(Please pardon lack of detail to keep spoilers modest.)
Woodlawn tells an amazing, true story of black and white people embracing change and each other as they also embrace God, while working to transform haters of all types, using a football team as the delivery mechanism.
Woodlawn High School of Birmingham, Alabama has been forced to integrate (mix white and black students), leading to anger on all sides (but for different reasons). The football team takes on some black players including Tony Nathan, an impressive runner. The lackluster team's hard-edged coach reluctantly allows a "religious nut" to speak to his team amidst the racial tension. The result? The team chooses to stand with one another in unity and love amidst the racial tension surrounding them. But in the jet-wash of this transformation come intense new attacks from all sides, within and without -- including indirectly from Governor George Wallace, a key inspiration for racism in Alabama at the time, who subsequently tried to cover it up by shamelessly using a black player. Will the team, and new potential star Tony, be able to keep together the commitment to "do something bigger than yourself?"
This movie has some seriously good talent. Jon Voight and Sean Astin deliver like the professionals they are, and -- pleasant surprise -- the rest of the cast deliver as well. Further, there was interesting use of old footage from the time period, and the contemplative well- spokenness of the black community at the time is thought-provoking. Modern Christian films are improving as a lot, but not homogeneously, so you have to watch for one failed aspect (such as cinematography, writing, acting, or direction) dragging down otherwise good elements; however, during the the film and even after post-credits contemplation I was unable to come up with any material flaw.
Personally, I found this story and the way the film tells it engrossing. Brokenness can be beautiful; truth can be touching. This country, so tragically in the midst of lies about racial animus, as well as about our individual identities, needs a fresh injection of healing truth and reality. This film is medicine for the soul, and its surprising viewpoint may inoculate viewers against those trying to divide this country along racial lines.
Touchdown, Woodlawn!
Woodlawn tells an amazing, true story of black and white people embracing change and each other as they also embrace God, while working to transform haters of all types, using a football team as the delivery mechanism.
Woodlawn High School of Birmingham, Alabama has been forced to integrate (mix white and black students), leading to anger on all sides (but for different reasons). The football team takes on some black players including Tony Nathan, an impressive runner. The lackluster team's hard-edged coach reluctantly allows a "religious nut" to speak to his team amidst the racial tension. The result? The team chooses to stand with one another in unity and love amidst the racial tension surrounding them. But in the jet-wash of this transformation come intense new attacks from all sides, within and without -- including indirectly from Governor George Wallace, a key inspiration for racism in Alabama at the time, who subsequently tried to cover it up by shamelessly using a black player. Will the team, and new potential star Tony, be able to keep together the commitment to "do something bigger than yourself?"
This movie has some seriously good talent. Jon Voight and Sean Astin deliver like the professionals they are, and -- pleasant surprise -- the rest of the cast deliver as well. Further, there was interesting use of old footage from the time period, and the contemplative well- spokenness of the black community at the time is thought-provoking. Modern Christian films are improving as a lot, but not homogeneously, so you have to watch for one failed aspect (such as cinematography, writing, acting, or direction) dragging down otherwise good elements; however, during the the film and even after post-credits contemplation I was unable to come up with any material flaw.
Personally, I found this story and the way the film tells it engrossing. Brokenness can be beautiful; truth can be touching. This country, so tragically in the midst of lies about racial animus, as well as about our individual identities, needs a fresh injection of healing truth and reality. This film is medicine for the soul, and its surprising viewpoint may inoculate viewers against those trying to divide this country along racial lines.
Touchdown, Woodlawn!