"We Are Marshall"

Matthew McConaughey
Matthew Fox
Ian McShane
Kate Mara
Anthony Mackie
January Jones
Kimberely Williams-Paisley
Brian Geraghty
David Stritharn
L. Warrren Young
Arlen Escarpeta

PG           131min           2006


A true story about a small town’s effort to rebuild after a tragic plane crash killed nearly the entire football team and coaching staff of Marshall University. Jack Lengyel took the job no one wanted: to rebuild Marshall’s football team and restore hope and strength in a grieving community.

"We Are Marshall" is most dramatic and inspiring football movie. It made me run the gambit of emotions. Learning the history behind Marshall University made me appreciate the team and all that it has accomplished.

Most times a football movie gets either the drama right, or the football right but “We Are Marshall” found a way to accomplish both and be respectful to the memory of this tragedy. It’s on that will live in your memory months after you have watched it. It shows the resilient side of the human spirit. The even facing insurmountable odd the human spirit can still rise. After watching this film you will never see Marshall, planes, and the tragedy of death that same way again.

I give it 5/5 GS.

"Gracie"

Dermot Mulroney
Elisabeth Shue
Carly Schroeder
John Doman
Andrew Shue
Peter McRobbie
Leslie Lyles
Jesse Lee Soffer




PG13           96min           2007


Meet Gracie Browen – 15-year-old girl who’s determined to play varsity soccer… on the boy’s team! But when her school forbids her to play and even her family questions her ability, Gracie sets out to prove them all wrong. Fighting to change school policy and facing off against some of the toughest competitors on the field, Gracie must summon the courage to finally show everyone that a girl with a dream can do absolutely anything! – from the back coverGracie

Inspired by the events of the Shue family "Gracie" is truly an inspirational film about triumphing from societies biases, finding your inter-spirit and courage. Carly Schroeder is truly the breakout star of this ensemble film.

Taking place in 1978, at a time when soccer was considered a boys’ sport, I consider soccer now to be dominated by girls now. What a difference 30 years makes. This is a great example of finding the strength to change the view of society. Gracie is a strong willed young girl, with the courage that parents want their children to become.

"Gracie" has an ensemble cast telling a story that can be embrace by anyone. Dermot Mulroney plays a dad disconnected from his family after the death of his star athletic son. Elisabeth Shue is the mother just trying to connect with her daughter as she feels she’s losing her to the family sport, soccer. It’s Carly Schroeder that is the breakout star of this cast.

At first I thought she looked familiar then I realized that she was the little girl that played Serena on the soap operas ‘Port Charles’ and ‘General Hospital’ during the 90’s. She is amazing as Gracie. She not only brings the acting side but she performs the physical side also. It helped to sell me that this is a girl fighting, training and truly deserves to play with the boys.

"Gracie" is a film in the vain of “Miracle” and “Bend It Like Beckham”, films that will inspire feelings of hope, courage and strength. It gave me a tingle of the spine. It you didn’t catch it at the movie then you should go out and get it as soon as you can.

It has two commentaries one with Davis Guggenheim and one with Elisabeth & Andrew Shue. It has a feature about ‘Bringing Gracie to Film’. There is also a theatrical trailer. It has movie previews for “Raise Your Voice” and “Dare to Dream”.

I give it 3/5 Gs.

"Varisty Blues"

James Van Der Beek
John Voight
Paul Walker
Amy Smart
Ron Lester
Scott Caan
Eliel Swinton
Ali Larter

R           106min           1999


“Varsity Blues” is about one high school Texan footballer player’s rise from the shadow of his friend to the star quarterback. He’s now faced with the pressures and politics of and overbearing coach, town, while trying to do the right thing.

A starring vehicle for James Van Der Beek, this is an instant classic. This not only a good football film with the great drama of “All the Right Moves”. Brian Robbins, from “Head of the Class” fame one of his first times directing has become a powerhouse in televisions and movies. His created portray of an high school footballer’s life has been emulated several times through the years.

The drama on and off the field is some what exaggerated but nonetheless the stuff that happens. Winning athletic programs are treated like rock stars even in my town. Years after teams have one a championship people still talk about them as if they are mythical legends such as Beowulf. It’s these types of pressures that these athlete face and that can sometimes crumb them. This is at the heart of this film.

A backup quarterback flying under the radar, thrust into the limelight, and the pressure of being the one to lead a team. Everything rides on your decisions and at the core is a coach that only focus is winning championships, no matter the cost. Robbins shines a light on how easy sports can become bastardize and raped. It’s a film that the MTV generation can relate to.

More of a dramatization than fact, “Varsity Blues” opened the door to more football films that showed the darker side of high school football like “Friday Night Lights.” Even with the fact that its more of a dramatization its still an entertaining film, and not to just the football fans.

This is the film that brought us the whipped cream bikini and made ‘Ali Larter’ a household name. This is the film that made you think what that hot teacher did as a second job and ‘Who she go to prom with you?’. It tells a story that is relatable not just to athletes but also to parents. Jon Voight gives a great performance that is revered by the community but is as sinister as the anti-Christ.

I give it 4/5.

"Suprecross: The Movie"

Steve Howey
Mike Vogel
Sophia Bush
Cameron Richardson
Aaron Carter
Channing Tatum
Robert Patrick
Robert Carradine




PG13           80min           2005

“Supercross”is about two brothers KC (Howey) and Tripp (Vogel), trying to make their dreams of racing dirt bikes a reality.

If you’re not a fan of any of the actors then it’s not worth your time to watch. Even then it’s questionable to watch this more than once. I can’t say that I hated; I was just disappointed in the final product. I’m a fan of supercross as were the moviemakers too.

The characters were never fully developed and it felt that the film was either hacked apart for timing or the script was incomplete. Everything besides the race footage felt it was thrown into appeal to the MTV generation instead of telling a story.

Its like they built the film around the race scenes and they were the main focus of the filmmakers. The amazing race footage can’t even save this film from being garbage. If they would have put a little more effect into creating more complete characters this film would have been a box office hit.

Having never read the screenplay I can’t say what the condition the script was in when “Supercross” was made but some one should have raised some major red flags. You can’t just puts some hot young actors and some awesome dirt bike riding on the screen and expect a hit. Maybe it read better on the page than what was shown on screen.

If there was more to this script and it was cut for pacing then they need to put it back in. It feels like a nice center up steak cut from the cow and served to on a cold plate. It has all the making of a great film but its prepare correctly; its just plain rare. That’s what hurt this film.

I give it 2/5 Gs.

'GridIron Gang'

Dwayne ’The Rock’ Johnson
Xzibit
L. Scott Caldwell
Leon Rippy
Kevin Dunn
Jade Yoker
David V, Thomas
Setu Taase
Mo
James Earl
Trever O’Brien
Brandon Smith
Jurnee Smollett

PG13           1206min           2006

‘GridIron Gang’ is inspired by actual events, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, plays Sean Porter, a juvenile detention officer, who decides to start a football program at his juvenile facility to teach his inmates, focus, discipline, self-worthy, to keep them from going back to the life that got them there.

This is an entertaining film that also inspirational. You don’t want this film to end. This movie tugs at your heart. It shows that juvenile criminal don’t have to be written off. That if you give them hope and some guidance that you can change the outcome.

‘GridIron Gang’ showed how a sport gives individual a new perspective on life. It’s a story of a man realizing that the system is flaw and striving to make a difference. How the right motivation can change a person for the best.

It showed that given the opportunity anyone could change. That once individuals are incarcerated something needs to be there to facilitate change or once released an individual will fall back into their old destructive ways.

‘GridIron Gang’ is just as inspiring as ‘Rudy’ or ‘Invincible’. It’s about one man striving to help juvenile criminals over coming the statistic and makes something of their lives. Its not totally successful but it is more successful than the national statistic. It’s these changes that spawn other changes. No one knows how there life will make a difference to other individuals

The DVD is loaded with special features. There’s an audio commentary with the director. It has four interesting featurettes, and some deleted scenes. There are also trailers for ‘Stomp the Yard’, ‘Ghost Rider’, ‘Crossover’, ‘The Messenger’, ‘Facing the Giants’ and ‘Rudy’.

I give it 5/5 Gs.

'Invincible'

Mark Wahlberg
Greg Kinnear
Elizabeth Banks
Kevin Conway
Michael Rispoli
Kirk Acevedo

PG           105min           2006

‘Invincible’ is the Disney dramatization of Vince Papale; From a bartender and substitute teacher in South Philadelphia to a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1976.

Having taken place before I was born it was a great tale to learn about. It gives a great tale of following your dream and them coming true. You away from this tale with a enormous amount of admiration for Vince Papale. It was a great tale in the tradition of Walt Disney and their underdog takes in sports.

‘Invincible’ is a great tale for about fight to make your dreams come true. With everything against Papale, he fought tooth and nail and was given a shot by Dick Vermeil. If the first lesson this film teaches is never give up on you dream, the second is that everyone needs someone to give them an opportunity.

Watching this film you can relate to Vince Papale because of the acting from Mark Wahlberg. Wahlberg portrayed him as a guy trying to survive in the seventies facing his dream but never forgetting his friends and family. You will admire Papale because of that fact, where so many celebrities find fame and their dreams to forget who they were to begin.

‘Invincible’ is in that same caliber of ‘The Rookie’ and my personal favorite ‘Rudy’. This is a great inspiration film for anyone who has dreams of becoming a professional athlete. It shows hard work, sacrifice, dedication and opportunity make dreams come true. This film makes another fine addition to the Walt Disney tradition of underdog athletes.

I give it a 4/5 Gs.

Lords of Dogtown

John Robinson
Emile Hirsch
Victor Rasuk
Heath Ledger
Nikki Reed
Rebecca De Mornay

PG13(Unrated)           107min           2005

Lords of Dogtown chronicles the birth of the skateboarding in Venice, CA in the 70s.


Lords of Dogtown is what I call a sleeper hit. I overlooked this movie but was overwhelming pleased with it.

How much of this is really true, as it is from someone's point of view, I don't know. It is a great movie and everyone should watch even if you're not a skater. This movie chronicles the birth of a cultural phenom that still today affects suburbs everywhere.

I give it 4/5 Gs