We Are Marshall (2006) - DVD

Director: McG
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, Anthony Mackie, David Staithairn
Studio: Legendary
Distrubtion Studio: Warner Brothers

With the start of the NCAA College Football season tomorrow, I decided to watch We Are Marshall this afternoon.

The story is a very moving retelling of how a football programme, University and community rebuild, following the devastating plane crash which killed all of the Marshall University Football team and coaches, as they returned from a game in East Carolina.

The melodramatic sport genre is a little similar to the concept of Marmite - you either love it, or hate it. What seperates We Are Marshall from the other films which are relative to this genre is the genuinely moving stories which are contained within.

The genre breeds very predictable storylines, yet somehow, the continued success of films is there for all to see, highlighted by the recent success of The Blind Side. We Are Marshall rises above many films within this style as it combines sporting success with the rebuilding of a surrounding community who lost sons, husbands, brothers and fathers in that fateful crash.

McConaughey plays the newly recruited coach, Jack Lengyel. Renowned for his starring roles in romantic comedies, McConaughey almost relishes this role as an opportunity to step outwith his pigeon-hole and play sn insightful and thoughtful role, guiding the redevelopment of the new Marshall Football programme. Starring alongside McConaughey is Matthew Fox, who plays assistant coach "Red" Dawson. Fox steps out of his familiar role as Jack Shepherd (Lost) and delivers a very subtle performance which would have been very difficult for lesser actors to play with an overabundance of melodrama considering the true nature of Dawsons' story, who was supposed to have travelled alongside those who perished on that tragic return flight from a season defeat in East Virginia. The lead cast is completed by Anthony Mackie (Nate Ruffin), David Strathairn (President Dedmon) and Ian McShane (Paul Griffen).

Perhaps the biggest criticism is the sincere difficulty the cast appear to have in portraying the story of this rebuild without resorting to over-emotional portrayals, save for Fox and McConaughey alone. The dramatisation isn't assisted by a typically sombre soundtrack, which adds an air of cliche to the entire storyline. Considering the highly emotional nature of the story, perhaps it's nigh impossible to avoid in this film, as the alternative approach would perhaps have been deemed disrespectful and insensitive to a degree.

The story itself is well balanced, maintaining a degree of personal story and sport action, which ensures a good pace of film and turns a very dark and sad story into an enjoyable, "feel-good" affair, which is a lasting tribute to the Marshall Football team.

College Football has continued to feature as a a fruitful resource for Hollywood over the years, with The Express, Remember the Titans, The Waterboy, The Junction Boys to name a few) but We Are Marshall is deserving of its place alongside these films, as it carries an additional dimension to balance the story of the football.

Regardless of what this NCAA season is going to bring, I'm going to enjoy watching my team running out on opening game-day, realising how lucky they are to have the opportunity.

"One day, not today, not tomorrow, not this season, probably not next season either but one day, you and I are gonna wake up and suddenly we're gonna be like every other team in every other sport where winning is everything and nothing else matters. And when that day comes, well thats, thats when we'll honor them." - Jack Lengyl