Race politics are included as another in a long line of obstacles for Davis to overcome, but the method in which it is addressed is also typical for Hollywood. Much of this subplot focuses on Davis teaching a white man, Schwartzwalder, why it is wrong to stay quiet when faced with even the subtle racism of the day. We get an appreciation of what this white man learns, and how he becomes a better man for it. As for Davis, we see him attain near-mythic status as the young player who overcame a stammer, Pops' death, nosebleeds, and racism on and off the field to eventually be honored as the best college football player of 1961. Outside of a small obligatory scene where he speaks of it to his cousin, we never get a true sense of how difficult it must have been to face the pressure of having such a symbolic role thrust upon him. I would have been interested in seeing Davis' interactions with Jim Brown, a well-known activist, who similarly had run-ins with the coach over institutionalized racism.
The film is strongest when it's on the field. All the play action is shot tightly, and easier to follow than you might think due to some deft editing and cinematography. With such a dearth of football movies, it is worth watching if just for that. But unless you're a diehard football fanatic, you might want to consider waiting for The Express on video.
The Express opens on October 10 in theaters across the country.
Article comments
1 - Larry, 'Cuse '87
Mr. Dayoub says "The viewer's sympathies are immediately manipulated by making the child Davis a stutterer, only for the stammer to disappear once we leave him as a youth."
If Mr. Dayoub had done 2 minutes of research, he would have learned that Ernie WAS a stutterer, a severe handicap that impacted how he socialized, and how he saw/read other people. One has only to read to page 18 of "Ernie Davis: The Elmira Express" by Robert Gallagher, the book upon which the movie is based, for the first reference to this disability. And yes Mr. Dayoub, it was conquered in early adulthood thanks to Ernie's hard work and perseverance. No sir, not a manipulation, but a quite factual example of the man's (boy's?) substance, the fight he took to all the challenges in his life.
As for a glossed over depiction of Ernie's life...well, if you got the detail of Ernie's stuttering wrong, Mr. Dayoub, who's to say that rest of your review isn't flawed? By all accounts, Ernie led a blessed life, changing those around him in life altering ways. Next time, if you can't take the time to do a bit of research if you are going to attack a plot line, don't bother doing the review.
2 - Tony Dayoub
Mr. Cuse,
I don't dispute that Mr. Davis' story is an inspiring one. It is all the moreso because of the challenges he had to overcome, including the disability.
My point is that the movie takes shortcuts by simply introducing this disability as a means of getting the viewer's sympathies, and then forgets it conveniently without showing us Davis' hard work in overcoming it.
I for one, would have liked the film to take the same time in explaining it as the wonderful book does. It is these nuances that elevate a man's life story beyond being merely cliche. I think the movie did Davis a disservice by glossing over these trying times in his life.
What was your opinion of the film as compared to the book?
3 - Larry, 'Cuse '87
Honestly, it's very hard to compare the two. While I enjoyed the book immensely, it was more for the nuance and texture that you mention than writing style or prose. I would call the book "wonderful" on substance, not so much style.
As for the movie, I came in with the maxim in mind "the book is always better than the movie." (pretty cliched, even for an amateur critic). But it really wasn't hard for Fleder and Leavitt to liven up Gallagher's book for the big screen, for me at least. Sure, there were corners cut and sympathies played, but that's pretty much what you get when you cram a man's life into a couple hour "docu-drama."
One last point. You make the comparison to Brian's Song, saying that film did a better job making Brian's death the centerpiece of the film. But really...is that The Express' intention? To make Ernie's death the centerpiece, or his life? Ernie's story really isn't about the leukemia, but what came before. We're left to wonder what could have been, without dwelling on how the door closed.
One (biased Orange) man's opinion...
4 - Tony Dayoub
Well, as a critic, I feel that a movie must be judged on its own merits. You have the benefit of having read the book to help you fill in the blanks. But I'm also reviewing the film for many others who didn't read it.
Besides who says you have to "cram a man's life into a couple hour 'docudrama'"? Michael Corleone was a fictional character and he got more than 9 hours.
5 - Larry, 'Cuse '87
True enough on Mr. Corleone (I feel hesitant to question a thinly veiled reference to horse heads made by a guy named Tony. A Hurricane, no less).
I just hope people will take the opportunity to learn a little more about Ernie. We in the Syracuse community have waited a long, long time for this story to be told.
6 - John M. Murphy II
Thanks to Mr. Robert Gallagher, those of us who grew up in Elmira and played football, will finally get the feeling of being reunited with an old friend. I visited Elmira (home) a couple of years ago for a funeral at Woodlawn, where Mr. Davis is buried and I took the time to walk my, then 9 year old son over to visit his grave. I explained to my son who Ernie Davis was and why his story was important. When the ads started to appear on tv for the movie, my son remembered what I had told him a couple of years before. Needless to say, we will be watching the movie this evening. Thanks to Mr. Gallagher for writing the book and thanks to all for making the movie.
7 - justin
This movie was terrible. Marshall seems to better to watch again.
8 - Katlin
This movie is a point to all of the people who are rasis
9 - Harvey baum
I went to Syracuse Univ shortly after ED left and I found the movie highly offensive to the truth- e.g. there was little hostility from the students on campus shown in the movie - and ENIRE DAVE NEVER PLAYED DEFENSE!
10 - SANDRA
I REALLY ENJOY THE MOVIE ABOUT ERNIE DAVIES I CRY MY SON IS A FOOTBALL PLAYER HAS WATCH IT AT SCHOOL SOMEONE THEY HAS NEVER HEARD ABOUT IN THEIR 17 YEARS . I AM 57 AND A FOOTBALL FAN I GROW UP IN THOSE TIMES OF JIM CROW AND AN AA SO ALL OF THE RACISM IS TRUE AND STILL IS TRUE IN 2009.HIS SHORT TIME ON THIS EARTH WAS A BLESSING HE BROUGHT A LOT OF JOY TO A LOT OF PEOPLE HE WAS LOVED AND STILL IS TO THIS DAY HE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
11 - Andrew
Harvey,
They played iron man football in those days. Ernie Davis really played defense.
12 - nicholas nathan
i loved the movie and think it was as good if not better than remember the titans and dennis quade is a great actor