MovieChat Forums > We Are Marshall (2006) Discussion > Not a good movie - at all.

Not a good movie - at all.

posted 16 years ago by Dalydalo
55 replies | jump to latest

How could anyone think this was a good movie - then again with utter garbage Hollywood comes out with - can we be surprised. The story was already there for the writers - they must of done a lot of work to screw it up. I wanted this to be a film, the story was there.

This movie COULD OF BEEN great. Any time January Jones on film is a good thing (See Mad Men). I was excited that this movie was coming out - it could of been a real uplifting story. I think they did a terrible job honoring the people who decided to go ahead with the football program (the cheese oozing off the screen with the "We Are Marshall" chant during the Board of Trustee Meeting was so bad - I had to make sure there wasn't any on my carpet).

Another terrible thing in this movie was there use of David Strathairn (a fantastic actor). The corny standing in the rain when he met the NCAA - then coming back to tell the coach (still wet in a messed up suit) they got authorization from the NCAA to play Freshmen. I mean that scene was brutal. Want an example of how that scene could of been great - look at the scenes leading up to Rudy's admission to Notre Dame in "Rudy". That was excellent.

Terrible directing, terrible storytelling, bad acting from some pretty good actors. Kate Mara - I've seen sing the national anthems at Giant game, I think she ought to stick with that. She was really bad - perhaps it was the character - perhaps people who cast her thought that the "football connection" with her family would add something - who knows. She was always whining but I don't even recall is she got any tears out of those eyes (LOL). If she does have any real acting talent - I hope she finds a role to redeem her. There were some good actors in this movie that gave less the inspiring performances.

I get the feeling that many people who posted positively on this movie - were involved with it somehow. Cause this was a STINKER. Better stuff has come out of Bollywood.

[–] fcx982 16 years ago

"they must of done..."
"This movie COULD OF BEEN..."
"it could of been a real..."
"that scene could of been..."

The word is "have", not "of". The movie could have been great. The scene could have been great. One time is a typo. Four times is retarded. Work on 3rd grade grammar before trying your hand at movie analysis.

[–] hvgee-1 16 years ago

You took the words right out of my mouth. If you can't deal with simple English grammar,please keep critical thinking alone. As for Bollywood,it's turned out quite a few credible films and thousands of enjoyable performances. But bringing it up is nonsensical. 98% of Indian movies are musicals (which this film is not) and they rarely concern sports except in passing.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Dalydalo 16 years ago

I'm so glad I didn't, couldn't wouldn't pay to see this movie. I hope you did.

[–] craig-sisterson 16 years ago

Well, everyone is entitled to their opinion I guess...

Movies are so different, and affect different people differently depending on so many factors specific to the individual viewer that it´s probably silly to criticise someone for holding a different opinion.

In the end the real question is, does the movie make you FEEL? Some movies succeed for many people, but there are always cynics who consider them schmaltzy or cheesey. Other movies do poorly, but resonate with a few people who are perhaps touched in different ways.

In the end We Are Marshall resonated with me. I felt it was a bit overdone at times, a bit melodramatic...and could possibly have been tweaked here and there to dial down the cheese a bit and hit a better note...but overall I still considered it a good, enjoyable, watchable movie. I put it below the level of similar true story films like Rudy, Remember the Titans, Invincible, Miracle, Brians Song (original) and The Rookie, but that´s just my opinion. Thát´s just how it affected, resonated with me.

A good film. Perhaps not a great film, but definitely a good film.

Not a terrible film.

[–] gasrun 16 years ago

Actually Remember the Titans is not a true story. The school was desegregated but the players and coaches never had a problem with race. This statement coming from one of them

[–] lylesanford 14 years ago

the OP is a major league troll who is desperate for attention. It is very easy to spot these people. They start a post with a very strong title, and then proceed to make damaging comments about a very popular and important movie to a lot of people. Then they return within their own thread to keep twisting the knife by saying things like, "I would never pay to see this movie, I hope you did" and other garbage like that.

The OP is an epic loser who needs major clinical therapy to fix their messed up head.

Don't give the cretin anymore attention.

[–] UW21UCLA16 16 years ago

Your allowed your opinion but one question did you go to school at West Virginia or a MAC school, anyone that Marshall beat....I really am trying to see your point on a few of your rants but as from everything I have read they made it as real as possible.

[–] Dalydalo 16 years ago

Although my grammar was attacked by so many, I went to a highly rated university on the east coast (in the DC area - I know it may seem shocking to you). In my defense, I had taken a few vicodin's for a recovering broken hip. Hopefully I can express my unhappiness with what they did to this film (only one vicodin this time). I don't know what that says about a movies that after a few vicodins it still was bad.

The story itself was there for a great movie. The film did such a poor job presenting the most important part of the movie - THE TEAM. This film was all over that place. I mean was the movie about the town of Huntington, the trials and tribulation of a guilt ridden coach who wasn't on the fatal flight, the school president trying to make everyone happy without hurting anyone, or a football team? In a 90 to 120 minute film, you can't do it all. Had they removed that whole Kata Mara and Ian McShane relationship that took up far too much of this movie and shortened the scenes allowing NCAA playing Freshmen, more of the film could of been used developing relationships of the team.

The heart and soul of the movie should of focused on the actual football team. The players who against all odds came together and formed a team from nothing. Reading interviews from the real coaches and players pf that team, I found out that many of the players and coaches still talk to this day and are extremely close. In the film, who would of known that these close relationships existed. The players and coaches in the film barely communicate outside the standard football practice scenes (sort of another cliche, in a movie of cliche's).

That's the story and they totally missed. Look, in the world today - so many of us are affected by tragic events (9/11, Iraq, Katrina, fires in California, Darfur) - that we don't need to see how hurt people are by a plane accident, many have lived it and unfortunately know the hurt and pain. Yes, is should be part of the film but that could of been done in the first 10 minutes. What makes the story of the 1971 Marshall Football team was the fact that a small group of young men, with a strong coaches, were able to build a team from it's ashes.

The acting was brutal. Even David Strathairn was off in this film (I think this is the first time I've never seen him not do well). I guess they went to the local high school to get the college kids (Kate Mara and Nate Ruffin ought make sure they keep there jobs waiting tables - well Kate Mara's family has enough money where she doesn't have too).

[–] QuazarteJihid 16 years ago

Dude no one cares where you went to college, but I will say that this movie could HAVE been 50 times better, maybe even oscar worthy if it had a better score and if the actors took time to develop their roles. Two terrible scenes that could of been good if there was acting or if it was orchestrated better was the scene where the coach is giving the guy the game ball and where the assistant coach is crying in the locker room.

[–] Rob-41 16 years ago

Anyone who states that they "went to a highly rated university..." didn't go anywhere. Where you went to college is some sort of secret? I love it when people think the fact that they attended college is some sort of great accomplishment. So what? Millions of people graduate from college every year. I went to SDSU a "low rated school in the west". So freaking what?

I do need to echo the comments of other posters. If you truly attended college, you may want to ask for your money back because they never taught you how to write. Not that it has anything to do with your opinion of the movie, though. However, the fact that you are here writing, again and again, about how bad a simple "feel good" movie is leads me to believe you want nothing more than attention from other posters.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Rob-41 16 years ago

Ha! OK, maybe it is a better school now than when I graduated from there in the mid 1990's.

[–] skiop 15 years ago

If you truly attended college, you may want to ask for your money back because they never taught you how to write.

One should hope that someone would know how to write before entering college. I do remember English 101 and having to write various kinds of essays and papers, though. It was one of my worst college experiences and that's saying something, because my college years were among the low points of my life. In fact, I thought about going to Marshall, which is on the opposite side of the state, to get my bachelor's, but I thought that considering how miserable and depressed going to the local community college a few hours a week made me, traveling a great distance and having to live in a dorm with an compulsory roommate (at least for one year) would probably give me a reason to actually take a jump.

[–] EireMaus 16 years ago

Well, as someone who went to Marshall allow me to say that the crash did affect the town in a tremendous way.
People still talk about it and those player, fans, and coaching staff are still remembered
When you say "It was JUST about Huntington I think you've JUST missed the point. It was about Huntington.
Huntington is a tiny little town and as someone from Philadelphia it was quite the culture shock. The people there are tremendous. They have this caring for each other that is amazing, and a love for their college football that is astounding.
The town is centered around that school and it strikes me funny that you think it was "just about huntington".
for someone who states to make intelligent arguements you appear quite inept.

[–] cfdh3 16 years ago

You went to a "highly rated university" on the East coast??

Did they actually grant you a degree?

If so, you should ask for a refund of your tuition money ...

Don't blame "vicodin" for your lack of understanding of spelling and grammar.

Your final sentence: ... keep "there" jobs waiting tables ... she doesn't have "too" ...

That wasn't caused by "vicodin."

Keep your own job waiting tables and forego the movie analysis until you take a remedial spelling and grammar course (or you finish middle school). Until then, stop posting under the influence of prescription medication.

Bye!

[–] Isaac5855 16 years ago

This movie was corny, self-absorbed and manipulative.

[–] FaithHH02 16 years ago

Absolutely! Why couldn't the film makers have made a movie about a plane crash that kills 75 people in a small college town, leaving orphans and parents childless, without all the sentiment? Really. What were they thinking?

[–] joerattz 16 years ago

Touche! I am not convinced some of these posters realize this was about a true story. I just caught it again last weekend so I thought I would take a look at IMDB. I thought the movie was very moving and had good performances from the entire cast.

-----
"If stagnation is the ailment, and change the cure...why does puppetmaster where gloves?"

[–] logitech 16 years ago

Dalydalo...blame McG. He knows how to take really good actors and get the worst acting out of them. The man is a freakin' hack and can't direct for his life. The movie was better than I thought it would be. In other words, it didn't suck as bad as I thought it would considering it was McG. It still sucked though.

[–] logitech 16 years ago

I'll elaborate more on why this movie sucks.

1. Overly melodramatic at times. Yes, there was a plane crash. It was terrible. I felt like I was getting beat in the head over and over with it though. And what was up with the 7 seconds of blackness? I thought my DVD had broke. That was a "dramatic" effect that was used but backfired, making it more awkward then depressing.

2. Matthew McConaughey is more annoying in this movie than any other movie I've seen him in. And from everything I've read, his portrayal of Jack Lengyel is not even close to being accurate. Apparently, he doesn't look like Lengyel, sound like Lengyel, or act anything like Lengyel. That is an example of very poor acting right there. Lengyel in this movie never once gets depressed about his situation either. That seems almost inhuman.

3. David Strathairn does worse acting in this movie than any other I've seen him in. He also has the exact same voice inflextions as he does in "The River Wild", which is annoying.

4. The editing was really bad at times. And scenes added for the sake of having "dramatic" effect were awful at times. Seriously, Dedmon in the rain begging? The beer scene went on for way too long.

5. The music selection for this movie was terrible.

6. Super slow mo football scenes. Been done a million times in football movies before for dramatic effect. Somehow, something about the way it is done in this movie makes it seem way too dramatic to the point of being laughable.

7. I wanted to punch McConaughey every time he tried to use a silly example of something totally unrelated to make a point. Saying to Dedmon, "You didn't propose to your wife on the phone did you"...trying to get a point about how it would be better for Dedmon to see the NCAA in person. The way McConaughey smirked at those examples thinking what he was saying was so darn cool and genious made Lengyel look really bad. I know, I should blame the script.

8. Does Ian Mcshane's character live in the diner?

9. Did West Virginia really let Lengyel watch their films? This seems highly unlikely.

10. With the exception of one football player, I didn't get to know any other player on the team.

[–] aqib4 16 years ago

1. You wanted burning bodies?

2. I'll give you he wasn't all that accurate.

3. This one is a matter of opinion. Given that he was playing an academic geek who had to oversee the rebuilding of a team in a sport he knew nothing about, I thinkg the awkwardness was part of the store line.

4. Its a dramatic story. Seriously what were you expecting? Small town revolves around the college football team the whole team dies in a plane crash. What did you think it was going to be? A comedy?

5. It was the 70s. They didn't do good music back then.

6. Thats EVERY football movie. Again what were you expecting. Even as a fan of the movie I joke that the game winning play was the longest 12 yard pass I have ever seen. But, EVERY football movie has its big plays in slow motion.

7. Have you ever played football? Coaches always use silly analogies.

8. Pretty much. Its a small town, his wife died two years earlier, his son just died where would he hang out?

9. Yes. They weren't really rivals at the time.

10. Yeah he was the captain of the team, he was also one of the key players in the rebuilding. Watch interviews with Lengyl he said the guy was like an extra coach.

[–] turningleaf2 16 years ago

I have to respond to aqib4's number 5 response. I would like to know how much music you have heard from the 70's. Would you like for me to go year by year with some of the most influential music of all time from the decade? Summation: Early-Mid 70's, Neil Young (After the Gold Rush/Harvest), John Lennon (Plastic Ono Band/Imagine), Cat Stevens (Teaser & the Firecat/Tea For the Tillerman), Nick Drake (Pink Moon/Five Leaves Left), the Rolling Stones (Exile on Main Street) Bob Dylan (Blood on the Tracks), The Band (Stage Fright), Elton John (Tumbleweed Connection), Led Zeppelin (Physical Graffiti), David Bowie (Hunky Dory/Low), Pink Floyd (Wish You Were Here/Dark Side of the Moon), Crosby Stills & Nash, Iggy & the Stooges etc...
Mid-Late 70's, Joy Division, The Ramones, The Clash, New York Dolls, Bruce Springsteen, Marvin Gaye, Fleetwood Mac, Elvis Costello etc...

This doesn't even include any other genres outside of rock, with exception to Marvin Gaye. Isaac Hayes, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield & Barry White are a few to name.

Everything is a matter of opinion, but even if you are a rap fan, most rap artists have sampled George Clinton & Parliament, which coincidentally came from the 70's.

Your statement seems uneducated and without foundation.

[–] aqib4 16 years ago

It was a joke. Chill. I was responding to the guy bashing the movie. Why someone spends time on a board of a movie he didn't like I have no idea.

[–] dcmemorial 16 years ago

"9. Did West Virginia really let Lengyel watch their films? This seems highly unlikely."

Yes Bowden really let Jack look at the films.

[–] MUTwirler 16 years ago

"9. Did West Virginia really let Lengyel watch their films? This seems highly unlikely."

Yes, Bobby Bowden did let them watch their films. I may be wrong on this one, but I think he let them see their recruiting list.

I also think that Bobby Bowden almost took the Marshall job when Tolley was hired.

[–] lylesanford 16 years ago

Logitech...

Either,

1) you are extremely anal with regards to movies and they all have to make PERFECT sense and be 100 percent historically accurate in order to be enjoyable.

or

2) You didn't like this movie and are simply looking for reasons to back up your reasons for disliking it.

Which is it?

[–] blinger12 16 years ago

I don't understand why you're trashing Bollywood on this board when it's about We are Marshall. I don't watch Bollywood movies either, but that doesn't mean you can make generalizations like "Better stuff has come out of Bollywood" when that is obviously too general to even make sense.

Sorry, I just find that to be such a bizare comparison to make. =S
I probably just sound crazy, but I read it and went "...what...?"

[–] crdclt 16 years ago

Everyone's comments have been very interesting and educational. This seems to be just a "feel good" movie to me. I enjoyed it, as it did tug on my heart strings. An Academy Award movie?? NOT!

It reminded me that I'm a small part of the world, and that people from every walk of life can make a difference. It made me think... I felt pain, sadness, joy, and hope during this movie. Things we all need to feel as often as we can..

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] kingjosesmith 16 years ago

I for one loved this movie. I am not that anal about movies and can usually see the point they are trying to get across in making the movie in the first place. If I spent my time picking apart movies instead of just enjoying them, well, I would hope I seek counseling. The point was very well made to me in this movie about the struggle on different levels to move on after the tragedy, for the town, the university, the students, family, players.... and on.

[–] gower2352 16 years ago

very good point king. one thing I do is I go see the movie before I get on here to check it out. It just feels better that way.

[–] f-u-b-a-r-12 16 years ago

God I am sick and *beep* tired of people bitching about the negatives to movies! It's f-in ridiculas, grow the *beep* up and just enjoy the film! So it ain't oscar worthy, big f-in deal! It's still good and if a movie like this doesn't get in your heart and make you wanna damn near cry then you don't have an f-in heart! Frankly anybody who watched this and at the end said "God that wasn't good, I can't believe I wasted my time," you don't have a soul! God people need to *beep* grow up and be a humans, not picky ignorant *beep* God imagine that world!

Well I'm a victim of circumstance!
I thought you call it your pecker?

[–] bbmodels2001 16 years ago

I completely agree with you on this. I played football through college so I might know a thing or two about the subject. This "movie" if you will, is complete contrived garbage. Like you said, the story is already there. Only a complete egotistical, no talent moron could screw up a movie like this, and that's exactly what happened.

To understand what a complete farse and disaster of a film this is, all you need to look at is the director's name, which is McG. No kidding here. The freaking guy calls himself McG. Do you seriously think you could get an honest film from an insecure or too ego driven idiot that is too afraid to even give himself a first and last name?