'Varsity Blues' cast combines new and old faces

Few could have predicted the surprising success of the WB's prime-time lineup. "Felicity" is nominated for two Golden Globes. "Charmed" debuted with the network's highest Neilson ratings ever. And it seems as if one of the stars of "Dawson's Creek" appears in a feature film monthly. Katie Holmes headlined this summer's "Disturbing Behavior," Joshua Jackson appeared in the recently released "Urban Legend" and Michelle Williams helped close out the Halloween slasher serial in "Halloween: H2O." So, it was just a matter of time before James Van Der Beek, the show's eponymous hero, made his Hollywood premiere. The result is "Varsity Blues," the story of an unlikely golden boy given instant fame by his Texas-hometown's football fetish.

He plays Mox, a discretely intelligent backup quarterback forced into the starting position when the starter is injured. His moralistic idealism mirrors that of television's Dawson. But Van Der Beek does not gravitate towards such roles.

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures Jon Voight advises James Van Der Beek in "Varsity Blues."

"Yeah, they're both good guys, but I didn't choose the roles for that reason," said the rising star. Citing his work in "Angus," he points to his range of characterizations, which he hopes would attest to his versatility as an actor.

There is further evidence to support this assertion, for Van Der Beek began his acting career not on the screen, but on the stage, starring at age 17 in a production of "Finding The Sun," a play written and directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Edward Albee.

"Working on the stage helped me to prepare for my work in the movies," he said. "The two areas aren't completely different, and I'm able to use some of my stage experience to make myself a better screen actor."

Another thing that may have improved Van Der Beek's performance in "Varsity Blues" may well have been the chance to work with veteran actor Jon Voight. Voight won a Best Actor Academy Award for his performance in "Coming Home." In "Varsity Blues," he plays the football team's dictatorial head coach, Bud Kilmer.

Voight, who has worked with film greats such as Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, is an imposing presence on-screen in this film, often seeming out of place among the new, untested cast. But he is anything but out of place when talking about his relationships with his costars.

"It's fun working with all these young actors," he said. "It's always reminding me how long I've been around, but it's good to be in contact with new talent and fresh viewpoints."

He even refers jovially and openly to his recent appearance in the critically questionable box office debacle, "Anaconda," citing his role as one of his more memorable in recent years. He speaks of the work he did on the character, and the dedication he brought to the film in its creation. And while this may not speak well of his selection of roles, it speaks volumes to his integrity as an actor.

Also starring in "Varsity Blues" is Eliel Swinton, the team's running back. Swinton has real-life experience as a football player, signing in 1997 with the Kansas City Chiefs but leaving the game shortly after because of an injury. He brings an element of credibility to the fictional team's athleticism, and speaks of the crew's attempts to create a realistic setting for a football movie.

"We actually ran plays and practiced routes in preparation for this movie ... (the director) told the extras to go easy on us when we were hitting, but I talked to them in private and asked that they lay it on for a while," Swinton said. "It made it more real, and I think you can tell."

The variability of "Varsity Blues"'s cast may well be its greatest strength. The cast members possess a real chemistry, obvious in their dialogue, and one can catch glimmers thereof on the screen. And it makes for an ultimately enjoyable film, which may well benefit all parties involved, granting its newcomers a taste of prominence, giving its veterans a pleasantly memorable experience to add to their already impressive roster, and catapulting its rising stars to the next level.

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