The 5th Quarter (2010)

40% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(701 ratings)

In February 2006, young Luke Abbate accepted a ride home from a fellow student following his high-school team practice. In a severe case of irresponsible and reckless teen-age driving, and over the objections of Luke and the other young passengers, the driver lost control of the car at nearly 90… More In February 2006, young Luke Abbate accepted a ride home from a fellow student following his high-school team practice. In a severe case of irresponsible and reckless teen-age driving, and over the objections of Luke and the other young passengers, the driver lost control of the car at nearly 90 miles-per-hour, spinning off a narrow road and landing in an embankment some seventy feet below. Luke suffered irreparable brain damage, and died in the hospital two days later - just four days before his sixteenth birthday. While in the hospital, the Abbate family made the difficult decision to permit the doctors to utilize Luke's organs in a nationwide organ transplant program. Five recipients were almost immediately identified, including a young mother who was suffering with serious heart disease. Sharing an uncommon blood type, Luke's heart was flown to the young woman's hospital location across the country, resulting in a successful heart transplant, and saving her life. Following his brother's death, Jon considered giving up his football career - but knew that doing so would not properly honor the younger brother who loved and idolized him. Upon his return to Wake Forest, Jon was given the approval of head coach Jim Grobe to change his number from his long-standing 40, to his brother's number 5. And, in so doing, dedicated the new season to the memory of his brother. The Abbate family founded The Luke Abbate 5th Quarter Foundation for the purposes of educating young people nationwide to the dangers and life-altering consequences of irresponsible driving. A tradition began to evolve during the following Wake Forest games. In paying homage to Luke, Jon would signal his family sitting in the stands (Section 5) by holding up his hand with all 5 fingers outstretched. He did this at the end of the third quarter. Gradually, the rest of his team started to do the same. Within a couple of games, players from both teams, the fans in the stands, and those watching the games on television, would begin the final quarter by raising their hands with all 5 fingers outstretched in honor of Luke's memory. The final quarter became known as Luke's Quarter, the 5th Quarter, and this humble signal crystallized the entire team. And, although having lost their starting quarterback, starting running back, and starting defensive end to injuries at the beginning of the season, Wake Forest went on to complete their most successful season in school history, winning 11 games against 2 losses. Coach Grobe was selected the ACC's Coach-Of-The-Year, and Jon performed brilliantly in the ACC Championship Game with fifteen solo tackles against powerhouse Georgia Tech. -- (c) Official Site

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Rick Bieber
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Mar 18, 2011 Limited
On DVD: Aug 30, 2011
Studio: Rocky Mountain Pictures

Critic Reviews

Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
This real-life football story fumbles the ball at every decisive juncture.
Robert Koehler, Variety
The film is poorly written and directed at the most basic levels.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
It scores points for being that rare "faith based film" to show a little edge.
Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru
A well-acted drama that finds just the right balance between entertaining the audience and provoking them emotionally as well as intellectually. It will make you stand up and cheer.
Russ Breimeier, Christianity Today
The 5th Quarter confuses sympathy for empathy. This story deserves better than this amateurish production.

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Featured Audience Ratings

♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast:Ryan Merriman, Aidan Quinn, Andie MacDowell, Andrea Powell, Jillian Batherson, Anessa Ramsey, Bonnie Johnson, Michael Harding, Patrick Stogner Director:Rick Bieber Summary: In the wake of a car crash that killed his 15-year-old brother, Luke, football player Jon Abbate… More
Cast:Ryan Merriman, Aidan Quinn, Andie MacDowell, Andrea Powell, Jillian Batherson, Anessa Ramsey, Bonnie Johnson, Michael Harding, Patrick Stogner Director:Rick Bieber Summary: In the wake of a car crash that killed his 15-year-old brother, Luke, football player Jon Abbate (Ryan Merriman) returns to Wake Forest University with renewed purpose and leads his struggling team to its most successful season ever. Along the way, Jon and Luke's compelling story grabs headlines and leads to a new Wake Forest tradition in the stands. The inspiring true story also stars Andie MacDowell and Aidan Quinn as Jon's parents. My Thoughts: "The events that happen are very tragic and absolutely a parents worse nightmare. That being said, the film itself wasn't done as well as it could have been and that has to do more with the script then anything. Plus most of the extra actor's are people who knew the family and not real actors. So that made some of the performances stiff and not believable. The directing wasn't that great either. They left a lot of holes in the story which there was enough time to where the holes could have been filled if the film was written better. Still it doesn't take away what a tragic story this is and how strong the family it happened to is. It is a story worth telling."
Mark A

What a tearjerker. This felt totally manipulative, milking every tear out of an admittedly tragic situation, the death of the youngest son in a close-knit family. Andie MacDowell and Aidan Quinn star, but how many times can we watch the father deal with every new reminder of the son… More
What a tearjerker. This felt totally manipulative, milking every tear out of an admittedly tragic situation, the death of the youngest son in a close-knit family. Andie MacDowell and Aidan Quinn star, but how many times can we watch the father deal with every new reminder of the son who is no longer there before the melodrama meter goes off the charts? This might have been meant as an inspirational story but a much lighter hand was sorely lacking. While this may have been based on a real story, the treatment here made it feel less real than it should have. And that is too bad.

Cast

            Ryan Merriman as Jon Abbate

            Andie MacDowell as Maryanne Abbate

            Aidan Quinn as Steven Abbate

            Michael Harding as Coach Grobe

            Josh Smith as Justice

            Stacy Earl as Joanmarie

            Jillian Batherson as Haley

            Sammy Nagi Njuguna as Gattis

            Stefan Guy as Luke Abbate

            Matt McGrath as Adam Abbate

            Steve Uria as Himself

            Micah Andrews as Himself

            Anessa Ramsey as Lynn Garber

            Mandy Manis as Rachel Abbate

            Jon Stafford as Coach Billings

            Rick Meadows as Coach Hines

            John Newberg as Coach Hood

            Justin Smith as Coach Lambert

            Mit Shah as Himself

            Bob J. McCreary as Himself

            Colin Womack as Mitchell

            Earl Guill III as Zach

            Patrick Stagner as Henry

            William Yelton as Brandon

            Sharrin Edwards as Nurse Jean

            Capel Kane as Allie

            Dave Blamy as Stan Cotten

            Walter Bell as Matt Brim

            Madison Clair Knott as Crystal

            Kristen LaPrade as Susie Simons

            R. Keith Harris as Dr. Phillips

            Andrea Powell as Bonnie

            Cheri Varnadoe as Greeting Nurse

            Alison Lawrence as Sarah Palmer

            Terry Nelson as Himself

            Brian Bloye as Himself

            Stan Cotten as TV Sports Anchor

            Bradley Evans as Joe Haynes

            Maureen Mountcastle as Pam

            Ted Johnson as Bob (Maryanne's Dad)

            Bonnie Johnson as Joan (Maryanne's Mom)

            Kendrick Cross as Fireman

            Patt Noday as Announcer #1

            Tom Werme as Sports Announcer #2

            Jason Drago as Officer #1

            Heanon Tate as Officer #2
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