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Chris · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 10:04 pm Post subject: Friday Night Lights

I recently rented Friday Night Lights. I am a bit of a sports fan so I thought I would give this movie a try after a friend of mine suggested it. I must admit if it wasn't for Billy Bob Thorton I would never have rented this film and would that would have been a mistake.

This movie was actually good.... thats right a sports movie that was good.

The cast list is as follows:
Billy Bob Thornton .... Coach Gary Gaines
Lucas Black .... Mike Winchell
Garrett Hedlund .... Don Billingsley
Derek Luke .... Boobie Miles
Jay Hernandez .... Brian Chavez
Lee Jackson .... Ivory Christian
Lee Thompson Young .... Chris Comer
Tim McGraw .... Charles Billingsley
Grover Coulson .... L.V. Miles
Connie Britton .... Sharon Gaines
Connie Cooper .... Mrs. Winchell
Kasey Stevens .... Flippy
Ryanne Duzich .... Melissa
Amber Heard .... Maria
Morgan Farris .... Jennifer Gaines

As you can see this is not a big name cast list so I was skeptical as to how good it can be. Country music star Tim McGraw was actually good in his role as Charles Billingsley.

Basic premise of Friday Night Lights:
The movie is centered on the high school football team Odessa Permians. This movie casts a dark view on high school football, showing the unhealthy view of the football program in Odessa Texas. We see parents that demand that their kids win. They put pressure on them and it takes the fun out of the game. We see parental figures who know that their only way out of poverty is solely on the shoulders of their children... they put unwanted pressure on the kids to perform better and even worse encourage them to play even when there is risk of severe career or life threatening injury.
The Permians are a team that looks like they can win the state championships they have star runningback L.V. Miles who looks unstoppable. During the second game of the season an incident happens that looks like the Permians are going to be unable to make the state finals.

I found this movie very good. It kind of resembles the movie Varisty Blues in plot but it is different enough to make it interesting. Well acted, decent story and a scary look into high school football reality makes this worth the rental.

I enjoyed it.