The Express

October 10th, 2008







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The Express

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Still of Dennis Quaid, Rob Brown and Omar Benson Miller in The ExpressStill of Dennis Quaid and Rob Brown in The ExpressStill of Dennis Quaid in The ExpressStill of Dennis Quaid and Rob Brown in The ExpressStill of Rob Brown in The ExpressStill of Charles S. Dutton and Rob Brown in The Express

Plot
A drama based on the life of college football hero Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.

Release Year: 2008

Rating: 7.1/10 (6,966 voted)

Critic's Score: 58/100

Director: Gary Fleder

Stars: Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid, Clancy Brown

Storyline
This biopic focuses on the relationship of Ernie Davis (1939-1963), a gifted African-American athlete, and his coach from 1958 to 1962 at Syracuse University, Ben Schwartzwalder (1909-1993). Schwartzwalder recruits Davis with the help of All-American running back, Jim Brown. The civil rights movement is gaining steam; Davis experiences prejudice on campus, in town, and on the field, sometimes from teammates. How he handles it and how he challenges Schwartzwalder to stand up for his players provide a counterpoint to several great seasons that lead first to a national championship and then to the Heismann Trophy.

Writers: Charles Leavitt, Robert Gallagher

Cast:
Rob Brown - Ernie Davis
Dennis Quaid - Ben Schwartzwalder
Darrin Dewitt Henson - Jim Brown
Omar Benson Miller - Jack Buckley
Nelsan Ellis - Will Davis, Jr.
Charles S. Dutton - Willie 'Pops' Davis
Justin Martin - Young Ernie
Justin Jones - Young Will
Nicole Beharie - Sarah Ward
Aunjanue Ellis - Marie Davis
Elizabeth Shivers - Elizabeth Davis
Clancy Brown - Roy Simmons
Danny McCarthy - Bill Bell
Regina Hoyles - Sister
Chelcie Ross - Lew Andreas



Details

Official Website: Official site |

Release Date: 10 October 2008

Filming Locations: Berwyn, Illinois, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $4,562,675 (USA) (12 October 2008) (2808 Screens)

Gross: $9,589,875 (USA) (2 November 2008)



Technical Specs

Runtime:



Did You Know?

Trivia:
Career team record @ Syracuse 1959 11-0 1960 7-2 1961 8-3.

Goofs:
Factual errors: At the very start of the movie, in the huddle of the first play the audience witnesses during the Texas game, you can clearly hear the quarterback say the play and he says it is a Shovel Pass, but when the play is run it is in fact a direct hand off to Ernie Davis not the shovel pass that was called.

Quotes:
[First Line]
Ernie Davis: 21 straight lines five yards apart. That is a football field. But there are other lines you don'T see that run deeper and wider. All the way through the country, and aren't part of any game.



User Review

Inspiring Sports Movie

Rating: 10/10

The Express was one of the best sports movies I have seen. It tells the story of Ernie Davis, who was the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy and his relationship with his coach, Ben Schwarzwalder.

It is set in the late 50's where there was still a great deal of prejudice against African Americans, even in the northern states where segregation was not overt. Ernie's optimism and willingness to be the best football player he can be, not just the best African American football player was portrayed perfectly by Rob Brown. He was inspiring and you couldn't help rooting for him to succeed.

Ben was a crusty, set in his ways coach, who couldn't see beyond winning the game. Ernie helped him see that a football team is made up of individuals who have to pull together to achieve their goals. Dennis Quaid is an excellent actor, who can say so much with just a smile or a raised eyebrow. He is so natural, it is as if he isn't acting at all. Dennis & Rob have a very good chemistry, and they made every scene believable.

The Express was similar to the Rookie, another great film that Dennis Quaid starred in. Both films had just the right amount of drama, set off with little bits of comedy to relieve the tension.

At the showing I attended, the audience was very moved by the film because when it was over, there was much applause, something you don't hear much in movies these days.

You don't have to be a football fan to love this movie. I highly recommend it.





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