There were some late nights filming, but a great experience for the team in assisting with the production of the movie. [6] The film was written by Bram and Toni Hoover,[1] inspired by the story of Travis Freeman, a Kentucky teen who loses his sight, but eventually overcomes the challenges of his disability, and continues to live his dream of playing football. 23 Blast is based on the amazing, true story of Travis Freeman. Just a year after his illness, he played his first game of organized football. The true story of a young football star who suddenly goes blind, and must choose between a safe, limited life or a brave return to the sport he loves. Please reference “Error Code 2121” when contacting customer service. 23 Blast is at its heart a slice-of-life story. By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. If one were to shorten those scenes, there wouldn't be enough for a full length film. With the loving help and concern of his parents, physical therapist, coach and best friend, Travis demonstrates what true bravery is: He continues to compete on the gridiron and helps his team advance to the state finals. 23 Blast (2014) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. When a high school football star is suddenly stricken with irreversible, total blindness, he must decide whether to live a safe, protected life or to summon the courage through playing football to step back into the world. Eventually, Toni approached Dylan about directing the project and he agreed. Super Bowl Winning Coach and All Pro Dad National spokesman, Tony Dungy said, “23 Blast is a powerful movie about football and perseverance. | Fresh (8) 23 Blast . 23 Blast Year 2014 Genre Drama Family Sport Type Movies IDMB rating 6.5 (1743 votes) Netflix rating 3.7 Metacritics rating 45.0 Rotten Tomatoes rating 36.0% Directors Dylan Baker Actors Kim Zimmer, Bram Hoover, Becky Ann Baker, Fred Dalton Thompson, Mark Hapka, Timothy Busfield, Stephen Lang, Max Adler, Dylan Baker, Alexa PenaVega 23 Blast on DVD December 9, 2014 starring Dylan Baker, Stephen Lang, Max Adler, Mark Hapka. 23 BLAST is a very well made, touching true story about a high school football player with incredible courage and determination. 23 Blast Photos + Posters Favorite Movie Button Overview; Movie Times + Tickets; Synopsis; Movie Reviews; More. One month free trial! He is a hero on the football field, known for being an amazing athlete. Get unlimited DVD Movies & TV Shows delivered to your door with no late fees, ever. While the movie’s Travis struggles with his faith after becoming blind, the real Travis says he faced no such crisis. The real Travis Freeman went on to become a pastor (appearing in the movie as the preacher in the dream sequence). Watch 23 Blast starring Stephen Lang in this Docudrama on DIRECTV. [1] Coach Farris strategically assigned Travis the Center position. mumbai bomb blast and firing live video 26th november taj hotel blast india hotel oberoi bomb blast firing Bombay The film focuses a lot on Travis's depression and rehabilitation, while a key component of the story, it also takes up a good majority of the film. His coach and mentor, Coach Farris, approaches him one day about joining the team again. 23 Blast received mixed reviews from critics. It's available to watch. A typical teenager growing up in a small town in Kentucky, Travis is a local hero on and off the field. We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future. | Rotten (14). Tightly written and directed, the movie charms viewers through funny moments and intriguing characters. 23 Blast, while inspirational, also moves extremely slowly, as it keeps coming back around to a single focus, Travis's illness. A football field is rectangular, but this movie's is hopelessly square. [6] Dylan approached Gary Donatelli,[1] who had a rich history in television direction and football production, having shot for Monday Night Football for many years. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". Without much convincing, Travis rejoins the football team as a center and helps the team turn around their losing season advancing to the state playoffs. When a scene for Travis and his parents at Sunday services was added, the Freemans asked their church, Central Baptist Church, for permission to film there. Every day after school, Travis attends football practice, but stays, with help from his friend, Ashley, on the sidelines. A typical teenager growing up in a small town in Kentucky, Travis is a local hero on and off the field. "23 Blast" is the name of a football play, in which the quarterback hands off to the running back, who attempts to go through a hole in the defensive line. Baker had worked with Fred Dalton Thompson, Timothy Busfield and Kevin Cooney, and they all said yes. 23 Blast is based on a true story. The story here is almost unbelievable, and while it would make for a terrific episode of ESPN's 30 for 30, I found it severely lacking in content for a feature film. [7] His parents took him to a Lexington, Kentucky hospital, where he was diagnosed with viral meningitis, a serious, but not deadly infection. All Critics (22) The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. [12] After losing his sight, Travis experiences depression as he adjusts to life without sight. When the complexity of adolescence disrupts their lives and jeopardizes that friendship, both boys are forced to grow up. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified. Coach Farris doesn't have all the answers, but he trusts his own mind and his heart. Watch 23 Blast starring Stephen Lang in this Docudrama on DIRECTV. A fairly predictable yarn that's lighthearted and well-acted, if cast mostly with characters that are little more than tackling dummies. 23 BLAST is extremely entertaining and inspiring. When Baker added a scene of Travis with his parents in church, he went right to the real Travis Freeman to play the part. [7] The project was penned under the original title of Sight Unseen. The film, 23 Blast, is a family-friendly tale based on the true events of Travis’ life. Don't have an account? 2 Corinthians 5:7, 23 Blast received mixed reviews from critics. When elements of the town question his judgment, he sticks to his decisions to be inclusive instead of exclusive, to care more about the development of his boys as people than as football players. 23 Blast is based on the amazing, true story of Travis Freeman. ENTER CITY, STATE OR ZIP CODE GO. [7] Travis attended the University of Kentucky, where he was offered a position on the team's support staff. A typical teenager growing up in a small town in Kentucky, Travis is a local hero on and off the field. In the fall of 1997, in the prime of 23 Blast is based on the amazingly true story of Travis Freeman. 23 Blast was inspired by the life of Travis Freeman, a Corbin, Kentucky native. He comes out of the procedure alive, but he is now blind. 23 Blast is based on the amazing, true story of Travis Freeman. Please click the link below to receive your verification email. The story of 23 Blast behind the scenes is a story of overcoming obstacles and odds, persevering and choosing faith over fear. There is no deviation from the main story line, and things continue to go around in circles, until the last half hour or so when they finally get to the point. The cast filmed on location in Corbin, Kentucky for a little under a month, shooting for 23 days. 23 Blast began shooting on April 2, 2012. | Rating: 5/10 [6] Scenes were filmed in the actual places that Travis lived and played football, on the practice field, the stadium, an indoor facility and Corbin High School. |, October 23, 2014 As a typical teenager, Travis Freeman (Mark Hapka) is a local hero both on and off the high-school football field in his small Kentucky town, but in 1997, Travis contracts an infection that destroys his optic nerve and renders him blind overnight. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing 23 Blast near you. Where to Watch Trailers Full Cast & Crew. 23 Blast is one of those films, as it tells the inspirational true story of Travis Freeman (Mark Hapka), a star High School Football player, on his way to a College scholarship, when a rare illness struck him blind. | Rating: 2.5/4 When a high school football star is suddenly stricken with irreversible, total blindness, he must decide whether to live a safe, protected life or to summon the courage through playing football to step back into the world. [7] After being rushed to the hospital, Travis undergoes surgery to remove the infection and save his life. 23 Blast may not be a good movie, but it's honest about what it is and doesn't pander to wider audiences looking for edginess and cynicism. ", "Dylan Baker's Inspirational Drama '23 Blast' Set for Oct. 3 Release in 600 Locations", "Producers of 23 Blast will give back to national charities", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=23_Blast&oldid=987124345, Wikipedia articles needing rewrite from March 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Bram Hoover as Jerry Baker, Travis’ best friend and teammate who struggles with, Chance Hendrickson as Drixon the running back, Frank Russell as Freddy the backup Quarterback, This page was last edited on 5 November 2020, at 02:01. | Rating: 2/5 A line from the film, “How’s that gonna work?” resonated many times, from pre-production in a small town, to the release in 617 theaters nationwide. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. Travis was rushed to the hospital as the infection began to spread and his head began to swell. 23 Blast - DVD – Connie Sue L, 08/07/2015 This is a movie that will inspire you and remind you that no matter what happens in this life, God has a plan for each of us. Living in the town of Corbin, Kentucky, his inner circle includes his supporting parents, girlfriend, and childhood best friend, Jerry Baker (Bram Hoover)[10][11] Life is normal for Travis until one day he is stricken with a series of severe headaches and a bacterial meningitis infection. 23 Blast is based on the amazing, true story of Travis Freeman. Toy Gun Films, RT Podcast: Ep. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. Because of the very rare sinus infection, Travis was rushed into surgery. It's available to watch. |. 069 – New Movies & TV plus Keanu Reeves, Mel Brooks & Sam Rockwell, October 24, 2014 This was a theme that permeated the production in front of and behind the lens. The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review. Rent 23 Blast (2014) starring Stephen Lang and Alexa PenaVega on DVD and Blu-ray. This theme of identity is visited often in 23 Blast.[8]. [8][13], Director Dylan Baker used his personal network in casting the film. He becomes blind overnight. In the prime of his youth, up and coming football star Travis Freeman lost his sight due to a sinus infection caused by a rare disease. Check out the 23 BLAST BOWL Official Website — 1 Grand Prize Winner Will Receive: 5 23 BLAST DVD’s, an Autographed football from TONY DUNGY, Super Bowl Winning Coach and All Pro Dad National Spokesman, a pizza party for 8-10 guests, and awesome memorabilia from the film! In 1999, the High School Athletic Hall of Fame presented Travis with the first-ever Travis Freeman Award in recognition of his accomplishments.[15]. 23 Blast released in select theaters on October 23, 2014, and nationwide on October 24, 2014. Most of these films are based on true stories, and are as real as it gets, but sometimes, no matter how amazing the story, it doesn't necessarily make for the best cinema. When Travis gets an infection and goes blind, his entire world is thrown upside down. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. 23 Blast is based on the amazingly true story of Travis Freeman. The percentage of users who rated this 3.5 stars or higher. Being a middle schooler, Travis still had a passion for football. Metacritic, another review aggregator, assigned the film a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". After viewing 23 Blast, and the final picture of Jerry Baker on the football field, with the legend, “In loving memory of”, this question begs an answer: What happened to Jerry Baker? Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. These players never complained, and there were many local extras who came back, again and again, regardless of how cold Corbin got in mid-April at dawn. 23 Blast follows Travis Freeman, a boy growing up in a small Kentucky town. Download or stream from your Apple TV, Roku, Smart TV, computer or portable device. When a high school football star is suddenly stricken with irreversible, total blindness, he must decide whether to live a safe, protected life or to summon the courage through playing football to step back into the world. When the three producers went out for dinner with friends, before they began shooting, a hat collected everyone's ideas for a title. Coming Soon. (Full Content Review for Parents also Available). 23 Blast is based on the amazing, true story of Travis Freeman. While the movie’s Travis struggles with his faith after becoming blind, the real Travis says he faced no such crisis. It was the winner of the 2013 Heartland Film Festival's Audience choice Award for Narrative Feature. I'll be darned if I didn't react quite often to it the way all involved were presumably striving for. Stephen Lang, Alexa PenaVega,[9] Max Adler and Becky Ann Baker also starred in the film. Sidney Poitier’s 7 Most Memorable Performances, All Harry Potter Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer. There are no approved quotes yet for this movie. [1] Travis was given antibiotics and sent home. Film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a rating of 38%, based on 21 reviews, with an average score of 4.9/10. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. Growing up, Travis always wanted to be a football player for the Corbin Redhounds, his local high school football team. He played all four years of high school and ended his football career in high school. In the beginning, Dylan and Becky only intended to act in the film, but soon Dylan began to help Toni update the script and cast the project. 23 Blast movie reviews & Metacritic score: When high school football star Travis Freeman (Mark Hapka) is suddenly stricken with irreversible, total … Coming Soon. The film, 23 Blast, is a family-friendly tale based on the true events of Travis’ life. |, October 31, 2014 I asked her better than When the Game Stands Tall? 23 Blast . Baker asked wife, Becky Ann Baker, to play redhead, Patty Wheatley, Travis’ mobility coach. Filming was completed one day ahead of schedule. Forgot your password? 23 Blast is based on the amazingly true story of Travis Freeman. | Rating: C In the fall of 1997, in the prime of his youth, he is unexpectedly stricken with an infection that destroys his optic nerve. At the age of 12, Travis began having severe headaches. Stephen Lang was known for playing mean or unlikable people, and was Baker's first choice to play the coach with the heart of gold, Willard Farris. ENTER CITY, STATE OR ZIP CODE GO. In the prime of his youth, he is unexpectedly stricken with an infection that destroys his optic nerve; he becomes blind overnight. They may be younger, bigger and sweatier than typical movie critics, but the high school athletes at Football University's Top Gun camp fit the target audience of the film, "23 Blast". Baker needed to audition young actors for the other roles, finding Mark Hapka, Alexa PenaVega and Max Adler on one day in Los Angeles.[6]. Based on a remarkable true story, 23 Blast follows an up and coming football star who suddenly becomes blind overnight. The themes of overcoming obstacles, hope, and hard work are strong in the film. You're almost there! At the age of 9, he was the water boy for the Redhounds and played football during middle school. Buy, Rent or Watch 23 Blast and other Movies + TV Shows online. Based on a true story, this film follows Travis Freeman and his love for football. The three decided to produce the film themselves, and after adding Line Producer, Carrie Holt de Lama, they traveled to Corbin to begin production. The film tries to show that it is not the fall that builds character, but it's getting up again and again to give it another try. 23 Blast is based on the amazing, true story of Travis Freeman. 23 Blast Family As a typical teenager, Travis Freeman (Mark Hapka) is a local hero both on and off the high-school football field in his small Kentucky town, but in 1997, Travis contracts an infection that destroys his optic nerve and renders him blind overnight. Once the movie ends, Travis realizes that as a blind person he is still the same person he was with sight, he then sees clearly what his purpose is in life and understands what he wants to achieve. 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