We Are Marshall (2006)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

McG

Writers (WGA):

Jamie Linden (screenplay)
Cory Helms (story) ...

Release Date:

22 December 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

From the ashes we rose

Plot:

When a plane crash claims the lives of members of the Marshall University football team and some of its fans, the team's new coach (McConaughey) and his surviving players try to keep the football program alive.

Plot Keywords:

No Opening Credits | Huntington West Virginia | What Happened To Epilogue | Volkswagen | Archival Footage

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Oct. 16	5:45 PM	HBO
Mon. Oct. 20	4:00 PM	HBO

Cast

Matthew McConaughey	...	Jack Lengyel
Matthew Fox	...	Red Dawson
Anthony Mackie	...	Nate Ruffin
David Strathairn	...	President Dedmon
Ian McShane	...	Paul Griffen
Kate Mara	...	Annie Cantrell
January Jones	...	Carole Dawson
Kimberly Williams-Paisley	...	Sandy Lengyel
Arlen Escarpeta	...	Reggie Oliver
Brian Geraghty	...	Tom Bogdan
Tommy Cresswell	...	Gene Morehouse
Christian Kanupke	...	Young Keith Morehouse
Nina Jones	...	Mrs. Morehouse
Kevin Atkins	...	George Olson
Mark Patton	...	Bill James

Also Known As:

Untitled Marshall University Football Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for emotional thematic material, a crash scene, and mild language.

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Netherlands:6 | South Korea:All | USA:PG (certificate #43100) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the accident. The report was issued April 14, 1972. In the report the NTSB concluded "...the accident was the result of a descent below Minimum Descent Altitude during a non precision approach under adverse operating conditions, without visual contact with the runway environment...". The report goes on to conclude that "...two most likely explanations (for the greater descent) are (a) improper use of cockpit instrumentation data, or (b) and altimetry system error."

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Anne's hand is shaking pretty hard when she reaches out to give Paul the engagement ring back (the shot is from Paul's point of view). The camera cuts to a view from behind Anne and her hand is suddenly very still for the duration of that shot. The shot changes back 10 seconds later to be from Paul's view and Anne's hand is shaking again.

Quotes:

Nate Ruffin: Coach, that... was my team. They left it in my hands.
Jack Lengyel: No... no, they did not. They just left.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "How I Met Your Mother: Lucky Penny (#2.15)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Very Surprising

Wow...I just got back from a preview showing of "We Are Marshall," and I am still in shock I'll admit it, I originally only went to see this movie to see Matthew Fox. I mean I like football, but normally I wouldn't go to the theaters to see a movie on it. I expected it to be like a lot of sports movies--good, but repetitive and forgettable. However, I was completely wrong. The movie is excellent on so many levels. The acting is extremely good. Matthew Mcconaughey is extremely likable as the head coach, Matthew Fox is incredible as the assistant coach (especially his emotional scenes), and so is the supporting cast. The film itself is just extremely well-made as a whole, and extremely touching and moving.

Right now, I feel really bad that the movie hasn't gotten more buzz than it has. It was one of the best movies i've seen in a long time. I am surprised that it didn't get nominated for any Golden Globes because it really is probably better than a lot of the movies that got nominated. But really, it is an extremely good movie, and not just your typical, cliché, sports movie. It was such a nice surprise, and I am really glad i decided to see it.