Review of Friday Night Lights (2004) by Joel J — 25 Sep 2009

Having come from Texas and seen first hand the seriousness that is Texas High School football, I thought this film kept it between the lines pretty well. Though the premise is nothing new to the sports genre (team meets obstacles, overcomes adversity, and proves themselves worthy of glory), it is the movies grit that gives it the nod over your run of the mill sports film.

Billy Bob Thorton is absolutely perfect as the burned out, football fanatical coach (this was before he settled for a career as a hard ass in bad comedies about coming of age), and Tim McGraw proves to be a much better actor than musician as the vicariously obsessed, drunken father.

Though a true story, it is the movie's predictability that keeps it from being flawless. This is a must see for fans of the gridiron.