ONE HARSH CRITIC: Friday Night Lights

Football movies are great.  I see everyone that comes out, so Friday Night Lights was no exception.  While its easy to make a clock oriented film tense, this football film packs in enough other good qualities to make it great.  

Texas is crazy about football.  This film is a great depiction of that.  Coach Gary Gaines is new in town, and under pressure to take the high school football team to state.  His players all want it as much as the town does, but they all know that the fate of the team lies on one spectacular player.  Boobie Miles (Derek Luke) can do it all, and he does it all, not for his team, but for himself.  When the arrogant boy gets injured in the first game of the season, panic sweeps the small town, and Coach Gaines needs to formulate a new plan.   

Gaines has an almost fatherly faith in his boys, and pushes them hard to be good.  He tells them to strive to be perfect, a difficult standard to live up to.  We later find that is definition of perfection is to do the best you can.  Be honest with yourself and your loved ones, and you are perfect, he says in a half time speech. 

But the film isn' just about the underdogs building a force to be reckoned with.  It is also the story of boys finding the confidence to be men.  It is the story of a coach dealing with pressures that begin to threaten his family life.  And, it is the story of boys dealing with the washed up townsfolk who treat them like stars when they win, but like trash when they lose.  

Tim McGraw takes on a supporting role in this film as a drunken father who, lost in a euphoric alcohol haze, beats up on his son for his failures.  His performance was a shining point in this film.  McGraw allows the audience to feel sorry for him at the same time they fear him.  

The story, while based on truth, was pretty good, too.  This film concentrated on the harsh pressures this town put on its coaches and athletes.  It was refreshing that it wasn't all football clips.  I can watch that on Sportscenter.   Well written and proficiently executed, this film tops most that are currently in the theatres.   

Friday Night Lights isn't really a feel good movie, but its realistic view of life and football in a small Texas town, allows the audience to leave the theatre with a smile.  It is a story of overcoming odds, and doing your best.  I don't think this will give you a great reaction from your date either way.  It is a good movie, but let's be honest, it's a bit of a popcorn movie.  There's not much to discuss here.  For a great date, you might have to add in some of your own smooth game.  

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Josh Gloer, Movie Correspondent

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