Jeri Jacquin
Coming to theatres from director Anders Lindwall and Fathom Entertainment is the story of hope, music and the love of football with GREEN AND GOLD.
Buck (Craig T. Nelson) is a farmer who does things his own way in the farmland of Wisconsin who also happens to be a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan. Jenny (Madison Lawlor) is his granddaughter who is about as headstrong as he is. The two butt heads occasionally because Jenny loves her music and playing it for others to hear while Buck sees it as a dream that she should pursue. Watching the two clash is Buck’s wife Margaret (Annabel Armour) who sings in the church choir and helps around the farm.
Jenny learns that the famous Billy Reed (Brandon Sklenar) is in town and she decides to make a tape of one of her songs. When she meets him, Billy talks about his love of places like Buck’s farm and promises to give Jenny’s song a listen. Returning home Jenny she sees banker Jerry Moncton (Tim Frank) leaving but Buck won’t talk about it. Farmhand Aaron (Ashton Moio) has a bit of a crush on Jenny and loves the life on the farm.
Jenny is surprised when Billy makes his way to the farm and comes to dinner where Buck doesn’t seem all that pleased to see him but Margaret is happy her granddaughter has a friend. After a trip to town with Buck, Jenny learns that the farm is close to foreclosure and only then does she realize that she truly loves the farm. When Jerry makes a joke that he will give Buck a year to fix his finances if the Packers make it to the Superbowl, he is surprised later when the offer is accepted.
Thinking they have a chance; Jenny is even happier when Billy calls to come and talk about her music. That doesn’t stop Buck, Jenny and even Aaron from cheering every Sunday (church permitting) for their beloved team as they edge closer and closer to the big day. When tragedy strikes several times, Buck begins to lose hope but Jenny knows that there is always a way. Taking to the local airwaves, now everyone knows how special Jenny’s wide-open piece of heaven is and how close they are to losing it all!
Nelson as Buck is a man who is stuck in his ways and totally in love with the land. He sees granddaughter Jenny following in his own daughter’s path and it causes him so much hurt. Focusing on the land, he is contentious when the banker shows up as he deals with how quickly it can all be taken away. Trusting in his beloved Packers, Nelson gives his character hope that the team can save his farm. Nelson has the ability to give us a strong parental, in this case grandparent, figure but sometimes that strength comes across as arrogance. It will take several blows for Buck to realize the true meaning of his life.
Lawlor as Jenny is equally as stubborn to the point where she doesn’t listen to one thing that isn’t about what she wants musically. Singing for the crowd and writing her own songs brings her joy that she hopes fills an emptiness that she struggles to define within herself. Once she begins to understand what is truly important, Lawlor jumps in with both feet and sticks the landing about life, love and family that loves the land.
Armour as Margaret watcher her husband be stubborn and her granddaughter try to fly and she supports them both. Choir singing lady who cooks a mean supper, Margaret is truly the glue that has held and continues to hold the family together. Moio as Aaron clearly loves the land as much as Buck but with a slightly more enjoyable attitude. He sees value in how Buck runs the farm and is supportive of Jenny as well, even if he has to put his own feelings aside.
Sklenar as singer Billy Reed has something Jenny wants, a chance to sing music that matters. Sklenar is a quiet musician who sees the farm as an inspiration and Jenny as a prolific song writer. Finally, to Walsh as Scotty, in his final film performance, he gets to be what feels like an uncle to Jenny and a life long friend to Buck. He sees the divide and knows the reason for it and cheers Jenny on full force.
Other cast include Charlie Berens as the Radio Host for the ball games, Shaun Graves as Pastor Bridges, Bill Kalinak as Brozo and M. Emmet Walsh as Scotty.
Fathom Entertainment is delivering a wide variety of programming and experiences to U.S. and global cinema audiences, Fathom is the largest distributor of documentaries, faith-based and inspirational content as well as being at the forefront of bringing anime, performing arts, and classic films to moviegoers worldwide. Audiences can count on Fathom to curate and deliver exclusive entertainment at their local movie theater, allowing fans of any genre to share unique and memorable experiences on the big screen. For more please visit www.fathomentertainment.com.
GREEN AND GOLD won awards at the Heartland International Film Festival including the Lifetime Achievement Award and Audience Choice Award. It was the Official Selection at the 2024 Austin Film Festival.
The film reaches into hearts and rattles us all around with the grandfather-granddaughter relationship. They are both stubborn and for exactly the same reason! Buck is trying to hide the feelings associated with his daughter and Jenny is trying to find her place knowing she has the same gifts as her mother. Buck is trying to hold onto his farm with everything he holds dear and Jenny thinks leaving the farm will change her life. Both of them once again are in the same boat fighting over a paddle with stubbornness.
I loved watching Nelson’s grumpiness and Armour as a wife knowing that’s exactly who she married and it made me chuckle a bit. Lawlor gives a musical performance that is so lovely and heartfelt. She may be a fiery young lady but when it comes to her music, that is where her emotions truly show themselves. Now you add football in the mix and, of course, it becomes something to cheer about on so many levels. The film is beautifully done with the final lesson of never lose hope – the one thing we sure could use reminding of right now.
In the end – sometimes you gotta bet the farm!
