When the Game Stands Tall

When times have been hitting people hard, whether financially, unable to land work, emotionally and physically, it's time for Hollywood to produce inspirational films in order to ease one's pain, even if it's only for an hour and a half to a two hour running time. We've seen a plethora of these films, whether based on a true story or not, in recent past: "Soul Surfer", "Courageous", "Heaven is for Real", Million Dollar Arm", "50 to 1", "Son of God", "A Dolphin's Tale", and many more than I could list. So, it is no surprise that when "When the Game Stands Tall" came along that there wouldn't be an audience for which there should be.

Inspired by a true story, this 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. When the streak is broken, and tragedy strikes the team Coach Lad must teach his players including assistant coach Terry Eidson (Michael Chiklis), Chris Ryan (Alexander Ludwig), Cam Colvin (Ser'Darius Blain), Beaser (Joe Massingill), and Danny Ladouceur (Matthew Daddario), the coach's son--and the entire town--that it's not about how you fall, but how you get back up and who's going to be there to help you get back up. And by this, they all become the victors as they will find out.

Others to round out the cast are Laura Dern as Bev Ladouceur, Bob's wife, Clancy Brown as Mickey Ryan, Chris' overbearing dad, Stephan James as T.K. Kelly, Jessie Usher as Tayshon Lanear, Matthew Frias as Arturo, LaJessie Smith as Jamal, Richard Kohnke as Rick Salinas, Chase Boltin as Manny Gonzales and Gavin Casalegno as Michael Ladouceur, the coach's younger son.

This is directed by Thomas Carter ("Under the Influence" (TV movie) '86, "Swing Kids" '93, "Divas" (TV movie) '95, "Metro" '97, "Bronx County" (TV movie) '98, "Save the Last Dance" '01, "Partners and Crime" (TV movie) '03, "Hitched" (TV movie) '05, "Coach Carter" '05, "Company Town" (TV movie) '06, "Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story" (TV movie) '09) plus a ton of episodic TV. This guy is clearly into projects which involve a message, and there is definitely a place for these type of films whereas many people need to be reminded of the difference of right and wrong. It certainly can be refreshing in a society that's believes anything goes. He knows just the right emotions that his actors need to emit to bring home that message. It was effectively written by Scott Marshall Smith based on a story by Smith and David Zelon which is based on the book by Neil Hayes. this was a very thought out script and the way in flowed from where the film started which was in 2003, to where it finally ended which was August 2004 was fluid. The characters were distinct and well delineated. Of course, the original source by Hayes didn't hurt in that he gave us all a great deal to think about.

Let's face it, this was based on a true story and not only do these young football players learn something about how we should treat each other, it is with the hope that we, the audience, will learn as well.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                              Rated: PG                            115mins.