Invincible
Here's a story
About a team
Called the Philadelphia Eagles
Part 1: A Strange and Foreign Feeling
Where I come from, we're feeling something quite foreign. Historically, the Detroit Lions are a national punchline. 0-16, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, the Ford Family, consistent mediocrity or ineptitude, to name a few. But now that Detroit has won a playoff game for the first time since the early 90s, and could very well win their Divisional game, could the narrative that Detroit is the land of disappointment die? In the past, I've enjoyed many a mocking jab at the Motor City and its teams. But today, Detroit is a team that could swing for the Lombardi Trophy if all goes well, of course. But Detroit isn't the only NFC team with a dry spell. Once upon a time, there was a team so bad they held open tryouts.
Part 2: <PERSON> and the Touchdown Question
After a pathetic four-win season, a 28-year old substitute teacher/bartender goes to Veterans Stadium to try out for the Philadelphia Eagles. Enter <PERSON>. In 1976, he played wide receiver for the Eagles. Invincible does not concern itself with questions like "Does <PERSON> lead the Eagles on the road to a Lombardi?" because let's face it, a 28-year old who never played college ball isn't exactly going to the Super Bowl, especially with a rookie coach. Invincible is more interested in getting the audience to wonder if <PERSON> will get through training camp or even score a touchdown.
Part 3: Lowering the Stakes
In doing something very unconventional in regards to your average sports movie, this improves Invincible. 233
The pressure of the Super Bowl is not the issue, but the success of an individual player. Invincible is relatively low-key and low stakes compared to other football or sports movies. We're not exactly doing Remember the Titans here. The unconventional approach is Invincible's biggest storytelling benefit.
Part 4: Entering Veterans Stadium
After the opening credits, we go to the Bengals/Eagles game of 1975. The icy and snowy atmosphere of the film, the camera, and recreated Veterans Stadium itself makes the football scenes of Invincible the highlight of the movie. <PERSON> direction and eye for the camera give the football scenes whether in Philly or Dallas an otherworldly feeling. That is exactly how <PERSON> feels. And that is the feeling <PERSON> wants.
Part 5: Epilogue
Invincible is a better film than I gave it credit for. Aesthetically, <PERSON> puts Sleeping Beauty and Evita to shame in terms of use of widescreen. Invincible is best enjoyed as a film from a different time when filmmakers respected filmmakers (lovely Wings homage) and Disney actually made something for everyone. I miss when they tried to get children into sports. It's much better than the current alternative of thinly-veiled black and white worldviews. 952