Every year, audiences flock to wholesome, inspirational sports movies. Disney has refined these movies to a science; a weary coach guides ragamuffin kids on a journey of character, camaraderie, and happy endings. But now, \Friday Night Lights"" has entered the fray. And while the movie possesses some of the trappings of Disney fare like ""Remember the Titans"" and ""Miracle,"" it quickly announces itself as a different kind of story. Though it stumbles at times, ""Friday Night Lights"" is a sports movie of rare insight, honesty and entertainment value.
Adapted from Buzz Bissinger's celebrated book, the movie follows the 1988 football team of Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. In a town where businesses shut down at game time so that everyone can attend the games, teenaged athletes are treated like celebrities, while carrying the expectations of a whole town. The movie focuses on the experiences of Coach Gary Gaines and three of his players-star running back Boobie Miles (Derek Luke), quarterback Michael Winchell (Lucas Black) and backup running back Don Billingsley (Garrett Hedlund)-as they deal with injuries, troubled home lives, and the pressure to win.
What makes the movie so successful is its willingness to present the harsh truths of its characters' lives and the bleak meaninglessness of the games people take so seriously. ""Friday Night Lights"" doesn't shy away from the grim truth of injuries that never fully heal, of an alcoholic father who crushes his son with verbal abuse and of a star athlete who remains stoic and introverted because the pain of his mother's mental illness scars him so deeply. And this dark, genuine underbelly of the movie is carefully balanced with the humor, humanity and competitive intensity that define all worthwhile sports movies.
Director Peter Berg (""The Rundown"") works wonderfully at establishing the movie's tone. His fast editing style and barrage of imagery creates the town's desolate atmosphere, while his jerky, kinetic camera work enhances the tense game sequences. Where Berg's style seems erratic and too busy in previous efforts, his direction here captures the spirit that Oliver Stone tried to achieve with ""Any Given Sunday.""
An above average cast aids in Berg's success. Thornton's performance is unremarkable by his standards, but this leaves room for his interesting younger costars to shine. Hedlund and Black play their roles with quiet sensitivity, while country singer Tim McGraw is startlingly effective as Billingsley's abusive father in spite of it being his first acting role. But the real star is Derek Luke. Luke has wallowed in mediocre movies like ""Biker Boyz"" and ""Spartan"" since his spectacular debut in ""Antwone Fisher."" And while it's sad to see him stuck playing a high school athlete, Luke plays the part with unblinking conviction, both as a cocky, wisecracking superstar and as a young man who must face an uncertain future. In doing so, Luke seals his place as one of the very best young screen actors working today.
""Friday Night Lights"" missteps a bit in its final scenes as it succumbs to some of the schmaltziness of its inferior peers. But it doesn't condescendingly simplify racial issues, like ""Remember the Titans"" and it doesn't create false glory, like ""The Rookie"" did. Berg appreciates that the glamour and glory he presents are doomed to be short-lived, and understands that 1988 was just one season of life and football for a town that wasn't about to change. ""Friday Night Lights"" is not an instant classic, but it will certainly leave audiences feeling satisfied after the lights come back on.
