A journey taken where you discover the true meaning of "Football"

Rating: 7/10 (22 June 2007)

This film emphasises what it takes to win and the characters that were portrayed in this film highlights what sacrifices and obstacles must be undertaken to obtain success. This film therefore takes the subject of Football to a completely new level by not only playing it for the love of the game, but using it to obtain future success and respect.
Billy Bob Thornton's role as the coach was truly one of his best acting performances seen to date. This is seen when he delivered motivating and rigorous tactics as well as inflicting moods of anger and frustration. In scenes such as at the side line during games and the speeches he gave in the locker room. He also used his character to inflict sympathy, such as when he became involved with Mike Winchell (Quarter Back) when Mike was having regrets due to the relationship he had with his mother. As well as with Boobie Miles and his uncle after his accident. He also gains sympathy for his character as it is shown the pressure that he is under in order to bring the boys to triumph. As you learn from his family that he has coached more than one team throughout his career, which has caused him as his family to locate to areas all over America.
Lucas Black's character (Mike Winchell) was not like the usual stereotypical Quarter Back jock, but he brought to this role a serious role, who lived for football, but was also troubled about what obtaining success would do between the relationship between him and his mother. As the film progresses you see how his gift for football becomes more of a reality, by the way he leads the team formations as well as throwing some amazing passes to enable a successful game to be played to their advantage.
Garrett Hedlund's role (Don Billingsly) depicted mainly the honour that was acquired between his successful ex-football father (Tim McGraw). Throughout the film you feel the tension between the two as Garrett's father embarrasses Garrett in front of the other football players and one of the girls he is with. Garrett proves himself to his father in the final though by continuing to play even with an injured shoulder. Don Billingsly truly emphasised the hatred and frustration obtained between cold hearted fathers and has proved his great quality as an actor.
Derek Luke (Boobie Miles) deserves the most credit in this film by providing a moving performance as the star player that has to give up what he lives for "football", due to injuring himself on the field. At the start of the film you see that he is the person that will bring the team to victory, he therefore put a lot of cockiness into his character, full of wit and energy (even a one point imitating Bill Cosby), as well as giving his character a sense of being invincible. When being told that he no longer play football you see this character going from his immortal self to the sensitive character that he truly is, in one of the most powerful scenes in the film.
Despite the characters, the film was well directed showing some of the most gruelling scenes that can be experienced on the football field to scenes where little dialogue was read.