Varsity
Blues
Directed
by Brian Robbins
Written
by W. Peter Iliff
Starring
James Van Der Beek, Jon Voight, Paul Walker, Ron Lester, Scott Caan, Ali
Larter, and Amy Smart
104
minutes. Rated R. Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1. 1999
I did not have high expectations for this film. I still wanted very much
to see it, because I often enjoy sports movies, for some odd reason, but
I was pleased and surprised by a great script, wonderful performances,
and some kick-ass directing.
Van Der Beek (Dawson's Creek) is Mox, the second string quarterback
of a high school varsity football team in Canaan, West Texas -- a small
town completely obsessed with this football team. The film goes a tad far
in places to establish just how obsessed this town is (the starring QB
has a large cardboard cut-out of himself in his front yard), but that's
really the main point of the movie, to explore the obsession that the people
in these little towns have with their rat-ass high school sports teams. 
Anyhow,
Mox is content to sit on the sidelines for the last four games of the season
so he can just graduate and go to Brown, but when the lead QB injures himself
in a game, Mox has to step in.
Jon Voight
gives a brilliant performance as Coach Kilmer, the embodiment of the obsession
this town has. A small, pathetic man, Kilmer is completely immersed in
Canaan football; it's his entire existence. He is the complete opposite
of Mox, who loves football "when it's pure," but who now wants nothing
more than to get the hell out of dodge. That may not happen though, if
he doesn't play by Kilmer's rules. Too bad the tagline for the film screams
"make your own rules."
It's nice to know that Van Der Beek can do something besides whine, as
he does on Dawson's Creek. His performance as Mox is a great one
(even his accent is passable), and I'm looking forward to seeing him in
some more film roles, and getting away from Dawson Leary. The supporting
cast, especially Larter (the sexpot who wants out of Canaan any way she
can get it) and Smart (Mox's girlfriend who would rather her boyfriend
not be in the spotlight), is also terrific.
Mox's
girlfriend makes a half-joking reference to Mox being a god now that he's
starring quarterback, and that is so true. The way the people of this town
are so wrapped up and obsessed with football is surreal, and yet I completely
believe it's that way in small towns all across America. It's sad, really,
that these people have nothing more in their lives but the stories of their
"glory days" on the high school team, and the hopes that their kids will
do even better than they did, whether their kids want to play football
or not. This film is a fascinating study of that culture, as well as a
funny look at teenagers, a commentary about heroes, and host to some great
football sequences.
Bottom line: Much more intelligent than
it looks, plus great performances from Van Der Beek and Voight.
My grade:
A -
My advice:
One way or another, I think you'll like this movie. There's something in
it for everyone.
Get the movie
poster!
