Okay, so I have my pick for best Actor (even though he wasn't nominated), best Actress (who I am sure will win), and now I have my pick for Best Documentary. Undefeated is a beautiful film from beginning to end dealing with kids who are going through unimaginable circumstances, dealing with soul crushing poverty while playing the bone crunching (and ligament tearing) game of High School football. The movie is about the 2010 season of the Memphis Manassas Tigers and it has everything you can think of. The school's football program has never won a playoff game in it's one hundred and ten year history, it's star defensive player spent time in a penitentiary for youths, it's smartest player grapples with self doubt, and the teams star player has his very own Blindside like life to help get his grades up.
Then there's the coach. Bill Courtney is without question, a driven man. He's driven to be a successful businessman, husband, father, and winning coach. More than that though, Bill Courtney is driven to help the young men on his team to become better men. He sacrifices so much (as does his family) to make sure the young men don't fall through the cracks or by the wayside. While watching this film I both envied and felt sorry for Coach Bill. I envied him for being in those indelible moments that shape young men, moments they will never forget. For being instrumental in their lives and for being there when the light goes on and those young men finally get it. I felt sorry for him when he's had to break up the fights, deal with the seeming ungratefulness, and expending the amount of energy it took to get his team up to and across the finish line. I'm sure if you asked Coach Bill Courtney who HIS hero is he would say his wife, with NO hesitation.
The film follows him, the mercurial Chavis Daniels, the charming Montrail "Money" Brown, and the preternaturally gifted O.C. Brown as they ride the highs and lows of their season. If you have ever seen the Peter Berg directed movie Friday Night Lights (which I highly recommend), this film will seem very familiar to you. The only difference being Undefeated was happening in real time. These were real experiences. The doctors were real, the injuries were real, the anguish was real, as were the triumphs. The movie had it's hilarious moments along with many heartfelt ones as well. Like when O.C. puts cologne on for the first time for his girlfriend. It's such a sweet moment you can't help pull for these kids.
I heard nothing but great things about this film so I had to see it for myself and I am truly glad I did. I don't usually recommend documentaries to people because we all have different tastes, and those tastes may not run in the same direction but SEE THIS FILM!!! You will not be sorry and you may find yourself pulling for it on Oscar night just like me.
