Radio (2003 film)

Radio is a 2003 American semi-biographical sports drama film directed by Mike Tollin, and inspired by the 1996 Sports Illustrated article "Someone to Lean On" by Gary Smith.[1] The article and the movie are based on the true story of T. L. Hanna High School football coach Harold Jones (Ed Harris) and a mentally handicapped young man, James Robert "Radio" Kennedy (Cuba Gooding Jr.). The film co-stars Debra Winger and Alfre Woodard. It was filmed primarily in Walterboro, South Carolina because its buildings and downtown core still fit the look of the era the film was trying to depict.

Radio
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMichael Tollin
Produced by
Written byMike Rich
Starring
Music byJames Horner
CinematographyDon Burgess
Edited by
Production
company
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release date
  • October 24, 2003 (2003-10-24)
Running time
109 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$30 million
Box office$52.6 million

Plot

In the 1970's, James Robert "Radio" Kennedy, a young, 23 year old mentally-disabled man, lives alone with his mother who, as a nurse, spends much of the day at work. Radio spends much of his day roaming the town and pushing a shopping cart, which he uses to collect anything interesting he finds. Radio often pauses to observe the local high school football team in their training sessions, led by Coach Harold Jones. During one such session, the football falls out of bounds, allowing Radio to collect it and haul it away in his cart. The team retaliates the following day by tying Radio's hands and feet and locking him in the gear shed. Coach Jones frees Radio and punishes the team. Jones takes it upon himself to assist in Radio's care, and gives him his nickname due to his penchant for listening to the radio. Radio begins assisting Coach Jones on the football team, and incites the team before each match as a mascot-type figure. Radio's increased attention from Jones is faced with resistance from the football team's parents, who see Radio as a distraction from their own sons' successes.

Upon the end of the football season, Jones involves Radio with several activities within the high school, and winds up neglecting his daughter Mary Helen, who is a member of the high school's cheerleading squad. At a Christmas mass, Radio receives several gifts from the townspeople, and Mary Helen confides to her father that while she does not blame him for neglecting her, she cannot understand the reason for his interest in Radio. The following day, Radio distributes the gifts around town. He soon encounters a suspicious police officer, and his impaired ability to communicate leads to his arrest on the charge of possessing stolen property. However, the other officers recognize Radio and he is released. Following the holidays, Radio begins taking classes in the high school to complete his formal education. One day, Radio is instigated by one of the basketball team players to enter the girls' locker room. Radio is reluctant to tell anyone who set him up, but Coach Jones determines the player's identity regardless and punishes him by ordering him to sit out of a decisive basketball match.

Radio's mother suddenly dies of a heart attack, and Radio finds himself living alone until his absent older brother Walter finally returns to care for him. That same evening, Jones reveals to Mary Helen that his attachment to Radio and need to assist him stems from a childhood incident in which Jones, as a child making a living off delivering packages, did not help a mentally-disabled boy his own age crying behind barbed wire. Following the death of Radio's mother, pressure from the school board to have Radio put in a specialized institution strengthens. The association between Radio and Coach Jones is further blamed for the team's inability to win. In a meeting with the townspeople, Jones speaks of Radio being a blessing for the community by showing how people should treat one another, and announces his resignation as head coach so that he may spend more time with his family. At Radio's high school graduation, he receives an honorary diploma and a letterman jacket. Clips are shown of the real-life Radio leading the football team well into his fifties.

Cast

Background
Main article: James "Radio" Kennedy

The film's lead character, Radio, is based on James Robert "Radio" Kennedy, who was born October 14, 1946[2] in Anderson, South Carolina. His nickname, Radio, was given to him by townspeople because Kennedy grew up fascinated by radios and because of the radio he carried everywhere he went. He was known to ask students before football games, "We gonna get that quarterback?", and say "We gonna win tonight!". ReelSports provided the football and basketball coordination for the film.

James Robert Kennedy died on December 15, 2019, aged 73.[3]

Reception

On review aggregate Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 36% approval rating with the consensus reading: "The story is heavy on syrupy uplift and turns Radio into a saint/cuddly pet".[4] The film holds a score of 38 out of 100 on Metacritic.[5] The film grossed $52.3 million with a budget of approximately $30 million.[6] Cuba Gooding Jr. earned a Golden Raspberry Award nomination for Worst Actor for his performance in the film but also an NAACP Image Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture.

Awards and nominations
Award Category Subject Result
Black Reel Awards Best Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. Nominated
CAMIE Awards Theatrical release Todd Garner Won
Michael Tollin Won
Mike Rich Won
Cuba Gooding Jr. Won
Ed Harris Won
Alfre Woodard Won
Riley Smith Won
Brent Sexton Won
S. Epatha Merkerson Won
Sarah Drew Won
ESPY Award Best Sports Movie Nominated
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. Won
Supporting Actress Alfre Woodard Won
Golden Raspberry Award Worst Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. Nominated

Soundtrack

The soundtrack to Radio was released on October 21, 2003.

No.TitleArtistLength
1."Eyes Of The Heart (Radio's Song)"India.Arie4:44
2."We Can Work It Out"Stevie Wonder3:18
3."That Lady - Pt. 1"The Isley Brothers3:15
4."I'll Be Around"The Spinners3:14
5."If You Don't Know Me By Now"Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes3:29
6."Sha La La (Make Me Happy)"Al Green2:59
7."We're An American Band"Grand Funk Railroad3:28
8."China Grove"The Doobie Brothers3:17
9."Wake Up Everybody (Part 1)"Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes3:45
10."The Rubberband Man"The Spinners3:36
11."Be Thankful for What You Got"William DeVaughn3:28
12."Going In Circles"The Friends of Distinction4:11
13."Radio's Day"James Horner featuring vocals by India.Arie4:21
14."Gift of the Ball"James Horner1:47
15."Learning The Ropes"James Horner1:55
16."Being Left Behind"James Horner2:42
17."Resignation"James Horner4:43
18."Never So Alone"James Horner featuring vocals by India.Arie7:14
19."Night Game"James Horner2:41
20."Radio"Chuck Brodsky4:08
Total length:71:46[7]

See also

References
  1. Richard Perez-Pena (2008-09-15). "The Sports Whisperer, Probing Psychic Wounds". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  2. Ortiz, Aimee (December 15, 2019). "James Kennedy, Who Inspired the Movie 'Radio,' Dies at 73". New York Times. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  3. Levenson, Eric (December 15, 2019). "James 'Radio' Kennedy, football fixture who inspired a Hollywood movie, dies at 73". CNN. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  4. "Radio". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  5. "Radio Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. 2003-10-24. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  6. "Radio (2003)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  7. Radio Soundtrack Filmtracks. Retrieved February 3, 2014
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