We Are Marshall (Blu-ray) (2006)

"A great story that deserves to be told.  Bob Costas
"Equally thrilling and wrenching, the film is an absolute must for anyone who loves sports...  Connie Ogle, Miami Herald
"...a touching story about hope and a refusal to accept life's tragedies. It's inspiring and uplifting.  Jeffrey Lyons, NBC's Reel Talk
"Surprisingly restrained and undeniably entertaining.  Jessica Reaves, Chicago Tribune
"...an unvarnished drama about Marshall University and the people who love it, and the results are inspirational.  Lawrence Toppman, Charlotte Observer

Editor's Note In November 1970, a plane carrying almost the entire Marshall University football team, its staff and fans crashed, killing 75 people in all and devastating the small town of Huntington, West Virginia. WE ARE MARSHALL, directed by McG (THE O.C., FASTLANE) tells the tragic true story of how the university and the citizens of Huntington rebuilt the football program and dealt with the loss of so many of their own. The university's president, Donald Dedmon, earnestly portrayed by David Strathairn (GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK), hires the only willing coach to take on such a daunting task, Jack Lengyl (Matthew McConaughey). With the help of the lone Marshall football coach Red Dawson (Matthew Fox) and the three remaining players who weren't on the plane, Coach Lengyl sets out to restructure Marshall's team, and spirit. But for some in the community it's still too soon, including Paul Griffen (Ian McShane) who lost his football-star son. They fear that moving on so quickly is disrespectful to those who died and to the loved ones who still mourn. The film emphasizes this issue, illustrating the struggle of that harrowing time at Marshall, and in college football history. Although WE ARE MARSHALL contains a similar theme to other sports movies, rising from adversity, the tragedy of so many lives lost in a small community and the painful recovery sets this film apart. Strong performances by McConaughey (FAILURE TO LAUNCH)?his wit and energy adds much needed doses of comic relief, Fox (LOST), and McShane (DEADWOOD) successfully help bring the historical and inspiring story of Marshall University to the big screen, a must-see for all sports fans.

	Kate Mara
	Matthew Fox
	Matthew McConaughey
	Robert Patrick
	Christophe Beck - Original Music By
	Cory Helms - Based On Story By
	Gregg London - Editor
	Jamie Linden - Screenplay
	Jonah Markowitz - Art Director
	Mary Viola - Producer
	McG - Director
	Priscilla Nedd-Friendly - Editor
	Scott Mednick - Executive Producer
	Shane Hurlbut - Cinematographer
	Tom Meyer - Production Designer

Box Office
"[B]oth heartfelt and dignified. Matthew McConaughey is the most valuable asset here..." 02/01/2007 p.74

Reel.com 9 of 10
Even the most cynical viewers will have a hard time hiding the lump in their throat while watching the enormously moving football drama We Are Marshall. If it feels like Hollywood's gone to the mat one too many times with inspirational sports stories, this latest entry is distinct and well-made enough to separate it from the pack. And if the movie unabashedly wears its heart on its jersey sleeve, it's so sincere and honest that it rightfully earns its tears...What makes the story less formulaic than it may sound is the drive and creativity the characters use to achieve their thorny goals. Also, the film is charged with so much vivid emotion and urgency it's impossible not to get swept up in it all. Most importantly, it won't take a sports fan to appreciate the movie's vast merits, which is not always the case with this sub-genre...We Are Marshall (named after the team's stirring chant) is a memorable, deeply felt tribute that scores serious points despite its few fumbles. - Gary Goldstein

ReelViews 8 of 10
We Are Marshall is precisely what one expects from a true sports story: it's uplifting and inspiring. Although the film does not ascend to the pinnacle of its genre (arguably occupied by Hoosiers), it's not too far down the mountain and the added ingredient of a town's grief allows director McG to explore some issues not normally tackled in this sort of motion picture...As feel-good stories go, this is more successful than some of its higher profile multiplex competition...It's easy to become cynical about true-life sports stories. There are too many of them. Most appear to be clones of one another and, after a while, it's almost impossible to tell them apart even though they may not all represent the same sport. I don't know if We Are Marshall is sufficiently different to stand apart after the passage of time, but it is well-made and tells a story with a degree of emotional resonance. For those who appreciate the genre, this is worth seeing. - James Berardinelli