I love my horror movies more than anything but there are other kinds of movies that play with my heartstrings and light a fire in my soul. That is inspirational true stories that tell the story of someone beating the odds and proving everyone wrong including themselves. There is just something about knowing how a person became what they became, how it all started.
This movie tells the story about the St. Louis Ram's quarterback, Kurt Warner, how he started and how it all became to be what it is now. This just felt authentic to the very core, it showed actual clips from back then in the 90's and also clips of Joe Montana, it just started off with a bang, displaying the greatness that was Joe Montana, how it inspired Kurt Warner. He was a typical man with an enormous dream that kept him motivated and driven. He knew what he wanted to be and he kept going for it. The likeness of the actor who portrayed Kurt Warner did a fantastic performance. Anna Paquin played as Brenda, the true supporter of Kurt from day one. The romance between them was just magical and the interaction that Kurt had with her kids, there was always moments that were just so heartwarming.
Brenda's son, Zack, who was blind due to his biological father being senseless, dropped him as an infant and never took care of the situation right away. It led to him having many health issues and physical issues but even his story is inspirational because he never let it get him down. Doctor said he'd never speak, he spoke, doctor said he wouldn't be able to walk, he started to walk, he was driven to beat his own odds. The interaction with Kurt and Zack are always so adorable, the scene when they first meet, Kurt fixes his broken radio then they listen to country music together, it was such a sweet moment. The actor who played as Zack, Hayden Zaller, gets a hats off from me.
Anna Paquin plays Brenda, the single mother with two children who honorably was in the Marines, reluctant to give Kurt a chance at first but the chemistry between them was just magnetic, they could not stay away from each other. It's definitely a once in a lifetime, soul mates kind of love that they share and it is so beautiful every time they are on screen together. Brenda pulls away at first, thinking about the complications and also about her kids, but the love that forms, she just couldn't get away from it. She's a supporter of Kurt's dreams, there by his side at every game, it is just incredible how she believes in him so strongly. That alone is inspiring to me.
Zachary Levi plays as Kurt Warner, a small town guy with big dreams, down to earth, humble, would take the shirt right off his own back. He watches his own plays, he studies them to learn of his own mistakes, to better himself. He takes in Brenda's children like they are his own without hesitation and gives his everything to provide for them. It shows a lot of his character as a human being, knowing how he sacrificed, how he thought about them more than himself. He took a job at a grocery store, to stock shelves, to help them get by, so that Brenda could go back to school to achieve her own dreams as well. He did doubt himself at times, but everyone around him reassured him of his talents, of the fire that was in his soul to take that fire and use it. When he found that fire, he ran with it and it revealed glory, it revealed perseverance, it revealed victory after victory.
Dennis Quaid played in this as well and as usual, his performance was above outstanding, the one who believed in Kurt from the very beginning. When he first saw Kurt's performance, he knew there was something special and he vocalized it. He played as Dick Vermeil, Kurt's coach, cheering Kurt on from the sidelines and patting him on the back after every win.
If you enjoy inspirational stories that are based on true stories, this film is exceptional and tells of not just about football but also a romance. It also tells about a man who never stopped trying to achieve his dreams, now look at him. Kurt Warner, won two NFL Most Valuable Player awards, One Super Bowl championship, Two All-pro selections, Four Pro Bowl Selections, 1999 Bert Bell Award (Player of the Year) and 2008 Walter Payton Man of the Year. Definitely a story worth telling and a movie worth watching.
"If you're willing to put yourself and your dreams on the line, at the very least you'll discover an inner strength you may not have known existed" -Kurt Warner
Comments