Undefeated (2011)

Content by Tony Macklin. Originally published on February 4, 2012 @ tonymacklin.net.

At its best, Undefeated is a Hail Mary TD pass. It recently received an Oscar nomination as Best Documentary feature. Other times, it's a routine punt.

Undefeated is an anthem of decency and empathy. It's also about living on the edge - of society and life.

The movie begins slowly and ends conventionally. But for much of its length it's an involving, revealing study of human beings under pressure.

Undefeated follows the 2009 season of an inner-city football team in Memphis, Tennessee. The Manassas High School football team - entirely African-American - has been a whipping boy for the state. It has a history of being routed.

In 2004 Bill Courtney became volunteer coach and tried to turn the belittled team around. It seems as though the documentary is going to be yet another story of a losing team that becomes winners. That's hardly promising - it's a theme that has been done over and over again. But it's much more than that.

When we're first introduced to Bill Courtney, he hardly seems as though he can be featured in a documentary with any hopes of originality.

Courtney is white, somewhat red-haired, somewhat chubby, and not particularly articulate. He has little if any charisma. He seems to be a nice guy without any distinguishing features.

But as the film evolves, Bill Courtney proves to be a better man than most. He is a knowledgeable coach, but more importantly he is a communicator. He's also an amateur psychologist, an educator, a care giver, and a mentor. He's generous, determined, and patient as a Job of the gridiron.

Bill is the father of four children, has a loyal, attractive wife, and owns a lumber company, but every day he goes off to war with his immature, inter-city band of misfits and inattentive wannabes. His goal is to make them a "team."

Director/editors Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin make a choice. They focus on the coach and three players - two linemen and a line backer. It's a brilliant decision. No flashy QB, RB. or WR in the spotlight. In fact, for most of the movie they're irrelevant.

The three focal players all have major obstacles before them. Standout blocker O.C. has an almost overwhelming struggle with his studies. Montrail "Money" is a great defender but is too small to play college ball and has a major injury that sidelines him. He wants to go to college but obviously can't afford it.

The third player under scrutiny is the surly Chavis, a volatile, selfish young man who has been imprisoned and has severe anger issues. He seems poster boy for self-destruction.

Filmmakers Lindsay and Martin capture the unblessed trinity in their awkward humanity. The three are football players, but even more they are human beings under duress. All three have distinctive personalities. O.C. and Money have great smiles, and Chavis has a great glower that maybe could become a smile.

Undefeated is full of effective scenes. Several times Bill gets in the face of an uncaring player and preaches about team and character. These scenes show a human trying almost desperately to connect. Since his own father left him when he was four years old, Bill knows what that kind of experience can do to a young man.

He also realizes the frustration involved in what he is trying to accomplish. "All the losses, one or two pluses," the coach sighs.

Undefeated has some wonderful moments. When Chavis ultimately speaks to the team about the "uncommon man award," it is raw and unforgettable.

The movie also is amusing. When O.C. in the coach's car puts on cologne to attract a girl, it is touchingly funny. And it's funny when Money looks at an X-ray and says, "Is that my brain?" and the technician answers, "It's your knee." The inexperience and naivete of big guys are humorous.

Lindsay and Martin are at the top of their game capturing authenticity and immediacy. Several of their sequences are palpably convincing. We are there to witness what seems like emotional truth.

But Lindsay and Martin are also their worst enemies, when they decide not to edit for best effect. Instead they slip into conventionality.

They end Undefeated with the "big game," which is too long. The final game and its aftermath are anti-climactic. It's as though they sacrifice humanity for history. The last game doesn't prove anything; it's all been resolved before. Redemption has already happened.

The game focuses on the QB and RB. We don't know or care about them. Our "heroes" are reduced to just extras.

The ending of Undefeated is formulaic - it's as though the filmmakers are about to send their screenplay to Sandra Bullock.

Undefeated ends with Bill going to practice. "Practice" dulls the vision.

Money's earlier last line - "It's a beginning" - would have had more resonance. Or one of the earlier scenes of redemption and/or resolve would have ended the film with lasting impact.

When Undefeated forgets the game and concentrates on human struggle and striving, failures and accomplishments, it's special.

Undefeated scores, but it shanks its final punt.