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Movies / On DVD / We Are Marshall
We Are Marshall

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We Are Marshall (2006)

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Reviews Counted:124

Fresh:60

Rotten:64

Average Rating:5.8/10

Consensus: Matthew McConaughey almost runs We Are Marshall to the end zone, but can't stop it from taking the easy, feel-good route in memorializing this historic event in American sports.

Runtime: 2 hrs 11 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: In November 1970, a plane carrying almost the entire Marshall University football team, its staff and fans crashed, killing 75 people in all and devastating the small town of Huntington, West... In November 1970, a plane carrying almost the entire Marshall University football team, its staff and fans crashed, killing 75 people in all and devastating the small town of Huntington, West Virginia. WE ARE MARSHALL, directed by McG (THE O.C., FASTLANE) tells the tragic true story of how the university and the citizens of Huntington rebuilt the football program and dealt with the loss of so many of their own. The university's president, Donald Dedmon, earnestly portrayed by David Strathairn (GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK), hires the only willing coach to take on such a daunting task, Jack Lengyl (Matthew McConaughey). With the help of the lone Marshall football coach Red Dawson (Matthew Fox) and the three remaining players who weren't on the plane, Coach Lengyl sets out to restructure Marshall's team, and spirit. But for some in the community it's still too soon, including Paul Griffen (Ian McShane) who lost his football-star son. They fear that moving on so quickly is disrespectful to those who died and to the loved ones who still mourn. The film emphasizes this issue, illustrating the struggle of that harrowing time at Marshall, and in college football history. Although WE ARE MARSHALL contains a similar theme to other sports movies, rising from adversity, the tragedy of so many lives lost in a small community and the painful recovery sets this film apart. Strong performances by McConaughey (FAILURE TO LAUNCH)—his wit and energy adds much needed doses of comic relief, Fox (LOST), and McShane (DEADWOOD) successfully help bring the historical and inspiring story of Marshall University to the big screen, a must-see for all sports fans. [More]

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, David Strathairn, Matthew Fox, Huntley Ritter

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, David Strathairn, Matthew Fox, Huntley Ritter, Anthony Mackie, Kate Mara, Ian McShane, Robert Patrick, Kimberly Williams

Director: McG

Director: McG
Screenwriter: Jamie Linden
Producer: Basil Iwanyk
Composer: Christophe Beck
Studio: Warner Bros.

[See More Credits]

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1 - 4 of 6

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Reviews for We Are Marshall

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1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
12/30/06
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Entertainment Insiders | comment Comment
12/30/06
Jonathan W. Hickman
Jonathan W. Hickman
Entertainment Insiders
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
12/30/06
Stephanie Zacharek
Stephanie Zacharek
Salon.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Tom Meek
Tom Meek
Boston Phoenix

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
12/30/06
Dallas Morning News

A touching story turns into an ordinary movie-of-the-week.

Full Review Source: Sympatico.ca | comment Comment
12/26/06
Angela Baldassarre
Angela Baldassarre
Sympatico.ca

McConaughey campily channels Jon Stewart channeling George W. Bush for his impersonation of Lengyel.

Full Review Source: BrandonFibbs.com | comment Comment
02/28/08
Brandon Fibbs
Brandon Fibbs
BrandonFibbs.com

Full of good intentions, We Are Marshall has a game plan that's hard to fault, but as with any playbook, a scheme is only as good as how well it's executed.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
12/18/06
Brian Lowry
Brian Lowry
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This particular movie, obviously carefully and thoroughly researched, needed to articulate the experiences of the townspeople of Huntington more thoroughly than it does.

Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | comment Comment
12/22/06
Carla Meyer
Carla Meyer
Sacramento Bee

Bright spots can't get at the script's failure to make this into a story about something bigger than sports, in the way Invincible, Miracle and Go Tigers did.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment 3 Comments
12/21/06
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

We are not impressed.

Full Review Source: Bangor Daily News (Maine) | comment Comment
01/08/07
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)

The movie certainly has its heart in the right place, but that alone just isn't enough.

Full Review Source: Associated Press | comment 1 Comment
12/20/06
Christy Lemire
Christy Lemire
Associated Press

This was undeniably a horrific event for the victims' families friends, colleagues as well as for the entire community. But the movie seems to almost exploit this tragedy so it can make audiences weep, and ultimately, cheer.

Full Review Source: USA Today | comment 3 Comments
12/22/06
Claudia Puig
Claudia Puig
USA Today

You'd think with this set up that Annie's experience would be complex and sustained in We Are Marshall, but no. This is a men's story.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
01/05/07
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
PopMatters

...would've benefited from the presence of virtually any other actor in the central role...

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
11/20/07
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

We Are Marshall is the most insidious kind of bad movie - the very well made kind.

Full Review Source: CHUD | comment 1 Comment
12/21/06
Devin Faraci
Devin Faraci
CHUD

McG is conducting a one-note symphony, losing the impact of the real story of Marshall University.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
12/22/06
Dezhda Gaubert
Dezhda Gaubert
E! Online

Syrupy, vapid, unfocused.

Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment 3 Comments
12/21/06
Dustin Putman
Dustin Putman
DustinPutman.com

Even lesser hacks than McG would have trouble making Jamie Linden's screenplay float, but I never thought it was possible to blow every big inspirational moment. Maybe because they are all the same.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
12/21/06
Erik Childress
Erik Childress
eFilmCritic.com

The story of how Marshall University and the residents of Huntington "rose from the ashes" is inspiring. But the film version isn't.

Full Review Source: Premiere Magazine | comment Comment
12/27/06
Ethan Alter
Ethan Alter
Premiere Magazine
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
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