The Substitute
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Robert Mandel
Written by	Roy Frumkes Rocco Simonelli
Starring	Tom Berenger Ernie Hudson
Distributed by	Orion Pictures LIVE Entertainment
Release date(s)	July 12, 1996
Running time	114 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Followed by	The Substitute 2: School's Out

The Substitute is a 1996 action-crime-thriller film directed by Robert Mandel and starring Tom Berenger, Marc Anthony, Ernie Hudson, William Forsythe, Raymond Cruz, and Luis Guzmán.

Contents 1 Plot synopsis 2 Criticism 3 Cast 4 Soundtrack 5 Sequels 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Plot synopsis

The plot revolves around Shale (Berenger), a mercenary who goes undercover as a high school teacher in Miami to combat a gang. In the beginning of the film Shale comes home from a disastrous mission where three of his men were killed in an operation in Cuba. He arrives in Miami to find out that a knee-cap attack has left his girlfriend Jane Hetzko with a broken leg. Shale decides to play the part of a Harvard-educated substitute teacher and recruit his former soldiers (Raymond Cruz, Luis Guzmán, Richard Brooks, and William Forsythe) in order to find the culprits. While teaching history, Shale crosses paths with "Kings of Destruction" (KOD) gang leader Juan Lacas, played by Latino singer Marc Anthony. Shale realizes that Lacas is responsible for Jane's attack but that is just the tip of the iceberg of his nefarious activities. Shale's team infiltrates the school and sets up military surveillance gear throughout the bathrooms and corridors which lead to the discovery that Lacas is in cahoots with principal Rolle (Ernie Hudson) to use the school buses and their secret stowage compartments as conduits for a heroin distribution ring in the greater Miami area.

[edit] Criticism

In an article about films about troubled teens, The AV Club stated "There have been plenty of movies about white people coming into inner-city schools and whipping the students into shape, but nothing quite like The Substitute, which brings the subtly racist, paternalistic elements of those films right to the surface."^[1]

[edit] Cast

• Tom Berenger as Jonathan Shale/Mr. James Smith
• Ernie Hudson as Principal Claude Rolle
• Diane Venora as Jane Hetzko
• Marc Anthony as Juan Lacas
• Glenn Plummer as Mr. Darrell Sherman
• Cliff De Young as Matt Wolfson
• William Forsythe as Hollan
• Raymond Cruz as Joey Six
• Sharron Corley as Jerome Brown
• Luis Guzmán as Rem
• Richard Brooks as Wellman

[edit] Soundtrack

A soundtrack containing hip hop music was released on April 9, 1996 by Priority Records. It peaked at #90 on the Billboard 200 and #18 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

[edit] Sequels

The film was followed by three direct-to-video sequels, with Treat Williams replacing Tom Berenger:

• The Substitute 2: School's Out (1998)
• The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All (1999)
• The Substitute 4: Failure Is Not An Option (2001)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The Substitute at the Internet Movie Database

v • d • e Films directed by Robert Mandel 1980s Independence Day (1983)  · F/X (1986)  · Touch and Go (1986)  · Big Shots (1987) 1990s School Ties (1992)  · The Substitute (1996) 2000s A Season on the Brink (2002)

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