"Jack Lengyel: For those of you who may not know, this is the final resting place for six members of the 1970 Thundering Herd. The plane crash that took their lives was so severe, so absolute, that their bodies were unable to be identified. So they were buried here. Together. Six players. Six teammates. Six Sons of Marshall. This is our past, gentlemen. This is where we have been. This is how we got here. This is who we are. Today, I want to talk about our opponent this afternoon. They're bigger, faster, stronger, more experienced and on paper, they're just better. And they know it too. But I want to tell you something that they don't know. They don't know your heart. I do. I've seen it. You have shown it to me. You have shown this coaching staff, your teammates. You have shown yourselves just exactly who you are in here.
[Thumps his chest]
Jack Lengyel: When you take that field today, you've got to lay that heart on the line, men. From the souls of your feet, with every ounce of blood you've got in your body, lay it on the line until the final whistle blows. And if you do that, if you do that, we cannot lose. We may be behind on the scoreboard at the end of the game but if you play like that we cannot be defeated. Now we came here today to remember six young men and sixty-nine others who will not be on the field with you today, but they will be watching. You can bet your ass that they'll be gritting their teeth with every snap of that football. You understand me? How you play today, from this moment on is how you will be remembered. This is your opportunity to rise from these ashes and grab glory. We are...
Young Thundering Herd: Marshall!
Jack Lengyel: We are.
Young Thundering Herd: Marshall!
Jack Lengyel: We are!
Young Thundering Herd: Marshall!
Jack Lengyel: The funerals end today!"
I picked these lines from IMDB when i saw the movie...since these lines are absolutely true. Just imagine a football (american) team completely wiped out in 1970 - 75 lives were lost with most of the playing team, the coaches, the supporting staff not surviving the crash - and then trying to completely start again from scratch and in the process not just try to compete but also to try and heal the wounds of everyone concerned, most of them the families and friends of the people who lost their lives. Try to imagine it all and then realise the magnitude of it all.
This movie might not have been that great if just seen from the point of view of plain cinema. But when you understand that the template that real life weaves is sometimes far greater than any that an artificial film can show, you are humbled by the knowledge that what you are seeing on the big screen is just a manifestation of what must have been Marshall in 1970. The manifestation is just a glimpse of the pain, but it is enough for someone to understand the magnitude of it all and bow his head in respect and praise for the courage shown.
The film captures all the emotions quite well and all the actors play their role convincingly. A special mention for Matthew Fox (Red Dawson) who i thought was briliant. Even Matthew McConaughey was very good as the Head Coach Jack Lengyel.
The best part of this movie comes in the last 15 minutes which includes the match with Xaviers and the above mentioned dialogues. It also includes a brilliant montage and some really emotional scenes at the end of the game. Finally it includes a nice snapshot of how the main characters have done after the film timelines get over. Nicely Done!
I love the last line of the movie when Annie says - "From the Ashes we rose....We are Marshall"
Please click for the official online memorial of the Marshall Tragedy
[Thumps his chest]
Jack Lengyel: When you take that field today, you've got to lay that heart on the line, men. From the souls of your feet, with every ounce of blood you've got in your body, lay it on the line until the final whistle blows. And if you do that, if you do that, we cannot lose. We may be behind on the scoreboard at the end of the game but if you play like that we cannot be defeated. Now we came here today to remember six young men and sixty-nine others who will not be on the field with you today, but they will be watching. You can bet your ass that they'll be gritting their teeth with every snap of that football. You understand me? How you play today, from this moment on is how you will be remembered. This is your opportunity to rise from these ashes and grab glory. We are...
Young Thundering Herd: Marshall!
Jack Lengyel: We are.
Young Thundering Herd: Marshall!
Jack Lengyel: We are!
Young Thundering Herd: Marshall!
Jack Lengyel: The funerals end today!"
I picked these lines from IMDB when i saw the movie...since these lines are absolutely true. Just imagine a football (american) team completely wiped out in 1970 - 75 lives were lost with most of the playing team, the coaches, the supporting staff not surviving the crash - and then trying to completely start again from scratch and in the process not just try to compete but also to try and heal the wounds of everyone concerned, most of them the families and friends of the people who lost their lives. Try to imagine it all and then realise the magnitude of it all.
This movie might not have been that great if just seen from the point of view of plain cinema. But when you understand that the template that real life weaves is sometimes far greater than any that an artificial film can show, you are humbled by the knowledge that what you are seeing on the big screen is just a manifestation of what must have been Marshall in 1970. The manifestation is just a glimpse of the pain, but it is enough for someone to understand the magnitude of it all and bow his head in respect and praise for the courage shown.
The film captures all the emotions quite well and all the actors play their role convincingly. A special mention for Matthew Fox (Red Dawson) who i thought was briliant. Even Matthew McConaughey was very good as the Head Coach Jack Lengyel.
The best part of this movie comes in the last 15 minutes which includes the match with Xaviers and the above mentioned dialogues. It also includes a brilliant montage and some really emotional scenes at the end of the game. Finally it includes a nice snapshot of how the main characters have done after the film timelines get over. Nicely Done!
I love the last line of the movie when Annie says - "From the Ashes we rose....We are Marshall"
Please click for the official online memorial of the Marshall Tragedy
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