The Chris Brown Connection

Movie Review: Friday
Night Lights


Alternate Title:


Texas-Sized
Pressure

Occasionally you will find a Guest Movie Review in this space. The
beauty of having one's own website is that there aren't any rules.

And so - my young pal, Co-Zoo Guide at the Central Park Zoo and oft-times
movie buddy,

Mary Schwalm

, offered to write a review
of a film that she knew I would never see. Mary is a Sports Photo Editor
for the Associated Press and knows a heck of a lot about sports (I do
not).Check out her website at www.maryschwalm.com.

Story:

Even the bright stadium lights can't shed optimistic
light to this true story based on a novel by the same name by

H.G.
Bissinger

. The story is about the pressures and escapism of
high school football, a team from economically challenged Odessa,Texas
as it tries to win the State Championship.

Adding to the challenge of the big task, the key players all come from
broken homes which adds to the stress of their everyday life. Quarterback
Mike Winchell has a sick mother and absent father, Runningback Boobie
Miles is raised by his uncle, and Don Billingsley is abused by an alcoholic
father reliving his high school glory days unsuccessfully through his
son. Coach Gary Gaines has the task of balancing the challenge of appeasing
the town with their threats and ideas about how to win while coaching
a team of hormonal teenagers who shoulder tremendous expectations from
their family, peers and community.

Success on the field is the surest way out of town for a better life. The
result is a thoughtful well done film, full of riveting pep talks that
left me with no choice but to root for the underdog so the hard working
nice kids could get out of Odessa.

Acting:

A great young cast

Lucas Black

(Winchell),

Derek Luke

(Miles) and

Garrett
Hedlund

(Billingsley) are believable and will no doubt have
full careers as a result of the exposure and success of this film.

Billy
Bob Thorton

is an excellent cast as coach Gary Gaines, perfectly
depicting the up and down temper of your stereotypical high school coach.

Predilection

: I always like movies about sports.

Soundtrack:

Run DMC-esqu, not my favorite, but easy
to ignore.

Theater Audience:

a handful of others, all reading
the sports section instead of the 20 minutes of advertising.

Sappy Factor

: Some sap during the pep talks, but they
worked!

Squirm Scale:

Some good hard bloody hits that are sure
to draw a flag today. For anyone who's torn an ACL, Im sure you'll feel
it right along with the

injured.

Predictability Level:

It's based on a book, I knew
the ending.

Tissue Usage

: If you're from a town like Odessa, you'd
cry right along with the wins and the losses. I'm grew up in El Paso,
but got out before high school. Didn't need tissues.

Oscar Worthy

: Billy Bob does a pretty good job.

Nit Picking:

Couldn't they find some actors who actually
look like high school students?

Big Screen or Rental:

The hits look pretty good on
the big screen. For other happier sports movies, check out

Bring
it On, and Love and Basketball.

Length:

117 minutes

LOBO HOWLS (by proxy): 8