Sam smith (sam_smithreview)
This film is based on a true and tragic story. The Marshall University football team, football coaches, athletic staff, key alumni, and friends were flying home to Huntington, West Virginia after an away game against East Carolina. Their plane crashed killing all seventy five aboard. How do a University and a small town of 50,000 people respond to a massive tragedy that affected so many students and town residents? This movie is about their struggle to come to grips with that tragedy.Without bitter rancor and with humility, some felt the University should start up a new football team and persevere through a long rebuilding process to honor the dead. Others, again without rancor and with humility, believed that starting up a football team would be too painful a reminder of the tragedy.It was decided to start a new football team immediately and play the next season in 1971. This movie is primarily about the difficulties of the development of the team.Matthew McConaughey plays the new Head Coach brilliantly and believably. He is a combination of country bumpkin enthusiastic huckster and a wise man. And he does it simply because he believes – "Maybe I can help." He displays courage and perseverance and makes sacrifices with a career move that could throw him out of his beloved profession, head football coaching, forever. The town and University have to quickly break the Vince Lombardi- like notion that you play the game of football for one reason only – to win. They learn how you play the game matters, and even simply showing up is a kind of victory too.
edwagreen
The unspeakable biographical film traces a plane crash that wiped out an entire college football team, coaches, cheerleaders, parents and others,is well realized in the picture.Losing a coach that preached that winning is the most important objective, the college looks to suspend the program until they see the people in the town demonstrate for it to continue.Obviously, this is a daunting task in total rebuilding and Matthew McConaughey delivers a knockout performance, which should have been recognized by the Motion Picture Academy, as the bubbly new coach, recognizing the huge task that was before him, while stressing that coming to terms with what occurred and going on is more important than just winning. The only thing that I can say is that these films tend to become quite preachy and that is true in McConaughey's delivery.Still a very good film dealing with extremely difficult subject matter is to be treasured.
WorthlessKnowledge
Many great reviews here, film is good, maybe not great, but good. But we feel MATTHEW FOX (as Coach Red Dawson) gave the best performance of all of them. Yes, through most of the characters here we feel the pain of the people, school, the town, the state. But Fox NAILS this role completely! He totally owns the 'emotional portrayal' of the loss that they all feel in each and every scene he's in - and each time he brings us to tears!As an example of one of our favorite scenes: Coach Dawson (Fox) is in the locker room after their first win, crying his eyes out, all alone. And then the elderly team janitor walks in and congratulates the coach on his win. But in an awe-inspiring moment, the coach then, in turn, congratulates {the janitor} on the TEAM's win ('congratulations to you too, Jimmy'). That simple statement is beautiful and priceless just in itself: Everyone plays a part, everyone is important to the team - even the 'lowly' janitor. This wonderful message permeates the film, and it will move you beyond belief when you recognize it for what it truly is . . ."You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." — Malcolm S. Forbes
Tania_Chesala_R
This movie certainly was a surprise. The only reason why I sat down to watch it was because of Matthew Fox. I myself do like sport but not really a big fan of football.I didn't think I would enjoy this movie. I really can't understand the American obsession with college football and how small towns seem to revere their young football players as demigods. I am sure the same amount of reverence would not be given to the chess club or the school band. But the shocking loss of so many lives in one accident is a tragedy in any sense of the word - football team or not.The sheer tenacity and perseverance of Jack Langley (Matthew McConaughey), Red Dawson (Matthew Fox) and the very likable President Dedmon (David Strathairn) really brought the heart into this movie.The movie sends a good message in - if you want to achieve the improbable then you will have to take the road less traveled. This is portrayed through the rise of the new Marshall University football team after losing most of its much loved players, coaches, officials and fans in the horrific plane crash.I am still not a fan of football and this movie certainly won't make you into one either but it will make you believe that anything really is possible.
AD
