Good sports movies have simple plots, too.
They’re aimed at simple creatures.
Namely – me.
This movie stars Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman.
Basic plot: NFL goes on strike, team owners hire scabs to cross the picket line and play ball.
That’s the broadstroke.
The guys that are hired of course make the movie.
Reeves is a once-fantastic college quarterback who crashed and burned spectactularly in a bowl game, and is scraping barnacles off of boats for a living. his team includes:
A deaf wide receiver, A violent cop, a couple of criminals, a Scottish soccer player, and twin brothers who are professional bodyguards.
And Gene Hackman’s their coach.
He does “coach” really well.
There’s mayhem, violence, and bonding scenes, including the obligatory bar brawl.
There’s a great antagonist, namely the overpaid, lazy, fan-shunning striking quarterback.
Of course you hate him. He’s an overpaid, lazy, fan-shunning money grubber.
The cheerleaders are scabs, too.
Their day job? Strippers.
Oh, and there’s some good football.
“Pain Heals, Chicks dig scars, glory lasts forever.”
Words to live by. I get a little choked up, every time I think about it.
Does it matter if they win their final game or not with mere seconds left on the clock?
Not really. They’ve already redeemed themselves in their own eyes; the eyes of their coach and each other; and the eyes of everyone watching the games from….everywhere.
And the hero gets the girl. Of course.
No comments:
Post a Comment