Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Friday Night Lights (2004)

This is topic Friday Night Lights (2004) in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-07-2004, 01:00 AM:

This isn't really a movie, it's sort of a documentary, sort of a movie, but all in all a big jumbled mess of a football movie.

WARNING - This movie is shot almost entirely with "the cameraman is having a seizure" style of constant zooming, focusing and unnecessary shaking. This REALLY distracts from the movie whenever there is not an actual football game going.

As if the shaky camera isn't enough, be sure and check out the sloppy sound mixing too. [Roll Eyes]

This is a nice big waste of time, but there have been far worse movies this year. 2 out of 5 stars

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 10-07-2004, 06:26 AM:

5 out of 5 stars from me.

Posted by Rich Granata (Member # 2285) on 10-07-2004, 08:57 AM:

We had an advance screening the other night for a college class and football team. 2 of the students needed popcorn tubs because they were nauseous. They looked pretty sick.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-07-2004, 02:59 PM:

That was due to the camerawork.

Posted by R. Andrew Diercks (Member # 1725) on 10-08-2004, 11:06 AM:

3 of 5 stars. I must confess, I got into the game. Camera work fit in the game scenes, but what the hell were they doing in normal footage. They also did a terrible job of character development.

Posted by Don Anderson (Member # 397) on 10-08-2004, 11:09 AM:

What a piece of crap. 118 minutes that I can never reclaim from my life. Totally unbelievable, uninteresting characters, and pimpleless teen athletes. Have you ever scene so many fans at a High School playoff game???? Did I hear them correct....55,000 fans???? Give me a break. Camera work was making me sick. The amateur zooming in and out also was bothersome. Only good point was....awesome color saturation, and I love the graininess of the film. Other than that, I'm glad I didn't pay for seeing it. I don't see what any audience will see in this film, nor the age bracket that will find it interesting. 118 minutes long....come on, 45 minutes would have been long enough. [thumbsdown]

Posted by Rich Granata (Member # 2285) on 10-08-2004, 11:38 AM:

After seeing it for myself, I though the movie was incredible . I also believe that it will do very good business. Instead of argueing about it, I will just say that everything from the games to outside the games was very realistic.

People of all ages can get really into the football game. Even women. The movie is really intense.

I would suggest NOT sitting in the front rows. Otherwise, you will need a popcorn tub of your own [puke]

, but I don't think the camera detracted from it too much.

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 10-08-2004, 11:45 AM:

quote:
Have you ever scene so many fans at a High School playoff game???? Did I hear them correct....55,000 fans???? Give me a break. I don't see what any audience will see in this film, nor the age bracket that will find it interesting.

Have you ever been to a high school playoff game in Texas? Or even bigger, the state championship in Texas? The crowds are huge at the playoff games, but I havent been to a state championship game, but I imagine its a huge turnout. As far as the audience and age bracket, how about teenagers who play football? They might be interested. [Cool]

Posted by Erika McCarty (Member # 2006) on 10-09-2004, 11:44 PM:

Yeah, Jeremy's right, high school football is a little different in Texas.

I enjoyed it and appreciated the documentary feel.

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 10-09-2004, 11:56 PM:

Oklahoma Memorial Stadium at the University of Oklahoma has a capacity of 82,000. High School football state championships have to be held there.

Even *I* was a football fan when I lived there, and I hate football!

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-09-2004, 11:58 PM:

Oh it's different alright, at least my team was. I shot every game for the coaches in 16mm and for 4 years in high school...we didn't win a single one! There's something wrong about every time we would play away from home how the other school would be having homecoming. [Roll Eyes]

The sad part is those 4 years were part of a 16 year losing streak! That's right, my school went 16 straight years without a win. We ruled.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 10-10-2004, 10:09 PM:

At the risk of yanking our Grand-Poo-BAH's chain.. (which of course I totally enjoy!). I hated it!!!

...UNTIL!!! I understood the premise and all the facts that were portrayed in this film are based on real events!

While I certainly think ANYONE that would go to the ends of ANY game like in this film are a bunch of losers and NEED to get a life.... or at least J/O once a day, I can understand what makes this film great..

I was REALLY impressed that Texas "Rich" guys would be THAT obsessive for a STUPID game let alone football. I mean... a HS (little boys!) team with their own private Lear jet? JFC! I wonder which team members were getting BJ's/blowing whom in their spare time? (I have an extra jet available... for those 18+ y/o's!) [Smile]

That being said, I will reluctantly give the film a neutral 2.50 outta 5.

Cuz, While I REALLY HATED the production values AND the (lack-of) acting.... the *STORY* and "premise" was REALLY quite good!

Fuck you Brad!

>>> Phil

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 10-10-2004, 11:02 PM:

A+ for potential,
D for execution.

Posted by Dean Kollet (Member # 1789) on 10-10-2004, 11:50 PM:

I doubt that filling a stadium with 55,000 people is that hard...considering the game would likely have been free or close to it. I liked this movie for portraying a true story...they did a decent job. Camera work was a little weird, but it didnt' make me sick or anything. Billy Bob Thorton did a decent job though.

3 out of 5

Posted by Chad Lindsey (Member # 2212) on 10-12-2004, 03:02 AM:

I wish they'd done something different with that camera work, we had 3 cases of [puke]

in one showing (saturday night 7:30). For one of our workers it was their first time to usher... poor guy, he thinks thats normal.

Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 10-14-2004, 10:20 AM:

It took me about 5-10 minutes to come to grips with the camerawork. It took a bit longer to become familiar and engaged by the characters and story, but like all well done films, it sucked me in. The structure and presentation did remind me of "Hoop Dreams" and knowing a bit about the local importance of Texas High School football in the first place made me feel what I was seeing was close to authentic.

Solid 4 out of 5.

Posted by Chris Medley (Member # 2145) on 10-15-2004, 08:02 AM:

Tickets for games like that are by no means free..even in McKinney were I live, we now have two high schools and this year was the first "Cross Town Showdown". The line for ticket was an hour and a half to two hours. After the tickets sold out, they were going for 20-25 a piece. Then, either this weekend, or this past weekend, two major powerhouses Denton Ryan and South Lake Carrol ticktes that sold for $3 are going for outragous amounts...just look

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16122&item=2277171804&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW