New Years day was a pleasant change-of-pace for me. I called my mom because over Christmas she'd mentioned how much she wanted to see We Are Marshall, but Bill wasn't feeling up to going. I needed a break from work that day, so I called her that afternoon to see if she still wanted to go. Not only did she want to go, but she wanted to see the early show. Therefore, we only had about 20 minutes to get there. Right as we got to the theatre, my niece Rikki called and expressed interest as well. My sister Debbie and her husband Harold went a few days before and raved about it. We told Rikki to just get in the car and head right over.
A nice bonus indeed.
Rikki lives close by and was there before I'd finished buying concessions. We went in only a few minutes late.
I was attracted to this movie because I remember the coverage of the event as a kid. I was only 10 when it happened, but I remember being struck by the reality that no one is above the dangers of real life. Plane crashes weren't reserved solely for the anonymous masses of real people. Even a college football team was susceptible. Heck that struck me harder than if it had been A-List celebrities that had lost their lives.
If you wanted to go to this movie expecting to see a sports movie, you'll be disappointed. If you wanted to see a well-written story that's not overpowered by the actors, you'll enjoy We Are Marshall. My mom cried. Rikki cried. And surprise... I cried. In fact, I cried a lot. Thank goodness Rikki had the sense to bring along her own supply of tissues.
I judge movies based on how well I get immersed in the story, and how much I can escape into an alternate reality. I'm looking for a 2-hour escape, not just a way to kill time. That's why I still like the big screen. Even DVDs and HDTV don't immerse me as much as the big screen can.
We Are Marshall accomplished that for me. Matthew McConaughey was very good, but Matthew Fox was great as the only surviving assistant coach, overflowing with guilt. David Strathairn was good as the school president. And also of note was Anthony Mackie as Nate Ruffin, one of the few players not on the ill-fated flight.
I asked Rikki and my mom for their opinions for the movie, and evidently I wasn't alone my praise. So, for the record, on a five-star scale, the opinions were...
A great movie, with great company. Now really, what more can you ask for?
BTW - If you're interested in more of the back story that inspired the movie, check out the great site by Huntington, West Virginia's Herald-Dispatch newspaper.