An Inspiring Sports Movie Not About Sports...

Rating: Null/10 (31 October 2003)

I had read the original story in Sports Illustrated back in '96 and wondered how long it would take for it to be made into a TV movie. Well, When I saw they were finally making, I knew that there would be a "long lunch" being taken at work.
Reading some of the initial critics reviews concerned me but when I saw the disparity in opinion between the masses and the "experts" I knew that was one of those movies where the "head" and "heart" don't always agree.
Having said that I found myself enjoying the movie very much. Despite the trailers, this is NOT really a sports movie but it uses sports as the catalyst for a story of how two men find come to know, learn, and draw inspiration from each other. Unlike "traditional" sports flicks, there is no "BIG GAME", the "hero" does not become the "star" player, and the "football" part of the story is wrapped up early in the movie. In fact the "breakthrough" between Radio and his "antagonist" occurs not in the football stadium but during the basketball season. Instead of the Big Game Climax, the Ed Harris character actually gives up football coaching at the end of the movie when he realizes, through Radio, his family needs him more (Though I guess he did get back to coaching as the end of the film shows footage of him being inducted into the South Carolina Coaching Hall of Fame).
Ed Harris and Cuba Gooding do a terrific job in portraying their chracters with grace an dignity. Somewhat overlooked is Debra Winger in her role. She is the "backbone" of the family and in a way she represents the town. Those of you who enjoy the TV series "Without a Trace" may notice that S. Epatha Merkeson plays Radio's mom.
I also enjoyed the fact that the town was not portrayed as a stereoptypical Southern hamlet full of bubbas and bubbettes but as a place where everyone accepts people for what they are. I have read some comments that the racism angle is over-looked. I disagree, I think the issue is addressed subtly and shows how people do change their perceptions, though not a by a cataclysmic event but by simply seeing someone do the right thing and following suit. The South is really no different than most places anywhere in the USA. Racism is not something confined to the South. Neither is brotherhood and love of fellow man.
Anyway, in wrapping up, this is a great movie for the family and one to show your children how we should all treat each other.