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Author Topic: Friday Night Lights (2004) Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 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. This is a nice big waste of time, but there have been far worse movies this year. 2 out of 5 stars  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Fuentes Mmmm, Dr. Pepper! Posts: 1168 From: Corpus Christi, TX United States Registered: Jan 2004 posted 10-07-2004 06:26 AM                     5 out of 5 stars from me.  |  IP: Logged Rich Granata Film Handler Posts: 61 From: Bethlehem PA USA Registered: Mar 2004 posted 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.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 10-07-2004 02:59 PM                     That was due to the camerawork.  |  IP: Logged R. Andrew Diercks Expert Film Handler Posts: 232 From: Marion, Iowa (In the middle of everywhere) Registered: May 2003 posted 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.  |  IP: Logged Don Anderson Master Film Handler Posts: 312 From: West Bend, WI, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 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.  |  IP: Logged Rich Granata Film Handler Posts: 61 From: Bethlehem PA USA Registered: Mar 2004 posted 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 , but I don't think the camera detracted from it too much.  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Fuentes Mmmm, Dr. Pepper! Posts: 1168 From: Corpus Christi, TX United States Registered: Jan 2004 posted 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.  |  IP: Logged Erika McCarty Film Handler Posts: 21 From: McKinney, TX/New Haven, CT Registered: Nov 2003 posted 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.  |  IP: Logged Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 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!  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 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. 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.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 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!) 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  |  IP: Logged Mike Olpin Chop Chop! Posts: 1852 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Jan 2002 posted 10-10-2004 11:02 PM                     A+ for potential, D for execution.  |  IP: Logged Dean Kollet Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 591 From: Florida State University Registered: Jul 2003 posted 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  |  IP: Logged Chad Lindsey Film Handler Posts: 38 From: Ada, OK, USA Registered: Feb 2004 posted 10-12-2004 03:02 AM                     I wish they'd done something different with that camera work, we had 3 cases of 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.  |  IP: Logged

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