Today’s Prayer Focus

The Final Season

MPA Rating: PG-Rating (MPA)

for language, thematic elements and some teen smoking.

Moral Rating:	not reviewed
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:	Teens Adults Family
Genre:	Sports Drama
Length:	1 hr. 58 min.
Year of Release:	2007
USA Release:	October 12, 2007

Relevant Issues

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Featuring	Sean Astin “The Lord of the Rings,” “50 First Dates,” “Click” Powers Boothe, Rachael Leigh Cook, Michael Angarano, Matthew W. Allen, Tom Arnold, Mackenzie Astin, Marshall Bell, Holly Bonelli, Parisse Boothe, Jill Brockhohn, Jim Brockhohn, Jimmy Brockhohn, Dayton Callie, Brett Claywell
Director	David M. Evans
Producer	Sean Astin, Carl Borack, Kenneth Burke, Vaughn Halyard, Steven Schott, Michael Wasserman, Herschel Weingrod, Parker Widemire, Tony Wilson
Distributor	Yari Film Group Releasing

“How Do You Want To Be Remembered?”

Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “The Norway, Iowa, high school baseball team has had 19 straight winning seasons, but it’s scheduled to be merged into a larger school district. Before that happens, new coach Kent Stock has a chance to win the 20th victory in a row, if he can motivate a now utterly hangdog team.

Directed by David Mickey Evans (‘The Sandlot’), ‘The Final Season’ is based on the true the story of a small town baseball team facing insurmountable odds. Tradition in Norway, Iowa (pop. 586) can be summed up in one word, Baseball. From father to son, generation to generation, this high school David exists to defeat Goliaths ten times its size. As Coach Jim Van Scoyoc (Powers Boothe) leads the team to its 19th State title, it seems following it with a 20th is a forgone conclusion. The unexpected strikes when bureaucracy intercedes merging the town with another. Petty jealousies and political designs conspire to rob Norway of its heritage and a 20th Championship. Making matters worse, legendary coach Van Scoyoc is fired and replaced with a one-season assistant coach, Kent Stock (Sean Astin)—a move that seems to guarantee the team’s failure. ‘The Final Season’ is a film about the sudden nature of change, the identity of a small town and the strength that brings out the best when we need it most. Based on a screenplay by Art D’Alessandro and James Grayford the film also stars Rachel Leigh Cook, Michael Angarano and Tom Arnold.”

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Movie Critics

…a fall classic… Fresh-faced and plain-spoken, it finds its way into your heart with a quiet sincerity that’s as refreshing and satisfying as a good, farmhouse-cooked meal. …

Paul Kosidowski, The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

…as corny as an Iowa farm field, but as the World Series rolls around, fans of the sport might want to check out this tried-and-true tale of overcoming adversity, beating the odds and banding together for a righteous cause. …

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

…has just enough ‘Field of Dreams’ and ‘Hoosiers’ in it to make anybody nostalgic for a simpler time, a simpler place and a simpler game. …

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Positive—I enjoyed the movie, it was sad and yet uplifting at the same time. No offensive Language and Love was in the air and not in your face:) I loved the story line, it was powerful and the fact that it happened makes it a better movie. The only downfall was there was some parts dragged out adn others could have better clarification. but the overall presence of the movie was good and the acting was great. It made you sad watching the credits and seeing what happened to some of these people, to see a town lose its team its main focus. It was an inspirational movie. My family and I enjoyed it.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 4

Sherrie O'brien, age 31