Good Movie, Good Message to Remember

Rating: 7/10 (20 February 2015)

We really enjoyed Mc Farland, and our 15 year-old daughter absolutely loved it! Comparing it to another recent Kevin Costner film, "Black & White", it's way better because Costner actually stands in the other guys shoes in this one, and the story is more engaging. I will remember the scenes where Coach and the kids are working in the fields! There are scenes that are really moving, bringing a few tears, because the actors are mostly unknown and do a good job of conveying the emotional journey from hopeless to hopeful through their commitment to cross-country running competition. Kevin Costner as Coach does a good job showing his evolution from dictatorial, angry coach with privileged athletes in a middle class culture to inspirational "father figure" coach with immigrant Hispanic kids who have the endurance to help their families as "pickers" in agricultural community while attending school at same time. It's a pretty straight-line plot without much theatricalism, which is refreshing and makes it worth seeing. Coach Costner's daughter Julie has some really good scenes, and she is perfect throughout especially during her 15th birthday "quincenera". A good family movie!