MovieChat Forums > Code Breakers (2005) Discussion > The Truth, please read

The Truth, please read

posted 18 years ago by Jet26
27 replies | jump to latest

I, a fellow imdb.com user, can't help but write to you, please read the whole thing and certainly comment back if you want to.

Colonol Earl "Red" Blaik was a good man. He was recognized as coach of the year in 1946 and was one of the founders of the National Football Foundation. Earl Blaik died in 1989 and a few years ago a statue of the legendary coach was sculpted by Glenna Goodachre. The statue was offered to West Point but they did not want it if all of the names of Blaik's lettermen, including the 23 involved in the cheating scandal were on it. Yet the names stayed and the statue is now displayed in the Football College Hall of Fame, (which one would imagine does not sit well with West Point, but that is only my opinion/guess). All of the logistics are complicated but irrelevant to why I am writing this. After seeing the advertisments for the film on tv, I already notice the negativity in the character of Earl Blaik and im dissappointed. It appears to me that the film is partially being used by West Point as retaliation against the statue which is displayed in the Football College Hall of Fame. Earl Blaik was a good man, with good morals and good intentions. As former President Gerald R Ford said, “Coach Blaik used football to teach life and those valuable components that make an officer, a gentleman and a winner. Coach Blaik preached commitment and teamwork, and the lessons his players learned were taken onto the battlefields around the world. Their contributions to the United States of America will never be forgotten.”

All of this information is available to the public, but not commonly known by most. I wanted to share it with you because when or if you watch this film on ESPN I thought you should know the other side to it. Earl "Red" Blaik, was a good man and regardless of how this film displays him, he should always be recognized for who he truly was.

[–] azsportsfan01 18 years ago

While watching this movie, it does not seem to be about 'Red' Blaik as much as the students who are participating in this action. They do not portray Blaik as a mean character, just a football coach who wants to win. In no way, shape, or form do I think that West Point has a voice that can push it one way or another. This movie is really showing how far these students went to make sure they were able to pass class so they could continue to play football. Once again to suggest this is a propaganda film by West Point through ESPN is absurd (That is just what it seemed like when I read it. If it is not, please except my apologies for jumping to conclusions).

[–] jsimpso1 18 years ago

Gee, maybe you should have watched it first. And by the way, West Point didn't cooperate with the making of this film.

[–] zjohnson 18 years ago

What are your thoughts on the production of Code Breakers?

[–] Mallrat284 18 years ago

I thought he came off pretty well in the movie, the guys who cheated were painted as the "bad guys" and rightfully so

[–] Jet26 18 years ago

and you would know this information how? and would have the resources to back it up how? since when did viewers buy into propoganda. gee, maybe i should have watched it first, because then i would have spoken more on behalf of Bob Blaik rather than his father, but as i stated before i was only commenting on what i had noticed in commercials and such. if you got the impression that i have something against West Point you are wrong. so what is your point? that you know more about the situation than i do? or is it just a challenge for fun

[–] gperoulas 18 years ago

Does anyone know if "George Holbrook" and "Brian Nolan" eventually rekindled their friendship?
Or did they go their seperate ways forever?
Details, please.

[–] Indastruktable 18 years ago

As far as I know, West Point named their football field after Earl Blaik. So how can you go from that to West Point hating Earl Blaik.

[–] Jet26 18 years ago

i never said west point hated earl blaik..im sorry you recieved that impression. in fact if you read my second post i said i have respect for West Point, but im guessing you missed that too

[–] Indastruktable 18 years ago

We aren't debating if you like West Point or not. We are debating the "rift" between Earl Blaik and West Point. And I don't really see one.

[–] sgtwarner 18 years ago

The names Holbrook and nolan are fictitious . This was done I believe for liability reasons. They were based on the real guys. I read an interview with the guy "Nolan" was based on and he said that they did not reconcile, nor did his mother ever forgive him. He went on to be a Pilot and flew a number of combat missions in VietNam. I'm not 100% sure but I think he actually made it to Lt.Col. before retiring.

[–] glentom1 18 years ago

It is really odd that you are essentially reviewing commercials for this movie. Coach Blaik coached the football team for the US Military Academy for another 7 seasons after the scandal, which was well documented at the end of the movie, so obviously West Point did not blame him for the incident. Nor did they historically have animosity towards him since, as a poster mentioned earlier, they named the football stadium after him.

After watching the film, I can conclude that there was no blatant negativity towards Coach Blaik. You seem to imply that West Point is an emotional creature holding grudges for long periods of time. The fact simply is that those cadets who are "kicked out" for honor code violations no longer have any standing with the academy.

Like it or not, wrong or right, that is the contract that appointees pledge to honor in return for their acceptance to the academy. Those that violate the honor code are basically persona non grata, so it would make perfect sense not to accept a statue that had their names on it.

I am not sure what information you are referring to when you say that it is not commonly known by most.

[–] Jet26 18 years ago

there was no rift btwn West Point and Earl Blaik, there was a rift over the location of the statue of Earl Blaik, but clearly those of you who responded did not get that from what i wrote. the only thing i wanted to clear up, was that both Earl Blaik and Bob Blaik were honorable men, much of that film was not true and i know this because these two men are my relatives. of course that makes me biased, but it also means i get to know more information and details. Much more of my family attended West Point, and it has huge respect for my family as my family does it. The situation with the statue caused some termoil which i saw reflected in the film. either way, to each his own, if you have a different opinion than i can respect that. but that is my family being portrayed on the television, so im probably more sensitive to it. if you watched the film for entertainment value than great, but if you walked away with a negative feeling for the characters, and think the movie was historically correct, i just wanted to throw it out there...its not. i never posted this for an argument, but i am a film major and i this film had a huge impact on me and i hoped i could enlighten other film fans on the complexity of the situation. in reality i probably should have said nothing. but if it were your family, and it was lies about people you loved, i figure you would do the same. thanks.

[–] glentom1 18 years ago

It would have been better if you had left a post that was readable, with paragraphs, right spellings, and proper capitalizations. If it were really your family and there were lies you would have spent time to reply appropriately.

[–] Jet26 18 years ago

glentoml, i take it back, you are over fifty years old, and spending your time condescending people on imdb. my guess, you're republican. you can have your own views on whatever you please, but do not accuse me of lying and do not comment on how much respect i may or may not have for my family, when you know nothing about me or them. may i ask....did you attend west point? if not, do not bother to reply, i have no interest. I am blood related to Bob Blaik and Earl Blaik, i wanted to make sure people saw them for who they are/were and it seems the people who mattered got it, and the people who didnt bought the propoganda. i hope my lack of capitalization doesn't confuse you, and a little more fyi, i also think comma's are pretty, and am too lazy to press the return button. oh and when im feeling really special i even make up my own words! gotta love a litta country gramma!

much sincerity

sadie

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] goop92 18 years ago

Hey Jet26, I think I understand where you're coming from. I didn't think the movie portrayed Coach Blaik in a negative light. I think it portrayed him as an honorable man who was greatly conflicted between doing what was right and standing by his team that he loved. I didn't know much about Coach Blaik before I saw this movie besides the fact that he was a great coach on the field and is greatly respected at West Point. Everyone at the Academy is taught that honor is black and white. They are also taught to have loyalty to your classmates. Those can conflict with each other and my impression was that Coach Blaik wanted to do the honorable thing and stand by his men. Those are the qualities I got from the movie and why I respect him. I thought the movie showed how this whole scandal was tearing him up inside. I guess my point is, you shouldn't feel people will walk away from this movie thinking Coach Blaik was not a good man, I certainly didn't. He may not have been a perfect man, but he was honorable.

[–] Jet26 18 years ago

thanks i appreciate it. and glentoml you can shove it. ill write how i like, and it is my family, i wouldnt waste my time if it wasnt, but its not important what you think, bc obviously you are inclined to waste your time correcting my style of writing.

[–] glentom1 18 years ago

Good point, there was nothing in the movie that was negative. Jet you have nothing to do with Coach Blaik and you know it. Now that we all agree that there was nothing negative, your post turns out to be pretty stupid.

[–] Jet26 18 years ago

are you questioning my intelligence as well as my blood relations? who are you? get over yourself, go play with your kids, since you should be such a "family man" and make sure you always edit their papers, and tell them never to reveal who they are and are not related to, because ass holes will accuse them of lying.

[–] ptchau 18 years ago

http://www.coachwyatt.com/blaik1.html

[–] s_golliday 18 years ago

Jet, what is the truth? What lies are there in the movie? All you have said is that there are lies, but you didn't state what the lies are. And I do think you are taking what people are saying as a personal attack, when in fact it isn't. You started this thread, you have to expect some replies, so get over it and don't get so defensive.

[–] Jet26 18 years ago

thanks ill try not to take things so personally

[–] s_golliday 18 years ago

But you didn't tell me what the lies in the movie are. I am curious.

[–] cjbisme 18 years ago

jet26 - you are so full of sh*t your eyes are brown. What are the *lies*? Listen, Sadie, get a life. You are NOT a good poseur. In fact, you stink.

And as for grammar, etc., did you even complete 6th grade?

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Jet26 18 years ago

and it's POSER fool, what are you French....we speak english in America....uh yea....poseur....quite poetic, for an illiterate gentleman. have a nice night!

love always

sadie

[–] MargeGunderson-Brainerd 11 years ago

You, a "fellow imdb.com user," who has only ever created and posted in this thread??

I stopped right there; you just showed your lack of honor in your opening sentence, saving me the waste of reading your dishonest drivel justifying others' dishonorable behavior.

You're probably long gone by now and/or serving time for some of your other lapses in integrity, but someone might read this to you some day and maybe even help you with the big words.