Naomi Weisman is a Canadian-Australian and mother of three who loves to ramble with her dog, cook for family and friends, and laugh whenever possible.
My mom in Australia regularly sends me titles of movies, shows, and books that she enjoys. Her tastes vary, so I never get bored of her pics. This week's review is thanks to Helen!
I don't follow sports very closely. I am a bandwagon fan who only watches sports when there is a lot at stake, and my kids force me. Even though my sons played football competitively (also known as gridiron, for those of you who call soccer football) in high school and university, I am embarrassed to say that I only vaguely understand the rules.
When I went to watch their games, I would just cheer when everyone else did. Otherwise, I would search for their jersey numbers on the field to know where they were during the game. I exasperate my sons with my ineptitude!
Based on the book Twelve Mighty Orphans: The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football by sportswriter Jim Dent (2008), 12 Mighty Orphans, starring Wayne Knight, Martin Sheen, and Luke Wilson, is about a devoted high school teacher and coach at the Masonic School for Orphans named Rusty Russell.
An orphan himself, Russell understands what these kids need and dedicates himself to leading this woeful group of boys to the state championships during the Great Depression in 1938 Texas. At a time when the United States was desperate for good news and something to believe in, this team of hard-working, dedicated young men was just what the doctor ordered for the nation. They had fans far beyond the state of Texas.
Because there were only 12 players, this team was at a distinct disadvantage when competing against other schools with a full roster. As a result, Coach Russell (played by Luke Wilson) and the defense coach Doc Hall (played by Martin Sheen) devised new techniques and strategies to mitigate the team's shortcomings.
These new play formations helped to create a standard practice in the game today, such as the Wing T — where the quarterback lines up behind the center— and a Spread Offense, which forces the defense to cover a wider swath of the field. These offensive schemes emphasized speed over size and relied on passing.
This movie is full of heart. It depicts what life was like for the students living at the orphanage, which I found difficult to watch at times, and how introducing them to the team mentality could help them develop into men who could function at a high level in society once they aged out of the orphanage.
It educates us on the game's evolution and reminds us of how difficult life was in the 1930s, with economic strife due to drought conditions and the worldwide effects of the stock market collapse earlier in the decade.
Thanks to this movie, I can now tell my sons I know what the Wing T formation is. They will look at me wide-eyed, and then I'll follow that by explaining the Spread Offense for the one-two punch! Take that, Boys! You CAN teach this old dog some new tricks!
I hope you enjoy it!
READ MORE > Nomi's Pics, Rambler Cafe Blog.
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