“War Eagle, Arkansas” will open June 12

Posted by editor@vimooz.com on May 28, 2009 under drama | Comments are off for this article

wareaglearkansas

“War Eagle, Arkansas” will open June 12 in theaters throughout Arkansas, before expanding to New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and other key cities nationwide. The film was written by Graham Gordy (”The Love Guru’,” “My Dog Skip”) and directed by Robert Milazzo. Empire Film Group will distribute the film.

The critically praised feature has earned more than 20 film festival awards, and stars Emmy winners Brian Dennehy (”Righteous Kill”), Mary Kay Place (HBO’s “Big Love”), and James McDaniel (”N.Y.P.D. Blue”). The film also stars Academy Award Nominee Mare Winningham (”Swing Vote”) and newcomers Luke Grimes (ABC’s “Brothers and Sisters”) and Dan McCabe as the two high school friends.

SYNOPSIS:

“War Eagle, Arkansas” is a character-driven drama about a young man’s choice of whether to leave his family and friends for a career in baseball or stay and redeem his struggling community. The story takes place over a few pivotal weeks in the summer after Enoch Cass’s senior year, and is set against the backdrop of Arkansas’ beautiful Ozark Mountains.

Enoch Cass has two gifts; the first is baseball, and the second is the innate goodness he possesses as he holds his family, members of his community, and most of all, his friendship with Samuel “Wheels” Macon, together. However, Enoch’s Achilles heel is the fact that he has a debilitating stutter and can rarely manage a complete sentence.

Wheels is Enoch’s best friend and has cerebral palsy. He has been confined to a wheelchair since early childhood, which is how long these two have been inseparable. Wheels’ spirit knows no bounds, and combined with Enoch’s inability to articulate, the two have relied on one another to make themselves one completely functional human being…though without each other, they are nothing. However, the story finds these two at the crossroads of childhood and independence, the moment where Enoch has to decide if he will put away the things of his youth to pursue his own interests, or remain shackled to his hometown and its people.

Enoch’s domineering grandfather, Eugene “Pop” Cass wants nothing more than for his grandson to get a baseball scholarship to a major school and get out of the town he feels he himself was sentenced to forty years before after being forced to abandon his own minor league career. Enoch’s mother, Belle Cass, often comes into conflict with Pop over these issues, while Enoch also seeks counsel from Jack, an older African-American man he works with, as well as Wheels’ mother, Jessie.

After Enoch performs well in the All-Star game, he is quickly seduced by the new-found attention he’s being given both by interested colleges and Abby, a girl Enoch has had a crush on for some time. As all this happens, Enoch’s friendship with Wheels becomes more and more distant and finally begins to dissolve. As the film reaches its dramatic climax, Enoch must choose between his best friend, a baseball career, his girlfriend, and the inherent love he feels for his community.

“War Eagle, Arkansas” poses important questions that face all young people in rural America. The answers we find could touch us all.

The film has been a consistent winner on the USA Film Festival Circuit for the past 18 months, earning more awards than any other independent film of the decade.

WAR EAGLE, ARKANSAS,” Family Drama, 35mm Feature, Color, Stereo, 93 minutes.

Opening Night Film: Realabilities Film Festival; Little Rock Film Festival; Charlotte Film Festival; Rome Film Festival; Route 66 Film Festival; Tupelo Film Festival

Closing Night Film: California Independent Film Festival; Sacramento Film and Music Festival

Best Picture Awards: Connecticut Film Festival; Bayou City Inspirational Film Festival; Harvest Moon Film Festival; Northampton International Film Festival; Little Rock Film Festival (Charles B. Pierce Award); Illinois Film Festival; Red Rock Film Festival; Savannah Film Festival; Sacramento Film Festival; Schweitzer Lakedance Film Festival; Southern Winds Film Festival; Charles B Pierce Award Little Rock Film Festival

Best Acting Awards: Best Actor Dan McCabe Breckenridge Film Festival; Best Actor Luke Grimes Breckenridge Film Festival; Best Actor Dan McCabe California Independent Film Festival; Jury Award Best Acting Savannah Film Festival; Best Actor Dan McCabe Schweitzer Lakedance Film Festival; Best Actor Dan McCabe Bend International Film Festival

Best Director Award: California Independent Film Festival; Schweitzer Lakedance Film Festival

Best of Festival Award: Tupelo Film Festival

Audience Choice Award: Red Rock Film Festival

Official Selection in 42 Film Festivals: Bayou City Inspirational Film Festival; Bend International Film Festival; Big Muddy Film Festival; Breckenridge Film Festival; California Independent Film Festival; Charlotte Film Festival; Clinton School of Public Service Film Festival; Connecticut Film Festival; Edmonton International Film Festival; Estes Park Film Festival; Eugene International Film Festival; Great Lakes Film Festival; Harvest Moon Film Festival; Hollywood Film Festival; Illinois International Film Festival; Independent Features Film Festival; Indie Spirit Film Festival; Kansas International Film Festival; Long Island International Film Exposition; New Orleans International Film Festival; New York Realabilities Film Festival; Newport Beach Film Festival; Northampton Independent Film Festival; Official Selection Panavision New Filmmaker Program; Ohio Independent Film Festival; Oxford Film Festival; Red Rock Film Festival; Rome International Film Festival; Route 66 Film Festival; Sacramento Film & Music Festival; Savannah Film Festival; Schweitzer Lakedance Film Festival; Southern Winds Film Festival; St. Louis International Film Festival; Staten Island Film Festival; Tallahassee Film Festival; Tupelo Film Festival; Twin City Arts Film Festival; U.C. Irvine Sneak Peeks with Michael Berlin; Wildwood By The Sea Film Festival.