Forever Strong

Director:  Ryan Little (Saints and Soldiers, House of Fears)




Writers:  David Pliler (Outlaw Trail:  The Treasure of Butch Cassidy), Dony West (song)


Starring:  Sean Faris (Never Back Down; Yours, Mine & Ours), Neal McDonough (Captain America:  The First Avenger, Flags of Our Fathers), Gary Cole (Pineapple Express, Talladega Nights:   The Ballad of Ricky Bobby), Sean Astin (Rudy, The Goonies)

When my football playing career was over, a friend invited me to a rugby match at UCM to see if I’d be interested in joining the team.  About 10 minutes into the game, a Mules player was tackled and his scalp peeled back.  So ended my interest in being a rugby player.  But now, whenever I watch a movie about rugby or a match, I wish I had taken that chance.  So it was with great hope that I turned on “Forever Strong”.  It did not disappoint.

Rick Penning (Faris) is a mess.  The superstar rugby wing is carrying the hopes and dreams of his entire team.  He also is playing for his father (McDonough), for whom sportsmanship and compassion are foreign terms. And he is a bit self destructive; his second DUI before the age of 18 lands him in a juvenile detention center where he meets Marcus Tate (Astin).  Tate introduces the sullen young Penning to Coach Larry Gelwix (Cole), coach of the revered Highland Rugby team, who in turn introduces Penning to a new way of thinking—and listening.

This movie is based on a true story, and it really demonstrates that one person can make a difference.  It is a story of forgiveness, the complicated relationship between fathers and sons (this relationship is more complex than most), and the brotherhood and bonds that form through competition.  It is also an emotional story. I found myself getting angry at Penning and then cheering for him.  I cried for him, for his team and for his family.  It even had a little humor, supplied primarily through the high jinx so often associated with team sports.

“Forever Strong” is also a subtle story of faith, led by Gelwix.  That obviously resonated with me.  Gelwix prays for his team, preaches honesty and clean living (no drinking or drugs or inappropriate behavior with the ladies), and forgiveness.  Penning admits to drug use and a teammate confesses to cheating.  Both are disciplined but welcomed back with open arms, ala the Prodigal Son.  He is the kind of teacher I want to be.  His famous quote: 

“It’s not about rugby, it’s about young men.  It’s not about building a championship team.  It’s about building championship boys.  Boy’s who are forever strong.”

That’s my idea of a great teacher and a great coach.

On the down side, the movie starts REALLY slowly, the only real rugby action coming at the end.  But then, it is also a bit refreshing to have a sports movie that didn’t rely solely on action to drive the story.  And it took some time to demonstrate just how mixed up Penning really is.  After all, “Forever Strong” is more about Penning becoming a man than becoming a rugby champion.  Now, what DOES happen too quickly are some of the action sequences.  I get that rugby is a fast-paced, action-packed game.  But when players are running out of the frame and out of focus, it makes it extremely difficult to enjoy the film. 

Penning’s transformation to team player and committed Highland hook also seemingly happens overnight.  One minute he has quit the team and given up on Gelwix’s teachings, and the next, thanks to a good-natured early morning run with his teammates, he is chosen team captain. 

Faris, though a bit stiff acting, does a fine job leading the film.  He shows little emotional range, but his timing is good and he is built like a rugby player, so he is believable in the role.  Cole brilliantly plays the patient, caring coach determined to transform young men.  And McDonough, one of my favorite character actors, is outstanding as Penning’s hard, bristly father. 

While there is some underage drinking and drug use (essential to the story, but probably making this movie inappropriate for young audiences), it is not the typical coming of age movie with lots of gratuitous sexuality. 

“Forever Strong” embodied everything I love about sports, especially the idea that, through trusting in teammates and pushing beyond what we think is possible, we can achieve greatness.   I highly recommend it.

"Forever Strong" Trailer

Crooked Arrows: A Tale of Restoration

Director:  Steve Rash (Bring It On, Can't Buy Me Love, The Buddy Holly Story)

Writers: Brad Riddell (American Pie Presents Band Camp and Road

Trip:  Beer Pong), Todd Baird (screenplay)

Starring:  Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), Gil Birmingham (the Twilight saga, Into the West), Crystal Allen (Anacondas:  Trail of Blood), Chelsea Ricketts (Taken Away).

This movie is proof you do not need an all-star cast to make a solid, inspiring film -- but it doesn't hurt.  It is the story of a poor Native American lacrosse squad that has lost the will to compete, let alone win.  It's not quite the Bad News Bears on a lacrosse pitch, but it is the quintessential poor kids overcome adversity to take down the rich power--with a twist. This team, and more specifically its coach, is finding its roots and tradition. It is about bringing honor to one's heritage and ancestors.

Joe Logan (Routh) is the former lacrosse hero who has become a wealthy casino developer.  His boss wants more of the Sunaquot land so he can build a bigger casino, all under the guise that this will provide jobs, a hospital and resources for the tribe (incidentally, the Sunaquot is a fictional tribe that supposedly belongs to the actual Haudenosaunee Nation that developed lacrosse as a spiritual ritual to please the Creator).  But in order to gain the tribes permission to build on the land, Logan must take a spirit journey, supervised by his father (played by Birmingham).  Dad's stipulation:  Logan must find his spiritual balance by restoring pride to the game his people love.

This is a good film.  The cinematography, as always seems to be the case in movies about Native Americans, is breathtaking.  There are some really beautiful mountain scenes and wooded scenes.  I don't know much about lacrosse (wish I did; it looks really cool), but the action sequences are really well done -- good motion, nice framing, really dramatic.  There are some monster hits and the editing is tight, making the film flow really nicely.  And it's a great story or redemption and restoration for a young man who "pimped out his people."

The acting is a bit forced and stiff, but that's to be expected in a film that doesn't feature many big names.  There are also some cheezy scenes, like when the goalkeepers girlfriend struts onto the field to tell him he has a "tight" body but a "wussy" game.  

Still, this movie was a nice surprise.  Yes, the ending is predictable, but it moves at a nice pace right off the bat and continues right on through the end.  Personally, my favorite part of the movie was when Logan told his team they were not playing to win the game or to win a championship; they were playing to honor their ancestors and to honor the game.  I like that.  I think it was the ancient Greeks who believed competition was not intended to show which side was better.  Rather it was intended as a way for both sides to test themselves and see how good they could possibly be.

I gave "Crooked Arrows" 4 of 5 stars on Netflix.  Check out the trailer; it's worth a look!

"Broken Arrow" Trailer

"Here Comes the Boom" and the power of film

Friday night by sons spent the night with a friend, so it was just my wife, my daughter and me.  Given my daughter is in junior high, we can now watch movies together that DON'T include princesses or talking fish or cars. So we settled in to watch a movie I have been wanting to see since I first saw it advertised, "Here Comes the Boom" starring Kevin James, Selma Hayak and Henry Winkler.  If you haven't seen it or don't know anything about the movie, view the trailer here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4L6ruTF5qE

First, it must be said I am a big Kevin James fan.  I love a good comedy, but these days it is really hard to find one that is not rank and rife with sexual content, nudity and swearing that would embarrass a drunken sailor.  And of course, what man from my generation doesn't love the Fonz (or Selma, for that matter)? It was incredibly entertaining.  A science teacher from a troubled high school learns that his school is in financial duress and is facing cuts and the elimination of all extracurricular activities, including the music program (Winkler's program).  James says they can raise the money and takes it upon himself to begin ultimate fighting. He takes a beating (still making money from each loss), but keeps coming back for more.  If you need a pick-me-up, check it out.

More importantly, it motivates me to take on a study of sports films I have been considering for some time.  I want to examine the impact of such films on the psyche of college students.  I'm going to actually conduct a full-on experiment with a control group and all the fixins!

And in the process, I get to watch some of my favorite movies :)