be both hilarious and dramatic. I believed the quality of acting in this film to have been superb, as well as the football scenes.

johnnynazareth 7 April 2003

If I had to sum up this picture in one line I guess I would say, "Nice try." The major problem that I see is that David Ward tries to throw as many football cliches into an hour and a half movie as he can and, for the most part, the actors fail to rise above the mediocre script.

The cast is a talented one and this film helped to propel the careers of some semi-stars and one super star, but in the end the cliches are too much to overcome. We have Caan (who I have, do, and always will love no matter what roles he chooses) playing the long-time head coach whose job seems to be in jeopardy. And there's Craig Sheffer playing Heisman hopeful Joe Kane. Sheffer was wonderful in Robert Redford's adaptation of Norm MacLean's "A River Runs through It," but here he can't escape the cliche of the out-of-control star quarterback with father-son issues and a need to live life dangerously.

We also catch glimpses of the pumped up steroid user, the illiterate student athlete, the promising young freshman (Omar Epps), and the incumbent whose position he is trying to win.

Halle Berry, Kristy Swanson, and Joey Lauren Adams add some sex appeal to the film, but those early '90s wardrobes are hideous.

In my opinion this movie tries to show too much of everything, and in doing so, fails to show enough of anything. More of the plot should have been dedicated to the characters of Caan, Sheffer, or Epps in order to establish a better connection with the audience.

The football sequences are well done--I don't think any football movie has anything on this film here--but the characters aren't given enough time to develop.

Some things that annoy me about this movie: --Omar Epp's taunting as he is returning punts. It's so cheesy. --The terribly dated musical score. It's absolutely dreadful to listen to and almost ruins the entire movie.

4/10

Bryan-15 30 July 1998

The Program fmovies. No other football movie has made that remark more truthful than this one. I think this movie touches on an interesting topic but never probes any further. College football must have some dirty little secrets and this movie shows what a few might be. If they had put a little more emphasis on characters this would have been great. Although being a great football fan the action was pretty good anyway.

callahannicole21 25 September 2007

Great college football film. The cast clicked and the direction was outstanding. This film takes you behind the scenes as to what goes on in College Football. The politics, the drugs, the drinking, the pressure involved, and just the work ethic and what it takes to be a good Football team. Great value as far as the locations, the football games seemed so real, with the crowds, very convincing movie. I loved it all the way around. If people dislike this movie, it is probably due to wishing their doing better things with their lives. I agree with a comment, this is one of the best football films of the 90's. Without a doubt. Check it out. You will not be disappointed.

Great performances by Caan, Berry, Epps, and most of the others.

VCRanger 15 April 1999

The Program is an extremely pumped up look at college football and at individual players on a college team. Speaking from experience as a college player, most of the things in this movie are grossly exaggerrated (no teammates I played with ever wanted me to spit in their mouth). However, there are a few revealing moments in this movie that capture life on a college football program. Standard performances, directing and screenplay are adequate in this film, but its true enjoyment will be by those who have participated in organized football, especially college. A rating of 7 out of 10 was given.

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