I know I’ve already done a review of this movie, so it won’t be a review.
This is a great movie. It’s a true story of a regular guy, Vince Papali, a 30 year old bartender in South Philadelphia. He plays football with friends here and there and they encourage him to try out for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1976 when new coach, Dick Vermeil, holds open tryouts.
This is not a spoiler alert, if you haven’t seen the movie…there wouldn’t be a movie if he didn’t make it. (Who’s going to watch/make a movie about a guy who tries out for a football team and doesn’t make it?)
It’s not an easy time for anyone, the steel workers are on strike, times are tough all around when he makes the team, it gives everyone in the bar something to look forward to, maybe have hope.
He faces the idea that at any moment before it’s official, he could get cut from the team, the uncertainty of the future, the other players never making him feel welcome because he was a walk on and not a draft pick, his wife having left him at the beginning of the film, friends not sure if they are going to ever work again.
The entire movie was filmed in what seemed like sepia, very soft lighting, lends to the mood and feel. The soundtrack is great, all 60s and 70s songs that speak to tone of the film.
Bottom line is this is a great movie that I own and still have to watch every time it comes on TV. (Guess why I’m telling you about it) Every time I watch it, it affects me in the same way. I get goosebumps at the same time, chills, weepy, nervous, excited, amazed, it doesn’t matter how many times I have seen this movie, I will continue to react the same way.
(It doesn’t hurt that Mark Wahlberg is pretty to look at, come on, I’m still a girl!)
If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it. It’s a feel good movie, you have to smile when it’s over.
Peaches Prattlings 