Football drama puts healing ahead of scoring (AJC)

Football drama puts healing ahead of scoring - Eleanor Ringel in the Atlanta Journal Constitution: "WE ARE...MARSHALL: Grade: B

Starring Matthew McConaughey, David Strathairn, Anthony Mackie and Matthew Fox. Directed by McG. Rated PG for emotional thematic material, a crash scene, and mild language. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 5 minutes.

The verdict: A rah-rah movie that works.

Score another one for sappy movies this holiday season. In the wake of last week's 'The Pursuit of Happyness,' we have 'We Are Marshall,' another connect-the-dots inspirational film, largely filmed in Atlanta, that gets the job done.

It's as predictable as the final Big Game, but director McG —- the one-name phenom who made something presentable out of 'Charlie's Angels' —- applies that same audience-friendly expertise here. In short, this is the movie last fall's 'Invincible' —- another drama that cast sports in a larger context —- tried (and failed) to be.

'We Are Marshall' is based on a true story. On Nov. 14, 1970, a chartered plane carrying most of Marshall University's football team, coaches, staff and boosters crashed in the Appalachian Mountains outside Huntington, W.Va. (the school's hometown), killing everyone on board. The tight-knit community was devastated. Not only had they lost a team they followed with an almost religious devotion, but doctors, lawyers, sons, brothers and spouses were gone, too."