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The first half if this movie was hitting on all cylinders. I really enjoyed it and thought I was on my way to a great sports flick.

The second half goes in a bunch of unexpected directions. I give it credit for avoiding the usual predictability of this genre. But a lot of it just didn't work for me. And worst of all, after all the great build up in the first half, we barely get a payoff at the end.

Even with the clunky second half, I would have given it a positive score of 6 stars if it wasn't for a couple of unnecessary romance subplots and forced drama.

In the end, I still mostly enjoyed this movie and am glad I gave it a chance. But I can't help but feel disappointed that they weren't able to stick the landing. (1 viewing, 2/19/2022)

To appreciate why and how this movie came about it helps to know that two of the producers are the Winklevoss twins. They came to fame when they accused Mark Zuckerberg of stealing their idea for a social network. But they also were rowers at Harvard and both of them (6' 5" identical twins) rowed in the Olympics.

So as this movie, set in 1999, starts we see a team mid-race going good and in first place, poised to beat Harvard for the national championship, then they pretty well fall apart nearing the final furlongs and lose badly.

A few months later, a new school year, Michael Shannon as Coach Murphy has been hired. He was a member of the school's championship team back in the late 1960s, he has seen war time military duty, he is a no-nonsense task master. But he recognizes that while the team has ample talent, they don't work well enough as a team when it counts.

So much of the movie is Coach doing things to get his boys to work better together, to find the natural leader, to beat Harvard, to win the National Championship. In addition there are several side stories, one involving a pushy dad who wants his own boy to shine so he will be picked for the Olympics. Plus several involving romantic relationships among the students.

One of the fun facts for us is the college scenes were shot at LSU, where my wife went to college. Other shooting locations were in East Baton Rouge and several other nearby locations.

All-in-all we both found it to be a worthwhile movie. Not everything gelled, one story line in particular between two of the rowers bothered both of us, but the real message here is to find yourself as you grow into adult life and you are never alone, you have to involve others in your contact sphere to accomplish things.

At home, on DVD from our public library.

Who knew rowing could be so dramatic. Throwback 90s era where a college row team is full of young men trying to find their way in life. Thematically solid and promotes team values that are rare today.

Casting 5/9. Only worthy mention is ofc the old man directing was the weakest part.. romance is forcefed and has no purpose at all.

All in all, enjoyable considering the drought in the boxoffice.

I know nothing about rowing, but am a sports fan and a fan of sports and true story movies. This movie is not a true story movie, but they did a decent job of making it seem like it could have been one, for much of it.

The latter parts of it didn't pan out so well though. I thought I was going to see a character redeeming himself, but instead the script went in a totally different direction that did not seem to fit with the emotional theme that the movie was trying to steer viewers toward before that point.

I was iffy on watching it in the first place, because the only thing I think I have in common with anything about the movie is that I'm a white male. That's the only thing I really have in common with any of the characters, though. I'm in my early 50s, while most of the characters are young, Ivy league college students competing in a sport I know nothing about. I'm also from the opposite coast and don't know New England culture, in general. But with it being a sports-oriented movie and seeing the 6 rating on IMDb, I gave it a shot on the assumption that it was possibly at least half decent, if it got anything above 6.0 rating here. Well, I generally agree with that assessment, for the most part. I almost want to give it a 5 rating because of the ending going in an unexpected - and not in a desired kind of way - direction. But the core of the movie really wasn't bad.

On another note, I am a retired vet. There is a part of the end scenes where Michael Shannon's character pops a salute to the character who he sees as the team's leader. He actually did a pretty good job of making that salute look like he was a real life vet. It wasn't a perfect salute, but it was a lot better than I normally see from actors who never served in the US military before. I actually researched his background briefly, after seeing that part. He seems to have no prior military background of his own. It's little things like that which make me appreciate what effort actors put into their tradecraft more. I was already liking what I was seeing from him in the movie before that. You can often tell how good or bad an actor is by how much or little research they do on who their characters are supposed to be. Just that salute tells me that Michael Shannon actually does care about the quality of his work. He gets a big thumb up from me, because of that.

This is a very formulaic film, and I should have known that going in (I didn't, because it's the first 'rowing movie' I'd ever heard of, thought this may have a different spin). Of course, it has to be interspersed with college-kid drama, love, and ridiculous set-up situations (girl hates boy, boy is a hurt soul, girl loves boy madly, ad nausea, replete with the requisite steamy snowing scenes, steamy raining scenes, etc.).

Michael Shannon is usually always great, but he was very stiff here, which for me, rendered him a less believable character. The other actors did a good job; Ludwig is a real rising star for sure, the other boys mostly forgettable and the girls, ugh; pure annoyance.

But for me, the big letdown here is the end. Naturally, a sports film pits the lowly underdogs against the revered and unbeatable favorites. No spoilers here, but the most ridiculous thing happens during the final showdown that could not possibly make a difference to the outcome of the race, and yet it does, big time. It is SO absolutely stupid that you immediately feel insulted for having your intelligence assailed. For me, this movie went from a 6 to a 2, but I'll compromise at 3 for Ludwig and the guy who played his father performances.

I wasn't sure what to expect--a modern take on Boys in the Boat--or your typical sports feel-good movie.

There is a lot going. You have coming of age for the main college athletes (Alex, Chris, & John), rowing (both as a sport and as a metaphor), relationships (romantic, coach-athlete, father-son, team), learning about life & accepting the consequences of one's actions, and coming together in the face of tragedy. Because of this, the pacing and editing was very rough and choppy, which detracts from the enjoyment part as it got distracting.

Cast was good, for the most part. A bit stilted though Michael Shannon really gave this movie some substance in his acting and delivery.

You'd think based on the reviews, this was a terrible movie but it wasn't. Was the last quarter unexpected and a tad rushed in the last 10-15 minutes? Yes, but that by no means makes this movie any less than watchable. It has problems but I think people got wrapped up it not be all sunshine and roses all the way through and the tragedy element towards the back end, while surprising and a plot device, it works within the plot and has the obligatory HEA.

Overall, a decent movie. Don't go in to it with expectations or get too caught up in the details. Just enjoy the story itself.

Im a sucker for sportsmovies. I was very interested in this movie since I did rowing when I was younger. But the movie just falls flat.

The dynamic between Alex and his father is interesting and the classic story of a team with potential but teamwork issues, works, but the romance seems to be a irrelevant parallel story with no purpose. The end makes absolutely no sense both in terms of character building and realism.

Really wanted to like this movie, but it fails to deliver.

This movie brings together stories of college students who face and overcome interior struggles and stresses of life and learn the valuable lessons that no man is an island and that sometimes you have to depend on the team and sometimes the team has to depend on you. They deal with death, loss, family pressure, and peer pressure while learning that they need others and others need them on a sports team and in life.

6.5/10

Not as inspirationally motivating as I would have hoped for. There was too much young adult romance, but what else should I expect from a film based on college/university ages. However, the story still gets a good message across of how you need to work together as a team to achieve a bigger goal than just yourself.

The acting wasn't terrible. A little cheesy at times, but I really enjoyed Michael Shannon in this one. His performance felt the strongest, but he's also been around longer than most in this film. However, a few of the rowers who had prominent supporting parts were enjoyable.

The biggest killer to this film was how the score overpowered what was happening on screen. My meaning to this is that I got more motivated and excited by the score, but became bored by what I was seeing. However, a stronger scored worked for a few scenes, especially the ones that threw me for a loop that I certainly wasn't expecting.

Overall, the only thing I can say about this film, truly, is that if it's come across your mind to watch it, then you should watch it. It's not terrible, but it's not great. It's a little over ok.

Thank you for taking the time to read my review. Until next time.... Enjoy the show!

Say they made a movie about making a movie, this would be the full picture example of the movie that would come out of that movie. Michael Shannon reminded me of Bill Hader doing an impression of someone.

You will see some of the reviews were very disappointed, but I tell you, this movie is gold! Its the drama that is so drama you will be amused. They honestly set the bar for college rowing drama movies. When you think if it couldnt get more chaotic, they say "hold my beer."

The directors pull out every cliche play imaginable... When you think this is it, they hit you with more, more and more until they just simply run out of time. And through all the playmakers, they hit you with some really unexpected stuff, to the point you do the Shane Gillis "Oh Sht!!" they just did that?"

After the big turning moment, Id say the grand finale of cliche speeches is just something of amazing that really brings things home. Then you never forget the iconic salute at the end.

Watch it, enjoy it.

Cliché enough to please fans of clichés and enough to alienate those who see it as a certain predictable monotony... Strong athletes with excess testosterone and few neurons, who when they are not competing against each other, show off for the equally caricatured girls, and the misfit-suffering guy, perhaps pleasing to teenagers, is a cute but tiring and stupid juvenile... A plot twist in the third and final act gave it a considerable and interesting dramatic air...

After finishing last in the national championship, a college rowing team enters into turmoil and constant internal fights between team leaders Alex, Chris and John. A tough Army veteran, Coach Murphy, arrives at the start of the new season to transform the status quo and unlock their true potential.

I was very much enjoying this movie. Everything had a great vibe... the actors, the plot, the team bonding, the romance, all flowing along so smoothly.

And then came the final act... What a huge letdown. A 9/10 (yes, it was that good) movie gets whacked by an awful and unbelievable ending. I couldn't not write a review.

And then came the final act... What a huge letdown. A 9/10 (yes, it was that good) movie gets whacked by an awful and unbelievable ending. I couldn't not write a review.

Still worth a watch, but lower your expectations. Mine were sky high halfway through, and I was ultimately disappointed and let down.

Sports movies seem to have a formula. Team not performing as it should, new coach comes in who inspires, someone trying to undermine the team, a traumatic event the team must overcome. So it is with this one but somehow it all works for me. Michael Shannon as the coach stands out even though the main focus is not on him, but liked other characters as well and their stories. Certainly deserving of a higher rating than what it has on IMDB.

Greetings again from the darkness. We've seen most of this before in a long list of inspirational sports stories where the beleaguered, tough as nails coach comes in and unites a rag-tag team while teaching life lessons. However, with (2-time Oscar nominee) Michael Shannon cast as the coach, we know there will be at least one performance worth watching. The screenplay is from Vojin Gjaja and it's directed by Michael Mailer (son of 2-time Pulitzer Prize winning author, Norman Mailer).

The film opens in May 1999 as a crew team finishes last in the Collegiate Rowing Championships. Inner-team bickering and animosity exists thanks to domineering Team Captain Alex (Alexander Ludwig, "Vikings"). The following year, the team is introduced to their new coach, Coach Murphy (Shannon). He has a different approach and he's focused on creating a team, rather than a few guys with oars. All we really learn about Murphy is that he's an alum and former rower for this same college, and an Army and Vietnam veteran who lost friends in the war, and carries that burden with him every day.

Alex (Ludwig) is back for his senior year and his goal is to be chosen for the Olympics team ... a goal his over-bearing father (David James Elliott, "JAG") reminds him of every few minutes. The other two crew members who get significant screen time are John (Alex MacNicoll, ALL ROADS TO PEARLA, 2019) and newcomer Chris (Charles Melton, THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR, 2019). John is dating Alex's ex-girlfriend Sara (Ash Santos), while transfer student Chris is dealing with a recent tragedy, and also attracted to Sara's friend Nisha (Lilly Krug, EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE, 2021). And yes, at times the melodrama of these folks is just a bit too heavy-handed and soap opera-ish. Coach Murphy is clearly the most interesting character, yet the film spends the bulk of its time on the youngsters and their daily journey.

One of the plusses here is that the sport at the center is rowing, which at least veers from the typical sports fare. But then we learn very little about the sport, other than it blisters your hands and causes your lungs to burn ... and there is "swing" which occurs when the team is in full sync. Mr. Shannon does as much with his underwritten role as possible; however, overall the movie is just a bit too generic with its final lesson of, "a loss is not the end." Should you have an interest in a true life rowing story, allow me to recommend the 2013 book, "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics" by Daniel James Brown Opened October 29, 2021.

As far as sports movies go, you know the recipe. Team fails. Team has one member over-the-top with attitude and funded by rich daddy to achieve his own very personal goals. One could-be leader waiting in the wings. An outsider who joins late, shrouded in mystery. The coach who arrives and brings tough love and salvation. Team unites through myriad personal and collective struggles.

Add to this mix the absolutely ridiculous fact that the movie is supposedly in 1999 but the clothes, cars and settings are all decidedly 2021... this movie is a sheer disappointment. If you wanted a good drinking game, take a drink per predictable trope. Caveat: it'd be easy to end up with alcohol poisoning.

The movie started off strong, have some of the usual sub plots, romance twists you would expect. Really what you want too see in a uplifting movie.

The came the last bit, and the film.falls to pieces, one of the characters that showed the most growth gets destroyed for no good reason, another something happens too another one, and then there is the last part which is just completely implausible. Really ruined everything in the movie.

What a waste of time. It falls into a classic trap of trying to destroy something but not succeeding in making it feel realistic or at all even make the character seem bad.

I really liked it, even if other reviews have wide variation in reactions. Michael Shannon is perfect for his role and delivers another stellar performance. There is some young adult melodrama, but it all works for me. One critic wrote the movie "lacks a brain" and yet when I think about the story I find some layers to it that are meaningful.