why “friday night lights” is the best sports movie ever

I like all kinds of movies. My range goes from sci-fi to romantic comedy to horror to kid’s movies. I just really like movies. There is one genre that I generally hate: the sports movie. They just seem so tired and cliched. Even when the movie is a bit unconventional, it seems to only be a reaction to the convention. Lame.

Plus, I don’t really like sports so, you know, there’s that, too.

But I loved Friday Night Lights. I’m not doing a formal review because, well, I saw it on the FX Network on cable and I have a rule not to review a movie I saw on TV, but this movie forced me to write something.

The movie revolves around the Permian High football team in Odessa, TX in 1988. The movie feels very real. It was shot quasi-doc-style and even uses the minimalist drone music found in many indie films. The casting is top-notch, featuring Billy Bob Thorton as the coach and is one of his most believable roles. (“Bad Santa? Come on, now.) Even the kids on the team rarely fall in the over-the-top teenager mold. So, yeah, good acting there.

It’s really hard for me to organize my thoughts right now for some reason, so I’ll try to just give a quick summary of why this movie is awesome: As much as I hated it, high school football is the most charged, emotional, and real sport that exists. The kids truly play as if it is the most important thing that they will ever do. The drama of the game has nothing to do with the turf, it’s what happens off the field. Pressure from community and friends and the feeling that this truly might be your only shot at glory in your life. At the end of the movie, the three main players look at the stadium with a mixed sense of longing and relief. I’ve felt that (on a basketball court) and this is the only movie that I’ve seen that captures that feeling. And that is why it is the best sports movie, ever.

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2 Comments

  1. Kim

    BIG INHALE—-chocolate rain…

    Posted August 12, 2007 at 11:44 pm | Permalink
  2. Clint, it’s so nice to know that the randomness of your thoughts never change!

    Posted August 15, 2007 at 9:27 am | Permalink