Radio (2003)
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A high school football coach forms an unlikely bond with a local man with an intellectual disability.
The story
In the 1970s, James Robert "Radio" Kennedy, a 23-year-old intellectually disabled man, lives in a small town and spends his days roaming the area. He often observes the local high school football team led by Coach Harold Jones. After a confrontation involving the team's players, Coach Jones intervenes and begins to take an interest in Radio's well-being. He gives him a nickname and incorporates him into the team's activities as a mascot-type figure. However, this unconventional arrangement faces pushback from the parents of the football players, who view Radio's presence as a distraction from their sons' athletic success.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the 1970s, James Robert "Radio" Kennedy, a 23-year-old intellectually disabled man, lives in a small town. He often observes the local high school football team led by Coach Harold Jones. After a confrontation where players mistreat Radio, Coach Jones intervenes, takes him under his wing, and gives him the nickname 'Radio'. Radio becomes a mascot for the team, but his presence is criticized by parents. Following the season, Jones involves Radio in school activities, leading to some personal strain with his own daughter, Mary Helen. After a series of events, including a wrongful arrest and a basketball season where Radio is tricked into a girls' locker room, the bond between the two men deepens. Following the death of Radio's mother, the school board pressures Jones to place Radio in an institution. In a final meeting with the community, Jones defends Radio as a blessing to the community and resigns as head coach to focus on his family. The film concludes with Radio receiving an honorary diploma and a letterman jacket, followed by real-life footage of the actual individuals.
- First release year
- 2003
- Runtime (minutes)
- 109
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Mike Tollin
- Writers
- Mike Rich · writer
- Cast and characters
- Cuba Gooding Jr. · James "Radio" Kennedy; Ed Harris · Coach Harold Jones; Alfre Woodard · Principal Daniels; Debra Winger · Mrs. Linda Jones
- Genres
- biographical; sports drama
- Themes
- inclusion; community; mentorship
- Tone and mood
- sentimental
- Premise and plot tags
- based on true story; sports; disability
- Source material / true-story basis
- Sports Illustrated article "Someone to Lean On" by Gary Smith
- Reception
- The film received mostly negative reviews and was criticized for its sentimental tone.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 35% · scale: percentage; Metacritic · score: 38 · scale: 100
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Raspberry Award · Worst Actor · nomination; NAACP Image Award · Best Actor in a Motion Picture · win
- Production trivia
- The film's lead character is based on a real person who lived until 2019.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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