Before Kyle Chandler ’s “ clear-cut oculus , full hearts , ca n’t lose ” crinkle became a pop finish phenomenon , Billy Bob Thorntonand his “ Can you live in that moment as best you may , with clear eyes and love in your heart ” speech represented the adept pep talk from a football game coach in a movie . Thornton ’s monologue come during the championship biz inFriday Night Lights , Peter Berg ’s 2004 sport drama based on H.G. Bissinger ’s 1990 book , Friday Night Lights : A Town , a Team , and a Dream .
The film succeed the 1988 Permian High School Panthers football game team , the expectations for which are sky - high . lay in Odessa , Texas , the celluloid follows Coach Gary Gaines ( Thornton ) , who enters the season on the hot seat . If Permian misses the playoffs , he will be give the sack . The goal is to win the state championship . Coming in second is not an choice . The stake are high , and the insistence to deliver is on . That ’s whereFriday Night Lightsbegins , and 118 minutes later , it cement itself as thebest football movieof the twenty-first century .
Football as a way of life in Texas
In Texas , people believe in God , phratry , and football game . In Odessa , the biggest and best show in Ithiel Town is the hebdomadary football secret plan . For a fistful of Fridays every fall , the town ’s residents gather to watch out their Permian Panthers play football game . Berg does a majuscule job of establishing Odessa on gameday — from the packed stadium and bright lights to the vibrant DOE and passionate fan al-Qaeda . If the Panthers play on Friday , the integral townspeople is in attendance . day of the month night at the movies will have to wait .
The first 12 transactions constitute how important football game is in Permian . The team practice under the hot Texas sun as they prepare for their first secret plan . A handful of parent , scouts , and fans watch practice from the stands because what else would they do with their time during football season ? Local news stations are interview players and coaches like they ’re in theSuper Bowl , losing sight of the fact that the interviewee are predominantly teen and not professionals . At the last of practice , Coach Gaines says , “ We are in the business of protecting this townspeople . ” At Permian , win is n’t everything ; it ’s the only thing .
Incredible character development
If the Beatles sat next to the football squad at a restaurant in Odessa , mass would take the air up to the actor before askingPaul McCartneyfor an autograph . The Permian players are gods in Odessa . If the squad gain a state championship , the player will be eternalise in the town . mouth of players , Friday Night Lightsfollows several sport pic tropes when filling out the roster . But that ’s not a bad affair . The actors impart these characters to life and give some of the good execution of their careers .
The main characters include Boobie Miles ( Derek Luke ) , the adept running back with more charisma in his pinkie than most hoi polloi have in their body ; Mike Winchell ( Lucas Black ) , the quarterback with the weight of the Earth on his shoulder ; Don Billingsley ( Garrett Hedlund ) , the hard fullback with a drink job and an abusive begetter ; Brian Chávez ( Jay Hernandez ) , the gifted safe and drawing card of the defensive structure ; Ivory Christian ( Lee Jackson ) , the justificatory end and tranquil giant ; and Chris Comer ( Lee Thompson Young ) , the anxious running back who becomes the starter .
For these player , the games are easy . It ’s football game — a sport they ’ve played all of their life story . Off the field is where the challenge begin . These characters tackle an iniquitous amount of press that would make any adult crumble , let alone teenagers . Frankly , how these players sail obstacles makesFriday Night Lightsa fascinating part bailiwick . Boobie must contemplate life without football . Mike must survive up to arithmetic mean as the field general . Don wants to make his father proud . These emotional issues tie in the player to the hearing , specially non - football fans who jazz nothing about the sport .
Football is cinematic
Football is inherently cinematic . recollect of a football game as an action smash hit . It ’s a display case for the best athletes to show off their forcible strength and immeasurable gift . The four quarters are like the Acts of the Apostles of a flick , with each one supply a new set of job . Each play could end with something you ’ve never seen before . Or it might become a violent crash . Either way , you ’re watching . There are winners and losers . Heroes and villains . Football players experience the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat .
While the first two - thirdsof the filmfeature a few moments from each game , FridayNight Lightssaves its best moments for the backup game between Permian andDallas Carterinside the Astrodome . The plot plays like a Shakespearian tragedy . Permian diminish behind betimes on due to Carter ’s strenuosity and some help from the referees . Coach Gaines rallies his squad at halftime and it mounts a comeback in the third quarter .
The plot comes down to one terminal play , where Berg bright incorporates slow - motion , crowd shots , and a move score to make the biz finger like it ’s liveliness or destruction . In the biz ’s final moments , Mike tells the offense he loves them after show the play , “ I - ripe wiggle 34 switchblade . ” To some , it ’s a play . To others , it ’s a legacy .
The movie paved the way for the TV show
On its own , Friday Night Lightsis a grand mutant pic with tension , emotion , and excitement . However , the lasting legacy of the motion-picture show came two years later with a television show . With the same name , Friday Night Lightsswaps Coach Gaines for Coach Taylor ( Chandler ) and Permian for Dillon .
The first episode ofFriday Night Lightsis sensory and often cite as one of the best pilots . Berg , who publish and directed the pilot light , essentially take what worked in the movie — the players , the town , and the emotion — and meet it into a 45 - hour video episode . The telly show also has the advantage of explore fictional character and storylines over hours . Without the movie , there is no design for whatFriday Night Lights , the show , became . Be perfect . Win state .
WatchFriday Night LightsonNetflixorPeacock .
