Character Reigns Supreme

Rating: 10/10 (27 July 2014)

OUR OWN DEAR Old Dad, Clem Ryan (1914-74) had a saying that "Truth is stranger than fiction.", or something very much like that. Perhaps this was not an adage of his own design; but, nonetheless, there is a lesson to be learned here.
IT SEEMS THAT every couple of years or so, a story taken right out of the headlines (or at least the Sports Pages) makes it to the screen. In recent years, we've seen the likes of HOOSIERS, RUDY, THE BLIND SIDE and now wee see that one will be coming out about a High School Football winning streak by a team from a De La Salle school by name.
IN CASTING THE role of Coach Herman Boone, the selection of Denzel Washington, the success of the film at the Box Office was virtually assured. The only question was, could he handle what is the role of a more mature individual? If so, would the movie going public buy it?
WE NOW KNOW that the answers are all in the affirmative, but hindsight is always 20-20.
ANOTHER FACTOR TO be taken into consideration is that just about any Actor relishes the chance to be cast against type and be afforded the opportunity to expand his repertoire s swell as to add to his resume. Mr. Denzel Washington did just those very things. The name of the game is acting and that's just what they want in testing their limits in expanding their characterizations.
WHERREAS THE STORY takes place in an earlier time, where not many Black men had opportunity to coach white kids or even in an integrated environment; of which very few even existed then. Even in the Northern urban areas, there was de facto segregation; if not by design of Law, de jurie. The story tells of the difficulties encountered by those who went first in previously uncharted waters.
IF THERE IS indeed a 'message' here, it's very subtle and elemental. Put simply, it's the Golden Rule of "love your neighbor", coupled with the notion of judging each individual on his own merit.
ALTHOUGH WE KNOW that this is based on real life incidents, there is of necessity much embellishment of the story, in order to, make it into a coherent screen play. Our favourite bit concerned the coaches' daughters. In the story, the Black Girl is the one who has no interest in going out for sports. She prefers her dolls and is all female all the way. It is the White Girl who is a veritable 'Tom Boy' and shoot hops an knows all about other games, including her Father's football team.
SEE WHAT WE meant about going against typecasting, or in this case, it would be "stereotyping."