LEATHERHEADS

US, 2008, 114 minutes, Colour.
George Clooney, Rene Zellwegger, John Kaminski, Jonathan Pryce, Jack Thompson, Steven Root, Wayne Duval.
Directed by George Clooney.

This is a light mixture of sports story and screwball romantic comedy. The setting is 1925. The sport is professional American football. The romance is one of those sparring-then-falling-in-love situations between George Clooney and Renee Zellwegger.

Leatherheads may be more popular at home in the US, because, unless an audience is up on the history and the techniques and plays of football, it won’t have quite the same impact. There is some interest in seeing something of the transition from amateur college teams to raggedy, then more streamlined money-making clubs (and the end of free-for-all and the introduction of inspectors and rules).

George Clooney is an ageing player who loves the game and sees that a college champion who was a hero in World War I could be such an advantage for his Duluth team that it would lead to a huge fan following. He persuades entrepreneur, Jonathan Pryce, to invest and the young man, John Krazynski, to give up his studies and play the game. In the meantime, ambitious journalist, Renee Zellwegger, is given the commission by her editor, Jack Thompson, to write an article exposing the war hero as a fraud.

Predictable in its way, it is nevertheless a pleasant off-kilter romance, with some sharp lines and audiences feeling sorry for the young player and his crisis and some background to the development of football. (Leatherheads from the leather helmet protection they wore in those days.)

1. Audience response to American football films? Response to romantic comedies? To screwball comedies 21st century style?

2. A George Clooney film, performance, direction?

3. The audience and knowledge of American football, its history, the fans, the organisation in the 1920’s, skills and tactics?

4. The title, the reference to the helmet? Duluth and its team, the initial play, rough, the amateur teams, going into bankruptcy? The team members and their various jobs, the manager, the temptation to give up?

5. Carter, his college career, skill at football, the games, the fans, his war reputation as a hero?

6. Lexy, discussions with Harvey, editing the paper, the soldier and his interview about Carter, the information, Harvey wanting an expose, the promises of a new desk for Lexy, the deadline, her agreement? The meeting with Dodge? In the hotel, Dodge reading the magazine, the repartee between them? The interest? Both waiting to see Frazier?

7. Dodge and his idea, the professional football teams, the proposal to CC, dressing up, going to the hotel, eavesdropping, the banter with Lexy, the discussions with CC, the meal, the implications of the deal? The percentages?

8. The interview with Carter, CC and his terms, games, joining the Duluth team, giving up his studies, the players coming back, leaving their jobs? The play, the tactics, the commentators, the language in the box? The fans, even turning up to watch practice? The newspapers?

9. Lexy and travelling with the team, discussions, the banter with Dodge? The discussions with Carter, his infatuation, drinking, telling her the truth? Her dilemma about publishing the article? Dodge overhearing her phone call to Harvey?

10. CC Frazier and his style, tough, money making, the truth, paying off the soldier, protecting Carter and his investment?

11. New official, the appointment, the rules, control, the meeting with the interested parties and his laying down the law?

12. Lexy and her dilemma, her publishing the story, the fans reactions, the legal reactions?

13. The press conference, the intervention of the official?

14. Dodge, his friends, their giving testimony and supporting Carter, Carter and the vindication, the verdict on Harvey and the paper giving and apology? Lexy’s reaction? Dodge and his manipulating of the situation?

15. The final game. Duluth vs Chigaco, Carter and his being seconded by Chicago, the spirit of the Duluth group, Dodge and the final quarter, the mud, the commentators, his decision to cheat, reversal of the decision about who won? The consequences?

16. Lexy and Dodge, the romance? Carter and his decision to tell the truth and face the consequences?

17. The origins of professional football? A piece of Americana?