| Overall Grade: |
B+ |
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| Story: |
B |
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| Acting: |
B+ |
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| Direction: |
A- |
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| Visuals: |
B+ |
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This Eagle Soars
by Eric (movies profile)
Sep 7, 2007
15
of
20 people found this review helpful
There are just some lives that exist to be told to others. Their examples allow us to know that the impossible is achievable, that even with incredible diversity, raw determination will allow even the most audacious dreams come true. And if it involves sports, it seems Disney is bound and determined to make it into a movie.
Invincible, the story of Vince Papale's amazing ascent into NFL through chance fueled by unlimited heart and determination, is not only the newest to this collection. It also happens to be a football movie that doesn't require you to like the NFL, Papale, or even Football for that matter. Like Rocky (which I now see the comparison), it's about the people, the underlying challenge of the impossible, and the pure joy of seeing a dream being realized. And if that doesn't get you to see it, this is a movie that you can take your kids to and know they'll like it.
Papale (Mark Wahlberg) is a Philly bartender on hard times. His wife leaves him because see sees him as a loser. His buddies at the docks are facing a strike, along with his hard-working father. And to boot, his favorite team, the Philadelphia Eagles, are the laughing stock of the NFL. But then things look up when the team brings in new Head Coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinear) to bring new blood to the team. And his first act (part scare tactic to the team, part publicity stunt) is to hold open tryouts for anyone who wants to come. This scene makes me realize why coaches screen 14-year-olds for the pros. Some of these guys shouldn't be allowed to own sneakers to mention run in them. Papale, not seeing himself standing a chance, goes anyway to please his buddies at the bar. He catches the eye of Vermeil not only because of his talent, but raw heart that he felt could jumpstart the team.
Papale's acceptance to Eagle camp sparks the community to interest while serving as a slap in the face to the players, who see him as worthless as his ex-wife. This is all typical hero movie elements where he has to win over the respect, but what I appreciate is how earnest Papale is. He knows he has little chance of making it. Even Vermeil isn't that supportive. He never unpacks at camp and waits for the day he's to be thrown out. During this time he's taking an interest in new bartender Janet (Elizabeth Banks), who is perfect for him except she's a New York Giants fan, which bring for some great rivalry scenes throughout the movie.
I don't have to mention what happens next. But this movie doesn't believe for one second you don't know what's going to happen next, so what it does is put you there, make you feel what these people feel. It allows us to live their expirience in a theatrical sense. It did what World Trade Center couldn't do in that manner and put us back to that time and place. When we find out Papale makes the cut, we cheer. When he fails, we feel as he does. That's the beauty of great storytelling.
For Wahlberg, this is a performance that I hope will put him in a new level of his career. Instead of playing pretty boys, which are hit-and-miss for him, he's more well suited playing silent heroes that don't bolster for attention but demand it anyway because of their pure power. He's shown this before in movies such as Boogie Nights and Fear (a movie I still swear is underrated). I think with age he'll make a more interesting leading man once he sees his strengths and take parts that allow this side to be seen. For Kinear, this is a great follow-up to Little Miss Sunshine. With silly wig and doing the coachly things, he still allows us to see him as a human being.
For first-time director Ericson Core, he allows this training film (see 16 Blocks for definition) to allow him to show some incredible control. I love how he allows 70's Philadelphia to feel just like that. It feels raw and gritty, many shadows and a tint of smoke everywhere. He makes the sport look exciting and chaotic at the same time. When Papale get's sideswiped in one scene, even he audiance didn't know what hit it. Sometimes he goes a little overboard here and there, but it's his first film and I'm excited to see what he'll do the next time around.
Finally, I have to give it up to what might be Oscar-winning stuff. The sound design and editing is dead-on amazing. This movie just sounds great, especially during the games where groans, tackles, boos and cheers all feel organic and surrounding. It adds to the elements already to the story and allow us to surrender to this movie's power. My hats off to Robert L. Sephton and his team.
All in all, this movie is just great. No ifs, ands or buts. Bring the family, have a good time, and don't be surprised if little Johnnie starts wearing a green shirt with 83 on the back. Everybody needs their heroes. |
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