WE ARE MARSHALL

US, 2007, 131 minutes, Colour.
Matthew Mc Conaughey, Matthew Fox, David Strathairn, Kate Mara, Ian Mc Shane, Anthony Mackie .
Directed by Mc G.


We are Marshall is based on a true story. The setting is West Virginia. The local football team travels on a plane which crashes killing the players and coaches. The decision is for the University as to whether they will continue with a football team, or the town will stay in mourning for the deaths.

David Strathairn is the head of the University who has to make the hard decision. The board of the University is against having a team. But a player who had slept in and was not on the fatal plane, puts pressure on the board to establish a new team. There is a campaign for a new coach and an application from Matthew Mc Conaughey as Jack Lengyel, an enthusiast who, in fact, does put more life into the team, taking on all kinds of players, asking assistance from the assistant coach, Matthew Fox, and gradually building up a successful and winning team. The team went on to do very well for many years. There is a tribute to the coach and other players and their subsequent lives period.

This is one of those American football films, so popular in the US, but which travel less successfully beyond the United States. It has its enthusiastic moments with football play as well as sad moments with the memories of the deaths of the players. This is emphasised by two characters, the fiancee of one of the dead men, played by Kate Mara, and the father of the same man, played by Ian Mc Shane, remaining bitter about the death of his son and opposed to the establishment of the team.

The film was directed by McG, director of such films as Three Days to Kill, This Means War and Charlie’s Angels.



1. An American sports film, American football, the tragedy of the deaths of the players, the new team, the underdogs, the establishment of spirit, re-form, success and a tribute to the dead colleagues?

2. The atmosphere of tragedy, based on a true story, the visuals of the players, their play, the crash? Emotions, the funeral, the speeches? The later
monument and the tribute? The role of the College, the town, various perceptions?

3. The city in West Virginia, the town, the spirit of the town, homes and families, the diner, people gathering at the diner, the college, the academic side, the sport side, the administration and the board? The surroundings? The musical score?

4. The title and the indication of spirit?

5. The team, the individuals, bonding, the coach, being beaten, winning? Plans, the flights? The injured and the plane? The player who slept in, missing the plane? The fiancee and her missing her boyfriend? The older man, the death of his son, his bitterness and his isolation, relationship with the fiancee? Urging her to move on?

6. The College decisions, the role of the Dean, the board, the players and the vigil outside the window? The Dean and his phone calls, the various coaches, whether to play or not?

7. Jack Lengyel, his life, his work, his wife and children, his spirit, the decision, the phone call? The Dean and his reaction, his visit? Jack Lengyel’s motivation? The press conference, the awkwardness, the questions, his answers, whether appropriate or not?

8. The players, Red and his reaction, at his house, on the roof, Jack Lengyel trying to persuade him? His decision to help, for one year? The recruits and the strategies? The freshman and permission for them to play? The proposal, image? Using the phone or not? The Dean and the petition? The Dean going to get permission for freshman to play, in the rain, his return? The yes?

9. The build-up of the recruits, scouting them out, the interviews, Nate, the tall player, the others? The player who slept in, best friend of the dead players, his not wanting to play?

10. The training, the matches, West Virginia and its tactics, Jack Lengyel and his discussions, establishing the spirit, the townspeople coming to the matches, the play, the encouragement?

11. Jack Lengyel and his character, easy-going, working with the team, the family?

12. Red, his character, with the team in the past, his house, relationship with his wife, the decision to help, finally withdrawing?

13. The fiancee, her work in the diner, her hopes for marriage, dashed, remaining in the town, the father and his encouragement for her to go? In himself? Morose, in the diner, the clashes with Jack Lengyel, the final talks, his change of heart?

14. The sense of achievement, yet the hard aspects, the sacking of the Dean by the board and his having to find work elsewhere?

15. The final credits and information, about Jack Lengyel, and the tributes to the team?