The Goon: A movie coming!

[Humpzilla]

http://gettoourgame.blogspot.com/201...-for-goon.html

The movie "Goon," inspired by the story of minor league enforcer Doug Smith, and based on a screenplay by Jay Baruchel and Evan Goldberg, is in pre-production and begins shooting in Winnipeg next week.

We've got the inside scoop on casting and other news about "Goon," after the jump...

First of all, if you love reading about the culture of hockey and minor league war stories, we highly recommend the book, "Goon." This is not one of those situations where you need to worry about what to do first, read the book or see the movie. Honest.

As for the highly anticipated feature film, a GTOG source tells us the script is hilarious. We follow Doug as he mashes his way through the AHL and tries to light a fire under an eclectic and talented but under-achieving cast of characters. Needless to say, he leads with his fists. Producers are reportedly close to an agreement with Seann William Scott to play the lead role of Doug. Rumor also has it that Stifler from American Pie is already skating and bulking up for the role. Why Sean William Scott? We know he's funny, he's athletic, and he has the bone structure of Jay Caufield. Not a bad choice at all, assuming he can pack on a little muscle. Jay Baruchel is in as Doug's profane best buddy Pat.

But the key to this whole enterprise -- and the factor that could make "Goon" resonate with actual hockey fans -- may be the director. Michael Dowse, an Ontario native and rabid Habs fan, should bring a commitment to authenticity that you won't find in other hockey movies.

The major open question is who will play the role of aging enforcer Ross "The Boss" Reardon, Doug's antagonist and the most fearsome fighter in the league. Who could pull this off? Do we give Keanu Reeves another shot, or would that lead to too much unintentional comedy? What about an actor's actor who plays hockey, like Tim Robbins?

I've played pick-up ice and roller hockey with Robbins, and though he isn't anything special out there, at least he can skate. And he's a big guy. Maybe an action star like Jason Statham? Or should producers really cater to their core audience and cast Tie Domi? Would you not be entertained?

Can't wait. The Goon is a great book

[Humpzilla]

So, who's going to play Frank Bialowas? Or what about Jacques Mailhot?

here's the IMDB page for this movie

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1456635/

Labelled an outcast by his brainy family, a bouncer overcomes long odds to lead a team of under performing misfits to semi-pro hockey glory, beating the crap out of everything that stands in his way

[thepolishkid88]

Originally Posted by Humpzilla

So, who's going to play Frank Bialowas? Or what about Jacques Mailhot?

here's the IMDB page for this movie

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1456635/

That little exert from the page makes it sounds like I'm gonna be watching the Tooth Fairy again. I hope they don't taint the book, Hollywood has a bad case of messing up great stories.

[theknuckler]

anyone have the hockey DB on doug smith?

[everblades2]

Originally Posted by theknuckler

anyone have the hockey DB on doug smith?

http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=29371

http://dropyourgloves.com/Players/Pl...x?Player=12769

234 PIMS in 37 games. Averaged about 7 PIMS a game.

[theknuckler]

oh ok. i wonder where he was playing and how he got into 1 ahl game in 97/98... interesting

[Humpzilla]

Originally Posted by theknuckler

oh ok. i wonder where he was playing and how he got into 1 ahl game in 97/98... interesting

He had plenty of connections. Some of which being Slap Shot's Hanson brothers.

I suggest you get the book.

[theknuckler]

Originally Posted by Humpzilla

He had plenty of connections. Some of which being Slap Shot's Hanson brothers.

I suggest you get the book.

will do

[Humpzilla]

Originally Posted by theknuckler

will do

It really is a great book. Has all the entertaining elements of minor league hockey: bench clearers, puck bunnies, rationing money, the bus breaking down, and tons of blood, guts and hockey pucks. Everything a hockey fight fan would look for in a book.

[everblades2]

Hey Hump, did you find the book at a local store, or did you order it? I wanna get it.

[dipandmitts]

great book, cant wait for the movie

[Humpzilla]

Originally Posted by everblades2

Hey Hump, did you find the book at a local store, or did you order it? I wanna get it.

Amazon.com is the way to go.

It really is a good book. Something you can read over and over. Perfect bathroom material

[gdameo]

Originally Posted by Humpzilla

Amazon.com is the way to go.

It really is a good book. Something you can read over and over. Perfect bathroom material

jesus - i went to amazon and for the brand new it's $170 or used starting $50

i'm shocked to see the price becuase the books are usually $30 or whatever (beside college textbooks of course)

any reason why they are so expensive?

[steve1480]

Originally Posted by gdameo

jesus - i went to amazon and for the brand new it's $170 or used starting $50

i'm shocked to see the price becuase the books are usually $30 or whatever (beside college textbooks of course)

any reason why they are so expensive?

Maybe out of print?

[Humpzilla]

Remember when the news broke that Seann William Scott was going to play a hockey goon in Kevin Smith's "Hit Somebody"? Well, that's not what you're looking at here. The man who gave the world Steve Stifler (and, of course, his lovely mother) in the "American Pie" films is playing a hockey goon in another film, the aptly titled "Goon."

From MTV.com, which had these photos and more from the in-production hockey flick:

Seann William Scott stars as Doug, a small town bouncer who, after physically defending his best friend (Jay Baruchel) at a hockey game, is recruited to play the enforcer for a minor league team, despite initial misgivings. Liev Schreiber and Alison Pill also star, with Michael Dowse directing.

One more bit of casting news: What hockey film is complete without the great Eugene Levy involved? Will he play the wildly inappropriate radio announcer, the wildly inappropriate coach or the wildly inappropriate father of one of the characters?

Baruchel told MTV that the movie, which he co-wrote with "Superbad" writer and B.C. native Evan Goldberg, is going to be a "hard R rating" and that the flick has "55 speaking roles and 17 different fight scenes." Dude, sweet.

The Daily Graphic had a recent story on the filming of "Goon" at the PCU Centre in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, in which Baruchel goes into detail about what appealed to him about "Goon: The True Story of an Unlikely Journey into Minor League Hockey," the book by Doug Smith and Adam Frattasio on which the film is based. From the Daily Graphic, here's Baruchel:

"They're there to play four minutes a game and just beat the [poop] out of people. It's like they're maligned, because they're constantly the subject of talking heads' television debates."

They story is obviously in good comedic hands, and it sounds like they want to pay reverence to the hockey enforcer in ways that go beyond the easy clichés. Color us intrigued, and hopeful that a proper hockey comedy is born from this. (It's been a while since we had one. "MVP: Most Valuable Primate" just didn't do it for us.) But honestly: Stifler looks more like a pest than a goon, doesn't he?

As for "Hit Somebody," the not-exactly-reliable IMDB says that the supremely talented Emile Hirsch is rumored to be involved. Which, again, isn't an actor that screams "GOON" but is one that could entice Sean Penn into a hockey film, and that's good enough for us.

Stick-tap to Heart In Hand for the tip,

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puc...urn=nhl-283219