THE BEST OF TIMES

US, 1986, 104 minutes, Colour.
Robin Williams, Kurt Russell, Pamela Reed, Holly Palance.
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode.

The Best of Times is an American football film. But it is also about recession and the economic situation of the mid-'80s.

While the film was directed by Roger Spottiswoode, well known for such action films as Under Fire, Air America, Shoot to Kill, it was written by Ron Shelton, who made his directorial debut very effectively with the baseball film Bull Durham. His follow-up film was Blaze, with Paul Newman, later White Men Can't Jump and Cobb.

The film captures the atmosphere of a California town in decline. It also shows the effect of sport for the morale of a town and the effective rivalry between football teams, this time Taft (which was actually used for the film) and Bakersfield.

Robin Williams has a solid role as the bank manager of Taft - although his characterisation often veers off into some of his manic style cabaret performances, especially mimicry. However, Kurt Russell, in a not untypical role, is the football hero turned van painter. Pamela Reed and Holly Palance are very good as the wives. But there is an excellent performance by Donald Moffat as the colonel, a self-opinionated, gung-ho businessman.

The film is particularly American - and has limited appeal to non-Americans.

1.A piece of Americana, the '80s recession, the impact of sport, personal lives and heroism?

2.The use of the city of Taft, Bakersfield? Rural California? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score, the range of songs?

3.American football, audience knowledge and appreciation of it, the matches, the tactics? The mood at games?

4.The prologue, the cinema history of Taft, the oil, the boxing hero disappearing, the football matches with Bakersfield, the 1972 game and Jack dropping the catch? The background of Californian towns?

5.Robin Williams as Jack: watching the film, his comments? Staid style, glasses, devoted to family, yet manic about football? And his mimicry? His love for Ellie, at the bank, the donation, at the meal, in the bedroom, the separation? His daughter and her offhanded manner? Work at the bank, the colonel and his arrival, denigrating Jack, installing the portrait? The colonel liking to torment Jack about the dropped catch? The car breakdown, getting the substitute car from Reno, going to Darla, the massage parlour, in bed, merely talking about his life? The friendship with Reno? Puzzling why Reno threw the catch to him? The making of the plan, Ellie's reaction and making him make a choice? His moving out? Going to the Caribou group, the meeting, the speeches, the coach in support, everybody else against? Getting disguised as the Bakersfield tiger and painting graffiti everywhere? Urging people on in reaction? The decision, the practice, running, aerobics? Living alone, compassionate with Reno? Their going to the meal with their wives, the limited conversation topics? Watching the match on television? Being ousted? Preparation for the dance, talking with Reno, Ellie going into the women's room, his following her in, the reconciliation, the dance? The game, the failure, letting Reno know that he was the tiger? Reno's angry reaction? Having him off the field? The confrontation with Dr Death, eventually outwitting him, catching the ball, winning the game? Rewriting history? Everybody's reaction? Personal heroism?

6.The question of history, worrying about what happened, the opportunity to rewrite and rectify history, changing lives?

7.Kurt Russell as Reno, the past hero, painting vans, rough and scruffy, his wife and her wanting a divorce, to move away from the junk? His arguments with her? The idea of the rematch, his opposition, talking to the head Caribou, the meeting, his vote against but relief? The trashing of the club and everybody's reaction? At practice, talking things over with Jack, the meal and discussions with the wives, their being ousted, the dance, his going to the garage, his wife coming and their dancing? The confrontation with Jack, learning the truth, putting on his white shoes, exercising leadership? The happy ending? Finding self-respect?

8.Ellie, happy with Jack, their way of life, their daughter? Love? Her reaction against her father? The bedroom scene and her giving Jack the option, ousting him? Talking things over with the wives, their memories of the football matches? The meal and their awkwardness? The dance, the reconciliation? Supporting Jack? Wanting them to win? The happy ending?

9.Reno's wife, wanting a divorce, the kids, leaving, her wanting a singing career, singing at the club? Relenting, the meal, dancing in the garage?

10.The colonel and his gung-ho attitudes, slinging off at Jack, installing his portrait? Jack presenting the proposal and the colonel mocking it, accepting, the phone call, rounding up the team? The crack training? Laughing at Jack, the match, the change of fortune, his claiming Jack as his son-in-law at the end?

11.Taft, life of an American town, going down and lethargic, the bar, the Caribou meeting, the coach and his new life, the change with the match, repainting the cinema, fixing the town up? The dance - and the elderly couples all dancing?

12.The players returning to Taft, age, condition, the training? Reno exercising leadership during the match?

13.The match itself, the initial defeat, Bakersfield and its victory, the cheerleaders, the rocket? The man with the rain - and the lightning and thunder, the muddy field, the change of tactics? Changes of mood, exercise of leadership?

14.The happy ending, history changed, lives changed, reconciliation and self-respect?