Remember the Titans, directed by Boaz Yakin, starring Denzel Washington, Will Patton and many others, is a gripping story with central themes of football and racism. However, this story isn't really a football movie, of course there are plenty of exciting gridiron experiences , but this is actually a story of maturation, heart, and most importantly friendship.
Remember the Titans is a story taking place in the 1970's, it involves the integration of blacks and whites in the public school systems. When an African American coach and a white coach have to work together to coach a team of high school students, black and white, who want nothing to do with each other, all hell breaks loose. The racial tensions between the players almost completely disappear at a preseason camp, however when the players come back to the real world they are presented with extreme racism amongst their friends and family. The players struggle to maintain their friendships due to the constant societal pressures.
Being a story of true friendship, dedication, and heart the players of the team pull together both on and off the field. Their football team grew strong and their friendships stayed stronger. In a society unable to accept change and mature in their views of racial differences, these young men bonded, defied the odds and held lifelong bonds.
The truly inspirational story makes for a tremendous viewing experience and a powerful movie.
Score 9-10
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Friday Night Lights: Inside The Lives of High-School Athletes
Based on H.G. Bissinger's book, Peter Berg's Friday Night Lights thrills audiences and touches their hearts at the same time. Friday Night Lights does a tremendous job guiding the audience through the emotional highs and lows of the Permian Panthers of Odessa Texas. The movie excels in its development of characters, as a result it leaves the audience with a sense of attachment to the players and an understanding of football life in West Texas.
Focusing on the senior season of the 1988 Odessa Panthers the movie starts by introducing a team surrounded with tremendously high expectations to win a state championship. In a town where football is just as important as religion, in some cases it is religion, every citizen has ties to the Panther's football team. Whether they are alumni of the high school, state champions themselves, or towns people who think they know more than the coach, everyone has something to say about the team. With the impeccably high expectations to "be perfect" and the constant evaluation by literally everyone the pressure mounts on the Panther players. They have a lot to be pleased with though, the Panthers have players on both sides of the ball worthy of division 1 scholarships and arguably the best high school football player in the nation in "Boobie" Miles, but when Miles suffers a season ending knee injury in the first game of the season things quickly spiral out of control. The team loses. In this intensely competitive area of the south one loss can mean that the chances of playing for a championship may be lost. However, with their star down and out, the rest of the team gets their act together and the supporting players start to step up. The season is saved and the Panthers make the playoffs via an old fashioned tie breaker (a coin flip). Riding the emotions of a turn around season the Panthers make their way to the state championship game where they must face the faster, bigger, stronger, meaner, and...faster Dallas Carter team. After an ass whopping int he first half the Panthers yet again find themselves in a hole, however a second half turn around sets them up with an opportunity to win the game. A last minute drive that ends at the 1 inch line crowns Dallas Carter and crushes the hopes and dreams of an entire town. This movie isn't about winning and losing though, its about the characters, the development of each, and the connection that develops between the viewers and the characters on screen.
Boobie Miles, played by Derek Luke is a focus of much of the movie. A true physical specimen who has the size and all the tools that have college scouts going crazy over him. As his uncle explains he can run the ball, catch the ball, throw the ball, snap it and kick the extra point. Boobie can do everything. With all his skill of course comes a huge ego, Boobie isn't the best teammate around as he insults his fellow players and underclassmen. He knows he is talented and he boasts about it constantly. He thinks he doesn't need to practice as hard and he thinks that the only opportunity for the Panthers to win is when Boobie is in. We don't see a different side of Boobie until his injury, when he realizes that his hopes and dreams of playing professional football are done. A key moment for Boobie is when he finally breaks down and cries to his uncle, explaining that the only thing he knows how to do is play football. There is also a race struggle present in Boobie's character, he has a dead beat father, and he isn't smart enough to excel in school. He is the stereotypical inner city type kid who only knows one thing, for Bobbie that one thing is football.
Mike Winchell, the quarterback of the Panthers team is another main character and his struggle is entirely different from Boobie's. Mike is left as the only person to take care of his mother who's issues are never fully addressed in the movie. She is however crazy and very demanding of her son. Winchell's character is soft spoken and he keeps most of his emotions bottled up. He wants one thing, to leave Odessa. He makes lots of mistakes on the field due to his lack of athletic ability, however what he does lack he seems to make up for in heart and determination. Winchell truly leaves everything on the field in the state championship game, and by the end actually sheds blood, sweat and tears. Winchell can only be respected for his efforts and his ability to cope with his family struggles.
The last character that im going to discuss is Don Billingsley, a fullback for the Panthers that has a serious problem holding onto the football. More importantly though he has a serious problem with his abusive, alcoholic father. The situations that Billingsley's encounters with his father are heartbreaking and Don seems to never do anything right in his father's eyes. Don's father was a Panther and won a state championship when he was in high school and he sees his son a a disgrace and an embarrassment to their name. It isn't until the very end of the movie when Don's father makes a turn around and in a very heart warming moment at the end of the state championship game Don's father places his championship ring on his sons finger.
With such a great cast of characters it is hard for audiences not to become emotionally attached to them throughout the course of the movie. This is what makes Friday Night Lights such a great experience and pleasure to watch. Despite the unconventional story of a team that doesn't actually win it all Friday Night Lights is a great sports film.
Score 10-10
Boobie Miles, played by Derek Luke is a focus of much of the movie. A true physical specimen who has the size and all the tools that have college scouts going crazy over him. As his uncle explains he can run the ball, catch the ball, throw the ball, snap it and kick the extra point. Boobie can do everything. With all his skill of course comes a huge ego, Boobie isn't the best teammate around as he insults his fellow players and underclassmen. He knows he is talented and he boasts about it constantly. He thinks he doesn't need to practice as hard and he thinks that the only opportunity for the Panthers to win is when Boobie is in. We don't see a different side of Boobie until his injury, when he realizes that his hopes and dreams of playing professional football are done. A key moment for Boobie is when he finally breaks down and cries to his uncle, explaining that the only thing he knows how to do is play football. There is also a race struggle present in Boobie's character, he has a dead beat father, and he isn't smart enough to excel in school. He is the stereotypical inner city type kid who only knows one thing, for Bobbie that one thing is football.
Mike Winchell, the quarterback of the Panthers team is another main character and his struggle is entirely different from Boobie's. Mike is left as the only person to take care of his mother who's issues are never fully addressed in the movie. She is however crazy and very demanding of her son. Winchell's character is soft spoken and he keeps most of his emotions bottled up. He wants one thing, to leave Odessa. He makes lots of mistakes on the field due to his lack of athletic ability, however what he does lack he seems to make up for in heart and determination. Winchell truly leaves everything on the field in the state championship game, and by the end actually sheds blood, sweat and tears. Winchell can only be respected for his efforts and his ability to cope with his family struggles.
The last character that im going to discuss is Don Billingsley, a fullback for the Panthers that has a serious problem holding onto the football. More importantly though he has a serious problem with his abusive, alcoholic father. The situations that Billingsley's encounters with his father are heartbreaking and Don seems to never do anything right in his father's eyes. Don's father was a Panther and won a state championship when he was in high school and he sees his son a a disgrace and an embarrassment to their name. It isn't until the very end of the movie when Don's father makes a turn around and in a very heart warming moment at the end of the state championship game Don's father places his championship ring on his sons finger.With such a great cast of characters it is hard for audiences not to become emotionally attached to them throughout the course of the movie. This is what makes Friday Night Lights such a great experience and pleasure to watch. Despite the unconventional story of a team that doesn't actually win it all Friday Night Lights is a great sports film.
Score 10-10
Friday, February 24, 2012
Rudy: A true underdog story
The true story of "Rudy" Ruettiger's dream of attending the University of Notre Dame to play football, directed by David Anspaugh, is a predictable but inspiring underdog story. Rudy's determination, heart, and dedication result in almost exactly what you'd expect, but despite its predictability Rudy stands as a classic sports title.
Rudy Ruettiger grows up never being the fastest, the biggest, strongest, or even the smartest in the classroom. As he explains however, he "bleeds blue and gold, through and through". The only thing Rudy ever wanted was to play football at his dream university and after a few years removed from school it seems almost as if this dream was lost. However with the death of his best friend, his only true supporter, Rudy has a new found inspiration and sense of urgency to accomplish his dream.
Of course Rudy applies to attend Notre Dame, he is however declined on his first attempt...and on his second, and third. The constant failure is coupled with Rudy's continuing success in a much smaller school close by, with the thought that if he succeeds there then Notre Dame will accept him. His dream never fades and his hope is kept alive symbolically through his Notre Dame letterman jacket, given to him by the same best friend that he lost earlier in the film.
Rudy's continuous hard work, in school, in the gym, and as a main thence worker at the stadium ultimately result in his acceptance to the university. Rudy, as a late transfer student to the university, and a still undersized and physically outmatched player only makes the practice squad. His heart is unmatched however, week in and week out he takes the field to receive endless amounts of punishment and unlike other players on the team he works tirelessly to help the varsity team prepare.
His pursuit of his dream through determination, perseverance, and hard work (as you would expect) wins over the hearts of his teammates and in his final game Rudy is placed on the dress list. In the perfect Hollywood ending Rudy leads the team out of the locker room, through the tunnel, and onto the field. And finally, still expectedly Rudy is given the opportunity to play one play, one play that he makes the most of and sacks the opposing team's quarterback. Rudy is carried off the field, as the stadium chants his name as his dream is fulfilled entirely.
Rudy's predictable nature doesn't make it bad, instead it provides hope for anyone who has a dream that others tell them that they will never accomplish. Rudy embodies everything that most of us admire. This story of a young boy and his devotion and heart truly stand as an inspiring sports film and tremendous movie all together.
Score 9 out of 10
Of course Rudy applies to attend Notre Dame, he is however declined on his first attempt...and on his second, and third. The constant failure is coupled with Rudy's continuing success in a much smaller school close by, with the thought that if he succeeds there then Notre Dame will accept him. His dream never fades and his hope is kept alive symbolically through his Notre Dame letterman jacket, given to him by the same best friend that he lost earlier in the film.
Rudy's continuous hard work, in school, in the gym, and as a main thence worker at the stadium ultimately result in his acceptance to the university. Rudy, as a late transfer student to the university, and a still undersized and physically outmatched player only makes the practice squad. His heart is unmatched however, week in and week out he takes the field to receive endless amounts of punishment and unlike other players on the team he works tirelessly to help the varsity team prepare. 
His pursuit of his dream through determination, perseverance, and hard work (as you would expect) wins over the hearts of his teammates and in his final game Rudy is placed on the dress list. In the perfect Hollywood ending Rudy leads the team out of the locker room, through the tunnel, and onto the field. And finally, still expectedly Rudy is given the opportunity to play one play, one play that he makes the most of and sacks the opposing team's quarterback. Rudy is carried off the field, as the stadium chants his name as his dream is fulfilled entirely. Rudy's predictable nature doesn't make it bad, instead it provides hope for anyone who has a dream that others tell them that they will never accomplish. Rudy embodies everything that most of us admire. This story of a young boy and his devotion and heart truly stand as an inspiring sports film and tremendous movie all together.
Score 9 out of 10
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
ESPN 30 for 30 "The U"
In the 1980's inner city high school kids ran the cities and towns of southern Florida, they were exciting, they were mean and they played football. These same kids became the recruits for Miami University, and their meanness did not go away, after all it was part of who they were, a direct result of how they grew up. The hip-hop mentality and the thuggish attitudes were about to take over a nation of college football that previously prided itself on smart, white, American, rich boys, who played football the "right" way. This foundation of college football was struck at its core by the Canes. Michael Irvin, a wide receiver for the university and an accomplished NFL player as well, notably quotes in the documentary that " There was no conspiracy against us. No media plot. We were very bad boys, and we enjoyed being bad boys." It was this badass-ness that made the movie great.
Taunting, dancing, and talking enough shit to make me upset is kind of difficult to do, but to do exactly what you said you were going to do, and completely dominate the upper class of college football for almost a decade is even more difficult to accomplish. The success of the Canes gives them the luxury to be cocky, and it was this cockiness that made this documentary so fun to watch. The group dances, the chest pounding, the "suck it" gestures, the high stepping to the end zone, and all of the off the field antics such as the refusal to shake hands, speeches, refusal to eat traditional dinners that involved both teams, and of course the crime that these players committed and somehow thought was justified, made The U who they are. The self proclaimed Muhammad Ali's of football. It was watching and witnessing these things for the first time that was simply phenomenal and the reason for such a successful documentary.
It was all this flashiness, all this hype, all this badass-ness, all this thuggish intimidation, and the way it was channeled on the field that made this team great, and it was the way it was all presented on screen that made this documentary great. Not just another boring documentary, a truly great documentary that portrayed a family unlike any that had ever been seen before, and probably never will be seen again in the same fashion, that family is the family of the University of Miami, The U.
To conclude, this documentary is top notch, it's badass, all the way from the coaches and owners to the pistol whipping in the tunnels, and even if you lived through the 80's and saw this team first hand, this is certainly a must watch.
Score 9 out of 10.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Madden Ultimate Team
Thursday, February 16, 2012
WHY ARE SPORTS SO IMPORTANT?
OK, so I think that this blog is going to be almost entirely about sports, so a good first entry would be to ask the question "why do we love sports?" and "what is it about sports that makes them so important?". Seriously, why the hell do we gather around to watch a bunch of grown men play a game? Why do these same guys get paid millions on top of millions of dollars, become national celebrities, and live like kings just for throwing a ball around? You know why? Its because we ALL look up to them, almost all sports fans have dreamed of being professional athletes, or dream for their kids to be professional athletes. We all share that, that sense of worship almost. What this does is it brings us all together, it gives us all something in common. Whether you're a construction worker or the CEO of a company, whether you're single or married, divorced, or re-married four times, male or female, old or young we can all relate to sports. This gives us a HUGE sense of community, a community that is expanding with every generation and reaches across nations. The sense of community is the reason we love sports, and sports communities and their fans are like no other.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VslqdFzsns4
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