The Last Champion

I'm done with all the 'We're all terrible so we're all going to get punished' movies. Enough already. Let's have more like The Last Champion. We all make mistakes, and the main character in this story committed a whopper, but that's just the beginning. The story lies in what it takes to make one's way back.

High School wrestling provides the backdrop for the story, and there are some good depictions of the sport here, better than most I've seen, but this story isn't about wrestling, it's about forgiving yourself, forgiving others, and moving forward with your life.

Cole Hauser doesn't mimic his Yellowstone character, he finds another dimension and goes there. I'm a Rip Wheeler fan, but don't watch this movie because you miss Yellowstone. Watch this movie for the good life lessons that are presented, the great acting, and a moving score.

I'm a big fan of films like The Karate Kid and Rudy. I love a good sports movie and Cole Hauser is becoming one of the greats. This is a deeply felt sports drama without the schmaltz that often accompanies films like this. Every performance was authentic the wrestling action was very realistic and I had an easy time following it though I am not too familiar with the sport.

Honestly this was a great movie with a beautiful story. I've heard people saying it was bad because "it didn't have enough wrestling." Well here's the thing... if you're looking to watch a high school wrestling match, I recommend going down to your local high school to do so, because this isn't what this movie is or is intended to be. This movie is about second chances, redemption, perseverance, and community, and it's portrayed through the use of a high school wrestling team and a former Olympic wrestler.

So if you're into sports related movies and love a good story to go along with it, this movie is for you and I highly recommend.

The acting was on point. But the story.... See Hoosiers....

My husband chose this one because he loves sports movies, but I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it. One of the best movies I've seen in years. Excellent drama, and a great overall redemption story. The lead actor who plays the John Wright character gives a heartbreaking performance, he had me in tears at a few parts, and the child actor who plays Michael was terrific. It's a story about a man who makes a mistake in his past, and has the opportunity for a second chance, but he has to first find a way to forgive himself. And the final wrestling match had us on the edge of our seats, and I'm not even a sports person! It gave me chills! Anyway, this is such a great movie I felt like I had to give it a review, because you will love this movie even if you're not a sports person. It's just a very good story, and the kind of movie that they just don't make anymore. I have a feeling this will be on our Christmas watch list every year. Give it a chance, you won't be sorry.