Best Football Movie Ever

[Hostile]

Just finished watching it again. It has been a long time since I have seen it.

http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/brians-song-DVDcover.jpg

If any of you haven't seen it, don't cheat yourself any longer. This movie is a true story and it will kick you in the gut.

[BraveHeartFan]

That's a great one. I really love it.

I am more partial to Rudy though.

[DFWJC]

Great movie. Brian's Song is old enoough that there's a real chance some here haven't seen it. It's a must see though.

[rkell87]

i'm partial to remember the titans myself, might be a generational thing though, movies that come out when you are growing up with actors you are more familiar with, that type of thing.

[DFWJC]

i'm partial to remember the titans myself, might be a generational thing though, movies that come out when you are growing up with actors you are more familiar with, that type of thing.
Yeah, that one was great too.
Rudy too.

[Hostile]

The thing that really gets me about "Brian's Song" is the very last line. "Brian Piccolo died of cancer at the age of 26. He left a wife and three daughters. He also left a great many loving friends who miss and think of him often. But when they think of him, it's not how he died that they remember - but how he lived. How he did live!"

[CliffnMesquite]

We are Marshall.

[Doomsday101]

I would not say best ever but one I enjoyed

Junction Boys

The Junction Boys is the name given to the “survivors” of Paul "Bear" Bryant's 10 day summer football camp in Junction, Texas in September of 1954. The ordeal has achieved legendary status and has become the subject of a book by Jim Dent and a television movie produced by ESPN.

Texas A&M University hired Bear Bryant as head football coach in 1954 replacing former coach Ray George. Bryant arrived in College Station, Texas in February of 1954 and began cleaning house. Bryant felt that many of the players on the team were weak and not properly trained or coached. He decided that his players needed a camp away from campus. He arranged for the camp to be held at the 411 acre adjunct campus of Texas A&M at the small town of Junction.At the time of the camp, the Texas hill country was experiencing an epic drought and record high temperatures. The drought, the worst in the recorded history of the region, had lasted four years and would last another two after the camp was over. All 10 days of the camp saw temperatures rise over 100 °F (38 °C).

The oppressive heat combined with the brutal practice schedule caused many players to drop out of the football program from illness or disgust. The situation was compounded by Bryant refusing to allow water breaks. This practice is now widely recognized as dangerous, but at the time was commonly employed by athletic coaches in an attempt to toughen up their players. The only relief provided the players were two towels soaked in cold water, one to be shared by the offensive players, one for the defense.


2 guys of note on that team Gene Stallings and Jack Pardee

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[Payton34Smith22]

The Program

[CowboyMike]

I love Brian's Song, but I'll take Remember the Titans, We Are Marshall, and Any Given Sunday before it.

They did a remake of Brian's Song with Mehki Phifer and Sean Maher a while back. I was surprised at how good it was.

[blindzebra]

The original Longest Yard and North Dallas Forty.

Varsity Blues was pretty good.

Rudy though is hands down my fav.

[wittenacious]

Just watched Brian's Song again on Netflix. Great show. They're running both the James Caan/ Billy Dee Williams original version — the one I chose to watch again — and a newer version (2001 remake) with Mekhi Phifer & Sean Maher in the lead roles, which I haven't seen.

Added to the list of quality football movies I really like: Friday Night Lights (2004) directed by Peter Berg

[wittenacious]

I love Brian's Song, but I'll take Remember the Titans, We Are Marshall, and Any Given Sunday before it.

They did a remake of Brian's Song with Mehki Phifer and Sean Maher a while back. I was surprised at how good it was.
Just read that you'd seen the remake, CM. Since you said it was good, I'll give it a look-see. I'm normally such a diehard for sticking with something I like in the original form, I don't always give covers or remakes a chance. I'll try getting out of my box, make an exception and give it a shot. :)

[CowboyMike]

Added to the list of quality football movies I really like: Friday Night Lights (2004) directed by Peter Berg

I personally liked the Friday Night Lights series over the movie.

Just read that you'd seen the remake, CM. Since you said it was good, I'll give it a look-see. I'm normally such a diehard for sticking with something I like in the original form, I don't always give covers or remakes a chance. I'll try getting out of my box, make an exception and give it a shot. :)

Yeah it's worth checking out if you're a fan of the original. Visually, it's a better movie simply because of the technology in movie making. The actors do a good job. It can't replace James Caan and Lando Calrissian :) but I thought it was well done.

[Muhast]

I was a football player in We Are Marshall, so I'm a bit partial to that movie.

Also love Any Given Sunday,Remember the Titans, Friday Night Lights,Rudy,North Dallas Forty, Invincible.

[Kilyin]

My name is Brian, and my dad named me after Brian Piccolo. He loved that movie. RIP, both of you.

[The30YardSlant]

North Dallas Forty and Remember the Titans

[gbrittain]

Remember the Titans.

[Hostile]

My name is Brian, and my dad named me after Brian Piccolo. He loved that movie. RIP, both of you.Your Dad rocks. That is a great reason to choose your name. Glad you shared that.

[Hostile]

The original Longest Yard and North Dallas Forty.

Varsity Blues was pretty good.

Rudy though is hands down my fav.Yes!!!!

I have never seen the remake. I don't know that I ever will.

[CowboyMike]

Yes!!!!

I have never seen the remake. I don't know that I ever will.

It's nearly a word for word remake. Pretty true to the original. Just updated as far as settings and humor goes. Plus it has Michael Irvin in it, which is worth it in itself.

[Zordon]

I need to check if I can find that on netflix.

This scene is one of the beautiful pieces of art ever created by man. I get goosebumps every time I see it.

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[rkell87]

Yes!!!!

I have never seen the remake. I don't know that I ever will.

It is great, and Burt Reynolds is in it too.

[trickblue]

Some really good ones mentioned here...

There is also a movie from 1969 called "Number One"... it stars Charlton Heston as the aging QB of the New Orleans Saints...

The Cowboys are featured prominently in the movie as well...

[wittenacious]

It's nearly a word for word remake. Pretty true to the original. Just updated as far as settings and humor goes. Plus it has Michael Irvin in it, which is worth it in itself.
I watched the 2001 remake version of Brian's Song, with Sean Maher and Mekhi Phifer in the lead roles, based on your positive feedback. Like you, I thought it represented itself pretty well.

Talk about, "It's nearly a word for word remake. Pretty true to the original." Certainly applies here, too, w/ very few variations.

[Hostile]

I watched the remake last night. It is good, but the original showcases Piccolo's humor more.

[wittenacious]

I watched the remake last night. It is good, but the original showcases Piccolo's humor more.
I agree. No disrespect to the solid effort Sean Maher turned in, but James Caan was much more charismatic in the role of Brian Piccolo, IMO ... hands down.