Leatherheads

Plot synopsis:
In 1925 Jimmy "Dodge" Connelly (George Clooney) is captain of the Duluth Bulldogs, a struggling professional American football team. Dodge is determined to save both his team and pro football in general when the players lose their sponsor and the league is on the brink of collapse. He convinces Princeton University's college football star, Carter "the Bullet" Rutherford, to join the Bulldogs, hoping to capitalize on Carter's fame as a decorated hero of the First World War (like Alvin York, he single-handedly captured a large group of German soldiers). In addition to his legendary tales of combat heroism, Carter has dashing good looks and unparalleled speed and skill on the field. As a result of his presence, both the Bulldogs and pro football in general begin to prosper.
Chicago Tribune newspaper reporter Lexie Littleton becomes the object of the affections of both Dodge and Carter. Lexie has been assigned to find proof that Carter's war heroics are bogus. Carter confesses that the surrender of the Germans was a lucky accident and that his role in it was more foolish than heroic. Carter soon discovers Lexie's agenda and is doubly hurt when he learns that Dodge and Lexie are starting to show affections for each other and even shared a kiss. The ensuing fight over Lexie's affections puts her off. Spurred on by the threats of Carter's manager, she decides to publish the story.
The story sparks a firestorm of accusations and reprimands. Carter's manager resorts to shady dealing to cover it up, even bribing the original witness to change his story.
Dodge's attempts to legitimize pro football take a life of its own. The new commissioner formalizes the game's rules, taking away improvisational antics. In addition, the commissioner takes the responsibility of clearing up the Carter controversy to set an example for the new direction of professional football.
With the whole world against Lexie (even the Tribune is pushing her to retract her story), Dodge concocts a clever ruse. Interrupting a private hearing in the commissioner's office, Dodge threatens Carter with a confrontation by his old army mates. Dodge claims that they are just outside the door, ready to congratulate him for his heroic actions. In truth, the men are Bulldogs in borrowed Army uniforms.
Carter confesses the truth. The commissioner frees Lexie from printing a retraction. Carter is ordered to simply say he got too much credit for his war actions, but must give a hefty part of his paycheck to the American Legion. Carter's conniving manager is banned from football as well. Dodge is warned that if he pulls any old tricks to win the next game, he will lose his place in the league.
Dodge plays in one last game. This time it will be against Carter, who has changed sides from Duluth to Chicago. The rivalry for Lexie's affection spills onto the field.
The game does not go well for Dodge, including how muddy the field is. Dodge decides football should be played without rules. Lexie notices that after a brawl, Dodge is missing and with most players covered in mud, no one can tell who is who. There appears to be an interception and Chicago seems to have won, but when the mud is removed it is seen that the player is none other than Dodge Connelly, who disguised himself as a Chicago player on the play. The play is changed from an interception to a touchdown, and the Bulldogs win.
Carter mentions to Dodge that he is finished playing football, based on the threat the commissioner had made. He intends to tell the newspapers the real story about his "capture" of the German soldiers. Dodge argues that America "needs" heroes and it is implied the true story will not be told. Dodge and Carter part on good terms once again.
After the game, Dodge meets up with Lexie and they ride into the sunset on Dodge's motorbike, discussing with humor the possibilities in their future, which include bankruptcy, scandals and jail time. During the end credits, pictures show Dodge and Lexie getting married, Carter donating $10,000 to the US military and Carter's former manager with new clients Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

Tags: comedy, historical, flashback

Review:
Eventually I did and initially I thought that the reviews had been unfairly harsh because the film seemed like it was going to be a light and sparky sports period piece that captures the screwball comedies of years gone by.
Leatherheads, George Clooney's latest movie, dives into the Roaring 20s, early professional football, the Chicago Tribune, and fake war heroes, all in about an hour and 44 minutes.
As unappealing and generic as that might sound compared to the average comedy feature, it was actually a quite fun movie, which is to be expected coming from Clooney.The movie follows the story of the Duluth Bulldogs, a professional American football team, and its most well-known player, Dodge Connelly.
When she is promised the assistant editor's desk if she brings back some dirt on The Bullet and exposes his fake war story, Lexie sets out on quite the adventure, meeting Dodge and the rest of the Bulldogs along the way.I know that all of this probably sounds generic to the average moviegoer, but it's actually a quite fresh and fun movie.
In this story, George Clooney hopes to boost the fortunes of his floundering Toledo Pro team by recruiting a college superstar (and reported war-hero), played by John Krasinski.
"Leatherheads" is a movie of laughs, and feel good fun a period piece of football nostalgia that's held together by it's slapstick comedy and blended well with romance.
George Clooney who stars and directs gives a good turn here, yet it seems a little uncommon seeing the superstar in a period comedy piece as he's clearly a better dramatic actor still he scores some points here for his style of shooting and direction of the film.Set in the 1920's George is 'Dodge' Connelly a football player on the field and a ladies man off it, and this is before the big money and rules changes that took into form for the game.
And the big surprise is the truth about the apparent battlefield story is revealed.Overall this isn't a great movie, but it's OK as the slapstick and laughs carry it, so if your expecting a historical serious and dramatic look at the early NFL you want get it here.
The chemistry between Clooney and Zellweger is good as Renee is a bright treat to watch even though the laughs are good and the scenes are fun Clooney appears out of place here in a comedy work even though his performance is good, this screwball comedy scores for laughs and is flagged for drama and it's lack of focused attention on the history of the start of the NFL..
I saw an advance screening of Leatherheads at NYU Movies101 last night.I was so excited when it was announced that this movie was being shown.I settled in my seat ready to enjoy another great movie that George Clooney directs and acts in.All during the film, I thought to myself "Is it just me, or is this movie going nowhere?".
Leatherheads is a highly enjoyable movie, full of period-era sets and language that throws you back into the days during World War II- though it doesn't completely set you back in that day, as George Clooney and John Krasinski still act in a way that tries to be throwback, but remains modern.With that said, there are plenty of enjoyable laughs in this movie, with a decent mix of football action and an intriguing romantic triangle.
The 40's-style music sets the audience back into that period, if to a fault.All of the actors really bring a good game to this movie, which surprised me in that it wasn't as much about football as I expected, but about the falsities of supposed war heroes, heroes that a country needed to believe in at that time (and still does).I recommended this movie, co-written by acclaimed Sports Illustrated writer Rick Reilly for both fans of sports history, and for those looking for good laughs that throws you back into an earlier day..
The film's look from the sets right down to the costumes look exactly like the 20's films and in capturing the mood of the 40's comedies the writers have provided a very humorous story filled with snappy and clever dialogue between the characters, numerous situations that resolve themselves with a lot of comedic intelligence and first rate performances from the actors who all do their best job of capturing the comedic performances of that era.
Apparently one more: With "Leatherheads", George Clooney creates one of the funniest comedies I've seen in years.Clooney directs himself as "Dodge" Connelly, a pro-football player in the 1920's, when "pro" was a laughable term.
In an effort to save the bankrupt sport, Connelly schemes to hire college football hero Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski), whose game skills, coupled with his story of taking out an entire German platoon by himself, has made him America's poster boy.Reporter Lexie Littleton (Renee Zellweger) doubts Rutherford's war story and sets out to expose him.
I have no doubt we'll be seeing much more of him on film screens in the future.The film is populated with some of today's most versatile character performers, including some of Clooney's fellow Coen Brothers alumni: Wayne Duvall is the Duluth manager with a constant wad of tobacco clogging every sentence he utters; Stephen Root is the team's on-staff flask-toting reporter; Heather Goldenhersh puts in a cameo as a ditsy flapper; and the legendary Jonathan Pryce plays smarmy financier C.C. Frazier.The combined effect of all the wacky personalities, which includes the entire Duluth team of misfits, results in some of the best screwball comedy moments you're sure to see this decade.
This movie could have no plot & I would love it.The movie takes place in Georgia & Chicago (filmed in Boiling Springs, South Carolina thankyouverymuch) & is about a football player named Dodge Connolly (Clooney) who recruits a war hero/football star Carter Rutherford (Krasinski) to come & play for him.
I am an old movie freak & if I ever get cast in a period piece I am going all out...voice coach to get the dialect of the time..watching the actresses constantly to pick up mannerisms & body language & what I LOVED about "Leatherheads" is that it was captured perfectly.
Quite a fall off from his "Good Night and Good Luck".Toss in bland John Krazinski ("The Office") as the football hero with a secret and the impossible to like Renee Zellweger as the spunky newspaper writer and it truly is a recipe for disaster.Best part of the movie is a couple of shots of Randy Newman playing piano during a rowdy barroom brawl.
His star brings glamor and success to the franchise, but along with all that, he also brings Lexie Littleton (Renee Zellweger), a Chicago Tribune reporter trying to find out the real scoop on his so-called World War 1 heroism record.As a director, Clooney brings a fun, airy tone to the movie, which almost makes up for the screenplay's near complete lack of jokes.
It's a fluffy little piece of nostalgia, a movie you won't be afraid to go see with your tween-age kids or Mom and Pop. Gramps will love it too, with all the vivid images of the "good old days" and a great ragtime score.Clooney and Zellweger are campy in their roles (isn't that what they were shooting for?) and Stephen Root is a quiet riot as the hard drinking team owner..
George Clooney plays the seasoned quarterback and coach of the football team, John Krasinski is wildly funny as the hot new football player and Renee Zellweger is the witty sportswriter over whom they spar.
George Clooney as Dodge Connolly, I saw as early pro football's version of Paul Newman's character, Reggie Dunlop from Slapshot; An aging player, who's trying to keep his team from folding.
But along with the arrival of an actually good football player, comes Renee Zellweger, an independent and confident young woman who writes for a Chicago newspaper.It's the type of film that would normally be a period drama, here they are telling it more as a comedy, and although it's not very funny, it's still a good movie.
George Clooney was clearly trying for screwball nostalgia with this sports comedy, but what he actually put together sits on the screen like a lump of lead.Clooney stars as a professional football player back in the days (1920s) when no one cared much for professional football.
And Clooney and Zellweger have absolutely no romantic chemistry -- they're given roles that, say, Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck would have played if this were a screwball comedy from the 1930s, but they work up no heat and deliver almost no laughs.No expense was spared on the period look of the film, and Randy Newman for once provides a tolerable and playful score, but everything else about the film is a dud.Grade: C.
Lexie Littleton (Renée Zellweger) is a serious reporter who is told to write up the war hero Bullet and then double cross him with a expose with fellow soldier Mack Steiner's true story of the incident.Clooney is trying to bring the old fashion screwball comedy back.
Obviously the high points of the film come during the interactions between Clooney and Krasinski and when the characters take to the field to actually play football.
You have to love a movie that starts its opening scene with a cow acting as interested spectator of a football game.There are some that argue that Clooney tried addressing too many themes int he same film.
The film is not the best of Clooney's work as a director, but it definitely got me to laugh and kept me interested with a plot that thickens as the movie progresses in this romantic, screwball, sports comedy.
Now that may sound like a mouthful of genres thrown together, but taking place in the world of football, then filled with field workers, coal miners, and generally the brutes who could not make it into college, the film incorporates a love triangle between Dodge Connelly (George Clooney), Carter "The Bullet" Rutherford(John Krasinski), and Lexie Littleton(Renée Zellweger) along with a double plot.
The movie goes on to follow the three of them in their tour of the east coast, playing football and trying to uncover the truth, with lots of screwball comedy along the way and some surprising twists in the story.The actors chosen for this film were an okay cast.
Overall each actor fits their own respective character and plays them well, and with Clooney's and Krasinksi's strong background in comedy, it really makes for a fun, playful film as they throw quip's back and forth at each other and try to woo Zellweger along the way.
In addition to his football fame, a story about his single-handed capture of a unit of the German Army in WW I is promoted by his agent (Jonathan Price of Broadway's "Miss Saigon") causing Carter to be paid to appear in ads for numerous products.A small out of money pro team is about to fold when Jimmy 'Dodge' Connell (George Clooney), a player who also has an ownership position, gets a brain storm that if he offers the Carter much money to join his team, he would attract so much attendance that it would more than pay for the star's salary.
Sometimes I think the critics expect way too much from the movies It should be enough that for a brief moment we, as the viewer, can escape to another time and really put ourselves in the position of those that lived through the events that shaped our nation into what it is today.Lest you think I wax poetic in this review, what is better than watching a movie about the history of football, with classic cars, a classy woman, a war hero and a 2nd generation actor who choose venues for this flick that are simply stunning.It's funny how things turn out.
The movie isn't a waste of time for George Clooney, it taught him some things and I think his next film will be in top form.
Admittedly, George Clooney is not my favourite actor, and he does nothing to raise his standing in my opinion with "Leatherheads." Supposedly a comedic portrayal of the state of early pro football in the 1920's (it has the feel of pro wrestling - a lot of show with very little substance behind the show, which may well be accurate) the movie struck me for the most part as an overlong bore.Clooney inflicted his usual low-key, lacklustre performance (totally lacking in energy and with no "star power" that I can see) as "Dodge" Connelly, head of the Duluth Bulldogs, a struggling pro team in a struggling pro league.
Dodge Connelly(George Clooney) manages to find a sponsor for his football team known has The Bulldogs, but he soon goes head to head with noisy reporter Lexie Littleton(Renee Zellwegger), who is trying to the goods on Carter Rutherford(John Krasinski), a college football star, and war hero, who joins The Bulldogs, and brings them to a winning streak, but what happens when pieces of Rutherfords past begin to come back in the picture.This was a enjoyable slapstick comedy.
Where "Leatherheads" really makes the big play is the comedy which is, at times, laugh-out-loud brilliant and while none of the main actors are known for their comic timing (I'd never seen Krasinski before in the US version of "The Office"), it all manages to make you laugh.I feel sorry for George because this feels like a labour of love, slowly crafted and produced with all the care and attention that a mega-star director can afford.
But after the players lose their sponsor and the entire league faces certain collapse, Dodge convinces a college football star/war hero to join his ragtag ranks.I wasn't expecting much from this film, but I always enjoy George Clooney.
Dodge Connolly (Clooney) gets college football star and War Hero, Carter Rutherford (Krasinski), to headline his struggling pro football team, but reporter Lexi (Zellweger) thinks there is more to Carter's war story than has been told.
Whenever a movie is partially filmed in your hometown,you tend to develop an automatic bias in favor of it,no matter the quality of it.This is what has occurred with me when it comes to Leatherheads.It was filmed in various locations across the southeast including my hometown of Greer,South Carolina.I even have a cousin as an extra in some of the crowd shots filmed in Charlotte,but he is so lost in that crowd,he can't be spotted.As for the film itself,I regret to say that there is no greatness here,but a just barely likable period piece.It's faults lie in it's attempts to recapture the lightning quick wit and dialog of films made in the era it represents.We basically have George Clooney and Renee Zellweger trying too hard to be Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn,and it just doesn't work.The story itself is likable enough,and that's all..
Leatherheads, a 1920's period football comedy, should seem like it will be another fine addition to George Clooney's now flourishing career as a star/director.
A movie like Leatherheads could work much better with two things, one affecting the other: first, the historical backdrop is suffocating- having the whole facet of the story with John Krasinski's character as a war hero who really isn't (!) and the scoop from the foxy reporter (Renee Zellweger), and how this comes into play with the start of the football commissioner, etc, weighs down a plot that would work just fine as either a goofy romantic comedy out of something like Bull Durham (which I'm sure the writers have seen many times), and which leads into second, which is that the movie's just too long.
Of course, like most of this film, it really doesn't go any where.I thought Clooney and Zellweger were OK together, but most of this movie was boring, so I can't say they were great.
George is keeping it all under wraps until film 4 where He will deliver on a scale as big as "Good Night, and Good Luck" Both star and director, Clooney play Jimmy "Dodge" Connelly, the passionate but past-it leader of the Duluth Bulldogs, an amateur American football team whose fortunes have gone the way of Blackpool.
What you have are three great characters- Duke (Clooney); an old, struggling professional football player (before that was anything to be proud of), Lexie (Zellweger); a big city reporter looking for her scoop, and Carter (Krasinski); a war hero/college football superstar with endless possibilities.
It was about as far from the multimillion dollar contracts and corporate sponsorships of today's NFL as one could possibly imagine.It's nice to be reminded of football's humble beginnings every now and then, and "Leatherheads," at least in theory, is just the movie to do it.Based very loosely on fact, the screenplay tells the story of Jimmy "Dodge" Connelly (George Clooney, who also co-wrote and directed the film), a pro ball player who comes up with a scheme to save the league from extinction by recruiting the top player from Princeton, a charismatic war hero named Carter "the Bullet" Rutherford ("The Office"'s John Kransinski) to play for the Duluth Bulldogs.
Fans of "The Office" may be thrilled to see John Krasinski in the lead in this film, but since I am not one of them, I can say that his character had nothing to offer in the way of entertainment.Normally, George Clooney and Renée Zellweger would be reason enough to watch and, since I like sports films, I was expecting something more than modern screwball.
The film is a romantic 'screwball' comedy set against 1925 starting the over camera mugging leading man Dodge Connolly (George Clooney), a charming, brash football hero, is determined to guide his team from cow fields to packed stadiums.
The problem is that George Clooney looks great playing con man Dodge Connelly, but he is a bust as a comedy director.