Faded Boxers

Much as I can’t recommend Friday Night Lights to my friends, I’m beginning to appreciate its defiant stand against the crowd pleasing formula of the sports movie. It doesn’t glorify the game scenes, it spends too much time on character development, and the end was pretty anticlimactic.

I keep wondering how this movie was pitched to the studio execs:

—–

Friday Night Lights Writer: I got a story for ya.

Studio Exec: Hit me with it Jim.

FNLW: Actually my name is…

SE: Stop wasting time Jim, let’s get to it!

FNLW: It’s a sports movie, it’s about this team from a small town…

SE: I love it already! Go ahead and do it! Julie, give this man a cigar. And I need a blowjob. Now hop to it!

Several Months later…

FNLW: You wanted to see me sir?

SE: Jim, I have a little problem with your movie.

FNLW: Yes?

SE: They don’t win at the end.

FNLW: (Starting to get nervous) No sir they don’t.

SE: HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO SELL THIS FILM IF THEY DON’T WIN IN THE END?!

FNLW: Well sir, that’s really not the poin…

SE: NOT THE POINT?! It’s a sports movie for CHRISSAKE! I want them to win dammit! People will only pay if the team wins!

FNLW: Well the real team on which this movie is based on didn’t win either.

SE: (coldly) It was based on a true story?

FNLW: Yes sir it is.

SE: Why would anyone tell a story about a team that didn’t win?

FNLW: Well sir, the movie starts with them being the town heroes. It shows the lives of these team players and how the town’s obsession with sports affect their lives.

SE: (Growing pale) And that’s the whole point of the movie?

FNLW: Y…yes sir.

SE: I hate you Jim.

FNLW: Actually sir my name is…

SE: GETOUT!
—–

When I saw Friday Night Lights last year, I didn’t think much of it. But now I’m starting to see it in a different light. I came in expecting to see human beings become heroes. Instead I got to see heroes stripped of their team jackets and exposed as the vulnerable human beings that they are. Maybe that isn’t so bad.