Rewind – We Are Marshall (2006) – A Commercial for Kleenex
Seriously. I’m not even entirely sure I can write a brief synopsis of the film expertly since I spent more time in front of my TV as a blubbering fool then I did absorbing the movie. BUT, I’ll give it the ole college try (pun intended).
We Are Marshall is the tale of a University, a town, a Coach and the people affected by senseless tragedy, overcoming all odds to bring each other back to life.
It’s 1970. The Marshall University football team has just been defeated by the East Carolina Pirates. As a majority of the team (including all but one coach) and several major athletic boosters fly back home to their Huntington, West Virginia town, upon decent their plane crashes killing all aboard. That’s how the film begins. And that’s when the tears begin flowing. The rest of the film is the story of how one man, Coach Jack Lengyel (played by Mathew McConaughey), together with his newly formed staff and team, brings the Marshall University Thundering Herd back to life.
It’s a tough road filled with opposition – the deceased Quarterback’s father doesn’t believe it’s right to bring football back into the University or the town so soon, most of the Board don’t wish to allow the program to continue, and even the NCAA turns down several requests to allow freshmen team members to play (they eventually make the concessions necessary). Add to this that the one coach that did not return on the flight home, Red Dawson (played by Mathew Fox), has more feelings of guilt then he does of belief to see this through and you have another compelling piece of film.
Both McConaughey and Fox play their respective roles with such believability that as a viewer you have to wonder if the movie took a toll on them too. The supporting work of David Strathairn as Marshall University’s ousted President (later on in the film) lends to the genuineness of the heart-warming story too.
I would not categorize this film as Oscar-worthy but I have absolutely no qualms about recommending it to the masses. It’s a truly touching, wonderfully made film…but make sure you have plenty of Kleenex on hand. You’re going to need it!
I give Marshall
reels
Until next time, see YOU at the movies!
Lisa 
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