BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

GurlyIamBeach Instant Favorite.

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Donald Seymour This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

HarvardLawSchoolsFinest Man, first off let me say, what a well acted and fantastic movie in general. The young guys playing the football stars were believable and well prepped. I also loved James Caan character. He seemed like a genuine college coach who had flaws, and issues along with that something that makes him who he is!. Also this was one of the very first movies I saw about college life for an inner city youth and college football shown from a darker perspective. Omar Epps character is so well thought out and that I wish we could have seen more of him, more of his highlights, a better background story. I loved the fact the kid came from the city and was big time. But at the same time, i barely felt like i was part of his big time life in high school like i think a Boobie Miles may have felt back in the same time. I understand thats Texas but you get my drift.I really liked how the kids had their own issues and families and problems displayed throughout the movie as well. It made it so much more believable, i wish they would make a revamped version where we can actually feel that Heisman race in full effect.Overall I think this is one of the best college football movies ever made, The movie should be longer to add small details, i wouldn't mind one bit. I loved it and have to give it 9 out of 10 baby! --Only because when you look at the genre of College Football/ Football movies in general, this one actually ranks very high among the best ever in my opinion. Rudy being a 10/10 and North Dallas 40 being a 10/10 Any Given Sunday 10/10because they all have great on field action just like THE PROGRAM. great movie when you really break it down!!!!!!

disdressed12 i still liked it.i just felt that ...Nights had a stronger story,and i was more emotionally involved.i also found the characters mote compelling.for me the program dragged at times,when there were scenes not involving football.fortunately these scenes weren't very long,and there weren't a lot of them.of all the actors in the movie,i was most impressed with Kristy Swanson and Halle Berry,though bad had fairly small roles.the program was entertaining enough to keep watching,i just didn't think it was spectacular.is it worth buying?hard to say.but i do think it's certainly worth catching on premium cable or as rental.these are just my thoughts.my vote for the program:7/10

oldsaurora The Program is a mostly solid movie that takes us into the world of college football, and more specifically into the world of one particular team as it tries to overcome obstacle after obstacle on it's way to a bowl game after a few disappointing seasons.First off I thought the football aspects were done very well. The action looked realistic and that is the least (and most) that I expect in a sports movie. And playing "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses during a football practice is surely worthy of some credit. All in all the game footage was pretty short, a few minutes at a time. What was more interesting, and what the film focuses on most, was what happened to the players between games as they dealt with their personal lives and game preparation.I'm guessing the movie was trying to shock us with this part. Steroid abuse by one player; alcohol abuse, a bar fight, and suicidal tendencies by another; cheating on an exam by yet another and his subsequent expulsion then reinstatement; girl problems with a couple players; etc. The movie has a lot to say and it's a good message, but I didn't find this shocking. Rather this sort of things is really common knowledge among sports fans, although how rampant these issues actually are in real life I can only guess. Having said that, this part of the film is done well for the most part. The one exception is the relationship stuff, which I just didn't find very believable due to a lack of chemistry between the participants.Addressing two of the criticisms that I have read others say about this film. Yes, it does tend to follow a lot of players and their respective issues, but I didn't feel that it spread itself too thin. I thought that despite this fact it did feel like we followed each player enough to get to know the issues he faced. The movie seemed to take a snapshot of one player and what he was dealing with, then quickly moved on to the next, and I thought in the context of this film it worked quite well.The second criticism I have read is that everything ends up working out well for everyone in the end and everyone comes out a better person. This just isn't true at all.**SPOILER ALERT**The defensive end (Alvin Mack I believe) busted up his knee and at the end of the movie it appeared that he would never play again. This was surely the most poignant moment in the film. Lattimer, the one with the steroid problem, was back on the juice and you get the feeling he won't ever lick this problem. Even Joe Kane will likely struggle with booze indefinitely. So I actually give this film a lot credit for not choosing the cliched ending where everyone ends up happy.**END OF SPOILER ALERT**7/10 - for an overall solid effort

johnnynazareth 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