A very inspiring film with a lot of heart and insight, 100 Yards comes to DVD and Digital HD for home and anywhere viewing. Nicely directed and acted, even the support characters and walk-ons give their best effort. I like the way the film unfolds, becomes compelling and then leaves the audience with hope and motivation.
Pro football hopeful Richard Porter (Steven Brewis) gets word that his mother has become missing following a typhoon that hit Cebu, Philippines where she was volunteering in local hospitals. The film opens with Porter having been there for some time when he gets the call from the Miami pro football team that they have chosen him as their number one draft pick. Focused on trying to find his mother alive or for closure, he makes a different decision to play pro football for a team on the island so he can continue to look for her. When he’s diagnosed with a brain tumor, he’s sidelined from the team and his search. But, with the unexpected help of young Darrell (Jerald Uy) his patient roommate, things take an unanticipated turn for both.
Director and co-writer Ross Campbell moves his film along at a nice pace introducing his characters and then dealing with Porter’s issues, illness and impossible objectives. It gets high drama, a measure of belief and then a twist that will tear up even the coldest of hearts. It’s the kind of inspirational that doesn’t get mawkish and actually leaves the audience with a challenge that may change their own lives.
The acting by Brewis as the college quarterback Rich Porter who turns down a lucrative future is very good. In a compelling decision he chooses to figure out his next step in getting closure on his mother which later leads to a bunkmate that outsmarts him. He’s strong willed, pushes himself and focus’s his love for family, even though he’s fighting anger issues, addiction, regret and grief. This performance marks Brewis’s first starring role and he nails it.
As Darrell this is Jerald Uy’s first role on the big screen and he shines as the boy whose diagnosis is not favorable. Jerald truly edifies the boy who has found a way to deal with his tumor and yet pass that knowledge on to others. When he gets a roommate that’s star quarterback Rich Porter, his outlook starts to heighten as the two become friends. But, there’s more to their chance meeting than meets the eye, something that will change Porter’s life forever.
100 Yards has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains no offensive material. It’s the kind of film that sticks with you for a long while after watching it and can inspire. Now on DVD and Digital HD.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A nicely produced inspirational film that does not get overly emotional. (4 out of 5 Stars)
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Sean Patrick Flanery, Rebecca Lim, Danielle Rayne, Myles Cranford, Melissa Paulo, Daniel O’Reilly, R.C. Ormond, Steven Brewis
Director and writer: Ross Campbell and Dale Fabrigar
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Genre: Drama, Family, Faith
Running Time: 1 Hr. 54 Min.
Video Release Date: March 5, 2019
Language: English
Reviewed Format: DVD
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 2.40:1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Number of Discs: 1 disc
Distributed by: RLJE Films
Released in: DVD, Digital HD
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
