July 10, 2015

Trying to find a good sports movie is about as difficult as trying to find a good comedy. The majority of sports movies follow the same formulaic plot of the hero that emerges from the depths of despair to being lifted on teammates' shoulders. Now that I think about this, is there any other formula? There are few plot turns here and there, but eventually, the crowd will go crazy, people will weep, life lessons will be learned, and there will only be a few seconds left in the game.

I can accept all of these line items as long as there is some truth to the story. As we all know by now, Hollywood can take a true story and take the parts they like and build a movie from it. They will develop plots and characters and add them to the story but still keep the main character's name and dilemma. This is called "based on a true story."

On a Saturday, my wife and I wanted to relax and watch a movie on our big screen. I am tired of car chases, bombs, and superheroes so I convinced my wife to watch a sports movie. She said, "don't you get enough sports?" We agreed on McFarlane USA, thinking that Kevin Costner had something to do with it.

For this movie, I have forgiven the filmmakers for the stretching of the truth and the embellishments. I like the idea that the film was shot in McFarlane, a small farming town in the Central Valley of California. McFarlane is populated by Latino families where most of their employment is derived from picking nuts, fruits, and vegetables.

The film is based on the life of Jim White, a teacher and coach who moves to McFarlane in 1987 when he is out of options. White has had some troubles in his past with both authority and mouthy kids, which keeps him and his family on the move.  It is an immediate culture shock to the family when they find no hamburgers at the local taqueria.

White becomes the football coach, PE teacher, and life science teacher as his first assignments. He soon finds out that a 15-man football team and unmotivated students are too much for him to handle. His family wants out, but the job offers don't seem to be rolling in at this time. In a glimmer of inspiration, he sees a teenage boy running like no other kid he has seen in this community.

White approaches the principal to start a cross country team, who agrees with his doubts.  White has never coached cross country, and he doesn't have a team. White finds a way to shed his cynicism and destitution and convince a group of boys to join the team. With minimal resources and backing, White slowly builds repore with his athletes.

The beauty of this story is how this down on his luck man and these boys start bonding into a force. These kids are built tough, unlike any other kids that they compete against. These are children of migrant farmworkers who still have to work with their families while going to school and training. The community begins to rally around the team and except White and family as one of their own.

The story further evolves into the finale, with McFarland making it into the state finals. It is the first year that a state final has ever been held and, of course, the inception of the McFarland cross country team.