This movie, based on a true story. A plane crash in 1970 wipes out the University Football team, the coaches, athletic director, and other leaders of the Marshall community. It hits the community hard, since they loose both sons and fathers--the football team and the leaders of the community.
The head of the school, President Dedmon, questions whether or not to continue the football program. The students of Marshall University make it abundantly clear that they want the program to remain.
The movie itself, is about the town as it begins to rebuild in the face of this tragedy. It focuses on the new coach, Jack Lengyel (played by Matthew McConaughey) as he tries to help the town and rebuild the football program in one year. But he is also an outsider someone not touch personally by the tragedy, so it is hard for the townspeople to trust in him as he is not one of them. It also focuses on the grief, guilt, and rehabilitation of those who survived the crash such as the assistant coach Red Dawson and player Nate Ruffin. They both have their burdens to carry from this tragedy and they heal slowly. This is a movie that focuses on the people behind the game rather than the game itself. It is about how people deal with a tragedy that is just so huge that the mind and soul cannot accept it.
It is a very well done movie. I was touched by it without it being over the top and sappy. I enjoyed it and it was not boring. The script was good, funny at times, but never inappropriate nor silly.
The acting was awesome. Matthew McConaughey plays Jack Lengyel perfectly, in the bonus features there is a interview with the real Jack Lengyel and it seemed to me that Matthew represented him perfectly.
Matthew Fox plays the confused and guilt stricken Red Dawson, the only coach to survive the crash. He does this by trading places with another coach allowing him to fly home while Red went on a recruiting run. He therefore feels responsible for the other coach's death. He needs to re-find his place in life without living with the dead.
Anthony Mackie plays Nate Ruffin. He is one of the only players to survive the crash as he was injured and stayed home at the time. He is responsible for the continuation of the football program, and he feels responsible for continuing the team, which is a heavy load to bear for one young man.
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This was a lovely movie that I think everyone should see. It doesn't have any special effects just a good story, good acting and good script. It is a heartfelt movie that made me cry, hopefully it will touch you as much as it touched me.