I saw The Winning Season at Sundance. It was sweet and heartwarming. Sam Rockwell is the lead and he does a good job playing the Bad New Bears like coach. The winner here is Emma Roberts. I am admittedly a fan so I am biased. But I do wish there was more Emma in this film. That was my only disappointment. Otherwise it is a typical feel good film with all the big moments you would expect. Nicely done. I am not a big sports fan so maybe it didn't resonate with me as much as I would have liked. But in Sundance you never know what to expect when walking into a film. This was definitely an interesting film to play but I lean more towards the more realistic films in general. The films that are really great but never make it to my town. This one, I have a feeling will be seen by many.
Reviews
2 Reviews
Lymelife
(2008)
Emma Roberts Fanatic
2 February 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Lymelife - while watching this film I kept hearing the song from Grease, good bye Sandra Dee when it came to Emma Roberts. I have no idea how she wound up in this film but it is the best thing she could have chosen. Emma plays a role that she would never dare do in a Disney film. It is as convincing as it is riveting. In this film she shows a side of herself that the public has never seen. She is funny, sad, smart and finding her sexuality all on screen. There must have been a fairy with magic dust on the set because she is obviously becoming one of the best actresses of her generation. There is a very brave scene toward the end that she shines in. She loses her virginity and it is painful, awkward, funny and beautiful. As a fan, I can't say enough about her. However, there are so many great performances in this film that there is never a dull moment. Rory Culkin and his obsessive longing for her feels so real. I wish I had a cute guy like that longing after me when I was Emma's age. And Kieran Culkin who is the love of my life is outstanding. He is tough but weak. I know that doesn't make sense but you have to see it to understand. Alec Baldwin is hilarious and really, really, sad. His performance may be the best thing about this film. Baldwin is in a bar with Timothy Hutton where they have a scene that is so freaking awkward and funny that it's hard to explain in words. Baldwin takes all of Hutton's verbal jabs with a stoic awkwardness I have never seen on film. It is truly amazing to watch. The ending disturbed me. It was torturous. I can't think of another word to describe it. Pure torture. Oh god! What a movie.
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