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!
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!
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