There's no denying that the high school years are some of the toughest times in a kid's life. There's the pressure of getting good grades, being popular (or not), worrying about college or getting a job, and bridging the transitional gap between being a teen and young adult. And in some communities where sports are a second religion of sorts to diehard fans, the pressure to win often surpasses most of the above and everything else.
Such is the case in many locales around the country where residents live vicariously through the ups and downs of their town's high school sports. One in particular, Odessa, Texas, was the focus of H.G. Bissinger's book, "Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team and a Dream" that, as the press kit and advertising point out, was "hailed by Sports Illustrated as one of the top five greatest sports stories of all time." Not being familiar with the book or true story behind it, I can't attest to the accuracy of such claims. I can say, however, that its big screen adaptation, "Friday Night Lights," has turned out to be a decent film.
Despite some rough around the edges moments (including some occasionally stilted dialogue), a few tendencies that might feel a bit melodramatic to some and more than a little emotional manipulation on the part of the filmmakers, the film is a rather entertaining and engaging experience. All of which is a bit surprising considering that it follows the usual formulaic approach of many a high school sports tale.
There's the demanding coach who wraps his life around winning and inspiring his kids, as well as the high school players who range the gamut of talent and personalities. All of the usual obstacles and conflicts are present, as is the new bone-jarring style of filming such games popularized by Oliver Stone back in "Any Given Sunday" (let's just say this isn't the sort of football I experienced back in my high school days long ago).
Yet, despite the formula and predictability of it all (including playing in the big championship game -- you didn't think the film would end with a losing season and no playoffs, did you?), there's something about the way David Aaron Cohen ("The Devil's Own," "V.I. Warshawski") has adapted Bissinger's book for the big screen as well as how co-writer and director Peter Berg ("The Rundown," "Very Bad Things") has put it all together that makes it work.
I think the biggest difference between this and many of the related but subpar offerings is that the characters are just different enough from the norm and we actually come to care about some, if not all of them (at least as members of a collective effort as far as the supporting ones are concerned). I can't say if that's due to the real life coach and kids who inspired the literary work and now film, but these are interesting and even troubled souls.
Most such films focus on the coaches and the dedication and sacrifice that revolve around their work. Here, Billy Bob Thornton ("The Alamo," "Bad Santa") plays the team's adult leader, and the often quirky character actor is quite good in the role. Yet, it's those playing the various players -- who are often shortchanged or just stereotyped in such films -- who excel and make the film work so well.
I've often thought Lucas Black ("Cold Mountain," "Sling Blade") is one of the better but underused young actors working today and he delivers a terrific performance as the competent but less than star quality quarterback who must deal with feelings of being cursed no matter what happens to him.
That includes him having to care for his ailing mother -- played by Connie Cooper ("The Evening Star," "A Perfect World") -- who suffers from an unknown condition, an absent or dead husband and another son who doesn't come around. Black is able to convey so much hurt and fear, as well as determination in just his facial expressions and body posture that you can't help but root for him to succeed.
Another form of strained parent child relationship comes in the form of Tim McGraw ("Black Cloud") playing a mentally and physically abusive father who lets his son -- Garrett Hedlund ("Troy") -- have it for any small miscues on the field, whether occurring in practice or games. There's the usual late in the game explanation about why he's acting that way, and while we've heard the rationale before (and some of that leads to those aforementioned melodramatic tendencies), the material nevertheless still manages to work.
Derek Luke ("Biker Boyz," "Antwone Fisher") plays another troubled soul, the star running back on the team who's so certain of his star shining bright in the football future that he's a cocky sort who backs up his bravado with his on the field gifts. When he's injured, his life quickly unravels and Luke perfectly captures and presents the emotional aftermath of riding the fine line between fame and various "if only" thoughts. Grover Coulso ("Night Vision") plays his uncle who's just as crushed when his coattail ride to secondhand fame and fortune also seems to be prematurely over.
Thanks to those characters who continually blossom from stereotype to real people as the story progresses, we thus have an emotional stake in their success (or not) on the field. Using an active directorial touch that's always on the move, Berg and his technical crew manage to convey the energy and excitement of the games. That includes the finale that actually had me rooting for the team to win (and that's despite being a jaded critic who's seen so many of these films that I rarely experience that sensation).
While it's not anything spectacular that's going to change anyone's world, this is a solidly told effort filled with three-dimensional characters, strong performances, a decent if familiar story and just the right directorial touch to make us care about the outcome of the game, as well as the players and coach's endeavors both on and off the field. "Friday Night Lights" rates as a 7 out of 10.
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