We Are Marshall Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
From the ashes we rose
A true story
When a plane crash claims the lives of members of the Marshall University football team and some of its fans, the team's new coach (McConaughey) and his surviving players try to keep the football program alive.
| Matthew McConaughey | Jack Lengyel |
| Matthew Fox | Red Dawson |
| Anthony Mackie | Nate Ruffin |
| David Strathairn | President Donald Dedmon |
| Ian McShane | Paul Griffen |
| Kate Mara | Annie Cantrell |
| January Jones | Carol Dawson |
| Kimberly Williams | Sandy Lengyel |
| Arlen Escarpeta | Reggie Oliver |
| Robert Patrick | Marshall Coach |
| Brian Geraghty | Tom Bogdan |
| Tommy Cresswell | Gene Morehouse |
| Christian Kanupke | Young Keith Morehouse |
| Nina Jones | Mrs. Morehouse |
| Kevin Atkins | George Olson |
| McG |
7.20 out of 10 (5926 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Excellent movie
posted on 15 Aug 2009This movie has it all. You will laugh and you will cry. To call this a sports movie is not at all accurate, as it is about the resurgence of a community and it's beloved team. As goes the football program, so goes this community. It's as if they are one.When the crash occurs, the city is just as devastated as the team. While the football program lost most of it's players and coaches, the city lost doctors, teachers, fans, and the like.It is about the story of the city and the university being steadfast and, together, deciding that it must strap on the boots and take the first step forward. The results are amazing.The human spirit is portrait in a most positive light in the film. Like the proverbial Phoenix, this is a real life rise from the ashes. And, oh yes, It's all true.
strong acting,but just a bit too long and a little slow at times
posted on 15 Aug 2009this is a pretty terrific movie.the acting is great there's tons of action,and there are even a few touches of lite humour.the movie is also very touching,and heartrending,especially near the beginning.it's hard to watch without becoming emotional since the movie is so intense.it's a true story about hope and faith and battling against the odds.but it doesn't hit you over the head with sentimentality,at least i didn't think so.there were probably some dramatic liberties taken to make the story more appealing for the contemporary audience,but i'm sure the gist of the story is accurate and intact.the only minor negative things i can say about this movie is that i felt it was too long and a bit slow at times.it can also be quite depressing,though that's too be expected due to the subject matter.still you prepare yourself for that.otherwise this is a movie well worth watching.i give We Are Marshall a strong 8.5/10
I was totally captivated by this movie.
posted on 13 Aug 2009"We are Marshall" was one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. The story was told with both passion and compassion and everyone in it did a good job playing their role. I was a young wife and mother when this happened and had forgotten about it until the movie came out. Kudos to the young man who played "Ruffin", the team captain, and the gentleman who played the College President. In my opinion they both absolutely nailed those characters. It would be nice to see them recognized for those vital supporting roles. The audience in the theater we went to rose to leave when the movie ended and the credits started to role, but stopped and stood to watch as the photos of the original characters alongside their actor counterparts were displayed. Everyone was mezmerized. One can only hope that more movies of this quality will be provided for the consuming public.
If it Wasn't Based on a True Story, It Would Have Totally Sucked
posted on 01 Aug 2009This was an average sports flick, except for the fact that the football was poorly researched (in 1971 calling a timeout after a first down would have been redundant), and that I was distracted every time somebody said "N-C two A," which happened at least twice a scene. This film had too many characters whom you expected to have pivotal parts but never amounted to anything and none of the characters had any depth until it was too late. The camera-work and all around cinematography were cheap and cliché, with many shots not showing anything of significance and some being downright nauseating. While the story moved fine and I stayed interested, I felt nothing because the movie tried to go in too many directions. It's worth seeing if you know nothing of the real-life tragedy, but overall it's not a great movie.
Lack of credits for Atlanta and Atlanta crew
posted on 24 Jul 2009The media has portrayed this film as being shot in Huntington, west Virginia. Out of a twelve week shoot 3 weeks were shot there, mainly exterior establishing shots. nine weeks of shooting were done in Atlanta, Georgia. Nonetheless, in the credits Huntington was thanked, but no mention of Atlanta. I have seen publicity photos saying that they are in Huntington but in actuality they are in Georgia.I also have a problem about screen credits. Myself and many others worked hard on this film for three to five months. I lost thirty-five pounds working on it. Many of my co-workers and myself did not receive screen credit.It was a very hard show. My hat is off to McG, who is a joy to be around. Everyone I know who has seen the film has enjoyed it tremendously. The consensus is that the sets looked great. I just wish we had been treated a little better.
Saw it: Loved it:
posted on 22 Jul 2009I grew up in Huntington, so this movie really hit home. This tragedy really effected me because my Dr. and his wife were on that plane. I now live in Dunedin, Fl near Clearwater. Since there are quite a few families from Huntington in this area we were honored with a private viewing at a local theater last night. This movie kept us crying and cheering as the same time. At the end of the movie no one got up and left until the screen went dark. It was so quiet, except for some of us still quietly crying, you could hear a pin drop. This beautiful story was told with honor and dignity to Marshall and the people of Huntington. The actors didn't seem like they were acting, but were the people they were portraying. The photography, the quality and the love that went into this movie will last a lifetime. We are so honored to have one of the best University and City in the country. Let always remember that. Oh, by the way women and men, don't forget to bring lots of tissues, you will need them. And as always: WE ARE MARSHALL _________________ Rosemary S.M.
UK non USA football fan
posted on 16 Jul 2009loved the film and the closeness of it all always amazes me when i see small towns so behind it,s sports team ,true or Hollywood ideals i have no idea was weird seeing ian mckshane as an American (the one post who dissed him about the stone look and the thousand mile stare has never lost some thing so precious and i hope they never do lost a baby girl and believe me i have a cracking son and a grt partner but i do some times slip into that stare myself and life is gone and the "what if" controls the mind) but still cant see him and a yank mc as coach in the clip i saw he took the part well and gave it a world of cliché,s that some peoples life are but he did it with heart in the UK i have no idea if it will do well but i enjoyed lots!! and yes i do suspend disbelief in films i,m here to be entertained and for the most suspend my anachronisms and cynical approach to life hey i can still listen to the bard if i really want to escape into real fantasy !!
We Are Marshall
posted on 08 Jul 2009As a ex player of Marshall and a W.Va. native I through it told the story well. As a young man I remember the accent and the pain of the people of W.Va. It was hard to keep a dry eye through the movie. Also If anyone knows how to get in touch with Reggie Oliver please him know Wild Bill is trying to get hold of him. He use to refer to me and the other Def. Tackle as the Big Mc attacks because my last name is McCourt and the other tackle was McCoy. Ask him to drop me a line at will23234@aol.com. Would love to catch on life with him. Thanks to anyone who can help, Wild Bill. P.S. Please tell all your friends that We Are Marshall is one of the best movies that anyone could want to see that is really a true story. GO HERD
A Movie About The Human Spirit
posted on 02 Jul 2009In this post 9-11 world we need to remember the good and moral qualities we possess as humans. Therefore, I believe only someone made of stone would not see the story of Marshall University and Huntington, W.V. as a great true example of the uplifting human spirit we should all let rise to the top in us.That said, how is the movie? Simply put...Sincere and impressive! I think the actors, especially Matthew McConaughey as head coach Jack Lengyel, depict what happened in very real terms so as you feel you're watching those people. I wasn't sure McConaughey had it in him to do such a moving portrayal...Bravo! Matthew Fox also does well, but he is doing "intense with conflict" which is what he does so well on Lost, thus his acting was not nearly as impressive as McConaugheys.I recommend this movie to everyone regardless of age, race, and gender. What Marshall University did was so important and how the movie represents it is so touching...It's one movie I wish for all of humanity to absorb so that our world might be, like Marshall University, the best we can be.
Amazing - We ARE Marshall
posted on 16 Jun 2009I saw We Are Marshall last night for my 17th birthday. I have to say that although I had a little bit of background knowledge about the crash, I didn't really know the whole story. We Are Marshall portrayed the storyline in a passionate, intense way that I will never forget.My friend Paige Winters died in the Comair plane crash in Kentucky in August, so the movie brought back a flood of emotions surrounding that, but it drew me in from the start. Matt Fox and Matthew McConaughey and the rest of the cast did an excellent job of making the audience feel as though the story was actually happening as it was being watched.Don't go to see this movie expecting a peppy, Remember-the-Titans-esquire sports movie. If you don't know anything about sports, it doesn't matter. Instead, I suggest that you see the movie thinking about your family and friends and what matters most. It's not about right or wrong. Sometimes winning is everything, but this movie brings a whole new perspective to the table.We Are Marshall definitely wins my vote for the Oscars. It's not just another movie, and it's not just another football story. If you've seen Matt Fox in Lost or Matthew McConaughey in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days... forget all of that.This is a story for the ages and a kind of movie we don't see very often anymore. It's not violent or fake or fluffy - it's real.
Good flick
posted on 04 Jun 2009As sick as I am of football flicks this year I must admit I rather enjoyed this film. Mainly because of the great performance of its lead. He does a great job as the weird coach that is so offbeat and positive that this town that is healing from the biggest tragedy it has ever known,just does not know have to take him. Mcg also proves he can direct something that is not flashy and slick. It will be a great film for families to see together and it does a good job pulling on the old heartstrings. Matthew Fox also does great as the assistant coach who lived through it all and has many demons to face. WE ARE MARSHELL is the best film of its kind since Remember the Titans.
poignant
posted on 04 Jun 2009Very poignant movie. You will like this movie whether or not you are a football fan. The costumes are authentic for the early 70's. The foot ball scenes are good. You don't have to understand football to appreciate this film. It is more than about football. It deals with the aftermath of the crash. Ian McShane who plays in the movie is from Eangland but does not have a British accent. How can they do it.This shows that the acting in this movie is good. Marshall university is little known outside of the Ohio Valley. I wonder if that will increase their enrollment with students from around the country. It probably will for the next few years
A Must See
posted on 31 May 2009This film was everything I thought it would be... and then some.Matthew Mc put out the finest performance of his relatively short career. Many Triumph/Tragedy stories fall short, but this one delivers.I rank this above other great football flicks such as Rudy, Remember the Titans and Friday Night Lights.My first clue that this was going to be a good film was when I read the poor reviews by some of the dolts who make a living writing about films they don't see, much less understand.If you only see one film this holiday season, consider "We Are Marshall". You may never look at another college football game in the same way again.
Moving and surreal
posted on 31 May 2009This is a good film, but it's especially poignant, moving, and even surreal for those of us who attended Marhall University. I graduated from Marshall in 1983, which means I wasn't there during the year of the tragic plane crash or the subsequent year that's the focus of this movie. But no one can attend MU and not be aware of, and affected by the legacy of that team. There are annual memorials, and the landscape of the campus is itself a memorial to those fallen athletes and their associates. And the Marshall football team achieved such stellar success in the 90's, just two decades after having been decimated, that the story of the Thundering Herd demanded to be brought to the silver screen. In fact, over the past few years, as I relate to friends the amazing comeback of the Marshall football program, I have often said that it seems like something out of a movie. So it's about time somebody made a movie about it. The film's final line, "from the ashes, we rose" is perfectly appropriate. During my freshman year at Marshall, the Herd won the first game of the season--and lost all the rest. That was typical Marshall football. In 1984, the whole city was delirious over the team's first winning season. So when the team went on to win two Division IAA national championships, then dominate the MAC in division IA and win several bowl games, producing back-to-back Heismann trophy candidates, (Randy Moss and Chad Pennington) in the process, it just seemed like something out of fairy tale. Something from a movie. And that brings me to the surreal aspect of watching this film. I've never seen a movie before that was filmed entire on location in a town in which I had lived. From the first sequence showing the steel mill adjacent to the campus to the epilogue including a closeup of Keith Morehouse (with whom I worked at WSAZ TV for three years), the entire film just felt surreal. I kept noticing familiar scenes and names. Places I'd been, walked, studied, lounged, and loved. The scene between Nate and Tom where Tom tells him about his misgivings was filmed on the seventh floor of Harris Hall, right above the art department where I spent most of my time obtaining my B.F.A. in commercial art. The floodwall is a place I've walked on sunny days. I've played on the basketball court outside the Twin Towers where the wide receiver was recruited. I watched the movie with my family and it was difficult for us to see it without constantly acknowledging these points of contact. I kept shushing my wife, as she pointed out to our children places we'd been and people we know. But by the end of the film, I was doing it too. Besides being hauntingly familiar, the movie was emotionally powerful. The performances of McConughey,(as Coach Lengyel) Straitharn (as Dr. Dedmon), and Anthonie Mackie (as Nate Ruffin) were so intense I came close to sobbing more than once. To say this film is a tearjerker is an understatement. I cannot imagine the impact it will have on those who lived through it.And based on being true to fact, I do have one nitpick. The "We are Marshall chant" for which the film is named, was not done properly. The chant is a tradition from the football stadium in which Herd fans on one side of the stadium will chant "We Are..." and the fans on the opposite side will respond "MARSHALL!". It is not done in rapid-fire succession as shown in the crowd scene in the film. It has a slow and powerful cadence that reverberates from one side of the field to the other inspiring the fans and the team and intimidating visitors. The impact of that chant is dredged up from the double inferiority complex that underlies Marhall's communal identity. It's a small university in a state that nobody respects where it plays second fiddle to the state's only well known university, WVU. This "red-headed stepchild" status was alluded to in the film but it couldn't really be communicated that well in the overall scheme of the film's agenda. It's hard to fully understand the resonance of that chant unless you've grown up in WEST (by God) Virginia, which most Americans don't recognize as a separate state and attended a university that continually gets passed over for funding and recognition (WVU is the only West Virginia university with a law school. Therefore, the state legislature continues to award it a disproportionate share of state revenue and resources). In short, America doesn't respect West Virginia and West Virginia doesn't respect Marshall University. That double underdog mentality is what makes Marshall fans' chant so powerful and binding. It's a chant of identity and defiance. We are NOT a bunch of ignorant hillbillies. We are NOT an insignificant school lost in the shadow of WVU. We are...MARSHALL!So, as a Marshall alum, and a 20 year resident of Huntington, WV, I obviously cannot offer an objective review of this film. But I can say that if you want to see an honest portrayal of one of college football's most amazing stories, go see We Are Marshall.
This football team's dedication to honor those lost..lives on in remembrance.
posted on 25 May 2009I just got done seeing this movie, and I must say I loved it. I have never really liked anything that had to do with football..until i saw this movie. Being from Ohio, I can say I know each place mentioned in this movie. This movie literally brought me to tears. I can see the truth behind this movie and it left me speechless. It was so sad..knowing that what i was watching was a true thing. That it really happened. I have sympathy to those who lost a loved on in this plane crash. The truth behind this true story will always be remembered. This movie is inspiring and has a sad remembrance to it. What is there to say? They are Marshall.
"We Are Marshall"
posted on 23 May 2009one word.. WOW this was such a great movie.. i recommend it to everyone. even teens.. I was just going in the theater to see another movie that i thought would be really good because i love football movies.. and little did i know that this was going to be the best movie i have ever seen. when i left that theater tears were still falling down my face. The whole theater stayed until the end even after you think the movie is over there's more. so def stay for it. the movie is really good and then the ending tops it off. this is a true story and when they are playing football it feels like your really there. i take my hat off to all the young men, the coaches, and to everyone of those 75 people that died that day when the airplane crash. i am sorry to all friends and family of those wonderful people. this is a must see movie. #1 in my book. "WE ARE" "MARSHALL" god bless!
the best film I've ever seen !!!!
posted on 09 May 2009all i can say about this film is WOW !! never really been a fan of American football but what a film the acting is 2nd to none, every single actor in this film played there part brilliantly, how the critics could slam this film is totally beyond me. the story line basically is about American football team based in the 70's (marshall university) end of the season there is a plane crash which kills 75 players,staff and fans, to cut a long story short, the president of the club is left in charge to set up a new team he brings in a new coach and it all starts from there, a brand new squad of freshman is brought in (1st team in history to be all freshman less 3 players, this film is basically about heart and passion, picking themselves up from the ashes and fighting for the town and departed friends, all in all this film is superb, i don't think a true story sports film will ever come close to this, well done to all those involved, i had tears in my eyes the whole way through it and ur just sat there thinking about the people that were killed, this is a true story it all actually happened and thats what makes it so compelling, anyway a film for all ages this will leave u with an open mouth WATCH THIS FILM OVER AND OVER AGAIN !!!
Not just a sports movie
posted on 03 May 2009Wonderful movie! Probably the best we have seen this year. Matthew McConaughey was just great. The movie was emotionally uplifting and draining at the same time. My wife said she can't remember going to a movie that she cried from beginning to end, yet still loved the movie. We usually never stay for the credits but they are even worth seeing in this movie. They show photos of the original players and coaches next to the actors. VERY WELL DONE movie. Totally enjoyable and not even a swear in the whole thing. I listen to Mike and the Maddog in NY and heard that on the anniversary of the plane crash this year the team had airplane trouble at the very same time that the original team did. Wild!
I'm not titling this review "WE ARE........MARSHALL". Why? Cause it's clichéd...
posted on 23 Apr 2009Upon seeing the trailer for this film, a common thought must have been "Oh man, not another football movie." Indeed, ever since Remember the Titans, a flood (or dare I say…a blitz?) of football movies have hit the theaters in the last few years. And not just football, there have been plenty of sports films recently that could all be filed under the "cheesy inspirational underdog-goes-gold sport movie" category. Sadly, We Are Marshall is doomed to fall under this very same category and be filed away with so many other generic sports flicks (I'm looking at you, Miracle). However, in my opinion, I don't think this is fair, because to spite what it may seem, this isn't so much a sports movie as it is a drama with football as the main plot device to drive the story. We Are Marshall is different than your standard drama/sports movie. The characters in this movie are not fighting to overcome a problem in order to win; they are fighting to overcome a problem in order to survive. While that may seem like a very minor difference, for this movie, it's all the difference it needs.In case you aren't aware, here's your standard generic plot summary thrown into the review to lead into my thoughts on the story: We Are Marshall is a true story based on the events that happened in the small West Virginia town of Huntington, where 75 of the Marshall University's football players, coaches, and and various supporters and staff all tragically die when their plane carrying them home from a game clips a tree on decent and crashes, killing all on board. The four remaining members of the team and the only remaining coach are left to grieve with the rest of the town. But when the school board of Marshall debates to end the football program at the school, coach Jack Lengyel from Wooster Ohio (yeehee! I know that town!) decides he wants to try to help the town back on its feet by taking up the open head coaching position. The rest of the movie depicts the various struggles each of the more prominent characters go through with the continuation of the program and the ever present memories of the crash.The story line is not generic, to spite how it may seem. While the majority of the movie is indeed football related scenes (coaches talking about tactics, practices, games, etc.), as I said before, the story is really not about the football, it is all about the characters themselves. In fact, a major subplot involving the head of the school board and a fiancé to one of the boys killed in the crash has very little to do with the football aspect of the movie at all. Character development is what drives this story home and terrific performances by all the actors helps to paint and very emotional picture that can bring anyone to tears. Each of the characters display different ways of deal with the grief they feel, and each one of them is terrifically human and it's easy to identify with one (if not all) of them. If anything you can call the football in this story a metaphor for the town or else just the main characters. As was said in the movie, it wasn't about winning the game, it was about bringing the town's spirit back. The football was only really just a way to do this.The shinning star though is the character of Jack Lengyel (played brilliantly by Matthew McConaughey) who is, interestingly enough, a comic relief character but also the lead role which carries a good amount of the dramatic scenes. The character of Jack is both heartfelt but very eccentric (almost to the point of general silliness) and the combination of both these traits in one character is seamless and wonderfully played out. Though admittedly Jack's character goes through the least amount of development in the film (and for good reason, he's the only main character that has no emotional ties to the crash once so ever), he was easily one of the most interesting to watch.The only thing I could really gripe about for this movie was that certain aspects of it I didn't feel were explored enough. Namely, I thought the other three surviving members of the football team, apart from main character Nate Ruffin, could have used more face time and story. In fact, there were a few different team members that got little to no story once so ever. This is understandable in a sense, as it would have distracted from the focus on the main character's development, but the random background characters that we kept seeing but knew nothing about became a tad bit annoying close to the end especially when the final game was won by a character we had seen briefly only once before.Other than that, this movie was perfect on all levels. The music, the acting, it was all top notch. We Are Marshall is a great, very tasteful drama that will leave you speechless with its powerful (uncliched) story and incredibly human characters (as it did to me, my friend, and the entire theater). I beg of you, please don't shelf this film with the rest of the football flicks. It's so much more; give it a shot before you compare it to Radio or Invincible or Friday Night Lights or Remember the Titans or Gridiron Gang or Rudy or The Longest Yard (you get the idea).….oh, why not? WE ARE…MARSHALL!!
We Are ... Marshall is a must see
posted on 23 Aug 2009As a parent of an existing student at MU, I feel every currently enrolled student, potential future student and their parents should see this film. Prior to my daughter's enrollment at MU, I had no idea of this tragedy. Even though one of the assistant coaches killed lived 5 minutes from me. In my daughter's years so far at MU, I've learned MU stands for tradition, history, and pride. This film depicts that in a most inspiring way. Matthew Fox deserves an award for his portrayal of Coach Red Dawson. Matthew McC. brings Coach Lengyel's personality alive on the big screen. The Director, McG, truly captured the emotion of the entire town. After seeing this film, I will never sit at that football stadium again without feeling the presence of 75 people looking down upon that field and smiling.I have never been in a theater where complete silence occurred. Within 10 minutes of the start of the movie, the only sounds you heard were the sniffles of the audience. Yes, its tragic but this movie shows you never let the "licks" life hands you get the best of you and win. Not only on the football field but in real life. Go see the movie but bring tissues.