McFarland, USA (2015)

Too much of everything

Sadly Over-hyped

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Movie Review: "McFarland, USA" (2014)Disney Enterprises presents this already 2014-finished holiday season picture directed by capable as competent female director Niki Caro, known for extraordinary far superior motion picture "Whale Rider" (2002) and about to take on opera singer biopic "Callas" starring Noomi Rapace, delivers another U.S. American dream story for Hollywood's Major No.1 on achieving some spirit-balancing act in shapes of running legal America-born Mexicans in a politically-indecisive, no-stand-taking picture, starring Kevin Costner as disavowed college football coach moving with his faithful as failure-forgiving wife, portrayed at no-risk by actress Maria Bello, plus two usual-identity searching daughters to the title-given north by northwest region of the United States (arguably the state of Idaho) in order to come terms with his demons of the past by building a competitive cross-state runner's team out of the local high-school-boys in the year of moody-shot 1987, recalling the Jon Turteltaub directed "Cool Runnings" (1993) starring John Candy (1950-1994) as winter-games striving pendant, when "McFarland, USA" reassures the still-accounted American way of life to be in question for the 21st century, if a "single-discipline victory" prevails as life-determining as securing factor to a universal final destination scenario.© 2018 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)

A coach inspiring a group of underprivileged kids to form a team to beat well-heeled rivals has been done before, but "McFarland, USA" does it well. Set in the 1980's, Jim White (Kevin Costner) takes a job as assistant sports coach at McFarland High, a mainly Hispanic school in Los Angeles. However the area seems too dangerous for his wife and young daughter, while scholastic achievement and prowess on the sporting field are not priorities for the students, many of whom work in the surrounding fields as pickers to help their families. However when White realises that some of his students are strong runners, he creates a cross-country running team to take on the wealthier schools that dominate the sport. Then as White and his family get to know the people in the area, they feel a sense of belonging, which they hadn't felt before. The film builds to an emotional, uplifting climax. Although a fair amount of rearranging of the facts took place, it is reassuring to learn that the story is essentially true. The film gets its message across without being preachy. At the end, when the actors segue into the real people, the theme behind the film becomes clear; if you can engage people and focus them on a goal and build self-esteem then they are more likely to become the citizens you want. This is a movie that sneaks up on you. Kevin Costner plays it low-key. One can see how an overly effusive approach to teaching would in reality have seemed fake to students wary of anything false. Maria Bello is perfect as Cheryl Whitel it's not a big role but she lifts any film she is in. Valente Rodriguez almost steals the show as the likable Principal Carmillo. Long distance running takes on an almost mystical significance in movies. Possibly the link with cross country-running, the endurance required and the sense of achievement it generates was one of the reasons nearly all the boys in Coach White's squad went on to lead meaningful lives. A football team or a baseball team would also have had a galvanising effect, but endurance sports are different – it could have a lot to do with endorphins cutting in creating a natural high and great self-confidence. McFarland is a movie with a heart; it's a winner all round.

You've seen it countless times before. A non-traditional coach takes up a team of misfits and leads it to greatness. Did I mention that it's based on a true story? Disney has presented viewers with this scenario in several movies such as "Glory Road," "Miracle" and "Remember the Titans." Despite this formula being overused and predictable, add in a great lead such as Denzel Washington, Kurt Russell or in this case Kevin Costner, and time and time again Disney will show you that it still works.Costner plays Jim White, a football coach with a bad track record in previous coaching positions. Following this incident, he and his family move to McFarland, California: a rural, impoverished and primarily Hispanic community. He starts his new job as the assistant football coach, as well as taking up the life science/PE teacher position. It is clear from the start that White does not want to live in McFarland, and will accept a better job if the opportunity arises.During PE class one day, Jim observes two Hispanic boys running laps. His daughter comments on how fast the boys run, and Jim notices the stamina that they possess. After continuing to watch them, he approaches the principal of the school requesting permission to start a cross-country team with these young men to compete in upcoming state championships.Coach White does more than simply coach a cross-country team, however. He invests in the lives of the boys and provides them with greater opportunities that would not have been possible otherwise. He also learns humility and the value of hard work from the guys on his team, who spend their mornings working in their parents' fields from the crack of dawn until they go to school.Costner does an excellent job in portraying the various struggles that Jim White endured to gain the trust of the guys on his team. Jim holds nothing back in guiding his team to excellence academically, athletically and as upstanding young men. The members of White's team, played by Carlos Pratts, Johnny Ortiz, Rafael Martinez, Sergio Avelar, Ramino Rodriguez and Hector Duran, are top notch as well.The film shows the hardships that the boys and their families faced as Latino migrant workers during this time period. The town and a majority of its families are plagued with a seemingly endless generational cycle of poverty, and their work is comprised of grueling, long hours with minimal pay. The writing by Christopher Cleveland and direction by Niki Caro adequately display this struggle. While the writing is solid, the film takes a little while to get going. The first 30 minutes of the movie leading up to White forming the cross-country team dragged on for me, however the information presented at the beginning is necessary build-up to the main plot, which is more than worth the wait. Overall, the direction by Caro is superb, and I am looking forward to seeing her future directorial work.The cinematography in the film is commendable. Most of the locations where the competitions take place include rolling hills and lush countryside in addition to a few urban areas. The enormous hills at the last location the team competes at are stunning to view from a distance, and the camera-work in the movie captures its beauty effectively.While "McFarland, USA" does not bring any original ideas to the table, the execution and effectiveness of the film is a pleasant surprise. Fans of Costner and sports movies alike will not be disappointed.

In making this movie Kevin Costner stuck to the formula, the one that most feel good sports movies use, and made it work beautifully. There are no unexpected fancy twists in this one. The acting is straight up and solid. The ethnic background of the movie adds to the movie in good way. I enjoy a few of the scenes that involve the interactions between the coach or his family and the locals. They demonstrate how cultural interaction and familiarity can eliminate fear and breakdown the walls that divide us. Don't get me wrong, the movie is not trying to give you a social/cultural lecture, this stuff comes naturally mixed with the main story line.If you like the genre, you'll enjoy this movie.