Go Tigers!

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amznwin.focus();} document.open(); document.write("<a href=javascript:popUp('http://buybox.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=reelmoviecriticc&link_code=xsc&creative=23424&camp=2025&path=/dt/assoc/tg/aa/xml/assoc/-/B00006ADER/reelmoviecriticc/ref=ac_bb1_,_amazon')><img src=http://rcm-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/associates/remote-buy-box/buy1.gif border=0 alt='Buy from Amazon.com' ></a>"); document.close(); </script> <noscript> <form method="POST" action="http://buybox.amazon.com/o/dt/assoc/handle-buy-box=B00006ADER"> <input type="hidden" name="asin.B00006ADER" value="1"> <input type="hidden" name="tag-value" value="reelmoviecriticc"> <input type="hidden" name="tag_value" value="reelmoviecriticc"> <input type="image" name="submit.add-to-cart" value="Buy from Amazon.com" border="0" alt="Buy from Amazon.com" src="http://rcm-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/associates/add-to-cart.gif"> </form> </noscript>  </B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="592" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="588"><div> <B>Go Tigers! ***  (R)</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="588" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><div> Reviewed by Brenda Sexton</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="588"><div> Go Tigers scores</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="293"><div> Dave Irwin</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> Danny Studer</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="293"><div> Ellery Moore</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> Director:  Kenneth Carlson</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 Second Bottom Line:</B> A documentary about a town's obsession with its high school football team.</div> <div>  </div> <div> <B>Story Line:</B>  Massillon, Ohio, a blue-collar town of 33,000, has its entire identity wrapped up in the success of its high school football team.  Unfortunately, last year the team's record was a dismal four and six.  So, the pressure's really on. The entire future of the school system seems to rest on the outcome of the football season. There's a tax levy on the ballot that is crucial to the future of the high school.  Everyone is sure if there's not a winning team this year, there will not be a chance that the levy will be passed. </div> <bR> <div> The film opens with a mother and her newborn still in the hospital getting a visit from two men delivering a toy football, encouraging her to consider a high school career in football for her new son.  It's corny yet touching; not very many towns have any kind of welcoming committee for a newborn. Perhaps they deliver a pom-pom for a baby girl? </div> <bR> <div> We meet Ellery Moore one of the team's co-captains.  Ellery is a senior in high school, a strong player, and an African-American from a broken home.  He served a year in jail when he was fourteen and not much more seemed to be expected of him.  Jail was good for him, he says.  It's clear that football in Massillon is great for him.  Regardless of his past he is a star in this town, idolized regardless of race, economic station or his ex-con status.  Football is the great equalizer in the town of Massillon-and Ellery Moore is one of its benefactors.  Football in Massillon is like an all-embracing religion.</div> <bR> <div> The levy needs to be passed or the school will suffer greatly.  The levy, which failed to pass in the last several referendums, will raise real estate taxes to support the school.  If it doesn't pass this year, there will be massive lay-offs and program cuts at the high school.  The future viability of the town seems to depend on the football team's performance.</div> <bR> <div> The biggest game of the year is against McKinley.  McKinley week is described as "Christmas and your birthday combined."  There are so many festivities during McKinley week alone, it's no wonder these kids are having a hard time passing their ACT qualifiers for college.  Who can study when the McKinley game and the future of the town is at stake?  The mayor has even given the band written permission to march anywhere in town that week, playing and marching their hearts out.  They tromp through city hall, the library, the cafeteria-even the department store.</div> <bR> <div> This year's game is especially heated.   Recently there was a lawsuit because a talented player moved from the McKinley district to Massillon and switched football teams.  McKinley filed a lawsuit to bar him from competing against them (they lost the suit).  Massillon is no more crazed than McKinley about their high school football team.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell Me More About It:</B> The sense of community, the bond that football creates in this town is truly impressive.  Without it, Massillon would hardly be on the map as a small blue-collar midwestern steel town.  Football has created a mission and force that must be acknowledged and it's a powerful message--focus and fanaticism pay off.  The educational side of high school is clearly less important in this town, but there are so many life lessons and community spirit benefits gained from the football fanaticism that that's almost okay.  There are troubling snippets of interviews from the guys outside the football world-geeks or nerds that remind us of the outsiders who become violent in high school tragedies around the country.</div> <bR> <div> This is a movie that makes you re-think whether football fanaticism can really be of such value to a small town.  After seeing this movie I saw things differently.  Massillon is on the map thanks to football.  Football has created a unified town seemingly without prejudice and overpowering self-interest groups.  It has created a valuable pride and town identity.  </div> <bR> <div> Ken Carlson, who is from Massillon, has effectively conveyed the power of a goal whether it belongs to an individual or a town.  As someone in the movie says, "Remember that with God all things are possible."  Obviously the Lord will bless those who pray the hardest for their team to win.  Does Massillon win?  Does the levy pass?  Does the high school survive?  Can Ellroy pass the ACT?  It's a fun, engaging, dramatic path we follow to that climatic game.  <I>Go Tigers!</I>  Go see it if you love that competitive spirit.  It may show you a slice of an American pie you didn't know existed.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="592" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><div> R (Language and a scene of teen drinking)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="588"><div> Brenda Sexton <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Symbol" >Ó</FONT> 2001</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><div> <A HREF="mailto:brendasext@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:brendasext@aol.com"><U><U>mailto:brendasext@aol.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Mini Filmography</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Kenneth A. Carlson: Amargosa</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="293" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>