Disney didn't have much success in live-action until they landed Kurt Russell's college role as Dexter Riley. Indeed, their documentary won an Oscar and could potentially churn out a classic His One or His Two (mary poppins, 20,000 miles under the sea) Sometimes it's necessary, but in most cases the above split was more important greyfriars bobby than Old Yeller. The House of Mouse is back in the game after a former child star comes forward and saves the company's fortunes.
Of course, as soon as its reputation grew in fields other than animation, its success rate receded. It soon became clear that, like the creativity of comics, the benefits of corporate branding were limited. It took time, but Walt Company employees found a reliable new movie formula. We call this an “inspirational true life sports story,” and it's best illustrated by the following examples. miracle, rookie, million dollar armand now, McFarland USA. This is another example in a long series of Great White Bwana helping people of color movie cliches, but the acting and approach are so welcoming that we don't care about such personal differences. It's a target.
Kevin Costner is exactly named Jim White. He's a former football coach and teacher who now makes his fortune in the migrant labor outpost known as McFarland, California. Hoping to restart his sporting dreams at a new school, he quickly discovers that while the locals aren't very interested in track and field, there are a few particularly fast runners. Before he could say “state champions,” White assembled a team of quality cross country competitors, mostly Hispanic. The Sidewalk Apprentices soon come face to face with subtle racism from their spoiled suburban competitors as they learn the ways of their harsh daily lives. Success also comes with devastating spoils.
Yes, this is also an example of “Great White Hope”. But thanks to director Niki Caro (who made a great film), whale runner), and despite the script's desire to turn the tables on Costner and his culture shock, the impact of such genre truisms is minimal at best. This is not a movie about a white man saving a bunch of Latinos. Instead, it's a story of people helping people, and their nationality or ethnicity plays only a minor role in the obligatory self-actualization. The rest of the time is a pure running sequence that leads to a big contest that decides the fate of everyone involved. Or something like that.
Athlete's Struggles is, on some level, deeply anti-cinematic. Most issues are internal, so there's not much point in visualizing conflicts. So it makes sense that Caro would photograph the races with attention to detail and scope. We engage in back-and-forth, subtle strategies, and the patience required to travel long distances. I also appreciate the old-fashioned work ethic and dedication required. This setting makes people want to treat this movie as follows. stand and deliver, an attempt to explain the fringes of society to the rest of the dying middle class. But Caro ignores the big picture for more intimate insights.
Costner really shines in the second act of a largely uncalculated career. He's become less of an A-list movie star with A-list demands and more of a character actor, taking on projects that further his primary skill set: acting, without venturing into fame-grabbing TMZ territory. became. In other words, Costner is no longer in a professional position to fire Caro from the film and replace him. water world. His understated presence is perfect, making White's tendency to run wild emotionally (and get fired from his job as a result) all the more powerful. The rest of the cast are decent people, although they are too old to be considered high school students. Some of these ostensibly young people are actually in their late 20s.
There's also a polite PC quality about the inherent racism that such situations can cause. No one has slurred speech, and when comments such as “Is this Mexico?'' are made, the characters try to redirect the conversation away from possible ethnic prejudice. Masu. We're not dealing with “illegals” or people trying to play government for free handouts. Instead, McFarland is portrayed as an honest, hard-working, and humble person. When suburban schools come rushing out, it's the team's intensity and agility that wins, not a sudden disregard for prejudice.
Sure, Disney doctor things up — giving a movie currently in the Best Picture race a name that's “based on” a true story that isn't real. But here too, thanks to Caro, freedom is a positive thing. We don't care about manipulation, because it gets to the heart of why we go to the movies.movies like McFarland, USA It provides a kind of competitive catharsis, a way for non-athletes and open-minded people to understand the power and strength to overcome latent hatred and feel good about the world. It's not a question of “white shame” or guilt. Instead, Caro arrives at the subject through her characters, keeping them front and center over the more obvious issues involved.
More than 40 years ago, the furthest the House of Mouse went with such material was something like this: world's best athletes. Bordering on hate crime, the film takes a white wonder from “darkest Africa” to an American college superhero, complete with badass F/X, a witch-doctor villain, and the supernatural.they would never have made a movie like this McFarland, USA. It's a miracle this works in 2015. That a film like this is finding an audience is a testament to the company's commercial mindset and ability to deliver.
