Invincible

Plot synopsis:
During the 1970s decade, chaos reigns in the city of Philadelphia as southern portions of the city protest the shutdown of several job sites while their NFL team, the Philadelphia Eagles, endures a string of losing seasons, along with irate fans.
In 1976, Vince Papale goes to a sandlot one night and joins his friends playing a pick-up practice football game against another group of young men. After the game ends, Papale goes home and finds out that his wife Sharon is disgusted with his alleged failure to provide proper support.
The next morning, Papale goes to the high school where he works as a substitute teacher. In a short, unexpected meeting with the principal, he is told of his layoff. Later in the day, there is a report that the Eagles have hired a new head coach named Dick Vermeil as shown in a formal televised conference. That night, Papale goes to the bar where he works as a part-time bartender. The bar contains die-hard Eagles fans, who are watching TV about the hiring of Vermeil. The news story concludes with the announcement by Vermeil that he is staging open public tryouts for the Eagles. The men in the bar encourage Papale to go to the tryout. When Papale returns home, he finds out that his wife has left him and a note from her saying he will never be anything in the world. Distraught, Papale thrashes the few remaining belongings that Sharon left behind.
When Papale goes to the bar the next night, he meets a new co-bartender, Janet Cantrell, who is a Giants fan. Desperate for income in the aftermath of his wife's departure, Papale receives support from his friends and attends the tryout hosted at Veterans' Stadium. Out of several hundred Philadelphia residents attending the training facility, Papale performs well during the workouts. After the camp is over, Papale fails to start his car and Dick Vermeil comes by. He is impressed by Papale’s actions at camp and invites him to training camp to compete for a roster spot with the Philadelphia Eagles. Everyone at the bar becomes excited about the TV announcement that Papale will be joining the team. After work, Papale has an interview with a newscaster.
The next day, Papale exercises by jogging in the city and stops by at the empty home he tore up, where his former wife Sharon lived; then he interacts with his friends, telling them about joining the Eagles. His father, meanwhile, offers to let Vince stay with him. The following day, he goes to his first training camp with the Eagles. As the days of training camp progress, Papale endures a life full of hard work and disrespect from the other players. Papale goes out on a date with Janet one night, but didn't think he'd still be on the team. He says he's not sure he can start a new relationship at that time because he's focused on trying his best to make the team and she claims she didn't know it was a date. She goes to help out at the bar and he leaves. As training camp ends, the final roster spot is down to Papale and a veteran. Against his assistants' advice, Vermeil decides to give the spot to Papale.
As Papale’s career with the Eagles begins, the team loses all six preseason games and their regular season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Papale plays poorly against the Cowboys and Vermeil faces pressure from the fans and media for the poor start. After the team returns to Philadelphia, Papale goes to the sandlot where he played with his friends several months before. He is invited to play, but he declines because of his upcoming Eagles game and watches for a few minutes. A rainstorm begins, and then Papale does join his pals and plays against another sandlot team to help his friends. During a wet and dirty game, Papale ends the game by throwing a touchdown pass. When he runs into Janet later, they speak briefly before passionately embracing and tumbling into Vince's home.
During the home opener against the New York Giants, Eagles fans are enraged about Janet’s appearance in a Giants shirt. In the locker room, Vince looks again at the note Sharon had left and tears it up. Papale opens the game by solo-tackling the kickoff returner inside the 15-yard line. After an up-and-down game, Papale gets downfield during an Eagles' 4th quarter punt to tackle the returner, forcing a fumble that he recovers and takes into the end zone for a touchdown, giving the Eagles their first win in Papale’s career. Eagles fans go wild with joy. As the film's end credits appear, media and actual footage show highlights of Papale’s career with the Eagles. Papale plays for the team for three seasons and eventually marries Janet while Vermeil succeeds in turning the Eagles into a winning team, culminating in an appearance in Super Bowl XV.

Tags: inspiring, home movie

Review:
So if you're looking for a film that does that, you're probably going to be disappointed.The film focuses on our hero and to a large degree his neighborhood friends and what it was like for a 30 year old bartender who only played organized football in high school and how he showed up one Saturday at an unprecedented open try out for a professional football team and how he was selected....not selected to join the team automatically.No, he was only selected for a spot to possibly be on the team.
It took a few weeks of being with the team and surviving 'cuts' until he was actually part of the team.The fact that he did make it, against all the odds, is certainly your classic fairy tale come true.Disney manages to show rough guys from a rough part of Philadelpia and rough professional football players realistically without ever having to utter one profanity on the screen or use gratuitous violence or vulgarity to do it.
That's an accomplishment Disney should be proud of.Honestly, as a movie buff, it's been a long time since I've gone to the movies where I was able to stay engaged throughout the running time of the movie.The movie isn't pretentious nor does it take the easy way out in telling its story of rough blue collar characters-by employing vulgarity, overt sexuality or excessive violence.It relies on tried and true methods like a good storyline, taking the time to establish a good foundation in the beginning of the movie, letting the audience get to know the characters involved and then when the bigger more dramatic moments come it doesn't need to rely on over the top special affects to get the audience involved.That being said, the actual professional football game scenes are well done with just enough special affects to give the audience the feel that these actors really were on that playing field playing the game.I really can't say enough about this movie.
30 year old bartender and part-time school teacher Vince Papale who finds life a struggle from his wife leaving him, to problems paying his bills he finds only one hope that is to escape thru his love and passion for the Eagles.
Wahlberg and Kinnear seem so easy wearing their roles naturally in this NFL sanctioned film about Philadelphia Eagles' Vince Papale and Coach Dick Vermeil.
With Sara Knowles ("Gattaca") production design, Susan Lyall ("Mississippi Masala") costume design, vital Football Coordinator Mark Ellis ("Miracle") who studied/choreographed the plays and moves for specific film shoot, and having Vince Papale and Dick Vermeil as consultants at hand, Brad Gann's script and a strong supportive team of producers, all made "INVINCIBLE" unarguably a worthwhile film to see.I went into the cinema with no expectations - feeling fortunate to see Wahlberg and Kinnear both in one movie.
The movie is based on a true "local guy makes good" story, and quite entertaining (although after searching online for Papale, it appears that they may have taken a bit of dramatic license with some of the details).
The movie does a great job recreating Philadelphia life in 1976, what it was like to be an Eagle fan in the 70's and 1970's NFL life before the mega-millions contracts and cushy locker rooms with every amenity imaginable.
Watching this film, I was transported back to the gritty streets of South Philly in 1976, watching the impossible dream unfold for a guy down on his luck, but determined to change his life with his love for football -- and for his favorite team, the Eagles.
Mark Wahlberg is Vince Papale, a beefy touch football player/bartender who struts his stuff at an open tryout for the Philadelphia Eagles.
They gloss over his pre-Eagles life, but I guess it couldn't be an inspirational feel-good movie if they had stuck to the truth, i.e. he came from the suburbs, he had a career as a professional football player before he played for the Eagles, etc.But part of the appeal is that it's supposed to be "true to life." With this many liberties with the truth, I can't suspend my disbelief enough to get into this movie.They managed to snip everything that was interesting to me and turn it into another clichéd "underdog struggles against odds to become accomplished person." Nice, but not particularly novel and using the truth might have made for a more complex and nuanced story.Well, they did the same thing with REMEMBER THE TITANS, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
I loved "Remember the Titans," and this seemed to be that kind of movie: a sports film with a good cast that alters the mold and tries something new and interesting.
Perhaps this is the reason that "Invincible" proved to be such a disappointment for me.Mark Wahlberg stars in the film as Vince Papale, an underdog who rises from the streets of Philadelphia and becomes an Eagle.
Brad Gann is responsible for the script of the life of Vince Papale, a 30ish out of work substitute teacher, deserted husband, depressed South Philly member of a gang of friends who pass the time while jobless playing football in the muddy vacant lots of their part of the world.Vince Papale is played well by Mark Wahlberg, giving a quiet performance of a deeply injured man who manages to finally succeed at something - being chosen by the failing Philadelphia Eagles football team when a new coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) tries a desperate attempt to enliven the team by holding open tryouts.
Mark Wahlberg gives a splendid performance as a former teacher and bartender who gets the chance of a life to play professional football with the Philadelphia Eagles.The trouble with this film is that is full of clichés.
Think "Rudy" in South Philly or "Rocky" in football pads.Marky Mark does a passable job as local hero and good guy Vince, who is just one of the guys in this struggling town.
First time film director Ericson Core does a passable Disney job of providing a bit of the feel of these hard nosed, blue collar people who struggle with life but always find a way to support their Eagles.The story picks up when Eagles owner Leonard Tose (played by Miohael Nouri, who is seen in the current "Boynton Beach Club") hires UCLA hot shot coach Dick Vermeil (played well by underrated actor Greg Kinnear), following the Eagles miserable 1975 season.
We get a few hints at the legendary brutal Philly sports fans and a small glimpse of home life for Vermeil, but most of the film centers on Papale and his personal struggles and his group of mostly supportive friends.Papale's love interest and future wife is played by the remarkable Elizabeth Banks (so wonderful in "The Baxter" and "40 Year Old Virgin") who, even though a Giants fan, seems to fit right in with this group of tough guys and, of course, immediately spots and falls for Vince's soft heart.Don't miss Sports Illustrated's Rick Reilly as a disgruntled Eagles fan and just see this one to enjoy the uplifting story and inspirational message it delivers.
Just saw this movie on a flight home, and I must give it a high rating (9 or 10) because it so perfectly captures the emotion of sports, the personal story of Vince Papale and atmosphere of living in Philadelphia in the 1970's.
I think they were playing up the "down and out" aspect of Papale's life before the Eagles and took some artistic license on the real facts.Anyone interested in real sports movies and who likes underdog stories should see this movie.
He had a really cool car also (280-Z?).* As a teacher, he was really a good guy- friendly, didn't take it too seriously like some teachers, never yelled at kids and played steady QB for us in our lunchtime football games- and I think this part of his personality came out in the movie.The rest of it- try outs, interaction with Vermeil, was pretty accurate, I think.
They worked hard preparing and learning to correctly portray the two NFL notables.The film focuses on our hero and to a large degree his neighborhood friends and what it was like for a 30 year old bartender who only played organized football in high school and how he showed up one Saturday at an unprecedented open try out for a professional football team and how he was selected....not selected to join the team automatically.No, he was only selected for a spot to possibly be on the team.
That's an accomplishment Disney should be proud of.Honestly, as a movie buff, it's been a long time since I've gone to the movies where I was able to stay engaged throughout the running time of the movie.The movie isn't pretentious nor does it take the easy way out in telling its story of rough blue collar characters-by employing vulgarity, overt sexuality or excessive violence.It relies on tried and true methods like a good story line, taking the time to establish a good foundation in the beginning of the movie, letting the audience get to know the characters involved and then when the bigger more dramatic moments come it doesn't need to rely on over the top special affects to get the audience involved..
The true story of Vince Papale, a bartender/unemployed substitute school teacher in Philadelphia (Mark Wahlberg) who tried out for the NFL's Eagles and ended up being an integral part of Dick Vermeil's (Greg Kinnear) team for three years in the late-1970s.
This biographical portrayal of Vince Papale, a 30-year-old bartender (played by Mark Wahlberg) from South Philadelphia who tried out for NFL's Philadelphia Eagles in 1976 is perhaps remarkable not for the ironically "good" under-spirited acting, but for the scriptwriting, directing and editing.
One of the most touching football movies I've ever watched in my life Mark Wahlberg at his best playing a bartender who gets to try out for the Philadelphia Eagles and by all luck somehow makes the team and fights his way in you will not find the more inspiring movie than this one.
Its hard not to, another one of those inspirational sports-underdog stories that has you invested and cheering for a down on his luck local hero.Mark Whalberg puts in a great performance here as Vince Papale, he's a hero we can relate to, just an average neighborhood guy trying to get by in a tough economy, working as a bartender after he loses his teaching job due to budget cuts, his wife has just left him (and a "nice" note) proclaiming he will never amount to anything.
At 30 and never having played college ball he doesn't expect this to lead anywhere, instead just decides to take the opportunity to stand on the same field as his idols.The story here is very similar to 'Rocky' with the Eagles taking the place of Apollo Creed (actually when I think about it there's too many comparisons to count so I won't go there) It's a great movie regardless, lots of interesting secondary characters to get invested in, with the whole neighborhood garnishing hope from Vince's success, a budding romance, a coach that is very likable (Greg Kinnear) yet also out of his depths with this losing team.This has been put on by Walt Disney Pictures so there is a certain amount of sugar coating to how this story has been told.
Watched Invincible Featuring Featuring Mark Wahlberg(The Departed) as Vince Papale a Struggling Bartender, The Lovely Elizabeth Banks(Spider-Man 2) as Janet Cantrell , Greg Kinner(Little Miss Sunshine) as Dick Vermeil A Rookie Head Coach for The Eagles .
Vince Papale giving a quiet performance of a deeply injured man who manages to finally succeed at something - being chosen by the failing PHILADELPHIA EAGLES football team when a new coach Dick Vermeil tries a desperate attempt to enliven the team by holding open tryouts.
i liked this movie for the most part.it's based on the life of a 30 year old Philadelphia bartender who gets a shot a playing for the NFL's Philadelphia eagles.he has no college experience and only played one year of high school football.but his friends convince him to attend the open tryout held by the team.no one gives him a chance to even make training camp.i'm sure the filmmakers took some liberty with the movie for dramatic purposes,so how accurate the film is,i don't really know.i do know it is entertaining,with good acting performances.Mark Wahlberg plays VInce Papale,the character the movie is based on.he does a fine job,but i really liked Elizabeth Banks in a supporting role as the love interest.i thought she was fantastic.the only knock i would give this movie is that it gets a bit too sentimental at times,with that sweeping,emotional instrumental music.but then,this is a Disney movie,and from my experience they're sort of known for that.however aside from a bit of mild language and some football violence,this is a good family movie.i give "Invincible" an 8/10.
Then it picked up some steam - but not a whole lot.The movie is loosely based on events dealing with a bartender who answers an open call for tryouts for a professional football team.This is a somewhat unusual sports story in that a lot of details seem purposely left out - and it sticks out big time.
Mark Wahlberg did a good job of the football dreamer who loved the Philadelphia Eagles football team and dreamed of playing for them.
Invincible is about fired teacher and part time bartender Vince Papale who after his divorce in 1975 tried out for the Philadelphia Eagles football team.
I am definitely not a big football fan, but i love sport movies with a true background because professional sport sometimes writes the most inspiring and touching stories - and Invincible is definitely one of them (without being cheesy nor over dramatic) Mark Wahlberg did a great job in portraying the football legend Vince Papale and Ericson Core, hey who would have thought that the director of "the fast and the furious" could create such a great underdog story movie?
What really matters is the background and motivation of Vince Papale and how hard he tries to become a rookie football player with being 30 years old.Whoever likes Rocky will love this movie.
If you've seen the trailer for "Invincible", then you know the story of Vince Papale, a Philadelphia everyman who earned a spot on his beloved Eagles through an open tryout in 1976.
As Hollywood and sometimes life would have it, one actually appears, Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg) from South Phillie, with negligible high school experience but considerable character and heart.Yes, it's a formula sports film, but what else can you do when those are the facts, Man?
For those of us who remember the Cinderella story of Vince Papale, the wild Italian from South Philly who was a walk-on with the hapless Eagles and played three seasons with them, this movie is a sheer delight.
Invincible is the story of Vince Papale, a thirty year old bartender in the 70's, who won a spot on the Philadelphia Eagles, after attending an open tryout.
"Invincible" is based on Vince's real life inspirational story from bartender to professional football player.Papale's life is well documented and he is a legend in South Philadelphia.
I'm a big Eagles fan, and I've always liked Mark Wahlberg's work, but I got to be honest here, I didn't find this movie that riveting or entertaining.
Like the movie's lead character, Vince Papale, "Invincible" is just good enough to be worth the price of admission.
1976 was a good year for Philadelphia not only does the fictional and over the hill rookie call Rocky Balboa get to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world but here in this supposedly true life tale, part time bartender Vince Papale at the age of 30 goes for tryouts and makes the cut for the Philly football team.Papale lost his job as a teacher, his wife leaves him and his dad helps him out for rent money.
While every Eagles fan and football-obsessed yahoo in town lines up, one standout athlete, a 30 year old bartender named Vince Papale is good enough to make the team and go pro.In a style reminiscent of Rocky, the film's character struggles not only with his past failures amidst a new challenge of making the cut day-by-day, but he also grapples with his new role as a star and outcast in his own microcosm of working class Philadelphia life.Greg Kinnear and Mark Wahlberg are both convincing in their roles, and even if you're a Giants or Cowboys fan, you will be inspired to root for Papale as the underdog that delivers on game day.written by Andy Frye, MySportsComplex.blogspot.com.
In my opinion, both Mark Wahlberg's AND Gregg Kinnear's performances of Coach Vermeil and Vince Papale (respectively) -made me believe that they actually WERE the guys who they were "playing".
It's a great story and made even more so by the fact that his friends were really suffering at the time with a strike and needed the boost that came from his performance.Mark Wahlburg (Four Brothers, The Planet of the Apes) was spot on as Vince Papale, the bartender who became a pro football player.
Yes, there is a lot of football in the movie but the main story line is the human spirit.I have always liked Mark Wahlberg's work and he is outstanding in the role of Vince Papale, a down on his luck, everyday guy who makes the Philadelphia Eagles football team during a time when it was also down on its luck.
The studio has made some decent sports entries, including "Remember The Titans," and last's year's golf film, "The Greatest game Ever Played," so they know their stuff."Invincible" is the biographical tale of down-on-his-luck Vince Papale (Wahlberg), who is a pretty fair street football player in Philadelphia in the mid-1970s.
After all, it copied at least three movies that worked far better.Vince Papale (Wahlberg) loves football, but really only has experience playing around with his friends.