2004 Directed by Peter Berg
A small, turbulent town in Texas obsesses over their high school football team to an unhealthy degree. When the star tailback, Boobie Miles, is seriously injured during the first game of the season, all hope is lost, and the town's dormant social problems begin to flare up. It is left to the inspiring abilities of new coach Gary Gaines to instill in the other team members -- and, by proxy, the town itself -- a sense of self-respect and honor.
Billy Bob Thornton Lucas Black Garrett Hedlund Derek Luke Jay Hernandez Lee Jackson Lee Thompson Young Tim McGraw Grover Coulson Connie Britton Connie Cooper Kasey Stevens Ryanne Duzich Amber Heard Morgan Farris Laine Kelly Gavin Grazer Turk Pipkin Carey Windler Tommy G. Kendrick Brad Leland Lillian Langford Christian Kane Buddy Hale Ken Farmer Marco Perella Eloise DeJoria Robert Weaver Katherine Willis Show All…
Péntek esti fények, Juego de viernes noche, Tudo Pela Vitória, Les lumières du vendredi soir, Luces de viernes noche, Kynigontas to oneiro, Ston pyreto tis doxas, Najbolji tim, Penktadienio vakaro ziburiai, Swiatla stadionów, Zafer Gecesi, Friday Night Lights - Touchdown am Freitag, В лучах славы, Světla páteční noci, Светла петка увече, Światła stadionów, 胜利之光, אורות של ליל שישי, Luzes de Sexta à Noite, Tudo pela Vitória, Светлините на стадиона, 프라이데이 나잇 라이트, Juego de viernes por la noche, Нічні вогні п’ятниці
USAPG-13
Brazil
AustraliaPG
Netherlands9
UK12A
Germany12
Czechia
PortugalM/12
France
Netherlands9
Netherlands9
Australia
Brazil
Czechia
France
Germany
Netherlands
Portugal
UK
USA
CW: racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia (implied?), capitalism, America
It's not even coded. It's not subtext. The final team to beat is "black." The film acknowledges this within the context of the story, but it doesn't acknowledge the full sociological or historical context of it. It doesn't seem to understand that posing the Panthers as a mostly white-led team desperately trying to win as underdogs against African-American non-characters is part of the tainted tapestry of American history, the densely woven narrative that has demonized and commodified African-American physicality for centuries. That the film frames these underdogs effectively as people to root for makes me uneasy. Further, the touching father-son drama between abused and abuser is horrifying in its emotional impact.
This…
The 1988 Odessa Permian Panthers are the worst losers in the history of sports. Absolute bums with a Mickey Mouse schedule and a disgraceful performance in a Texas State Championship they only got into on a coin toss.
“We're in the business of winning.” -Coach Gaines,
Participants are heroes... go sports go!
I don't know what I was expecting because I find sports fandom to be an illness and I hate Peter Berg's conservative approach to understanding humanity. I think after hearing people discuss this as a good sports movie for years I just expected more than a standard football flick with a trippy score that isn't even original. I don't care what happens to the characters and I ended up disliking everything about the toxic culture in which they lived... I couldn't honor and love it like the film kind of does.
Not for me but probably good for people that care about football.
A Texas town with lots of pride,
Means football gets amplified.
On Friday nights,
Up go the lights,
That make them all teary-eyed.
Top quality high school football movie which is more about the the pressure place on these young men living in small town Texas as about the game itself. The film expertly swings between uplifting and heart wrenching as it tells the story of these young men in what will most likely end up the greatest year of their lives. The young cast all put in terrific performances and Billy Bob Thornton is at his best as the coach who keeps his composure under mounting pressure from the people of the town where football is the only thing that matters. Special mention to the soundtrack as well which for the most part steer's clear of the usual heavy rock that accompany's football movies in favour of Explosions in the Sky's more instrumental soundings.
So playing high school football in texas is basically hell.
High quality sports drama that focuses more on the circumstances and the pressure that the students and coaches are facing. Also watchable for non sports fans.
This was a great coming of age sporting movie and I would whole heartedly recommend it for anyone who loves the genre. My biggest problem? I’m already in love with Varsity Blues starting James Van Der Beek and whilst that’s not as good as this, Varsity Blues still captured my heart more!
