Touchback

I wasn't at all turned on by the trailer, but went with my wife to a screening here near Cleveland because it was free and I will see anything football. My wife was less enthusiastic about seeing it, but came because she wants me to see Lucky One with her next week and that was part of the deal. By the end of the movie, she was bawling. She loved it. Honestly, this movie was more for her than me, but it made us both think about life and we had a pretty amazing conversation on the way home.

All in all, I am giving it a nine because she thought it was a ten and I thought it was around an eight. It's a great date movie, if you go, take your wife or girlfriend.

Touchback is the story of a football player who gets a chance to relive his high school days, at the end of which 15 years ago, he injured his leg and thereby lost his chance to go to college and play as a professional. As he finds himself in a known situation, he relooks at the very things (present) knowing well what is the future. Initially he is excited that he can now literally rewrite the past, especially his dream of getting out of the small native town he has grown up in and become a professional football player. However, his interactions with his coach, his own single mother and most of all with an unknown girl (who in his present is his wife) in the college - not unknown, but he never really did notice her then - he begins to see the beauty of the present. His mother challenges him to be happy now, rather than eternally keep chasing happiness in the future. Finally when he actually has a chance to change the present, in line with his grand plans for the future, he does the same as he did then, 15 years ago... all for the sake of retaining what is most important in life... love and friendship of those dear and not personal plans for glory.

I wonder how many of us, if given a chance to go back into our past and change things, would change the whole of it? Or some of it? Or most of it? Blessed are those who will live it as it is and be happy about it! Because only then will each present moment count and every choice made valuable, because my present is more important than my past or the future... because my choice for the right and lasting things of life is more important than momentary glory and honour.

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Not a lot of people have seen this wonderful movie yet, which is why I feel like it is my obligation to tell those of you who have not, that you definitely should.

Growing up in Sweden I guess there are people that know a lot more about the culture surrounding high school football in America and although I am a big football fan, the same is probably true for the sport itself as well. That said I think my point of view from the outside just goes to show that you do not have to be an American growing up in a football family to love this movie because it is about so much more than football.

A high school football quarterback goes back in time and has the choice to change his life. The final game of his high school career crippled him. He could not go to Ohio State to play as the quarterback because of this. He goes back in time and gets the chance to change his life. This movie is very inspirational and makes you look back and realize what you have and could have lost. With the chance to go back and change his life becomes harder than he thought. He sees the girl he will marry later in life and realizes he has to make a choice. He can play the final game differently and stop himself from being crippled and lose his future wife. This movie was very good with a very good life lesson. I thought the movie had a very good meaning. It makes you look back and see what you have right now and could have lost. Its not too touchy feel and a great movie for guys into football. There were a few twists that will keep you interested. They used very good music to go with the scene and had a great setting. It fit the story about a farmer who barely made enough money to support his family. They lived in an old busted up house and he drove an old truck. There weren't a lot of things I didn't like about the movie. Kurt Russell was a great actor for his part. I think he would have played his part better as the grown up Scott Murphy. You didn't get to see him a lot Kurt Russell played as the coach of the football team. As always he was great at playing his role. He was very passionate but I think he would have done better as the grown up Scott Murphy. I didn't like that you barely got to see him though Overall the film was amazing. It has a very good life lesson. It is easy to relate to the characters too. Either you're a high school student with plans about your future, or you're an adult that may or may not have filled your dreams. It touches the hearts of every viewer.

Mild twists and a touch of Sci-Fi to keep you involved. More important is the off field story. Much more than anything. Apart from The on field twist near the end that I wasn't ready for the off field story is enough to keep you hoping for a magical change. But the reality is enough to make you say 'yes!' at the end.

Very earthy performances from the leads. Believable in every situation. Scott is well cast as an unassuming star,. Kurt Russell adds pulling power to the credits and has not been cast without reference to his ability to play characters we can all relate to.

Scott Murphy's character mirrors the perennially struggling farmers in not only USA but here in my home as well. He portrays admirably the shielded turmoil of men of the land fighting bad turns daily and then gritting , bearing and getting on with the job until all seems lost. Never allow this to impact his optimistic outlook for his children.

Truly credible performance.