Football is my favorite sport, it always has been and it always will be.
There are numerous football movies that come to mind that could be talked about for hours. Serious ones such as Remember the Titans or Rudy. Comedies like The Waterboy or The Longest Yard.
But the movie poster that’s hanging in my house and the flick that will always stand out, is Friday Night Lights.
The 2004 film is a true story based on the Permian Panthers, a high school football team that is the talk of the town. It is truly amazing the ability a high school football team has to bring a community together.
This entertaining film draws in its audience by taking them on a roller coaster of emotions, capturing the football team’s highs and lows.
Permian’s championship aspirations are quickly dimmed in the movie when its star running back Boobie Miles gets injured in the season opener.
The bulk of the movie shifts over to how coach Gary Gaines played by Billy Bob Thorton will rally his team throughout the year to meet its lofty goals. Despite the Panthers top player getting injured the town of Odessas expectation of a state championship does not change.
Friday Night Lights is much deeper than just a football movie as it teaches life lessons such as overcoming adversity, the value of having heart, and personal growth. One of the best ways to describe how the movie goes are the three words written across the top of the movie poster.
“Hope Comes Alive.”
These words describe what the team has to pull off to salvage its season without all-world running back Boobie Miles.
Everyone hears how high school football is different in the state of Texas and Friday Night Lights does a great job of showing how much football means in these communities.
The movie shows how these football players are treated like royalty in the scenes when the players eat at restaurants for free and local stores shut down so the workers can go and support the team.
As entertaining as Friday Night Lights is, it’s amazing and almost unbelievable that this movie covering Permian’s 1988 football season is based on a true story. As in most cases of movies based on true events there may be details that are different but the main ideas and themes remain the same.
Thorton does an excellent job of playing the important role of Coach Gaines who is put in a tough position.
“Gentlemen, the hopes and dreams of an entire town are riding on your shoulders,” coach Gaines said. “You may never matter again in your life as much as you do right now.”
That quote alone tells you everything you need to know about how football in Texas is regarded.
Friday Nights Lights the movie makes Buzz Bissinger’s novel “Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team And A Dream” come to life.
Friday Night Lights is a movie that is sure to strike up emotions and have you at the edge of your seat.
Regardless if you are a football fan or not, Friday Night Lights is a must watch.
