Movie review of "When The Game Stands Tall" by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf
Fr. Z’s Blog by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf
I saw an advance
screening of a movie with
Jim Caviezel, When The Game Stands Tall. The name is a bit odd, but it explains
itself along the way. This is a new contribution to a well-established
genre, the high school football movie.
It is based on a true story of
Catholic De LaSalle High School, which had a football team winning streak of
151 games. The coach’s desire was to bring out of all the boys a perfect
effort, not necessarily a win, and, thereby, help them become men.
The movie is, in an over-arching
way, formulaic – as true stories often are, you
know. Man remains the same, fallen and risen. So, the winning team
has a crisis they have to overcome and they find themselves along the way.
The coach has a crisis, and he has to figure out being both a coach and a
husband and father. There is a moment of truth (involving – yes – a
football game). Sound familiar? It ought to. But this movie
does it well.
This new movie is not overtly Catholic. Though
it is at a Catholic High school, there is no cleric involved. The only
church scene is in a Baptist church. Scripture verses figure a couple
times, and prominently and appropriately. You see the players at prayer
twice (I think) and, that, the Lord’s Prayer. So, this is not
in-your-face Catholicism. But, the world-view in the movie seemed
Catholic to me. The concept of the team promoted by their coach seemed to
be founded on sacrificial love: seek that which is good for the other, not just
for oneself. Make a perfect effort.
I hope
that, as the release date of the film comes closer, you will, in your parishes
and groups, promote the film and even organize trips to the theatre as groups
to see it early in its release.
Once upon a time,
there was a strong positive Catholic strain in the film industry. That
went away. It must be reclaimed. That is why you, in a fundamental
way, must choose to support Catholic films. Make some plans.