When The Game Stands Tall

PG
Starring: Jim Caviezel, Michael Chiklis, Alexander Ludwig, Laura Dern, Matthew Daddario, Clancy Brown, Stephan James and Ser'Darius Blain
Running Time: 1 Hour and 55 Minutes

This is the true story about the 2004 De La Salle High School football team. De La Salle is a private Catholic school for boys located in Concord, California. It is based on their legendary coach, Bob Ladouceur.
Coach Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel)  is notoriously famous for his 151 game winning streak.
He is a coach who has taught and led by example. He is a gentleman who has integrity and honor and has set the standard high for his young men to follow. The coach believes in unity and is trying to build camaraderie between the players. He likes to incorporate bible verses into his pep talks to help inspire and motivate his players. One of the scriptures he quotes is Matthew 23:13,  "Whosoever exalts himself shall be humbled. And whoever humbles himself shall be exalted".  Trying to teach the kids not to be selfish but to play for one another. The team endures some tough set backs when the coach suddenly suffers a life-threatening heart attack and is struggling to stay alive. He recovers and once again resumes his position as coach.
The team then suffers another devastating tragedy when one of their best teammates, T. K. Kelly (Stephan James) is suddenly shot and killed.
I have always been a sucker for a good sports movie. I enjoyed this movie but I didn't love it. I found myself getting bored and a little uninterested. It did have its high points and some exciting moments but overall, it just felt rather flat to me.
Parents be advised: The shooting scene and heart attack scene were sad and emotional. Also, one of the player's fathers was obsessed with his son breaking the record and he got abusive and violent with him which is always hard to watch!
I am giving "When The Game Stands Tall" two and a half bags of popcorn.