Jason KingLEATHERHEADS (2008)
May 27th 2008 09:15
LEATHERHEADS (2008) $13.50
I expected a stupid sport's film that had been made a few million times before but got something completely different. I got a period romance, comedy, drama, noir film.
IIn 1925, Dodge Connolly is a charming, brash football hero who is determined to guide his team from bar brawls to packed stadiums. But after the players lose their sponsor and the entire league faces certain collapse, Dodge convinces a college football star to join his ragtag ranks. The captain hopes his latest move will help the struggling sport finally capture the country's attention. Welcome to the team Carter Rutherford, America's favorite son. A golden-boy war hero who single-handedly forced multiple German soldiers to surrender in WWI, Carter has dashing good looks and unparalleled speed on the field. This new champ is almost too good to be true, and Lexie Littleton aims to prove that's the case. A cub journalist playing in the big leagues, Lexie is a spitfire newswoman who suspects there are holes in Carter's war story. But while she digs, the two teammates start to become serious off-field rivals for her fickle affections. As the new game of pro-football becomes less like the freewheeling sport he knew and loved, Dodge must both fight to keep his guys together and to get the girl of his dreams. Finding that love and football have a surprisingly similar playbook, however, he has one maneuver he will save just for the fourth quarter.
I had read a few reviews prior to watching this stating that Clooney had finally lost it and compared to his other directing gigs this was by far the weakest and the worst. I am flabbergasted (always wanted to use this word) at such comments and believe the reviewers in question did not look beyond the surface and what was achieved. The film is a superb recreation of the era. With directing, his attention to detail is meticulous and the only error I saw that Clooney made in this film was shooting it in color. As a black and white film this film would have captured the essence more. As an actor, this film was too easy for Clooney and Zellweger, they walk through this film like it was a weekend project, but this is a compliment. Watching these guys spark off each other is fantastic and the comedy of the film is so well done. If they weren't in it, this film would probably not be worth watching. There is one scene where George and Renee have to run away from an illegal alcohol venue (prohibition time) that needed to be done in silence with the sped up filming and piano music playing - similar to Charlie Chaplin. This supports my whole black and white theory I am SURE!
John Krasinski is great in this film, although his comedic talents were ignored. John is best known as Jim from the US version of "The Office" where his talents shine. He also brings another great looking man to the screen, a surprise because I don't see any great looks while watching "The Office" - prob the whole "geek" thing. I just don't understand how Clooney gets better looking with age. Poor Harrison Ford - in the looks department Clooney kicks that whip wielding butt. Another surprise casting was good old Aussie Jack Thompson as editor of the paper Zellweger's character works for, it is a small insignificant part but great to see him on the big screen again.
The character Jimmy "Dodge" Connolly (Clooney's character) is based on the life of Johnny "Blood" McNally who played for multiple NFL teams from 1925 to 1938. From 1926-1927 he played for the Duluth Eskimos and later won four World Championships with the Green Bay Packers. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The film, in fact, is loosely based on the Duluth Eskimos of the 1920s and how they essentially saved the NFL. However, in the film, the team uses the name Duluth Bulldogs. In an interview on The Late Show with David Letterman, Clooney mentioned the plot is loosely based on George Halas's signing of University of Illinois football star Harold "Red" Grange. Grange was signed to a contract with the Chicago Bears in 1925, the day after his final game at Illinois. The script was written by longtime Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly and his former magazine colleague, Duncan Brantley.
This is an historic film with fun-silly, comedy that I surprisingly enjoyed, but I think anyone can get comfy watching Clooney, especially when he has the talented Zellweger to bounce off. The cinematography is brilliant but like I said earlier would look f*&king brilliant in black and white. LOL. This is a film to take your mum or dad too, or even the grandparents. It is timeless comedy telling a fabulous, so far, untold historic story. This one's worth a deserved $13.50.
As an aside - we will miss you Sydney Pollack - the Executive Producer of this film I watched the day you passed. Not your best but it had your mark mixed with your fine friend George's who you worked so well with on Micheal Clayton. RIP and thanks for the great life's work.
I expected a stupid sport's film that had been made a few million times before but got something completely different. I got a period romance, comedy, drama, noir film.
IIn 1925, Dodge Connolly is a charming, brash football hero who is determined to guide his team from bar brawls to packed stadiums. But after the players lose their sponsor and the entire league faces certain collapse, Dodge convinces a college football star to join his ragtag ranks. The captain hopes his latest move will help the struggling sport finally capture the country's attention. Welcome to the team Carter Rutherford, America's favorite son. A golden-boy war hero who single-handedly forced multiple German soldiers to surrender in WWI, Carter has dashing good looks and unparalleled speed on the field. This new champ is almost too good to be true, and Lexie Littleton aims to prove that's the case. A cub journalist playing in the big leagues, Lexie is a spitfire newswoman who suspects there are holes in Carter's war story. But while she digs, the two teammates start to become serious off-field rivals for her fickle affections. As the new game of pro-football becomes less like the freewheeling sport he knew and loved, Dodge must both fight to keep his guys together and to get the girl of his dreams. Finding that love and football have a surprisingly similar playbook, however, he has one maneuver he will save just for the fourth quarter.
I had read a few reviews prior to watching this stating that Clooney had finally lost it and compared to his other directing gigs this was by far the weakest and the worst. I am flabbergasted (always wanted to use this word) at such comments and believe the reviewers in question did not look beyond the surface and what was achieved. The film is a superb recreation of the era. With directing, his attention to detail is meticulous and the only error I saw that Clooney made in this film was shooting it in color. As a black and white film this film would have captured the essence more. As an actor, this film was too easy for Clooney and Zellweger, they walk through this film like it was a weekend project, but this is a compliment. Watching these guys spark off each other is fantastic and the comedy of the film is so well done. If they weren't in it, this film would probably not be worth watching. There is one scene where George and Renee have to run away from an illegal alcohol venue (prohibition time) that needed to be done in silence with the sped up filming and piano music playing - similar to Charlie Chaplin. This supports my whole black and white theory I am SURE!
John Krasinski is great in this film, although his comedic talents were ignored. John is best known as Jim from the US version of "The Office" where his talents shine. He also brings another great looking man to the screen, a surprise because I don't see any great looks while watching "The Office" - prob the whole "geek" thing. I just don't understand how Clooney gets better looking with age. Poor Harrison Ford - in the looks department Clooney kicks that whip wielding butt. Another surprise casting was good old Aussie Jack Thompson as editor of the paper Zellweger's character works for, it is a small insignificant part but great to see him on the big screen again.
The character Jimmy "Dodge" Connolly (Clooney's character) is based on the life of Johnny "Blood" McNally who played for multiple NFL teams from 1925 to 1938. From 1926-1927 he played for the Duluth Eskimos and later won four World Championships with the Green Bay Packers. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The film, in fact, is loosely based on the Duluth Eskimos of the 1920s and how they essentially saved the NFL. However, in the film, the team uses the name Duluth Bulldogs. In an interview on The Late Show with David Letterman, Clooney mentioned the plot is loosely based on George Halas's signing of University of Illinois football star Harold "Red" Grange. Grange was signed to a contract with the Chicago Bears in 1925, the day after his final game at Illinois. The script was written by longtime Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly and his former magazine colleague, Duncan Brantley.
This is an historic film with fun-silly, comedy that I surprisingly enjoyed, but I think anyone can get comfy watching Clooney, especially when he has the talented Zellweger to bounce off. The cinematography is brilliant but like I said earlier would look f*&king brilliant in black and white. LOL. This is a film to take your mum or dad too, or even the grandparents. It is timeless comedy telling a fabulous, so far, untold historic story. This one's worth a deserved $13.50.
As an aside - we will miss you Sydney Pollack - the Executive Producer of this film I watched the day you passed. Not your best but it had your mark mixed with your fine friend George's who you worked so well with on Micheal Clayton. RIP and thanks for the great life's work.
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Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
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Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Current Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
Comment by Carrie Deane
Comment by Kim L
Diving About
especially when he has the talented Zellweger to bounce off.
Haha!!! (a bit immature of me, I know...)
I, like Morgan, tend to avoid football movies... I also try to avoid George Clooney movies..
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
LOL Kim - thanks, I have wanted to use flabbergasted for ages and just got to use it again. YAY You. Haha
Bounce off - LOL, it's not immature if it makes you laugh. And I get to laugh at you laughing at it so even better.
And I HATE ALL SPORTS!! Football movies are no exception. Except I really liked "Remember the Titans". That was cool! Not a massive Clooney fan - that head shake thing he used to do in every movie really pissed me off but maybe in my aging years I am starting to appreciate him. That is so scary. He is like Nicole Kidman to me - can't really stand them but end up captivated after I stop my bitching and watch one of their films.
Thanks for reading and commenting everyone!!