A Philadelphia Eagles fan who has just lost his wife and his teaching job one day decides to show up for an open tryout for his favorite NFL team, only to see his wildest dreams come true.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't we already seen this flick? You know, when it was called Rock Star?
Lead singer of a tribute band becomes lead singer of the real band he idolizes.
Ok, now it's fine that both of these flicks are being released, I don't have a problem with it. I just find it funny that Mark Wahlberg is in the lead role in each flick. I guess this is just "his thing" now. Even the plot of Boogie Nights was something along the same lines:
Eddie Adams, a young man working in a nightclub, is discovered by porn director Jack Horner, who soon puts Eddie, renamed Dirk Diggler, and his "talent" on the top of the pornography industry.
JumpCutz
07-15-06, 12:18 AM
Yes indeed it does. However I think the casting of Kinnear as Vermeil could be spot on, despite the fact the film will probably be crap.
DRG
07-15-06, 04:57 AM
There's also a bit of The Rookie in there. Maybe they should've called in Rookie Star? :)
Azione
07-15-06, 04:42 PM
Typical Hollywood casting. Tom Cruise spent a decent chunk of his early career playing some variation of Maverick from Top Gun.
GIjon213
07-15-06, 08:36 PM
I bet this will do really well in Philly....
Rockmjd23
07-16-06, 01:49 AM
They should have called it Remember the Rookie Replacements.
Decker
07-17-06, 01:32 AM
Yes indeed it does. However I think the casting of Kinnear as Vermeil could be spot on, despite the fact the film will probably be crap.
Agreed. Saw the trailer today. No way I'll catch this flick before it comes on HBO, but damn, Kinnear IS Vermiel. I was hoping there would be some crying in the trailer, but I guess we'll have to wait for the film for that...
Does EVERY Disney sports movie have to be an underdog story? Sure some have been pretty good, but really, the story's getting more than a little old by now.
devilshalo
07-17-06, 03:12 AM
Does EVERY Disney sports movie have to be an underdog story?
By the same producers as The Rookie, tho I would guess that if Vince Papale never made it, this would never be made.
If James J. Braddock never won a fight, we'd never see that movie either.
If Rudy Ruettiger never made it to Notre Dame, there wouldn't be a film.
If Jamaican sprinters hated cold weather, that movie wouldn't be made either.
...If Jamaican sprinters hated cold weather, that movie wouldn't be made either.
:shrug:
You see, there's a sports movie that doesn't follow the typical underdog blueprint, and with fairly good results.
There are plenty of interesting sports movies that can be made without using that tired Disney blueprint. Watch "Without Limits", "Raging Bull", "Blue Chips", "Friday Night Lights". Most compelling stories in sports come from the act of the comeptition against the best, the drive to succeed and compete against the best in the world. You can have a dramatic arc without having the main character come from nowhere to compete on the biggest stage in his sport. Look at Lance Armstrong, Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Mickey Mantel, Mike Tyson, Tiger Woods. The list goes on and on. I'd like to see Disney branch out a little bit if they're going to continue these sports flicks.
devilshalo
07-17-06, 03:55 PM
You see, there's a sports movie that doesn't follow the typical underdog blueprint, and with fairly good results.
There are plenty of interesting sports movies that can be made without using that tired Disney blueprint. Watch "Without Limits", "Raging Bull", "Blue Chips", "Friday Night Lights". Most compelling stories in sports come from the act of the comeptition against the best, the drive to succeed and compete against the best in the world. You can have a dramatic arc without having the main character come from nowhere to compete on the biggest stage in his sport. Look at Lance Armstrong, Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Mickey Mantel, Mike Tyson, Tiger Woods. The list goes on and on. I'd like to see Disney branch out a little bit if they're going to continue these sports flicks.
And how much would Disney have to shell out because of the name recognition of these athletes? People already know most of their stories.. if not their accomplishments.
People want that little man story about someone no one has heard of, but studios want that film to make money. How well did the other Prefontaine movie do? How about the Francis Ouimet story? Lane Frost? Not everyone can make a Sea Biscuit.
madcougar
08-20-06, 08:47 PM
Hate to revive this thread for this but it's driving me nuts... what is the name of The Who song in the trailer?
Brain Stew
08-20-06, 08:54 PM
I don't remember, but considering it's a trailer it's probably "Won't Get Fooled Again". That ones been in a million of them.
And it is sort of big around here. No one has talked about it, but there are ads everywhere.
Mittman
08-20-06, 09:36 PM
Teenage Wasteland
JumpCutz
08-20-06, 09:51 PM
Teenage Wasteland
:lol:
ryuryu2949
08-20-06, 10:45 PM
lol, considering there is no such song as Teenage Wasteland, I am going to have to guess Baba O'Reilly. Did I spell that right JumpCutz?
Michael Corvin
08-20-06, 10:52 PM
Teenage Wasteland
Wow. Not sure if you are serious or joking. Madcougar, the track is called Baba O'Riley. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_O%27Riley)
It was used more effectively in Pixar's A Bug's Life trailer (http://www.pixar.com/featurefilms/abl/theater/trailer2_320.html) (trailer #2).
It's also the theme to CSI: New York.
madcougar
08-20-06, 11:12 PM
Wow. Not sure if you are serious or joking. Madcougar, the track is called Baba O'Riley. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_O%27Riley)
King of kings baby! Thanks!
Aetherus
08-21-06, 12:39 AM
I was gonna say, "Ruuudy! Ruuudy! Ruuudy!" :)
Mittman
08-21-06, 05:55 PM
Wow. Not sure if you are serious or joking.
The latter. Obviously not too well though.
edytwinky
08-22-06, 12:40 AM
Regardless i'm still going to go see this movie in the theater. I'm a sucker for sports movies based on true stories.
MWB
08-22-06, 01:12 AM
Wow. Not sure if you are serious or joking. Madcougar, the track is called Baba O'Riley. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_O%27Riley)
http://tapes.ieattapes.com/uploads/Bush_O_RLY.jpg
Patman
08-26-06, 07:08 PM
What I liked about the film was the look and feel of the non-football segments, the cinematography, plus the colors just gave off a neat but "almost-over-saturated earth tones" vibe for the film at times.
The cast is good, nothing too flashy, very solid. The story revolves around the one guy, Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg), in Philadelphia in 1976 who showed enough promise at the try-outs, initiated by the new head coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) to energize the city on regaining its fire after some bad seasons in the 1970s, to make it onto the pre-season roster on the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team.
Wahlberg plays Papale as a very understated person, not quite confident of his chances to make the team, but Vermeil sees a lot of heart within his character. While the film is one of those predictable "underdog overcomes enormous odds" sports movies, it's competently filmed and easy to digest, and good primer as we are close to the start of the NFL regular season with just 2 weeks to go.
I give it 2.75 stars or a grade of B-.
rkndkn
08-27-06, 04:23 AM
I enjoyed it, as I'm a fan of both Mark Wahlberg and Greg Kinnear. They picked great songs and used them in just the right scenes.
Off-topic, I find Kinnear fascinating as an actor. I'm convinced he will win an Academy Award one day. (Don't laugh -- he already got a nom for supporting actor for "As Good As it Gets".)
Red Dog
08-27-06, 07:33 PM
I'm looking forward to seeing it. I've met Vince Papale on several occasions and he is a really nice guy - one of my good friends and his wife knows him well and they introduced me to him at a few Skins-Eagles games in the last few years.
fernsita
08-28-06, 10:10 AM
Went to the top of the box office this weekend...I think this looks like a good, inspirational story!! Plus, love to see Kinnear in his different roles!
chaz k
08-29-06, 12:54 AM
Saw it last night....Not great, not bad. Kinda ho hum. Marky Mark was pretty good, and Kinnear gave a descent performance. IMO not much of a rewatchable factor. Probably would not buy the DVD.
fernsita
08-29-06, 02:24 PM
But worth going to watch?...I wasn't familiar with the story of Papale so it's cool to see that a regular guy could make it onto an NFL team!
chaz k
08-29-06, 06:42 PM
But worth going to watch?...I wasn't familiar with the story of Papale so it's cool to see that a regular guy could make it onto an NFL team!
Yeah its worth a bargain matinee showing....
IDrinkMolson
09-03-06, 08:17 PM
I caught this over the weekend. I grew up in Delaware about 45 minutes from Philly. All of our TV stations come from there, I was around 6 - 10 years old when he played and I barely remember there being talk of a fan making the team. It could have been later on after he retired, but either way, I barely remember it.
I think this is really the movie's only downside, that not too many people are going to know this story. It was a feel good type of movie that was pretty good. The wife said she really enjoyed and she doesn't even watch football. My favorite parts were the football action, and I don't think they had enough. Or, maybe they showed all of his best plays, and that's all they had, I don't know, but I could have used more.
One thing, does anyone remember Veteran's Stadium? I've been in it several times, but I never remembered having bleacher style seats. I always thought it had individual seats with backs. I was kind of hung up about that for some reason everytime they showed inside it.
mr899
09-04-06, 07:55 PM
I have also lived in Delaware for 30 years and PA for rest of my life. Your memory is correct. Veterans Stadium didn't have bleacher style seats. They were individual seats with backs.
I do remember when Papale signed. Daily News made a big deal out of local factor. I haven't seen the movie, but would barely remember Papale as a player at all except for the 30 year old guy from tryouts. By the time, the Eagles got good, I could have cared less about Papale. It was a nice story at the time.
There was a report that his wife made a huge scene throwing out people at Philadelphia subarb premiere.
question - was that Pat's Philly steak place in that one scene in the movie?
Bandoman
09-05-06, 03:31 PM
It was a good movie, formulaic but fun. The depiction of Philly fans was spot-on, except they couldn't use strong language due to the rating.
Brent_MN
01-07-07, 05:06 PM
finally saw this one today on dvd...wow. boring.
the last 15-20 minutes were good, but it was pretty slow paced and just not anything like I thought it would be. I think it was overhyped by my brolaw... "Almost as good as Remember the Titans" and he LOOVES that one...lol
not even close.
DVD Josh
01-07-07, 07:16 PM
finally saw this one today on dvd...wow. boring.
the last 15-20 minutes were good, but it was pretty slow paced and just not anything like I thought it would be. I think it was overhyped by my brolaw... "Almost as good as Remember the Titans" and he LOOVES that one...lol
not even close.
Meh. Did not like RTT. Reminded me of the Brian Piccolo story. I like Invincible so much more. RTT was much too schmaltzy.
Brent_MN
01-07-07, 08:48 PM
They probably shouldn't even be compared, but since they are both football movies, whatever.
RTT was not really about football of course, but about racism and desegregation. Plus, it was made so that when we see Hayden Pannetierre in "Heroes" and lust over her now, we think of RTT when she was like 8 and feel shame.
JaxComet
01-08-07, 08:54 AM
It was a good movie, formulaic but fun. The depiction of Philly fans was spot-on, except they couldn't use strong language due to the rating.
Except for the fact that they all seemed to be sporting NY accents.
whotony
01-11-07, 07:37 PM
not a ny accent.
it was a south philly accent.
The Bus
11-04-08, 09:40 AM
I finally popped the BD in last night at the behest of my friend who couldn't believe I hadn't seen this yet as an Eagles fan. I thought it was a nice underdog story combined with a slight idea of the relationship the city of Philadelphia and its fans have with their sports teams. Framing this against the economic decline of the city in the mid-70s was a nice touch.
And yes, Giles, that was Pat's, although they just said it was "Columbo's"... -ohbfrank-
JimRochester
11-04-08, 06:34 PM
The first time i saw this was the BD. Certainly something you can throw in for anyone. The PQ was nice and decent audio from what I remember.
Buy: