 | Watch When the Game Stands Tall (2014) online Run time: 115 min Rating: 7.0 Genres: Drama | Sport Stars: Jim Caviezel, Alexander Ludwig, Michael Chiklis |
| Storyline Inspired by a true story, WHEN THE GAME STANDS TALL tells the remarkable journey of legendary football coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel), who took the De La Salle High School Spartans from obscurity to a 151-game winning streak that shattered all records for any American sport. Written by Sony Pictures Entertainment | |
| Plot Keywords: coach, high school football | |
| Details: | |
| Box Office Budget: $15,000,000 (estimated) Opening Weekend: $8,381,509 (USA) (22 August 2014) Gross: $8,943,442 (USA) (25 August 2014) | |
When the Game Stands Tall is about a football team and includes a lot of football footage, but it is not a football movie. Rather, it is an inspirational movie about life, commitment, and the definition of success. In this manner, it succeeds wildly.
ReplyDeleteThe story would seem predictable: a team achieves 151 wins in a row through incredible talent and maniacal enthusiasm for football. Instead, When the Game Stands Tall dismisses the importance of "The Streak" and focuses on the process and commitment by which it was built. Almost preachy at times, the movie can be forgiven because it captures the true story. Caviezel's depiction of Coach Bob Ladouceur as quiet, humble, and overly-focused is spot-on. Its illustration of the team's "commitment cards" should be seen as a revelation for every other football team, rather than a sappy distraction. The death of Terrance Kelly was shocking and senseless. And DLS players actually do hold hands as they enter the field and graduate spouting words like "brotherhood" and "love".
When the Game Stands Tall is clearly intended as a message movie in a football setting, and it succeeds on both fronts. "Family-appropriate", it makes for enjoyable and worthwhile viewing.
This movie, based on real life events, does a wonderful job of portraying the power and beauty of the human spirit. The movie allows you escape all of the negative aspects of professional sports and big-time collegiate athletics and reminds us of the truly positive effects of sport when taught in the proper perspective.
ReplyDeleteThe movie also demonstrates the ever ending struggle between good and evil forces in our world and teaches us to fight through life even during some of its most challenging moments. A beautiful demonstration of American spirit and reinforces the strength of our nation and its values. This movie is about life and is much greater than just a high school football team.
I had an awesome opportunity to see this film tonight. I, for one, enjoy football movies and enjoy the different stories around the sport that directors have brought out over the years. When the Game Stands Tall is a very nice new addition to my favorite football films.
ReplyDeleteThe De La Salle High School Spartans are coached by Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel). He has led the Spartans to a 150 game winning streak, which is the longest in all of football, even more than any team in the NFL or NCAA. The beginning shows us an intertwining of win #151 with a team meeting the day before the game. The meeting shows us how together and united the seniors are while the game shows how hard working and dedicated they are during each play from snap to whistle. In that game, the juniors get to finish the game and we get to know who some of these guys are, particularly Chris Ryan (Alexander Ludwig), Danny Ladouceur (Matthew Daddario), and Tayshon Lanear (Jessie Usher). After that, the pressure is on to continue the winning streak and pick up where the graduating seniors left off.
Throughout the film, we see the Spartans face many adversities on and off the field. What I really liked in this story and script is how we see this team overcome their adversities and dealing with family, unity, and looking out for each other. This script Scott Marshall Smith and David Zelon is nice held together by director Thomas Carter, who does a nice job with the football sequences and the non-football scenes.
At the front and center of this film is Jim Caviezel as Coach Bob Ladouceur. With this role, we see Caviezel do so well as the coach, who knows the right thing to say, and doesn't act a lot like other coaches. Through Caviezel, we see a guy who has more of a calming influence and does what is best for his players. The next standout is Alexander Ludwig as Chris Ryan, a running back and linebacker who plays very hard and is always under pressure from his overbearing father (Clancy Brown). Brown is very interesting as the father who puts pressure on his son who is on the verge of breaking California's high school record for touchdowns. Laura Dern is nice in her role as the coach's wife. Michael Chiklis is also very good in his role as assistant coach Terry Eidson. In Chiklis, we see the kind of coach who does the job of getting guys fired up.
The film has all the makings to be a great one centered around high school football, and it certainly is a great one. This is easily one of my favorite football films out there.
I saw this movie at a screening and was going with the idea of yeah OK ill go see it... its free. Wow... I was pleasantly surprised with this un-promoted film. I feel this didn't get enough TV ad time as it should have as I fell that this is one of the best football films made. It will make any fan and any family member of a player appreciate the game that much more. It goes to show what the teens really go through to be the best in the game and how the loss effects the team and how they need to get over the loss and move on. With todays society and the "no one looses" "participation trophys" this film is a must. Show the character effects of how people need to LOOSE and over come it versus no everyone wins. Pretty close film to "undefeated" but better.
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