NOTE: As has become our custom since we launched this endeavor, we are devoting the last ten days of the year to reprising what we consider to the best of what we’ve mused about in the 355 preceding trips around the sun. But since we’re evolving and we pride ourselves on having a foundation steeped in the reality of actual numbers, as a new wrinkle we’re making our choices with an emphasis on which were outlier performers in terms of Instagram and Substack views.
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve seen Michael Chiklis face-to-face, let alone chromedome-t0-chromedome. Actually, by my dimly calculated count, it’s been tens of millions of them. The last time I can recall was when I paid a visit to the set of THE SHIELD late in its production run along with a group of starry-eyed visiting students from my alma mater in Oswego, New York, about as far from Hollywood geographically and psychologically as any college town could be–even more for the ones who were setting foot in the state of California for the first time. Chiklis was generous with his time and presence and even called over his friend and fellow Bostonian Ben Affleck, who just happened to be shooting something else on that former ABC-TV lot in the heart of Hollywood that provided such a gritty and dark backdrop for the show, over to say hi as well. Let’s just say my street cred was never higher.
To be sure, our paths have remained at least somewhat in sync since. He’s done a couple of short-lived TV projects for Sony in recent years, and we’ve remained somewhat communicative Facebook friends, especially so when milestones like the 20th anniversary of the show that changed both of our lives was observed. I mused about that at the time, sharing in detail the road to reaching the memorable night when THE SHIELD shocked the industry by becoming the first original basic cable series to win the Best Dramatic Series Golden Globe. And when Chilkis followed that up with the first Best Actor Emmy for anyone leading one of those shows, true history was made. I was screaming like a schoolgirl when that happened; though it was my about-to-retire colleague John Solberg that deservedly got the coveted shoutout for his tireless PR work that convinced the Television Academy rank and file to bestow that honor upon him.
But today could see the beginning of what many savvy critics are already crowing could be his best opportunity to make history again–perhaps as the first award-worthy performer in the history of yet another upstart and insurgent producing entity–one that’s a rare financial success at a time when the traditional studio system is otherwise crumbling under the weight of its own largesse and the convenience of streaming.
“Chicky” has the lead role in THE SENIOR, and it’s been on Hollywood’s radar since it debuted nearly two years ago at, naturally, a venue which only the most beautiful people in the world tend to frequent, which THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Frank Scheck gushed about:
(H)e’s the real-life hero of The Senior, which recently received its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival…Every good sports movie needs an underdog that the audience can root for. The new film from director Rod Lurie (The Last Castle, The Outpost) has a real one that would have seemed too impossible to believe if a screenwriter had made him up. He’s Mike Flynt, who at the age of 59 went back to play for his college alma mater after 37 years, becoming one of the oldest men to ever play the game…When it gets its inevitable theatrical release, this crowd-pleaser should be a potent box office attraction, especially in non-urban areas. The lines are probably already forming in Texas theaters.
And indeed, the early reviews on what is finally getting that theatrical release today are quite positive. AWARDS RADAR’s Joey Magidson provided this informed take:
The Senior is the sort of story you’ll be shocked hasn’t been made into a movie before. While Lurie takes you through the expected beats of this sort of a film, he does it so smoothly you won’t care one bit. The surefire direction, as well as the clear enjoyment seen in directing football sequences, certainly rubs off on the audience.
Mike Flynt (Michael Chiklis) was, back in 1970, the star linebacker at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, delivering crushing hits. He also had a temper that would lead to hits of a different kind, ultimately getting him expelled from the school. More than three decades later, in 1997, Flynt is a husband and father, working in construction. He’s still got a temper, very much taking after his father (James Badge Dale), with whom he had a complicated relationship. When a reunion with his former teammates has him reminiscing about the glory days, one of the guys suggests he could still play, given his iron build. Initially laughing it off, he’s soon telling his wife Eileen (Mary Stuart Masterson) that he needs to give it a shot. While puzzled at first, she’s on board and they’re headed to Alpine for tryouts.
The Sul Ross State University coach Sam Weston (Rob Corddry) is skeptical and thinks it’s a joke, but relents and lets Mike try out. Of course, the odds are stacked against him, though given the film you’re watching, that won’t matter much. However, you’ll see him have to win over the coaches, his teammates, and even overcome a serious neck injury. By all accounts, he should have no shot, but of course, that only makes Mike even more determined to ultimately make it into a game before the end of the season.
Chiklis delivers an intense and very compelling performance. He’s able to showcase exactly how determined Mike Flynt was to do this, as well as never papers over his more flawed behavior. Quickly, Chiklis has you rooting for Flynt. In addition to a solid Rob Corddry and Mary Stuart Masterson are well suited for roles that could have been generic, had they not allowed their personalities to shine through. James Badge Dale, supporting players here include Brandon Flynn, Terayle Hill, Corey Knight, and more, though Chiklis is the central attraction.
You can practically hear the inspirational orchestral horns swell even without the benefit of the well-made trailer, and for the backer that actually took it on that would be more than apropos. THE SENIOR is the first mainstream-targeted release from the newly public ANGEL STUDIOS, which has previously made its mark with faith-based releases such as THE SOUND OF FREEDOM, a box office hit that starred Jim Caviezal, the actor who memorably played Jesus Christ himself in THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, and the animated KING OF KINGS. Not to mention a unique way to curate both loyalty and put tushes in movie seats with a membership program called THE ANGEL GUILD, which rewards members with two free tickets and an opportunity to pay them forward to folks who otherwise couldn’t afford to go to a movie. It’s about as different as the way traditional studios seek to optimize revenue by suckering in moviegoers with expensive and at times misleading marketing campaigns. Every marketing executive knows the most effective way to convince someone to pay to watch something is a personal endorsement from a trusted friend. Particularly those who don’t have the eight and nine-figure budgets a typical theatrical release tends to play with.
In the case of ANGEL STUDIOS, this atypical and outright evangelical approach is paying off in more ways that merely help cement a path to heaven, as Michaela Gordoni of MOVIEGUIDE, a site that superservices the faith and family-based community, took detailed note of earlier this week:
Angel Studios’ stock, ANGX, debuted on the stock market on Thursday, and it jumped by 8.4% in its first day.
It went up an additional 13% in after-hours trading.
Angel’s Guild program allows its paying members to vote on upcoming projects. It has 1.5 million Guild members and almost 70,000 investors who represent “families like mine who want to support this programming,” Angel CEO Neal Harmon said.
“We see this as for people who think Hollywood gatekeepers are out of touch,” said Harmon said. “We don’t have any problem with what’s being made. We are doing what is not being made.” He added, “There’s so much opportunity for growth, we don’t see this as a zero-sum game.
And since Chilkis is who he is, he’s been able to make the traditional rounds of talk shows and podcasts to promote the movie just like other big stars could, including what now could be one of the last times Jimmy Kimmel sat down with someone to do that.
It’s both a seminal and secular moment for Chiklis and Angel, and if the early Rotten Tomatoes reviews (92% at this writing) are indicative, they’ve gonna get their shot. Especially as autumn is approaching, at a time when football interest is peaking nationwide, and all the more opportunistic on a weekend when young people of faith could use an uplifting distraction.
And while the thought of a Golden Globe or an Oscar nomination might initially be dismissed as a reach, a performance this compelling with such a supportive community backing it could easily propel Chiklis toward that possibility. And once achieved all bets are off. I’ve seen him make history before with my own eyes. I’d like to see it again. Ideally, in person.
All the best, Chicky. And Go Sawx.
Until next time…
POSTSCRIPT: We’ll concede this one had more than a shred of wishful thinking attached to it. Despite an intense and generous publicity campaign, THE SENIOR grossed a mere $5.3M in a rather bland two-week theatrical run, and while his performance was generally well-received, this time the Globes voters didn’t see it as impressive enough to warrant a nomination. But Angel Studios did get a tad more box office love this month with DAVID, an animated Biblical retelling more in line with its members’ core values, which carved out $22M from those who couldn’t quite manage (or chose not) to get into ZOOTOPIA or AVATAR. And at last check of his wife’s social media their daughter Autumn is about to make him one of the coolest grandpas around, and his beloved Patriots just clinched a playoff spot. I dare say they’re both having a pretty darn good Christmas.