{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Heart of Champions | image = Heart of Champions.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Michael Mailer | producer = {{Plainlist| * Michael Shannon * Byron Wetzel * Lucas Jarach * Frank Buchs * Robert Ogden Barnum }} | writer = Vojin Gjaja | starring = {{Plainlist| * Michael Shannon * Alexander Ludwig * Charles Melton * David James Elliott * Ash Santos }} | music = Julian Scherle | cinematography = Edd Lukas | editing = | studio = Construction Film | distributor = Vertical Entertainment | released = {{Film date|2021|10|29}} | runtime = | country = United States | language = English | budget = $6.4 million<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fastlaneng.louisianaeconomicdevelopment.com/public/search/ent |title= Fastlane NextGen: Initial Certification Search|website=Louisiana Economic Development |format=Type "Swing" in the search box |accessdate=May 10, 2020}}</ref> | gross = $37,000<ref>{{cite Box Office Mojo |id=10314548 |title= Heart of Champions |access-date=November 1, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> }} '''''Heart of Champions''''' (also known as '''''Pressure Point''''' in Australia and the United Kingdom, and '''''Swing''''' in Germany, also its working title<ref>{{Citation |title=Heart of Champions (2021) - IMDb |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt10314548/releaseinfo |access-date=2022-08-13}}</ref>) is a 2021 American sports drama film directed by Michael Mailer, from a screenplay by Vojin Gjaja. It stars Michael Shannon, Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton, David James Elliott and Ash Santos.
The film was released on October 29, 2021 by Vertical Entertainment.<ref name="Deadline">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/swing-movie-michael-shannon-release-date-vertical-entertainment-1234818290/|title=Indie Rowing Drama 'Swing' Starring Michael Shannon Scores U.S. Deal With Vertical Entertainment|date=August 19, 2021|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=August 19, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Collider">{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/heart-of-champions-trailer-michael-shannon/|title='Heart of Champions' Trailer: Michael Shannon Teaches a College Rowing Crew How to Be a Team|last=Rafael|first=Hernandez|website=Collider|date=7 October 2021 |language=en|access-date=2021-10-31}}</ref> The film follows the rowing team of a fictional Ivy League university as they aim to win the national championship under the tutelage of a new coach, a Vietnam veteran.
==Cast== * Michael Shannon as Jack Murphy * Alexander Ludwig as Alex Singleton * Charles Melton as Chris Davenport * David James Elliott as Mr. Singleton * Ash Santos as Nisha * Alex MacNicoll as John Kimball * Michael Tacconi as Ted Taylor * Andrew Creer as M.J. Carter * David Cade as Jeff Lance * Anton Hedayat as Tom Diverlinksi * Jon Lemmon as Jake Pimczech * Spencer Squire as Ben Anders * Devin Woodson as Yates Sanchez * Thomas Kasp as Logan * Lilly Krug as Sara * Caroline Cole as Lili * Lance E. Nichols as Jack Harris
==Production== In May 2019, it was announced Michael Shannon had joined the cast of the film, with Howard Deutch directing from a screenplay by Vojin Gjaja, Shannon will also serve as a producer on the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/michael-shannon-swing-movie-cast-howard-deutch-fortitude-cannes-1202609806/|title=Michael Shannon Gets Into The 'Swing'; Rowing Drama To Be Directed By Howard Deutch – Cannes|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|date=May 8, 2019|accessdate=March 4, 2020}}</ref> In October 2019, Alexander Ludwig and Charles Melton joined the cast of the film, with Michael Mailer replacing Deutch as director.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/vikings-alexander-ludwig-swing-michael-mailer-michael-shannon-1202760983/|title='Vikings' Star Alexander Ludwig To Join Michael Shannon In 'Swing'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Dino|last=Day-Ramos|date=October 15, 2019|accessdate=March 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/riverdale-charles-melton-alexander-ludwig-swing/|title='Riverdale' Star Charles Melton Joins Michael Shannon, Alexander Ludwig in 'Swing' (Exclusive)|website=TheWrap|first=Beatrice|last=Verhoeven|date=October 23, 2019|accessdate=March 4, 2020}}</ref> In November 2019, David James Elliott joined the cast of the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/11/david-james-elliott-michael-shannon-alexander-ludwig-swing-1202786183/|title=David James Elliott Joins Michael Shannon & Alexander Ludwig In Rowing Drama 'Swing'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|date=November 15, 2019|accessdate=March 4, 2020}}</ref>
Principal photography began in Louisiana on November 2, 2019,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B4TKuqgJyYhEP2eGdzQtxGHl6z7zif1wdu0pWE0/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B4TKuqgJyYhEP2eGdzQtxGHl6z7zif1wdu0pWE0 |archive-date=2021-12-26 |url-access=registration|title=Principal Photography starts on SWING tomorrow.|website=Instagram.com|first=Michael|last=Mailer|date=November 1, 2019|accessdate=June 11, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lsureveille.com/news/lsu-s-traditional-architecture-to-be-featured-in-new-movie/article_62d98db0-04ef-11ea-bbf0-d75e245942ae.html|title=LSU's 'traditional architecture' to be featured in new movie "Swing" starring Charles Melton|website=lsureveille.com|first=Katherine|last=Manuel|date=November 11, 2019|accessdate=March 4, 2020}}</ref> and concluded on December 3, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B5lylTonl8LshTGdkVts0_HTd6Wf407I7IZGXc0/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B5lylTonl8LshTGdkVts0_HTd6Wf407I7IZGXc0 |archive-date=2021-12-26 |url-access=registration|title=The last day of our tank work!|website=Instagram.com|first=Michael|last=Mailer|date=December 3, 2019|accessdate=June 11, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Louisiana State University served as a main set for the film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lsureveille.com/news/lsus-traditional-architecture-to-be-featured-in-new-movie-swing-starring-charles-melton/article_62d98db0-04ef-11ea-bbf0-d75e245942ae.html|title=LSU's 'traditional architecture' to be featured in new movie "Swing" starring Charles Melton|last=Manuel {{!}} @kmanuel_2|first=Katherine|website=The Reveille|language=en|access-date=2020-04-25}}</ref>
==Release==
The film was released in select theatres on October 29, 2021 under a deal with Vertical Entertainment.<ref name="Collider"/><ref name="Deadline"/> It also became available on VOD services on November 19, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/movies/michael-shannon-whips-a-rowing-team-into-shape-in-heart-of-champions/|title=Michael Shannon Whips a Rowing Team Into Shape in Heart of Champions Trailer: WATCH|last=Bjornson|first=Greta|website=People|language=en|access-date=2021-10-31}}</ref>
==Critical reception==
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|29|4.70|17}}<ref>{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes |id=heart_of_champions |type=m |title=Heart of Champions |access-date=October 4, 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title}} * {{Metacritic film}}
Category:2021 drama films Category:2021 films Category:American drama films Category:Films set in 1999 Category:2021 English-language films Category:2021 American films Category:Films scored by Julian Scherle Category:2020s sports drama films Category:2021 sports films Category:Rowing films Category:English-language drama films