"We are Marshall"

I’ve had a movie sitting around the house for two weeks now, and I guess I must have just been avoiding it because it was another “Sports” movie. Just like with my previous review, sports has been a reoccurring theme in Hollywood movies for longer then I have been alive. If you can think of a sports topic, or story, it’s already been done, and re-done. Naturally I went into watching “We are Marshall” with a bit of trepidation, but being a fan of Mathew McConaughey, I figured what the heck, and just tried to let myself get into the movie and see what happens.

“We are Marshall” is about a college football program for Marshall University that deals with the tragic loss of the entire team, coaching staff, and some of the teams fans, via a horrific plane crash. Yes, this is a true story, which does play a major role in making this film watchable. The question left after the tragedy happens is “Should the school continue on with the football program, or just shut it down out of respect for the lost team?” A powerful scene with a player on the team (Nate Ruffin played Anthony Mackie) that was not on the plane when it crashed but was back home with an injury sets up the whole story. There is a closed door meeting in which the football program will be scrapped, but Nate Ruffin, and few thousand students decide for the school that it should be saved.

From there a coach must be found. After the president of the school is turned down by every possible person that could take the coaching position, Jack Lengyel calls the school and offers his services. The next major hurtle is finding a team. There are only 4 seniors left alive that can play, and the NCAA rules prohibit freshman from playing, so what do you do? Well I’ve said enough about the story, I have to leave some of it for the potential watcher, but needless to say, there are quite a few major miracles that happen to get the program up and running again and along the way the pain and suffering of the school, the parents and family, and the entire town comes into play at almost every turn.

“We are Marshall” is not so much a movie about sports, as it is about a town that is devastated by this unbelievable tragedy, and the steps it takes to heal itself, and try to move on with their lives, while still keeping the memories, and traditions of there lost teams hopes and dreams alive.

There are so many bright spots in this movie with regards to acting, it would take to long to get into, but Matthew does such a fantastic job playing the part of Jack Lengyel. He seems to take his acting to a new level, and it was truly a pleasure to watch. Another bright spot was the small but very effective role of one of the lost football players girlfriends, Annie Cantrell (played by Kate Mara) The pain and suffering of this poor lost girl, is very easily felt with every scene she is in.

Director McG does a wonderful job of bringing you back to the early 70’s in every way. For those of you who had the unfortunate task of growing up in this time period as I did will feel my pain when you get a load of the clothing that was in fashion at the time. YIKES! “We are Marshall” is for sure a movie that is worth a look regardless of whether you are a sports fan or not. The story is heartbreaking, and triumphant, and is worth the DVD rental price, or even purchase for your collection.

My rating for this movie is 7.5 out of 10.00