Movie Review Rewind: The Express (2008)

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You want to talk about a sports movie that offers so much more than the sport they highlight? Well this is it. The Express goes far beyond football. It involves friendships, relationships, and race. And how it all lead to history being made. The movie is about Ernie Davis, who played for Syracuse University, and became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. It was a long journey, but he was able to achieve what no African-American football player had ever achieved before. Football is the glue that keeps this movie together, but the racial divide really adds to the movie. The Express becomes more than just a “sports movie.”

Rob Brown plays Ernie Davis and does a great job. He has been in Coach Carter and got his start in Finding Forrester, but he really shines in this. His coach, Coach Ben Schwartzwalder, is played by Dennis Quaid. He brings the emotions of Ernie Davis out, and they both make each other better men. Coach has some issues of his own, but does not let race get in the way of winning. But, Davis is able to open Schwartzwalder’s eyes to the world around him that can’t be ignored any longer.

The friendship between these two helps hold this movie up for director Gary Fleder (Runaway Jury). There are so many elements going on involving football and racism, and this relationship is kind of the light at the end of the tunnel. I do not want to give anything away, but it does not have a happy ending. However, the message that the movie sends is loud and clear. You can do anything even if it seems like the rest of the world is against you. And everyone is on this Earth to do something. You only get one life, so you better make it worth it. Schwartzwalder and  Davis certainly did.

“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter@SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.

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