Movie review: We Are Marshall
If there is one thing that American movie-going audiences are familiar with, it’s the inspirational sports film. Each of these films have many of the same elements: the virtuous team or athlete, the harrowing fall from grace, the struggle to rebuild, the first agonizing defeat, the motivating speech that turns the tide, and the victorious return to greatness. Throw in a soaring instrumental soundtrack and a cast of physically beautiful male actors who are just as likely to break into a fit of manly tears as they are to play sport in question, and you have yourself an inspirational sports film that high school teachers will show to their classes for years to come. We Are Marshall is one such inspirational sports film hailing from the football-as-a-metaphor-for-life subgenre.
Before eliminating We Are Marshall from your lineup of weekend activities, however, it is important to consider a few factors. While the storyline has been done, it is by no means unpopular. One of the reasons inspirational sports films are so well recieved is because they have the ability to resonate with audiences on a very basic level. “We Are Marshall” is no different.
Based on true events, We Are Marshall recounts the story of the 1970 Marshall University football team. When the majority of the team, the coaching staff, and a number of fans die tragically in a plane crash, the university and the town must find a way to continue on with life. Ultimately deciding to rebuild the football team, a new coach named Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey) is hired to recruit players and bring Marshall’s Thundering Herd back, not necessarily for glory, but in memory of those who were lost and in order to give the town hope. It is an uphill battle for Lengyel and his team, who are fighting not only their adversaries on the field, but also their own inexperience with the game and the expectations left by the previous team.
I’ve seen many movies that use football to tell a greater tale of human struggle and triumph, and We Are Marshall is one of the better films to do so. The ultimate message in this film is not one of winning, but one of determination and continuing on with life when all else seems lost. The story is told simply, without flare or over-romanticization. The characters move the plot forward, not the action of the game, and in doing so pay homage to the people who actually lived through these events by attempting to tell the whole story.
Although We Are Marshall is not a unique addition to the cinematic landscape, it is a good addition and one I recommend to sports fans and film lovers everywhere.