Contents

The Coast Is Toast

1997




Volcano (1997)  
 
Directed by 
Mick Jackson    
  
Writing credits (in credits order) 
Jerome Armstrong   (story) 

 
Jerome Armstrong   and 
Billy Ray (I)    
  
Cast (in credits order) verified as complete  
Tommy Lee Jones ....  Mike Roark  
Anne Heche ....  Dr. Amy Barnes  
Gaby Hoffmann ....  Kelly Roark  
Don Cheadle ....  Emmit Reese  
Jacqui Kim ....  Dr. Jaye Calder (as Jacqueline Kim)  
Keith David (I) ....  Lt. Ed Fox  
John Corbett (I) ....  Norman Calder  
Michael Rispoli ....  Gator Harris  
John Carroll Lynch ....  Stan Olber  
Marcello Thedford ....  Kevin  
Laurie Lathem ....  Rachel  
Bert Kramer ....  LA Fire Chief  
Bo Eason ....  Bud McVie  
James MacDonald (I) ....  Terry Jasper (as James G. MacDonald)  
Dayton Callie ....  Roger Lapher  
Michael Cutt ....  Armstrong  
Kevin Bourland ....  Bob Davis  
Valente Rodriguez ....  Train Driver  
Sheila Howard ....  Panicked Woman/Nanny  
Gerry Black ....  Train Passenger  
Susie Essman ....  Anita  
Lou Myers ....  Pastor Lake  
Gareth Williams (I) ....  Pete  
Juan Gabriel Reynoso ....  Carlos  
Angela Albarez ....  Lydia Perez  
Richard Penn (I) ....  Middle Aged Man  
Jennifer Bill ....  Nurse Fran  
Mickey Cottrell ....  Councilman Gates  
Darnell Suttles ....  Chief Sindelar (as M. Darnell Suttles)  
Ken Kerman ....  Museum Guard  
Sal Rendino ....  Chuck  
Michael Manuel ....  Del  
Jared Thorne ....  Tommy  
Taylor Thorne ....  Tommy  
Richard Schiff ....  Haskins  
Brad Parker (I) ....  Ken Woods  
Pete Kasper ....  Kenny Lopez  
Brian Markinson ....  OEM Staffer #1  
Robert Wisdom ....  OEM Staffer #2  
Katie Rich ....  OEM Staffer #3  
Ceal Coleman ....  OEM Staffer #4  
Phil Nee ....  OEM Staffer #5  
Carlos Cervantes (I) ....  OEM Staffer #6  
George Zaver ....  OEM Staffer #7  
Marty Levy ....  OEM Staffer #8  
Wayne Grace ....  OEM Staffer #9  
John Bishop (I) ....  Paramedic #1  
Marcia del Mar (I) ....  Kitchen Worker  
Mother Love ....  Traffic Cop  
Kayli DeGregorio ....  Triage 7 Year Old  
Kelsi DeGregorio ....  Triage 7 Year Old  
Steven Maines ....  K-Rail Driver  
Josie Dapar ....  Survivor #1  
Joy Baggish ....  Survivor #2  
Ron Perkins ....  Fire Chief  
Todd Sible ....  Scott  
Joshua Fardon ....  Medic  
Catherine Schreiber ....  Displeased Protestor  
David Pressman (I) ....  Second Protestor  
Danny Comden ....  Ascending Cop  
Michael McGrady ....  Policeman  
Michole White ....  ER Nurse 1 (as Michole Briana White)  
Steve MacLaughlin ....  Construction Supervisor  
Howard DuVall ....  Engineer #1  
Sam Alejan ....  Engineer #2  
Gary Kent James ....  Engineer #3  
Robert Tittor ....  Engineer #4  
John Perry Edson ....  Engineer #5 (as John Perry Edson Jr.)  
David T. Mabowe ....  Engineer #6  
Ken Thomas ....  Engineer #7  
Eddie J. Low ....  Engineer #8  
Georganna Barry ....  Java Lady  
Tom Crabson ....  Passenger on Train  
Rick Rogers ....  Sgt. Riley  
Harvey Levin (II) ....  The Media (Himself)  
Shepard Smith ....  The Media (Himself)  
Larry Carroll (I) ....  The Media (Himself)  
Christopher Spinder ....  The Media (Himself)  
Penny Griego ....  Herself  
Jeremy Thompson ....  The Media (Himself)  
Kerry Kilbride ....  Herself  
Jennifer Bjorklund ....  Herself  
Angie Crouch ....  Herself  
Rick Garcia ....  The Media (Himself)  
Frank Buckley ....  The Media (Himself)  
Peter Trunk ....  The Media (Himself)  
Steve Edwards (II) ....  The Media (Himself)  
Terry Anzur ....  The Media (Himself)  
Sasha Foo ....  Herself  
Lonnie Lardner ....  The Media (Himself)  
Chris Myers ....  The Media (Himself)  
Michael Villani ....  The Media (Himself) (as Michael Louis Villani)  
Pat Lalama ....  The Media (Himself)  
Charles Perez ....  The Media (Himself)  
Paula Bond ....  Herself  
Teresa Quevedo-Stoll ....  Herself  
Sandra Clark (II) ....  Herself  
Leo Quinones ....  The Media (Himself)  
Rich Goldner ....  The Media (Himself)  
Alina Recasens ....  Herself  
Juan Carlos González ....  The Media (Himself)  
Walter Richards ....  The Media (Himself)  
James Scott Hodson ....  The Media (Himself)  
Richard L.D. Saxton ....  The Media (Himself)  
Jere Laird ....  The Media (Himself)  
Sergio Urquidi ....  The Media (Himself)  
Luann Lee ....  Herself  
Jane Velez-Mitchell ....  Herself  
D. Lucey ....  The Media (Himself)  
Jillian Warry ....  Herself  
Chris McWatt ....  The Media (Himself)  
Jane Wells ....  Herself  
Jean Martirez ....  Herself  
Karl T. Wright ....  The Media (Himself)  
Al Naipo ....  The Media (Himself)  
Andrea Wynn ....  Herself  
Warren Olney ....  The Media (Himself)  
Takayuki Yamauchi ....  The Media (Himself)  
Bruce R. Orchid ....  The Media (Himself)  
  
Produced by 
Stokely Chaffin   (co-producer)  
Michael Fottrell   (co-producer)  
Neal H. Moritz    
Lauren Shuler-Donner   (executive)  
Scott Stuber   (associate)  
  
Original music by 
Alan Silvestri    
  
Cinematography by 
Theo Van de Sande    
  
Film Editing by 
Don Brochu    
Michael Tronick    
  
Casting 
Dianne Crittenden    
  
Production Design by 
Jackson De Govia    
  
Art Direction 
William Cruse    
Tom Reta    
Scott Ritenour    
Donald B. Woodruff    
  
Set Decoration 
K.C. Fox    
  
Costume Design by 
Kirsten Everberg    
  
Production Management 
Thomas Clary ....  digital production manager: POP Film  
Michael Fottrell ....  unit production manager  
  
Assistant Director 
Chitra F. Mojtabai ....  second assistant director  
Michele Panelli-Venetis ....  assistant director  
  
Sound Department 
Christopher Boyes ....  sound re-recording mixer  
Jean L. Clark ....  boom operator  
Dick Hansen (I) ....  cable person  
Gregg Harris (II) ....  cable person  
David Kelson ....  additional sound mixer  
John A. Larsen ....  supervising sound editor  
Robert J. Litt ....  sound re-recording mixer  
Gary Summers ....  sound re-recording mixer  
James M. Tanenbaum ....  sound  
Elliot Tyson ....  sound re-recording mixer  
  
Special Effects 
Caleb Aschkynazo ....  visual effects editor: P.O.P. Digital Film Group  
Mat Beck ....  visual effects supervisor  
Lee Berger (I) ....  visual effects producer: VIFX  
Allen Blaisdell ....  visual effects photography  
Martin Bresin ....  special effects co-ordinator (as Marty Bresin) 
Mark A. Brown ....  chief technologist: VIFX  
Mike Chambers (II) ....  visual effects producer  
Bill Cobb ....  special effects electronics foreman  
Richard Cole (I) ....  special effects  
Michael Condro ....  director of photography: special effects  
Andrea D'Amico ....  digital visual effects producer: POP film  
Bruce Devan ....  special effects producer
visual effects producer  
Josh R. Jaggars ....  visual effects associate producer: VIFX  
Scott MacLachlan ....  special effects  
Scott D. Mattson ....  visual effects assistant  
Sid McGee ....  special effects: fire  
Christopher C. Pearson ....  first assistant camera: visual effects unit  
Clay Pinney ....  special effects co-ordinator  
Thomas Rasada ....  visual effects: lava crew  
Scott Shields ....  visual effects co-ordinator  
Joe Stokes ....  visual effects co-ordinator: POP FIlm  
Eric Swenson ....  visual effects director of photography  
John C. Wash ....  visual effects supervisor: VIFX  
  
Stunts 
Robert Apisa ....  stunts (as Bob Apisa) 
David Barrett (II) ....  stunts  
Stan Barrett ....  stunts (as Stanton Barrett) 
Janet Brady ....  stunts  
Troy J. Brown ....  stunts (as Troy Brown) 
William H. Burton (I) ....  stunts  
Steven Chambers ....  stunts (as Steve Chambers) 
Tim A. Davison ....  stunts (as Tim Davison) 
Shane Dixon ....  co-stunt co-ordinator  
Eddy Donno ....  stunts  
Doc Duhame ....  stunts  
Annie Ellis ....  stunts  
Danny Epper ....  stunts  
Tony Epper ....  stunts  
Tim Gilbert ....  stunts  
Troy Gilbert ....  stunts  
Jack Gill (II) ....  stunts  
Jim Halty ....  stunts  
Clifford Happy ....  stunts (as Clifford R. Happy) 
Billy Hank Hooker ....  stunts  
Chuck 'Chaz' Hosack ....  stunts  
Norman Howell ....  stunts  
Ryan Hughes ....  stunts  
Jeff Imada ....  stunts  
Matt Johnston ....  stunts  
Henry Kingi ....  stunts (as Henry Kingi Sr.) 
John Meier ....  stunts (as John C. Meier) 
Bob Minor ....  stunts  
Rita Minor ....  stunts  
Bennie Moore ....  stunts (as Bennie E. Moore) 
Jimmy Nickerson ....  stunts  
Alan Oliney ....  stunts  
Manny Perry ....  stunts  
Chuck Picerni Jr. ....  stunts (as Charles Picerni Jr.) 
Jimmy N. Roberts ....  stunts  
Mic Rodgers ....  stunt co-ordinator  
Danny Rogers ....  stunts  
Pat Romano (I) ....  stunts  
Erik Rondell ....  stunts  
Keith Tellez ....  stunts  
Tim Trella ....  stunts  
Verne Troyer ....  stunts  
Christopher J. Tuck ....  stunts (as Chris Tuck) 
Tierre Turner ....  stunts  
Fred M. Waugh ....  stunts (as Fred Waugh) 
Danny Wynands ....  stunts (as Dan Wynands) 
  
Other crew 
Jon Agalsoff Jr. ....  video assist  
Ulrika Akander ....  dialogue editor  
Gregory Alpert ....  location manager: second unit  
Cate Bangs ....  assistant art director  
Adam Baral ....  second second assistant camera  
Jennifer Bell ....  camera loader  
Michael A. Benson ....  cameraman: second unit  
Brent Boates ....  illustrator  
Aaron Brock ....  assistant editor  
Bobby Brown (III) ....  first assistant steadicam
first assistant camera: "b" camera  
Linda S. Brown ....  set dressing buyer: second unit  
Cheryl Budgett ....  digital compositing supervisor: VIFX  
Mark Buschbacher ....  scanning and recording technician: POP Digital Film  
Kevin A. Canamar ....  supervising set medic  
A. Anthony Cappello ....  first assistant camera  
John L. Chaldu ....  minature/pyro effects technician  
Jeffrey Cilley ....  recording technician  
David Crawford (II) ....  inferno compositor: POP Film  
Steve Dayan ....  location manager
production supervisor  
Oliver Dear (II) ....  illustrator  
Bruce Devan ....  miniature producer  
Mitchell S. Drain ....  compositing supervisor: Digiscope  
David Drzewiecki ....  miniature effects supervisor
miniature effects camera  
Antoine Durr ....  computer graphics supervisor: VIFX  
Beverli Eagan ....  set designer  
Paul A. Edwards ....  camera operator  
Lee Fischer ....  assistant art director  
David W. Ford ....  lead man  
Scott C. Garrett ....  draper
set dresser  
Scott Getzinger ....  props  
Les Gobruegge ....  set designer  
Karen Golden ....  script supervisor  
Jonathan Greber ....  digital transfers  
Dylan M. Gross ....  aerial camera  
Brian Hanable ....  digital effects compositor  
Grady Holder ....  laboratory technician (uncredited) 
Chris Holt ....  digital effects co-ordinator  
Adam Howard ....  digital compositing supervisor  
Robert Hutchins ....  miniature pyrotechnician effects technician (uncredited) 
China Iwata ....  property co-ordinator (uncredited) 
Simon Jayes ....  camera operator: vfx unit  
John A. Johnston ....  assistant location manager  
Robert Karpman ....  location manager  
Rich King (I) ....  extras casting  
Patricia Klawonn ....  set designer (as Patty Klawonn) 
Nicole Koenigsberger ....  digital art director  
Stephen A. Kornacki ....  assistant production co-ordinator  
Kevin Larosa ....  aerial co-ordinator  
Richard Lawrence (I) ....  set designer  
Mary Leitz ....  digital compositor  
Beverly Leonano ....  camera production assistant  
Moshe Levin ....  additional camera operator  
Seth Lippman ....  computer graphics animator  
Kenneth Littleton ....  digital FX supervisor: POP Film  
Lawrence Littleton ....  digital FX supervisor: POP Film  
Loren Lyons ....  on-set dresser  
Michael Matzdorff ....  assistant editor: Avid  
Jason D. McGatlin ....  production co-ordinator  
Brandon McNaughton ....  digital effects compositor
digital film compositor  
Joe Musso ....  illustrator  
Jill Naumann ....  assistant location manager  
Randy Nolan ....  camera operator  
Brian S. Osmond ....  second assistant camera  
Janet Quen ....  digital effects compositor  
Roxanne Reaver ....  construction accountant  
David Rennie ....  assistant editor  
Richard Reynolds (I) ....  set designer  
Edwin Rivera ....  digital compositing supervisor: VIFX  
Barry Robertson (I) ....  technical director: P.O.P. Digital Film Group  
Mic Rodgers ....  second unit director  
David Russell (I) ....  storyboard artist  
Candice Scott ....  digital effects compositor: POP Film  
Lorey Sebastian ....  still photographer  
Robert Sharman ....  video playback  
Donald Sylvester ....  adr editor  
Dale Tanguay ....  model maker  
A. Leslie Thomas ....  assistant art director  
Neil Toussaint ....  second assistant camera  
Barry Tugendhaft ....  on-set greens  
Daniel L. Turrett ....  additional camera operator  
Dianne Wager ....  set designer  
Sara E. White ....  production supervisor  
Bob Wiatr ....  digital effects compositor  
Mark Woods (II) ....  lead man  
  

 

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                                VOLCANO
                       A film review by Steve Rhodes
                        Copyright 1997 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****):  ** 1/2

Hollywood's paucity of ideas has given way to a surfeit of twins. This is the year of two movies for every concept. Steve Profantaine's story is being duplicated with PREFONTAINE and PRE. There are two comedies about tenth high school reunions, GROSSE POINTE BLANK and ROMY AND MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION. And in the blockbuster category, we have two disaster movies about volcanoes. One which played close, but not close enough, to parody was called DANTE'S PEAK. The other is the serious, special effects extravaganza known as VOLCANO. It is also the only one of the two volcano movies with decent acting. Be warned, however, the year is early so Hollywood could well turn any or all of these twins into triplets. But let's hope not.

VOLCANO is not about some known volcano in a remote forest. Oh no, this volcano is an unknown one under one of the largest cities in the world -- Los Angeles. The film has easily the best tag line this year: "The Coast is Toast." Only the film industry would equate the destruction of tinseltown as the elimination of the entire West Coast.

Before getting into the heart of the review, let me comment first on the real star -- the spectacular special effects. The river of lava has a realism and a power that needs to be seen to be appreciated. Particularly well done are the "lava bombs" that shoot straight up like a Roman candle and then plunge back down to the earth to destroy a building or a fire truck in a noisy explosion. More interesting, however, is the way in which the movie hints at the volcano's force through steam that blows off the manhole covers.

The story has two acts. The first leads up to the discovery of the exact nature of the disaster under their feet. The film is both involving and intriguing during this whole exploration phase.

Then the script by Jerome Armstrong and Billy Ray makes the classic horror movie mistake, rushing the monster, a. k. a. the lava, onto the screen too quickly because they lack confidence in their ability to hold the audience's attention with mere suspense. Lots of action and big explosions -- now, that will make the audience feel they got their seven bucks worth and make them tell their friends to see that awesome movie. This second act, which takes more than three quarters of the film, outwears its welcome. Periodically fun, but too often tedious.

Tommy Lee Jones (THE FUGITIVE) gives a good, albeit far from his best, performance as Mike Roark, the head of LA's Office of Emergency Management. Better is Anne Heche (DONNIE BRASCO) as scientist Dr. Amy Barnes, who becomes his sidekick. She supplies the scientific insight to what may be happening, and together they devise various schemes to kill the monster, oops, I mean lava. The plausible chemistry between them never becomes overblown, and the usual big fight between the leads never occurs.

The second problem with the script concerns the small human melodramas. Whereas the overall logic of the picture is presented plausibly enough for a movie, the unbelievable heroics of the minor actors begin to take a toll on your brain. Several people agree to certain death only to be a hero. Would you stay with someone in an exploding building just because they were trapped? Would you jump into a river of lava carrying a dying man instead of jumping safely across by yourself? The dramatics include those of the mandatory child endangerment scene and the one of the dog about to perish.

Even though director Mick Jackson cannot save the sagging script, the actors and the special effects keep your attention.

Other than the leads, we have Don Cheadle, who was excellent in ROSEWOOD, playing Mike's second-in-command Emmitt Reese. He manages to take the film's mundane dialog and breath life into it. His character becomes at once both funny and strong. The script could have paced the long second act better by feeding him some decent humorous fare.

Jacqui Kim (DISCLOSURE) takes the poorly written role of the noble Dr. Jaye Calder and transform it into a mildly interesting character. Gaby Hoffmann (EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU) plays Mike's scared but ultimately brave daughter.

VOLCANO, despite its faults, does entertain a crowd. Memorable? Hardly, but the main actors are worth seeing, and that first act has so much promise it almost makes you want to forgive them for blowing the second.

VOLCANO runs 1:45. It is rated PG-13 for the intensity of the disaster and the associated injuries. Depending on how well your child can handle disaster movies, the film could be seen by kids as young as 8, but it would be too much for our 8-year-old. The trailers for it scared him badly so we certainly would not take him. I recommend the film for its entertainment value and give it ** 1/2. If you can only see one volcano movie this year, then this is the one to see.


**** = A must see film. *** = Excellent show. Look for it. ** = Average movie. Kind of enjoyable. * = Poor show. Don't waste your money. 0 = Totally and painfully unbearable picture.
REVIEW WRITTEN ON: April 23, 1997

Have I Seen This Movie: Yes
And What Did I Think?: If you're looking for a disaster movie with not much else, then Volcano is for you. If you actually like a bit of a story with your distaster film, then try Dante's Peak which was released the same year. Tommy Lee Jones & Anne Heche have pretty weak character roles here and the supporting cast doesn't help them much either. There are a lot of stereotypical roles and cliches here, and the overall moral of the film, that when faced with a distaster, we are all the same regardless of race or religion is shamefully thrown at us. Overall, its not a bad movie to sit through, you could do worse, but if you want a much better Volcano flick, try Dante's Peak instead. I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars.
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