8 Seconds

8 Seconds
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	John G. Avildsen
Written by	Monte Merrick
Produced by	Clyde LeVin Danny DeVito Tony Mark Jeffery Swab
Starring	Luke Perry Stephen Baldwin James Rebhorn Carrie Snodgress Ronnie Claire Edwards Cynthia Geary
Cinematography
Edited by	J. Douglas Seelig
Music by	Bill Conti
Production company	Jersey Films
Distributed by	New Line Cinema
Release date	February 25, 1994 (1994-02-25)
Running time	105 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$7 million
Box office	$19,623,396[1]

8 Seconds is a 1994 American contemporary Western biographical drama film directed by John G. Avildsen.^[2] Its title refers to the length of time a bull rider is required to stay on for a ride to be scored. It stars Luke Perry as American rodeo legend Lane Frost and focuses on his life and career as a bull riding champion. It also features Stephen Baldwin as Tuff Hedeman, and Red Mitchell as Cody Lambert.

The film was completed and premiered shortly after what would have been Frost's 30th birthday, in late 1993.

Plot[]

While growing up in Oklahoma, young Lane Frost (Cameron Finley) learns the tricks of the bull riding trade at the hand of his father, Clyde (James Rebhorn), an accomplished rodeo bronco rider himself. As he enters his teenage and early adult years, Lane (Luke Perry) travels the western rodeo circuit with his best friends Tuff Hedeman (Stephen Baldwin) and Cody Lambert (Red Mitchell). He meets and falls in love with a young barrel racer, Kellie Kyle (Cynthia Geary), and they eventually marry in 1984.

As Lane's legend and fame increase, so does the amount of pressure he puts on himself, to be what everyone wants him to be, and he wants to show that he is as good as they say he is. His ascent to the world championship is marred by a cheating incident, questions about Kellie's devotion, and a near broken neck. The film also follows him through the true life series between himself and Red Rock, a bull that no cowboy had ever been able to stay on for 8 seconds. It cuts the series down to three rides. In 1989, he is the second-to-last rider at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. While riding on the bull known as "Takin' Care Of Business", he dismounts after his 8-second ride but the bull turns back and hits him in the side with his horn, breaking some ribs and severing a main artery. As a result of excessive internal bleeding, he dies on the arena floor before he can be transported to the hospital.

The final scene shows Hedeman later that same year at the National Finals Rodeo riding for the world championship. After the 8 second bell sounds, he continues to ride and stays on an additional 8 seconds as a tribute to his fallen best friend.

Cast[]

• Luke Perry as Lane Frost
  • Cameron Finley as young Lane Frost
• Stephen Baldwin as Tuff Hedeman
• Red Mitchell as Cody Lambert
• Cynthia Geary as Kellie Kyle Frost
• James Rebhorn as Clyde Frost
• Carrie Snodgress as Elsie Frost
• Linden Ashby as Martin Hudson
• Ronnie Claire Edwards as Carolyn Kyle
• Renée Zellweger as Buckle Bunny
• George Michael as Himself
• Brooks & Dunn as Themselves
• McBride & the Ride as Themselves
• Vince Gill as Himself
• Karla Bonoff as Herself

Production[]

Filming took place in mainly in Boerne, Texas, Del Rio, Texas, Tucson Rodeo Grounds, San Antonio and Pendleton, Oregon and a handful of other minor locations.^{[3][citation needed]}

Release[]

8 Seconds was released in the United States on February 25, 1994. In the Philippines, the film was released on September 8, 1994, with free "Luke Perry handkerchiefs" handed out to moviegoers who present the film's newspaper ad at the lobby of any theater; the film was promoted as being the first American film to be given by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board's (MTRCB) an "Excellent" rating.^[4]

Critical response[]

The film gained a mixed reception.^[5] The Milwaukee Journal praised Perry's acting but criticized the performance of Cynthia Geary, who played Kellie Frost.^[6] It holds a 31% rating from Rotten Tomatoes based on 13 reviews.^[7]

Soundtrack[]

References[]

External links[]

Wikiquote has quotations related to: 8 Seconds

• 8 Seconds at IMDb
• 8 Seconds at Box Office Mojo
• 8 Seconds at Rotten Tomatoes