Sports drama, true story
PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Billy Bob Thornton: Gary Gaines, coach of the Permian Panthers
Lucas Black: the team's quarterback, 17-year-old Mike Winchell
Connie Cooper: Mike’s chronically ill mother
Derek Luke: star running back James “Boobie” Miles
Grover Coulson: Boobie’s devoted uncle
Garrett Hedlund: back fielder Don Billingsley
Tim McGraw: Don’s father Charles
REVIEW
Unless you’ve lived in a small town like this (Odessa, Texas) it is hard to imagine how important a high school team is to the entire community. Not only is the coach under a lot of pressure, so are the athletes themselves.
The movie raises a number of issues (racism being the biggest one) but does not dwell on them. Rather, the focus is on the team members and the game. With crisp editing and some hand-held shots we get the feeling we’re part of the action.
CLASSIFICATION
for thematic issues, sexual content, language, some teen drinking and rough sports action. FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
During the game against Midland the announcer says “it’s second down with 3 yards to go”. The scoreboard shows the real situation: first and ten.
The Dial-A-Down marker used in the final game had yet to be invented back in 1988.
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