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| We Are Marshall: How to Deal with Grief; ♦♦♦♦ | |
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| Topic Started: Dec 30 2006, 10:36 PM (2,488 Views) | |
| Post #1 Dec 30 2006, 10:36 PM |
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How to deal with grief. That's what We Are Marshall is about: the various ways people deal with grief, as well as how and when to end the grieving. Inside this greater theme is a fairly cliche underdog-comes-through sports story. Here's one catch that the film critics seem to have missed: This is real. Yes, other sports films have been based on reality, but nothing near the ugly reality experienced by this Marshall team. Another catch: This film is not about winning a championship despite grave setbacks (they don't), or winning a season despite grave setbacks (they don't), or winning a game despite grave setbacks (they do, two, actually). It is about winning in life despite grave setbacks. And that is where this film wins, too. The story clearly lays out alternative approaches to grief. It doesn't judge them, but shows the expected results, leaving ultimate judgment to the audience members--an intelligent and worthy approach. Some technical bits: First, I saw this in digital. I don't know if it is available on film, but, in digital, the pixels were noticeable, particularly in large white patches. Digital seemed smoother than film does, though. However, until the pixelation gets better, I'll still recommend film. Second, a potentially powerful scene at the memorial site was marred by some poor cinematography. I don't know the technical cause, but, as the camera panned back and forth along the line of players, they seemed to rise and fall, creating a waving action that was quite distracting. The effect would work well for a seasickness scene aboard a ship, but, in this context, it seemed an amateurish mistake. Third, Ian McShane gets to deliver a memorable line that will be repeated for years to come: "Grief is messy, Annie. Makes you do things you regret." We are Marshall is a bit sappy, but, as with all sappy movies, you have to let it be sappy to make it work. I don't think many of the critics let the movie be what it was, and that is why some did not like it. The typical movie-goer is willing to let movies just be. That's why the public really liked Marshall. I think you will, too. Remember, the critics didn't like a certain sappy Christmas movie sixty years ago, either. Now AFI thinks Frank Capra the most uplifting movie ever. Finally, the crash was the greatest single moment of film-making genius I've ever seen. Look for it. Let it hit you. See We Are Marshall on the big screen--just so you can see it now. However, since it is already digital, it will work well on DVD, too. |
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| Post #2 Apr 19 2008, 09:14 AM |
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Waiting for another program to come on, I tuned into a movie channel version of this film. I was struck again, even on the small screen, even "formatted to fit my screen," even in low-def, by the power of the tragic scene, from the point of the crash until the playbook is handed to Paul Griffen. It is one of the finest moments in flim-making history. |
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2:46 PM Feb 6