PLAY ON, a new film about the sport of Rugby has been gaining some buzz. It’s a story of greed, money, family, and the love one can have for their sport.

As if seeing the trailer isn’t enough for all you Rugby fans, the movie is sending one lucky winner and a guest to the 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-finals! Go to http://www.facebook.com/playonthemovie or http://www.playonthemovie.com/ for your chance to win.

CHECK OUT THE TRAILER HERE:

ABOUT THE FILM: There’s the road less traveled. There’s the road to redemption. And somewhere in between is a one-way ticket to Kansas City for wayward Scottish rugby star Keir Kilgour.

Even at the highest level, rugby didn’t pay players until the mid-1990s; it held on to the amateur ideal longer than any other sport. And now, the greedy but talented Keir and his old-school father, rugby legend Finlay Kilgour, find themselves stranded on opposite sides of that ideal. When Keir’s drive for fame and money collides with his quest for love and respect from his critical father, things get ugly. Following an appalling act of selfishness, Keir flees his rugby background in a delusional pursuit of greater stardom in the high-profile world of professional American football.

When the bubble of his rash, big money dream bursts, Keir — demoralized, broke, but too proud to return home — stumbles upon an unlikely group of saviors, the Kansas City Wanderers. A failing second division rugby club, the Wanderers are a motley collection of weekend warriors who are amateurs in the worst sense of the word.

As the Wanderers can attest, everyone does stupid things. But, it’s not always what you do that matters. It’s what you do next.

Get up. Play on.

PLAY ON OPENS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17th.

At last we’re off to the races with the opening of SECRETARIAT - the rousing tale of the 1973 Triple Crown winner and the greatest race horse of all time!

Based on the novel “Secretariat: The Making of a Champion” by William Nack, SECRETARIAT centers on Penny Chenery (Diane Lane), Secretariat’s owner, and how she broke into the “boys only club” of thoroughbred horseracing in 1969. The real Penny Chenery, now 88, even has a cameo in the film as a spectator at the Belmont Stakes race. Walt Disney Pictures decided the time was right and put the story in the very capable hands of director Randall Wallace (MAN IN THE IRON MASK, BRAVEHEART screenplay) and writer Mike Rich (THE ROOKIE). With the unbelievable, mud-in-your-face cinematography of Academy Award winner Dean Semler (DANCES WITH WOLVES) and the galloping sound work of 20 time Oscar-nominee Kevin O’Connell, SECRETARIAT is as close to a real horserace as you’ll ever get.

What’s terrific about SECRETARIAT is that it’s not a feminist film by any stretch of the imagination. It’s purely the story of a woman who, as Chenery recently said, wanted to be recognized for doing something as a person, not solely as a woman. For once in her life, Chenery took the lead and stood her ground with one of her father’s wealthiest business partners. Going up against a husband and brother who tried to dissuade her, a lonely Chenery found the inner strength to turn Big Red into a champion.

Oscar nominee Diane Lane is spot on in her role as the The First Lady of Horse Racing and gives the portrayal such bravery and confidence. She’s the tie that binds the film. Look for a possible Best Actress nomination for Lane. The on-screen meshing between she and Secretariat trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich) is electric.

That’s what I love about Malkovich. The actor can go from buffoonery roles like in the upcoming spy-comedy RED to the more serious outing as the down and out, eccentric trainer Laurin. He has a range and method that most actors can only dream of. To be sure, the film is filled with affable performances from James Cromwell, Fred Thompson, Kevin Connelly, Dylan Baker, and Dylan Walsh, with particular notice to Nelsan Ellis (HBO’s True Blood) as Secretariat’s groom and real-life jockey Otto Thorwarth as Secretariat’s jockey, Ron Turcotte. But it’s Malkovich’s easygoing scenes that are really the most absorbing.

With the stirring score by Nick Glennie-Smith (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN films) and the precision editing of 2-time Oscar nominee John Wright (HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, SPEED), ultimately the movie comes down to the three big races of the Triple Crown. The Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes are both recreated magnificently with real race horses and jockeys. But what die-hard racing fans would hope for comes in the second race, the Preakness, in which we are treated to seeing the actual race from 1973, complete with the original “here comes Secretariat!” call of the race. One of the film’s highlights are 3…THREE!… big race scenes and even though we all know who wins, its nonetheless very exciting.

The best thing about this movie is that they don’t add a lot of extraneous storylines for dramatic effect. It never tries to be more than it is. The focus is solely on the story of where Secretariat came from and how he won the Triple Crown, a feat that had not been achieved in 25 years. Unbelievably, only two other horses have won since Secretariat. Seattle Slew in 1977 and Affirmed in 1978. The filmmakers have done a good job of keeping everything relatively historically accurate, even though they made it seem like Secretariat came from a broken down, failing horse farm. The reality is, the same owners had Riva Ridge, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont the previous year, 1972.

Special props to the makeup & hair designers and costume designers Michael Boyd (GETTYSBURG, WE WERE SOLDIERS) and Julie Weiss (TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE, SHANGHAI) - their contributions to this period piece truly breathe extra life into this special film about two superheroes. What impressed me the most was what director Wallace captured in the film – not another documentary, but the fact that Secretariat wasn’t racing against other horses; he was running for the joy of it.

Seeing that it’s truly a great, heart-warming film, look for SECRETARIAT to be this year’s THE BLIND SIDE come Academy Awards time. At the various screenings which began in March, everyone has been cheering and yelling out “go, go, go” even though we all know the outcome of the victorious ride. SECRETARIAT is the kind of Disney family film from the golden days sure to make you laugh, cry, and give you a euphoric boost – a little something we all need in these trying days.

Rating: 5 out of ***** stars

SECRETARIAT opens today. The film is rated PG for brief mild language. Check out the film’s official site here, on Facebook and Twitter.

Here’s the new trailer for LEGENDARY starring John Cena, Patricia Clarkson, and Danny Glover.

A screening for this sports movie took place out in Hollywood tonight and the positive buzz coming out afterwards is that the former WWE champ has a bonfide hit on his hands. 

Synopsis:

Cal Chetley (Devon Graye) is an extremely bright, engaging, undersized fifteen year-old. Neither blue collar nor athlete, both qualities that make up his small Oklahoman town, Cal’s been picked on most of his life primarily because… he’s always been a little different. Mike, Cal’s older brother (WWE Superstar John Cena) and one time world-class high school/collegiate wrestler, left him and his mother, Sharon Chetley (Patricia Clarkson) behind years ago after a tragic car accident killed their father…an accident to this day Mike feels responsible for. Hoping to revive a relationship long since forgotten, Cal joins his high school wrestling team in the hopes his brother will train him. More importantly, Cal uses wrestling as the tool to reunite his family.

From WWE Studios and Samuel Goldwyn Films, LEGENDARY will be in theaters on September 10, 2010. Like It on Facebook and follow it on Twitter.

Well its finally arrived. Based on the Impossible True Story, here’s the trailer for Disney’s SECRETARIAT….

Based on the remarkable true story, SECRETARIAT chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (DIANE LANE) agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery, with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (JOHN MALKOVICH), manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time.

Rated PG, SECRETARIAT will be in theatres on October 8, 2010. Be sure to check out the film’s Facebook Page.

From Secretariat.com and StitchKingdom come these beautiful new stills from Walt Disney Pictures upcoming film, SECRETARIAT.

The sports drama is the story of how Secretariat’s owner Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) broke into the “all boys club” of thoroughbred horseracing and saw, along with the help of trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich), her horse go on to fame by winning the Triple Crown in 1973. Just last month, we gave you an early look of SECRETARIAT from a friend to WAMG’s who sat in on an early screening of Disney’s upcoming film.

From director Randall Wallace (Man in The Iron Mask; Braveheart scribe), SECRETARIAT is rated PG for “brief mild language” and will gallop into theatres on October 8th.

Apparently ‘Moneyball’ isn’t dead yet, and this is the best news of the day because this is one project that I think Brad Pitt is absolutely perfect for. Aaron Sorkin has come on board to adapt a new script that will replace that of Steve Zaillian’s earlier draft. We get this from THR:

The writer has been brought on to do a draft of the baseball drama, drawing on Steve Zaillian’s earlier take. The studio wants to move forward quickly with the new iteration, with Sorkin set to turn in his version as soon as next month.

Brad Pitt remains on board to star, but Steven Soderbergh no longer will write or direct and is not involved in the film.

Its tough news to hear that Soderbergh will have nothing to do with it at this point but I think the movie will be a “homerun” (wow, I just went there) and has the potential to be one of the best baseball movies of all time.

First of all, I apologize for posting this a day after it aired on ESPN. They will probably repeat it soon though, and if not, it will be released on DVD May 19^th. I also apologize that this may be my shortest review ever.

There is really not much for me to say about this film. It is a deep all-access look at Kobe Bryant during a playoffs matchup between the Lakers and the Spurs. The game is presented in almost real time and the cameras also take us inside the locker room before, during and after the game. Kobe is also mic’d so we hear him through most of the game. Throughout the whole film, we hear Kobe Bryant give a running commentary that was recorded a while after the game. I may be unfair in my assessment but the whole thing comes off like a super high quality version of a dad videotaping his son’s baseketball game and focusing on him the entire time. Except the dad is Spike Lee and the kid is Kobe.

If you are a fan of basketball, you will probably enjoy this film. If you are a Lakers fan, you will probably love this film. If you don’t care about basketball, stay away.

‘Kobe Doin’ Work’ Premiered Yesterday May 16th on ESPN and Will Be Released on DVD May 19

Jerry Cavallaro –  www.AreYouStuckLikeChuck.com

After the United States, the Dominican Republic has the second highest number of baseball players in Major League Baseball and many (Manny Ramirez, Sammy Sosa, Pedro Martinez ) have been regarded as among the best in the game. SUGAR is an excellent and surprising new baseball movie from writer/director team Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (HALF NELSON) about a wide-eyed young Dominican pitcher who comes to America to get his shot at the big leagues. Part conventional sports movie, part fish-out-of-water immigration drama, Bode and Fleck switch smoothly between the genres and take the story in unexpected directions. You may think you know exactly where SUGAR is going, but you’ll be wrong.

We first meet 20-year-old Miguel “Sugar” Soto (played by Algenis Perez Soto, a natural non-actor discovered on the mound by Bode and Fleck) as the star pitcher for a Boca Chica, Dominican Republic farm team. A hero to his family and the residents of his impoverished home town, Sugar must compete with many others like himself for a minor league tryout. With his mean curve ball, Sugar impresses an American talent scout and is invited to attend spring training in Phoenix. Wowing them there, he’s quickly promoted to Kansas City’s single-A minor team that plays in Bridgetown Iowa, where most of SUGAR takes place. Sugar excels at the game but struggles personally. With a very limited grasp of English (he only orders French Toast at restaurants because it’s the only item he can safely pronounce), Sugar boards with the kindly Mr. and Mrs. Higgins, an elderly farming couple devoted to the local team, and faces dramatic obstacles brought on cultural and language barriers. SUGAR’s smart script broadly contrasts the culture gap between Sugar’s ethnic background and the Higgin’s heartland values. Sugar is unable to communicate meaningfully with the Higgins, his teammates, or his coaches and fumbles his romantic overtures towards his host’s Christian granddaughter. When Sugar is sidelined by an injury and his pitching game is off, the film takes an even darker turn involving steroids and harsh truths. His team’s manager (Johnny Marx) is sympathetic but results-oriented and begins to doubt Sugar’s worth to the team. Soon after his best friend Jorge (Rayniel Rufino), a fellow Dominican, is cut from the team and heads to New York City, Sugar makes a startling decision that leads to the unexpected final leg of his journey.

Soto, new to acting, is the charismatic center of this low-key character study and his obvious baseball skills give the film much real authenticity. The story may be fictional but the details are not and baseball fans will find a lot to like here as SUGAR abounds with many realistic observations about life in the minor leagues. There are many sad moments in SUGAR but it is ultimately honest and uplifting and I don’t want to spoil the many surprises it offers, especially in it’s third act. Sugar may or may not achieve his dream, but he learns some strong lessons about life and destiny. Perhaps too leisurely paced for some tastes and mostly in Spanish-language, I hope SUGAR finds the wide audience it deserves. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a good baseball movie and SUGAR is one of the best I’ve seen.

‘Sugar’ opens today in Saint Louis at the Plaza Frontenac Cinema.

[Overall: 4.5 stars out of 5]

If I were to ask what the Top 5 best sports on the planet are, my money would probably be pretty safely bet against table tennis. On the other hand, that bet is entirely subject to who you’re asking. For years now, I’ve had a personal fascination with the sport of table tennis from a spectator’s point-of-view. Sure, I’ve played my share of the game, but I’m not any good. Then again, I do love to watch those who are talented. I even make a point not to miss table tennis in the Olympics.

‘Ping Pong’ (2002) is a Japanese film I came across in a “used store” about a year ago and was powerless against it’s magnetic draw it had on my wallet. Without hesitation, I snatched up the DVD from the shelf and upon reading the back the movie was mine. Having never seen the movie before, it was a gesture of faith that the filmmaker would do the subject justice, and that he did.

Directed by first-timer Fumihiko Sori, also known simply as SORI (Visual FX Artist and Producer of the anime ‘Appleseed’),   ‘Ping Pong’ tells the story of two friends who grew up playing table tennis together. Hoshino, aka Peco, (Yà ´suke Kubozuka) is an outgoing and obnoxious player with a questionable understanding of what good sportsmanship is, but it all comes down to a love for the game with him. Tsukimoto, aka Smile, (Arata) on the other hand, is a quiet and reserved person who plays not for the love of the game but because he has nothing better to do. These two friends continue to play through high school, but on different terms, causing some tension between them and their fellow teammates.

The heart of ‘Ping Pong’ lies in it’s character development. Peco and Smile are both very likable characters, but for vastly different reasons. For Peco, it’s a story of losing one’s self in defeat and finding a way to rekindle that fire of passion he once had for the game. For Smile, it’s a story of coping with unwelcome success and the consequences it has had on his friendship with Peco. For both of them, it’s a mutual story of discovering what it means both to be a hero and to have a hero.

‘Ping Pong’ begins as a casual, light-hearted comedy but develops slowly into a wonderful dramedy that takes the essence of ‘Rocky’ and ‘Karate Kid’ and transplants what made those films great into the world of table tennis. Peco and Smile must both contend on various levels with worthy opponents. They both go through vigorous training to take them to the next level and the significant battles that are fought at the tables are every bit as engaging and dramatic as Rocky’s fight against Ivan Drago or Daniel’s match against Johnny in ‘Karate Kid’.

An eclectic arrangement of music is used to further entice the viewer’s interest in ‘Ping Pong’ by appropriately setting the mood for many of the scenes. Visually the movie is fairly straight-forward but does slip several crafty techniques and styles just under the radar in a successful effort to enhance the visual storytelling without getting in the way.

By far, the most gratifying experience to take away from ‘Ping Pong’ is the sincere underlying message of what friendship and personal sacrifice are worth, the value of people having heroes and that the joy of those relationships only work if they are mutually embraced. The movie culminates with a shifting of outcomes between the two friends that actually makes the most sense.

‘Ping Pong’ is based on the best-selling comic book by Taiyo Matsumoto. The film won the New York Asian Film Festival that year and received critical acclaim from The New York Times, Chicago Tribune and Village Voice. The DVD was released in September 2007 as a two-disc special edition that included the following features:

• 54-minute Making of ‘Ping Pong’ featurette
• A 16-minute parody of the film called ‘Ting Pong’
• A 16-minute short film called ‘How to Play Ping Pong’
• Original Japanese Trailers
• Television Spots
• Director & Cast Profiles

ESPN has embarked on a fascinating new project that will have well-known filmmakers take on stories within the realm of sports that they are passionate about. The ambitious series will consist of thirty one-hour documentaries on a wide-range of sports, with each being helmed by a different filmmaker.

The first episode will air this fall, followed by new ones on a regular basis through 2010. So far, the following roster has been lined up…

• Barry Levinson (Wag the Dog) will tackle the Baltimore Colts sudden move to Indianapolis in 1984.
• Barbara Kopple (Havoc) will look at the Steinbrenners and the transfer of owner ship from George to his children.
• Albert Mayles (Gimme Shelter) will focus on the 1980 match between the champ Muhammad Ali and the young Larry Holmes.
• Dan Klores (Crazy Love) will look at the Pacers’ Reggie Miller and his eight-point explosion against the Knicks in the 1995 playoffs.
• In addition, Spike Lee, Mike Tollin and Richard Linklater will also be adding their two cents to the mix with their own episodes.

[source: Hollywood Reporter]

So, we’ve seen Clint’s final acting performance (perhaps) but he’s still staying as active as a twenty-something behind the camera. His next film will be ‘The Human Factor’ based on the book called Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation (whew! long title) by John Carlin. The story is centered around the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Damon plays rugby star and South African team captain Francois Pienaar, who along with former South African president Nelson Mandela (Freeman) created an event that gave the country’s whites and blacks a common cause to rally around as the country healed from years of apartheid. — TBAU

Here’s a few “on set” photos of Clint and Matt, caught by The Bad and Ugly… check out the website to see them all.

[source: The Bad and Ugly]

Universal Pictures is developing a remake of ‘Slapshot’. The project is being produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall while Peter Steinfeld (’21′) will write the screenplay. Universal has set director Dean Parisot (Fun With Dick and Jane) to bring the 1977 sports comedy back to the big screen. Ehh… I’m not too sure about this one. I think I smell a stinker.

The original starred Paul Newman as the fading player/coach of a minor league hockey team. Trying to hype the Charlestown Chiefs for a possible move South, the coach ramps up interest by turning his team into a group of brawling thugs. — Variety

[source: Variety]

LeBron James had a $90 million contract with Nike before he even got drafted by an NBA team, and that’s probably why anyone and everyone had their eye on him. A new documentary focusing on his high school days has gotten a deal with Lionsgate reports Variety:

It follows the five starters on the varsity team at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, who travel a winding road from a rundown gymnasium to national glory and NBA riches, seeking to remain a tight-knit quintet even as James becomes a mega-millionaire.

The film mixes newly unearthed archival footage and family memorabilia with fresh interviews.

James jumped straight from Akron into the NBA in 2003. The 6-foot-8 star, now 23, led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2007. The expiration of his contract in 2010 has set tongues wagging in L.A. and Gotham, where the Lakers and Knicks are already said to be starting to court James.

I am amazed at how many Basketball documentaries are coming out right now, but I am not complaining..I love basketball!

Travis:

If I were to call this one of the best football movies of all-time, I wouldn’t be doing it enough justice. A good football movie is thrilling, captivating its audience through the gridiron battles. A great football movie tells a story beyond the football movie, such as Brian’s Song or Remember the Titans. The world of sports in filled with firsts, and I’m not talking about athletic statistics. The Express, arguably THE best, tells the story of Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, but whom also defied the odds with his team and his coach and led the Syracuse Orangemen into a new era of integrated sports. Ernie was inspired by Jackie Robinson and Jim Brown, choosing to make his voice heard through being the absolute best football running back he could be, regardless of how others saw him.

Rob Brown (Coach Carter) plays a convincing Ernie Davis, relatively quiet and reserved but still passionate about football and the struggles he and other African-Americans were enduring at the time. His modest confidence presents a demanding and extremely likable character that instantly wins the audience’s appeal. Dennis Quaid plays Ben Schwartzwalder, nailing his performance as the legendary coach with the tough exterior hiding a truly smart and decent man on the inside. This is possibly the best work Quaid has ever done and I would not be upset to find him on the nominees list for supporting actor, but I wouldn’t necessarily count on that. While his role in the film is cut short due to actual events, it’s a nice surprise to see Charles S. Dutton return to the big screen as Ernie’s grandfather. The cast works well together to present a story that is far more significant than just a sports movie. The Express does an excellent job of addressing the American issue of discrimination that we haven’t quite yet fully overcome, without dwelling on the topic and distracting from the movie’s overall enjoyment.

Aside from The Express being a very well-written script with a fine cast, the movie succeeds in another way… its a football movie that [actually] shows plenty of great football action. The game scenes are extremely well choreographed and the hits “feel” real. The film was shot with a wonderful color scheme and lighting which was clearly intended to take us back in time without losing the color altogether. The filmmakers chose a subtle but effective technique to slowly introduce Ernie’s biggest battle, a personal battle he may ultimately may not win. For those who are football fans, the story of Ernie Davis may not be a mystery, but I was pleased to overhear many audience members talking about the film afterwards who found themselves entertained and educated by this sad but proud, touching story of triumph and sacrifice for the greater good. The Express is a must-see movie, regardless of whether you’re a football fan.

[rating:4.5]

Ram Man:

(Contains spoilers)

This is the one I have been waiting for… The Express: The Story of Ernie Davis. Gary Fleder (Runaway Jury) directs this story of a virtually unknown American Icon. When people talk about the greatest players ever to play the game the names you hear Staubach, Elway, Payton, Rice, Montana and of course the great Jim Brown. The name you never hear, unless you are in Cleveland or New York, is Ernie Davis. Davis is quite possibly the best player ever to grace the gridiron. He is virtually unknown for the unfortunate fact he never played a down in the NFL.

Ernie Davis (Rob Brown) grew up in Uniontown, Pa.  raised by his grandparents while his Mom was out looking for work. Ernie moved to Elmira, New York with his Mom and step father at the age of 12 and that’s when he discovered football. Ernie was the halfback for the  Small Fry Sinclair Buicks. He was named and all star in the league two years in a row (52′&53′). Ernie played his high-school ball for Elmira Free Academy where he peeked the attention of numerous schools across the nation. One such school was Syracuse, the Orangemen from upstate New York. Coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid) had just lost his all-American running back Jim Brown to graduation and the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. Schwartzwalder was an innovator as a  football coach. He was the only coach to erect ropes on the practice field and have his teams climb them in full pads following practice. Schwartzwalder was also one of the few coaches that would recruit African-American players. It was the late 50′s and America was still suffering from racial stupidity. Unfortunately for Schwartzwalder, Notre Dame was also an open-minded college and they were first to discover Ernie. Coach Schwartzwalder had a secret weapon in his recruiting arsenal.. former graduate..Jim Brown. When Davis saw Jim Brown hit the field the deal was done and Ernie Davis was going to follow in the shoes of the great Jim Brown and attend Syracuse University.

Once at Syracuse, things changed for Ernie. The nice guy that recruited him turned into a military drill sargent , hell bent on winning a national title. Ernie also went from star to spectator his freshman year because of an NCAA rule that freshman can not play on a varsity team. Schwartzwalder having the foresight to sit him and have him watch and practice with the varsity team, Davis will be ready to hit the ground running the following season. That is exactly what he did..and he was running like a freight train. He help Syracuse blow through every team on the schedule in 1959 on the way to an undefeated season and a New Year day bowl game with the #2 Texas longhorns in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Texas is the epicenter of racial hatred in America during that time in our history. Ernie had to put up with all kinds of slurs and physical abuse from the mostly white opposing teams all year, but this is Texas. They received death threats and forced Davis and the other black players to stay in a flee-bag hotel instead of the luxury accomodations the rest of the team enjoyed. This didn’t bother Ernie, he was going to show everyone..he was going to play in the game and win a National Championship for Syracuse.

Still one of the most dirtiest games on the books, the 1959 Cotton Bowl was a peek into how ugly things could be. Davis would be tackled and then beat on and kicked for minutes following the play. Once the officials stepped in and threw a flag. I thought to myself finally, only to have the official penalize Syracuse for holding. This continued until halftime when the volcano finally erupted in a full bench clearing brawl. (there is actual footage from the fight shown in the closing credits of the film) Coach Schwartzwalder warned the officials it was going to get out of control, and to be safe he rested Ernie in the second half with a 15-0 lead and the game in hand. He thought. After two turnovers in the third quarter, Texas drew within a point of the lead at 15-14. To start the fourth quarter Davis returned to the sideline and in one of the most moving parts of the film explained why he was going back in..for the fans. Davis played the fourth quarter, and caught a play action pass for an  87 yard touchdown that remains a Cotton Bowl record to this day.   Davis went on to win the MVP of the 1959 Cotton Bowl. Following his senior season at Syracuse, Ernie Davis was awarded the Heisman Trophy for the best College football player in America. He was the first African American and the first ever player from Syracuse University to hold that honor. Davis was set to go with the first pick in the upcoming NFL Draft (no other black player had done that before)  to the Washington Redskins. The Redskins traded the pick to Art Modell and the Cleveland Browns, not wanting to have an African American on the team. Ernie Davis was reunited with Jim Brown once again. As I said earlier, Ernie is virtually unknown because he never played a down in the NFL. Shortly before the start of the 1962 season Ernie was diagnosed with Leukemia. The only time he was on the field in Cleveland was to take a bow and retire. Ernie Davis died the following year at the age of 23.

I can only imagine what the NFL Hall of Fame would look like today if Ernie Davis had been allowed to play in the same backfield as Jim Brown. There is no telling how many Superbowls they would have won. I guarantee there wouldn’t be a Baltimore Ravens because the Browns would have never left. I recently visited Cleveland for a game (Rams beat the Browns!) and saw the plaque dedicated to Ernie Davis outside the stadium right next to his hero Jim Brown. I am a football fan. I am also a movie geek. To say this film is the best sports movie would only diminish the greatness that “The Express” is. This is the best FILM THIS YEAR. It just happens to be about football and an American icon in the sport. The Express not only has Oscar worthy performances by Brown and Quaid, it also has exception supporting roles by Charles S. Dutton (Rudy) and newcomer Omar Benson Miller (Miracle at St. Anna). Everyone should go see this film. The Rams, Bengals, Texans and Lions should see this film to remember what it is like to play with heart on the gridiron.

[rating:5/5]

Ok..not drafted, but our boy Al Pacino will be doning Dodger Blue for the upcoming Bio-Pic on legendary Manager Tommy Lasorda. Michelle Pfeiffer is interested in becoming the MIsses. Miramax is fast tracking this project posibbly wanting it out around the All-Star Game next season. A major challenge will be the amount of weight Pacino will have to put on to play the role. I can only suggest hanging out at Charlie Gitto’s here in St. Louis, Lasorda always did when he was in town. A few plates of pasta and Al should be at playing weight really soon! As more develops on this we will have it here at WAMG.

FOREVER STRONG

Cast & Crew:
Gary Cole… Coach Larry Gelwix
Sean Faris… Rick Penning
Neal McDonough… Coach Richard Penning

Written by David Pliler
Directed by Ryan Little

Rick Penning (Faris) plays high school rugby but a drunk driving accident lands him in juvenile detention, which leads to events that force him to play against the team his father (McDonough) coaches at the national championship.

The three lead actors lend their fine performances to a screenplay that is pretty predictable but if you can get past the “been-there-done-that” feeling, then you may take a shine to this modest little film. I imagine that FOREVER STRONG will appeal to the same crowd that enjoyed like-minded films such as GRIDIRON GANG, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS or even RUDY.

But… if you don’t dig on slightly predictable sports films with not-so-subtle positive messages, well why would you think of watching this? It’s not your bag, baby.

Before I start feeling too kind, let me share with you a couple of problems this film has. One, what the hell is rugby? If you don’t know much about rugby going into the film, then you won’t know much more when you are coming out, except that it must be much tougher than football. That’s a sentiment repeated by the characters ad nauseum. Two, when did all contemporary directors decide that action scenes need to be in slow-mo or filmed in that documentary fashion that retards the viewers perception of whatever the hell is actually happening on the screen?  

Oh, and I should bring this up, too. You know the joke about how if a character is going to die in a movie, then it’s going to be the black guy? Well, the black guy dies in this movie. Not entirely surprising, but still disappointing because Michael J. Pagan’s character is a high point in the film.

But I digress…

If you’re looking for a completely innocuous time at the theater I suppose you could do a lot worse, but if you’re a more discerning viewer then you may want to test your patience elsewhere.

[rating:2.5/5]

During a charity golf tournament in Southern California, Will Ferrell revealed to USA Today that after doing “Kicking and Screaming,” “Talladega Nights,” “Blades of Glory” and “Semi-Pro,” he will no longer take roles in another sports movie.

“I will no longer attempt to do any sports movie, anymore. Any sports,” said Ferrel, whose golf attire made him look like he could step right into a golf movie.

“No, no golf movie. Yeah, I’m retired from sports-genre films. You know, I think I filled my quota,” he said.

Thank God!

I figured it’s the start of the football season so lets start off “Standing Room Only Flicks” w/ Ram Man with   one of my all-time favorite pigskin classics.Every other week i will pull out one of my favorite sports flicks and give you the fanatics feel of the film.  Last weekend I had about enough of the Rams football game by halftime so I  searched for  some “real” football ” that I could enjoy watching and popped in “The Longest Yard” on DVD.

The story is about washed-up football star Paul “wrecking” Crewe, thrown out of the NFL for  throwing a game and now is heading to the state penitentiary for grand theft auto. He stole his girlfriends car and drove it in the lake. I guess they broke up????  Crewe is “recruited” by Warden Hazen (Eddie Albert), the “Jerry Jones “of the prison system. Hazen has the best semi-Pro team in the Penitentiary league lead by Capt. Knauer (Ed Lauter) at QB.  Knauer wants no  help from Crewe but the sadistic guard has no problem trying to change his mind via nightstick.  After a few lumps to the head to convince him Crewe decides to help the guards by scrimmaging them with the inmates. With the help of Caretaker (James Hampton) the retail source of the prison, Crewe begins building his team.  They get former NFL star Nate Scarborough (Michael Conrad) to coach and the Mean Machine  was born. The inmates know Crewe’s history and will not be embarrassed by the guards. Warden Hazen, wanting to guarantee a victory and send a message to the inmates arranges for Crewe to throw the game in exchange for a shorter sentence. Only Crewe won’t survive to see the end if his fellow inmates have anything to say about it. The original features performance by Richard “Jaws” Kiel and NFL legend Ray Nitschke

The Longest Yard is one of my favorite football films. In 2005 Adam Sandler refreshed the story by using the gang from Happy Madison productions, Chris Rock, NFL stars Micheal Irvin and Bill Romanowski and  rapper Nelly filling the key positions on the team . Sandler who played the title role of Paul Crewe had to bring back some of the flair of the original, so he also added Ed Lauter (the Original Capt. Knauer) and Burt Reynolds as inmate Nate Scarborough who coaches the Mean Machine. The story line in the 2005 version has the same basic story with the normal Sandler hi-jinx and numerous cameos from the likes of Courtney cox, Dan Patrick and Chris Berman of ESPN.

Both version are good films and have an audience. i personally prefer the original, it’s a classic. But there are times when i need a laugh and i will pop in  the newer version instead. So if you local NFL team is not measuring up… then pop in “The Longest Yard” (either one) and support the Mean Machine!

Unlike many critics I really enjoyed ‘Never Back Down’, and I thought that Sean Farris did a really good job in the movie. I was pretty excited to get an email about a special screening for this, so I thought I would clue everyone else in on this upcoming Rugby movie.

“Rick Penning (Sean Faris, Never Back Down) lives life just like he plays rugby; fast, hard-hitting and intense for a team coached by his overbearing father (Neal McDonough, Minority Report). When life on the edge lands him in jail, prison ward Marcus Tate (Sean Astin, The Lord of the Rings) offers him a chance to get back in the game by playing for his rival, Highland Rugby. Reluctantly Rick joins the team where he must adopt the grueling training schedule and unique honor code of conduct that Coach Gelwix (Gary Cole, Office Space) enforces, or finish out the season behind bars. Egos clash as bitter competitors struggle to become a team. An unlikely brotherhood is formed with his Highland teammates, just as Rick is released from jail and sent back home to rejoin his former team and former friends whose ringleader is Lars (Penn Badgley, Gossip Girl). Heading into a face-off with Highland at the National Championship, Rick is forced to choose where his loyalty lies.”

The movie looks pretty good, and I am a sucker for sports movies.

Travis:

Who would’ve thought Limp Bizkit front-man Fred Durst had it in him? Not me. As it turns out, I found myself in shock and awe of how well Durst did in directing this little sleeper of a movie. ‘The Longshots’ is based on a true story (you had me at that) about Jasmine Plummer, a high school girl who spends all of her free time reading, until her single mother urges her to take up some sort of after school activity while she works late. Reluctant, Jasmine (Kiki Palmer) searches for something she’d enjoy, but can’t get past the fact that the kids at school think she’s weird and keep their distance.

Jasmine’s mother Claire (Tasha Smith) practically begs her brother-in-law Curtis (Ice Cube) to spend time with Jasmine after school so she’s not alone all the time. Curtis, a former high school football star turned unemployed slacker, agrees to keep Jasmine company against his better judgment. As the two overcome a rocky beginning to their relationship, Curtis accidentally discovers an unrefined natural talent in Jasmine that peaks his interest in spending time with her. Having never even touched a football before in her life, Jasmine shows signs of being a great quarterback as she tosses the pigskin around with Curtis after school.

Eventually, with the Mendin Browns on track for yet another pathetic season, Curtis encourages jasmine to try out for the team. With a little nudging and nagging, jasmine agrees and ultimately makes the team with a little help from Curtis’ reputation with the coaches. ‘The Longshots’ has characteristic elements familiar of ‘The Bad News Bears’ but keep in mind is based on a true story. It’s a story of a girl and a small town as they both overcome odds that are stacked against them, regaining the self-respect and dignity that they’d temporarily lost as a result of hard times.

Director Fred Durst has truly surprised me with ‘The Longshots’. It’s not the fanciest film, nor is it going to redefine any aspect of filmmaking … but, Durst has managed to make one very solid film with a lot of heart and a good story. Palmer does an excellent job as Jasmine, providing a convincing and honest portrayal of the young woman who made history as the first female to play football in the Pop Warner Super Bowl. Ice Cube does a decent job of being humorous when called for and sincere when needed for the dramatic elements of his character’s story. I predict this film could become a favorite amongst sports movie enthusiasts, bringing football in the movies back down to Earth.

(3.75 Hail Mary’s out of 5)

Ram Man:

When I first saw the trailers for “The Longshots“, I thought to myself “Oh Great! its the Bad News Bears play football!”. There are similarities between the films; but there is one major difference…This is a true story! Shocker #2: the same guy that came up with the song “Nookie” directed this film and its his second time in the directors chair..yes Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst. Ice Cube gives one of his better performances of late as Curtis Plummer, uncle of Jasmine Plummer (Keke Palmer) the first girl ever to play in the Pop Warner Superbowl.

Longshots tells the story of Jasmine Plummer, an 11 year old girl, social outcast at school and being raised by her mom after her dead-beat dad ran out on the family. The Plummers live in Mindin, Illinois a town on life support since closing the factory and putting the majority of its residents out of work. This included Jasmine’s uncle Curtis. Curtis was a Mindin Football star on his way to the prosuntil an accident that robbed him of football and now is just one of the many unemployed. Curtis who spends his days sucking down Budweiser and watching the pathetic local Pop Warner football team is coerced to babysit his niece. (Its the least he can do since he’s out of work and it was his brother who took off on them). After an unexpected toss of the pigskin from Jasmine, Curtis’ football fever is reborn and now wants to mold Jasmine into a football player. Only she’s a girl.

After a few weeks Jasmine is throwing darts, up and out routes and post patterns. Keke worked on throwing and calling plays at the line of scrimmage for 6 weeks to prepare for the role. It was now time to introduce Jasmine to the team and coaches. As you might suspect it goes over like a lead balloon. After a few snaps at QB and a recreation of the famous Longest Yard play to a blitzing linebacker, Jasmine is welcomed on to the team. Popularity on the gridiron doesn’t translate into the halls of school. But it is a lot easier to navigate with 10 guys on your side. After a slight heart attack by the coach, Curtis is forced to put up or shut up and trade in his beer can for a coach’s whistle. The Mindin team goes from winless to the Pop Warner Superbowl in Miami.

It’s rare when Hollywood has to tone it down in a movie based on actual events but Longshots is one of those times. Jasmine Palmer was the first girl to play in the Pop Warner Superbowl in it’s 56 year history. But she in fact had played ball since she was 6 years old and lead the Harvey Colts to an 11-1 record where as Midland had lost 4 by the time she joined. Jasmine Palmer was an athlete and a scholar maintaining an A average while playing football for Harvey. Is Longshots the best film of the year? No, but if you need a feel good, underdog, go all the way, we’re going to do it movie to pick you up..I say GO DEEP! and check out “The Longshots“. You wont be held scoreless I guarantee it, Ram Man knows football and football movies!

[rating 3.5 out of 5- a field goal not a touchdown]

[rating: 3.25/5]

Jeremy:

In the long line of sports movies that are solely made up of sports movie cliches, ‘The Longshots’ is a film that doesn’t even seem to want to be different. The film from beginning to end is just a bland rehashing of much of what has already been played out in far better films.

The film tells the true story of Jasmine Plummer, who, in 2003 at the age of 11, became the first female to play quarterback in Pop Warner football’s then 56-year history. The screenplay fictionalizes the story, setting it in the made-up town of Minden, Illinois. In the film, the girl’s uncle, played by Ice Cube, is who initally realizes her capacity for throwing the football and who is, ultimately, the driving force behind her success.

It is an admirable story to tell. It shows how a fledgling community can rise up behind one small, seemingly insignificant aspect and triumph. The Minden of the film is a troubled community that has come on hard times since the closing of a local factory. The prospect of this girl making national news for her God-given abilities helps the people in the town come together and work towards something. For that, the film is commendable. But it’s the way the story is told and the way the script is ultimately realized that makes ‘The Longshots’ just another sports movie.

The screenplay by Nick Santora is filled with everything you would expect to find in a film about kids playing football. The jokes are predictable, the beats and subplots the film takes go just about as expected, and, even when the film attempts to be emotional or suspenseful, the direction gets in the way.

The film was directed by Fred Durst, yes, that Fred Durst, and it is strictly point and shoot filmmaking that offers nothing original. It doesn’t offer anything to distract from the script’s flaws, either. If anything, Durst’s direction only enhances the predictability and triviality the screenplay offers up.

There is one bright and shining star in this film’s field of banality, however, and that is Keke Palmer. The young actress is absolutely adorable in every scene she is in. She turned heads a few years back for her performance in ‘Akeelah and the Bee’, and she is sure to do so in years to come. The honesty she gives in her performance is the only distraction the film yields from itself, and she is truly missed in the scenes where she is either absent or hidden behind football pads.

‘The Longshots’ has tons of heart, and its intentions are good. In the end, however, that simply isn’t enough, and the film falters. The cliches abound, the score manipulates, and there is nothing we haven’t already seen before. Save for a few well put together moments, a true story that had every right to be told, and one very gifted, young actress, ‘The Longshots’ presents a bland screenplay that is executed by bland filmmaking.

[rating: 2.5/5]