My Movie Reviews

Release Date: 22 December 2006
Time: 2 hr 4 min
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Rating: PG
My Rating: PG
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox
Grade: B

Synopsis: In November 1970, a plane carrying almost the entire Marshall University football team, its staff and fans crashed, killing 75 people in all and devastating the small town of Huntington, West Virginia. WE ARE MARSHALL, directed by McG (THE O.C., FASTLANE) tells the tragic true story of how the university and the citizens of Huntington rebuilt the football program and dealt with the loss of so many of their own. The university's president, Donald Dedmon, earnestly portrayed by David Strathairn (GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK), hires the only willing coach to take on such a daunting task, Jack Lengyl (Matthew McConaughey). With the help of the lone Marshall football coach Red Dawson (Matthew Fox) and the three remaining players who weren't on the plane, Coach Lengyl sets out to restructure Marshall's team, and spirit. But for some in the community it's still too soon, including Paul Griffen (Ian McShane) who lost his football-star son. They fear that moving on so quickly is disrespectful to those who died and to the loved ones who still mourn. The film emphasizes this issue, illustrating the struggle of that harrowing time at Marshall, and in college football history. Although WE ARE MARSHALL contains a similar theme to other sports movies, rising from adversity, the tragedy of so many lives lost in a small community and the painful recovery sets this film apart. Strong performances by McConaughey (FAILURE TO LAUNCH)—his wit and energy adds much needed doses of comic relief, Fox (LOST), and McShane (DEADWOOD) successfully help bring the historical and inspiring story of Marshall University to the big screen, a must-see for all sports fans.

My Review: This is quite an incredible story about the Marshall football program and what it went through to come back to national prominence. McConaughey gives a pretty good performance as the head coach of the new team and like many sports films, it makes you believe in the power of coming together as a team. The film was a bit long at some points and I hoped it would move a little faster, but overall a pretty good film.

Recommend: Possible date night film or if you don't have anyone to watch with then this would be a good one to watch on your own.

Release Date: January 13, 2006
Time: 1 hr. 58 min.
Distributor: Disney
Rating: PG
My Rating: PG
Starring: Josh Lucas, Jon Voight, Derek Luke, Alphonso McAuley, Mehcad Brooks, Al Shearer, Damaine Radcliff, Sam Jones III, and Schin S. Kerr
Grade: B+

Synopsis: A true-life story of a basketball team who broke down barriers while racking up victories is the basis for this sports drama. Don Haskins was a high school and college basketball star who, after six years of working with high school teams, became the head coach at Texas Western University in 1962. At that time, Texas Western's basketball program was not well respected, but Haskins was determined to change that, and in 1966 Haskins assembled what he was certain was a winning team. However, Haskins' starting lineup was comprised entirely of African-American athletes at a time when racially integrated teams were still a novelty in the South and West. Despite generating a firestorm of controversy, Haskins and his players showed they could succeed where it counted -- on the court. In post-season play Haskins and the Texas Western team found themselves competing for the NCAA championship against the University of Kentucky's all-white team, lead by legendary coach Adolph Rupp. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

My Review: This movie is based on a true story and that makes it even greater. The storyline is very good and very interesting. The one thing I didn't like is that the film looked like it was made about 10 to 15 years ago. Other then that, the actors did a great job making you feel like this really was taking place in the 1960s.

Recommend: Definitely one for the whole family. The story is so uplifting, and it really makes you realize how badly black people were treated. There are a couple of scenes that may be disturbing for the little ones, but other then that a very great movie to make you realize how great the black people of this time really were and what they had to go through.