Review of When the Game Stands Tall (2014) by Thomas P — 23 Sep 2014

Great inspirational movie that goes deeper than other sports films - it touches on more intimate conversations among the players, including their home-life issues dealing with misguided parenting, controlling parents, and orphaned kids fending for themselves. Too many critics wrote this off unfairly bc of the other great sports movie in the last few years from Remember The Titans thru Facing The Giants to The Blind Side (kinda) and now this one.

But this movie is different in that its focus is on the players stepping up and supporting each other, and then it SHOWS them committing to each other and then actually, personally, intimately making a difference by what they do for each other.

Very organic relationship building - I've rarely seen that in a film.

I was astounded at a point on how these young actors and also the filmmakers portrayed the relationships of the players - it rose above the paint-by-number cliche-trap by having heartfelt, vulnerable performances with a script that rang authentically true in places.

The other aspect that makes this great is the authenticity of the problems and questions raised - no easy-answer bucket is dumped.

The successful coach's techniques are questioned and changed throughout the film, and brilliantly done.

I'll admit the framework here of an inspirational football movie was the only cliche.

The male-bonding and intimate, brotherly support portrayed here makes this a truly original gem of a film.

Don't write this one off - see it or re-watch it and notice the good things going on here.

The coach can only lead - the players must decide how to win together, and they get it. And if you watch, thoughtfully, you will get it too.

4 out of 5 Well-placed Hail Marys.