Once
In A Lifetime is
a documentary directed by Paul Crowder and John Dower about the New York Cosmos
soccer team. The documentary consists of the actually players commentary and
other associates of the Cosmos commentary. These people explain things that
went on and their emotions and reactions to things that happened to the team. The
movie focuses on the struggles and triumphs of the team. It follows their path
to victory and everything that occurred with this team.
Steven Ross was really the creator of the team, he
saw a potential for it, loved the game, and had an extreme passion for it. When
the Cosmos were first starting out soccer was not a big thing in America, so
they had to make themselves known. During the 1960’s soccer did not even really
exist, but the 1970’s is when it really began to take off. The cosmos suffered
intense losing streaks until Pele was brought in to be on the team. He was the
star athlete and the heart and soul of the team. There was no stopping him and
everyone loved him. He led the team to multiple wins and a championship title.
All I can do is complain about this movie, it was
so boring and probably a bit over my head. I am sure and glad that the team
probably loved making this and are happy they have a movie made about
themselves, but it was just not my cup of tea. I don’t think it helps that it
is a movie based on things that happened before I was born. At first it took
time getting acquainted with the accents. Then all it was was the team players
and associates taking about the team and random things that I did not really
care about. The most aggravating thing was the fact that it was all about Pele
I got the impression at the begging of the movie it would be about the team,
but no. Pele this Pele that, if all they were going to talk about was Pele, the
movie should have been called Pele’s Career on the New York Cosmo’s.
But I do have to give some good notes to because I
did learn about a soccer team I did not even know anything about. Some of the parts
were interesting and caught my attention. One thing I found interesting was the
fact that soccer was not popular in America. This surprised me because American’s
are so competitive and athletic I question why they did not find and interest
and want to play it. Overall this movie was not my favorite, but it does have
some memorable and impacting events.
The Blind Side directed by John Lee
Hancock is based on a true story that was published first as a book and then
into a movie. It is a heartwarming story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) a
homeless child just scrapping by. He is without a father and he was taken away
from his mother. He is picked up by the caring Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock)
where he learns everything imaginable about life, a family, and education.
When Leigh Anne Tuohy takes in Michael
Oher there is no questioning it, it was like a natural born instinct. She gives
him a couch to sleep on at first, then a room, and a house all at the same
time. Michael becomes to love the family and the family loves him back and they
are all passionate about each other. Most importantly the family only has his
best interests in mind.
I love the individual bonds that
Michael forms with each family member especially between SJ (Jae Head) Michael’s
little brother and Leigh Anne Michael’s momma. SJ is always there to help
Michael and help improve Michael’s skills as a football player. It is as if he
is a mini drill sergeant, but in a brotherly loving manner. Leigh Anne also helps,
supports, and generally cares about him. She explains things in the way Michael
learns, she has patients with him, and most importantly does not yell at him.
She wants to see him succeed and do well.
Michael had grown a lot throughout
the movie and it can be clearly seen. In the beginning Michael is like a tough
shell to crack. He hides his past and keeps it a secret until Leigh Anne Tuohy
digs into his past and finds out all about him. You can see that Michael always
walks with his head down to himself, when he talks it is a murmur and his mouth
barely moves, and he never makes eye contact. By the end his head is held up
high and he talks with confidence.
Michael at first can barely, if
that read. All the teachers thought he was a failure and they should not expect
anything from him. But one teacher has faith in him and she learns that he is
actually paying attention and learning in his classes. She becomes so happy and
even alters how she and other teachers deal with his learning styles. Then of
course there is that one teacher who has had it out for him since the beginning.
Although Michael struggles through school he puts a lot of hard work into it
and triumphs. He gets a tutor and raises his GPA. This is how all students should
be in the world today because without hard work you get nowhere.
Eventually Michael Graduates high
school goes to Ole Miss University and continues on play professional football
in the NFL.
This is one of my favorite movies
of all time because of the imaginable kindness of some people in this world and
it is just amazing. I honestly give this family props for what they did and helping
someone else in need out. I think more families should be like the Tuohy
family. It will show that everyone cares about everyone else in the world and
it will unite us together.
The Fighter directed by David O. Russell
is based on a true story about Micky Wards (Mark Wahlberg) dreams, hopes,
desires, and hard work in order to become a professional title winner in boxing.
He struggles to compete with his over bearing crack head brother Dicky (Christian
Bale) who is extremely derogatory. His mother manages him, but she does not
even care about Micky thoughts and opinions. She is self centered, self-absorbed,
inconsiderate, and ruler of the house who only cares about her son Dicky. His
father George Ward (Jack McGee) is the sole supporter of Micky and sneaks
behind his wife Alice’s (Melissa Leo) back in order to help Micky reach his
full potential. His seven sisters are like a group of crows always agreeing and
siding with their rude bitchy mother or even a litter of pups clamoring to their
mother and very rarely saying what they think or adding their own opinions.
There
is no doubt or debate that Dicky is the center of attention. Alice adores and
idols him and his seven sisters think he is the best. He does not even have the
decency to show up on time to train his very own brother and just leaves him in
the dust. He puts too much emphasis on his old life of boxing and knocking
Sugar Ray Lenard out, when in reality Sugar Ray Lenard tripped. He is living in
the past and need to get a grip on his life and get real. That is why Charlene (Amy
Adams) is there. She represents and supports Micky and puts the Ward family in
check.
Micky
puts a lot of hard work into everything and all the training he does. He learns
to do what he needs to succeed and forgets about the things his family wants
him to do because all they are doing is ruining him (except father). In the end
he accomplishes his goal and becomes a title winner after a very tough match in
which it seemed as if he was the underdog.
This
film was really enjoyable to see the struggles that a person can go through in
order to achieve their dreams. It is inspiring because you know this is the really
thing and it is not some fake made up story. It shows that anyone can do
anything and you just have to work hard and believe in yourself. Micky is a great
role model for young kids. I would highly suggest everyone to go see this movie
even if you already have or have not seen it.
The Natural directed by Barry Levinson is an awe inspiring movie of
a father and sons dream to become the best baseball player there ever was. Roy
Hobbs (Robert Redford) is a young boy who grows up playing baseball in the
fields with his father. His father unexpectantly dies by a huge tree on the
property. Later that night the tree is struck down by lighting and Roy makes a
baseball bat from it and engraves in it WONDERBOY with a lightning strike. This
bat is the bat that Roy will use throughout his entire career.
Roy leaves his farm life
and his girlfriend at the time Iris Gaines (Glenn Close) for the big leagues.
He takes a train to Chicago in order to pursue his unlimited goal of pitching
for the Chicago Cubs, but while there the story turns for the worst. When Roy
is shot by Harriet Bird (Barbara Hershey) a know killer of athletes. Sixteen
years later after vanishing from the earth he reappears and wants to try out
for the New York Knights a major league team. Pop Fisher (Wilford Brimley) the
coach of the Knights has no faith in him. Once on the team Roy is taken for
granted not being allowed to participate in the practices sits and warms the
bench for multiple games. Finally, after realizing that the Knights are a joke
and a laughing stock of the state because they have lost every single game, Roy
is put to the test. At batting practice he hits a home run every single time,
but the coach does not realize Roy’s ability and says it is just practice and
luck wait till the game. Roy is put into the next game and while at bat the
iconic lightning strike occurs and all of a sudden the ball is in sheds on the
field. The opposing team is astonished and questions the whole thing while in
the mean time the WONDERBOY bat becomes famous. Soon after a star player in the
team Bump Bailey dies after running into a wall during a game which this becomes
ironic and just in favor of Roy because they both play the same position. Now
all of a sudden the New York Nights begin winning games now that Roy is playing
and the team is actually becoming famous and has a bigger fan base. The New
York Knights are in the news papers, magazines and they are on baseball cards.
Roy Hobbs is the ideal
player. He is attracted to the local community and an inspiration for the young
kids. He signs balls, paper, and pictures for all the kids and does not leave anyone
out. Coaches are comic relief throughout the movie. They goof off while in the
dugout singing and whistling during the practices.
But the movie can’t be
all happy and cheery because there is an evil scheme boiling up. The Judge (Robert
Prosky) wants to steal the team from the beloved Pop and Roy is not going to
just let this happen. The Judge offers him more money, but it will not work
because Roy’s loyalty is to Pop.
Rumors have been going
around about Roy’s past and the truth is about to be let out. Secret romances
arise with Memo (Kim Basinger) and it does not help Roy’s game. Yet Roy manages
to break a lot of things in his career like a clock tower and the game lights.
Roy’s Old Girlfriend Iris
appears again out of nowhere at one of the games and Roy and her begin spending
time together and reconnecting again. He learned she has a son who is 16 years
old and Roy wants to meet him.
In an instant things
change Roy is sent to the hospital after having a stomach issue. It is from a
previous injury (gunshot wound silver bullet inside stomach) that is causing
the stomach lining to deteriorate. The Doc (Mickey Treanor) insists that he not
continue playing baseball, but Roy is persistent and continues. The next
practice does not go well, but Roy will just not quit. In the mean time Roy’s
true past is found out. The Judge, Gus (Darren McGavin), and Memo are pit
against him.
Pop is satisfied with the
season no matter win or lose he is proud and happy. The National League Pennant
game is played. Roy continues to play despite his injury which is
determination. But he suffers through it, striking out twice. Before his last
time at bat he gets a note from Iris telling him his son is in the stands which
he did not know about. This motivates him, he hits a home run breaking the game
lights and ultimately wining the game. Although, this is not the end, his stomach
is bleeding. The movie is brought back in a circle with the newly united family
playing catch in the fields.
Overall this is a great
movie that everyone should watch. Although this movie was made in 1984 don’t just
judge a book by its cover because I did and the movie was remarkable and not
boring in the least bit. I could not wait to see what would occur next and I
was left on the edge of my seat. This movie it the type of movie people love to
watch because of the heroic and dedicated player of Roy Hobbs.
What is this insanity that we are
living in today? Do women even have a place in this world or are they just
empty space? Why are men’s sports the ones who get all the attention, fans, and
famousness. Why do women get paid so much less than men? Does society have
something against all women in this world?
Throughout society there are
stereotypes that should mean nothing, yet they mean everything to people. Sports
have a major stereotype that surrounds them. Men are supposed to watch the game
while the women only watch it for the commercials and the half time show. How can
people honestly and truly believe this? Americans believe men are always
supposed to be watching the sport. If men dare not to watch it they are not
real men, wussies, and cowards. Let’s not even mention women, if they were to
watch a game it is unethical, unladylike, immoral, bad, wrong, and corrupt. There
is no difference between men and women. Men have different personalities along
with women. Some like sports some don’t, others like music and others don’t,
and it keeps going on and on it never ends. They do not always have to follow
and mimic what everyone else does. To say that it is not right for women to
watch a sporting event is a stereotype and a sexist remark.
What is
with the movie industry, they are just as bad as Americans, they are supporting
productions of male dominant sports movies. Miracle,
Remember the Titians, The Mighty Ducks, Rudy, Jerry Maguire, Rocky, Blades of Glory, Balls of
Fury, Moneyball, and The Sandlot are just a few that can be
rattled right of the top of my head. Women’s sports movies are another story,
you can barely think of any Double Teamed,
Cutting Edge, Bring It On, Blue Crush, Bend It Like Beckham, and Love and Basketball. None of these are
even popular in retrospect to the male dominant movies.
Women need to get up there and take
a stand for this, they need to get out there and represent themselves.
Americans will never change for years to come and I am not going to just sit
around and just hope that when I have kids things will have changed by then. Our
country is to judgmental and it is not just. We women are getting and going to
continue getting degraded everyday if something is not done. We women need and
deserve respect. We women and men that support us need to stick together and
become united. So let’s all rise up and do something about it!
