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March 24, 2008
Mystery, Alaska (1999)
Should I see it?
Yes.



This is a solid, entertaining movie. Russell Crowe fronts this production that tells the underdog story of a small town hockey team's goal of playing against the New York Rangers on television. As the big game approaches the lives of the townsfolk are strained. There is a great deal going for this piece and for the most part it delivers. Its always good to see small town people treated with respect in film. Usually, given that most filmmakers are either from metro areas or from privileged backgrounds, regular people rarely get a fair shake and are viewed as simple and stupid. Director Jay Roach (Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me) has some respect for these people who live their quiet but consequential lives.

This is a great back up pick when what you want isn't available. This is also quite a well constructed sports film as well. If you're into sports, you should give this one a second look.


Related Reviews:
Sports movies
Faster (2003)
The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005)


Other Critic's Reviews:
Big Screen Cinema Guide
3 Black Chicks Review Movies

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posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 7:40 AM




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2 Comments:

Anonymous pgepps said...

underdog . . . sports . . . hockey team . . . small town . . . sorry, uh, see what, again?

Russell Crowe hasn't failed me yet. I'm guessing that if I don't watch him in yet another iteration of the action movie's weaker and more predictable sister (I say this knowing that action movies are proudly formulaic), it might stay that way.

Show me a movie in which a small town team playing a sport not currently fashionable is the presumptive favorites, and I'll show you why that movie couldn't be made. . . .

:-)
PGE

March 24, 2008 at 11:25 PM  
Anonymous Scott Nehring said...

You'll note I didn't tell you to drop everything you're doing and go out and see this immediately.

Don't sell this one short because of a disdain for sports movies. Yes, it does follow the formula and is a traditional sport movie. The exception being that the transformations in the film do not happen in the rink but outside of the game. It also offers a great look at small town life, and provides some wonderful characterizations.

This isn't a great work of cinema, and it certainly doesn't rewrite the genre, but it is a solid movie just the same.

March 25, 2008 at 6:03 AM  

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