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The Express

The Express (2008)

October. 10,2008
|
7.2
|
PG
| Drama

Based on the incredible true story, The Express follows the inspirational life of college football hero Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.

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Reviews

Acensbart
2008/10/10

Excellent but underrated film

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FuzzyTagz
2008/10/11

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

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Lidia Draper
2008/10/12

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

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Ginger
2008/10/13

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

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juneebuggy
2008/10/14

I enjoyed this. Its well made, well acted and inspirational but I'll admit I have seen better sports movies and at times it did feel a little clichéd and rah, rah even though its based on a true story.The Express is based on the life story of Ernie Davis; a Syracuse university running back who became the first African American to win the Heisman trophy in 1961. This biopic covers his entire life and there were some sections that went on a bit too long (THAT game in Texas for example -which for a non football person seemed to take forever) and the ending also seemed abrupt, just a post-note as to what happened to him. *Sigh* Rob Brown does a great job portraying Davis though and Dennis Quaid is fine, as the coach although he ain't no Billy Bob Thornton ala 'Friday Night Lights'. There were some decent sub roles here too; Nelson Ellis (True Blood) Charles S. Dutton, and Omar Benson Miller who was very likable.This takes place just as the civil rights movement was gaining steam and Davis faced a ton of prejudice and just full on racism which always makes me uncomfortable, how he handles himself and challenges his coach to stand up for the players is what really makes him a hero. 11/6/14

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Maniac-9
2008/10/15

Ernie Davis is probably the best football player to never play football professionally and may have had even better of a career then Jim Brown who was his predecessor at Syracuse and would've been his teammate on the Browns.Ernie was one of the few blacks on the campus of Syracuse but always kept a positive attitude and treated everyone well around him.The football scenes are extremely well done and they look like it's an actual football game going on. Dennis Quaid gives a great performance as the head coach of the Orangemen.The period scenes were done very well and you felt like you were actually back in the late '50s/early '60s.

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simpson1309
2008/10/16

I saw this movie for the first time in the theaters with some football teammates and our coach. He took the seniors to see a film of determination and inner strength of the great collegiate running back for Syracuse running back Ernie Davis. However there was much more to this film than just Ernie running all over other teams. This movie gives you an in depth look at how African American players had more than just the struggles of every day practice to deal with. They faced many obstacles. What is remarkable about Ernie is his poise. He rarely looses his head on the field and makes the most of his opportunityThe narration of this movie was great starting off with Ernie as a small child and showing the racial struggles at that age. Then progressing through is high school years until he began his time as Syracuse. That is where most of the movie takes place. We meet his good friend JB and his coach Ben Schwartszwalder (Dennis Quaid). I love the way this movie was set up and told. The cinematography was really good also. The shots during some the National Championship game are really good along with the shots in the locker room at half time.This is an all around great movie and you will come out of there with more than just motivation. it is a very good information movie if you do not know about Ernie Davis. I strongly recommend this movie. Its a shame Ernie died. Although he made a great impact on game of college football. We will never know what we missed out on if he had played in the NFL.

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wvncgreg
2008/10/17

Shame on the makers of this movie! WV native Syracuse Coach Ben Schwartzwalder would have rolled over in his grave to have seen his Alma Mater and home state portrayed this way. WV and Syracuse did not even play in Morgantown in 1959. The portrayal of WVU fans throwing bottles and uttering racist comments, statements made such as "that's how they do it down there", etc. are as racist and stereotypical as those portrayed to be West Virginia University and University of Texas fans in this movie. I just can't imagine a man who had risen to his stature saying that about his home state and the college where he matriculated and played football either.The players who played for SU in 1959, as well as for Texas in the 1960 Cotton Bowl, said upon seeing the screening of this movie that they remember none of these events taking place at either of these games. And remember, one of those games didn't actually happen.Wanna see a good football movie? Watch "We Are Marshall" instead. Though it takes liberties with the characters and events, it is at least somewhat factual. And a truer and much more accurate picture of West Virginians in those days.

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