source: The Last Whistle

I read all the reviews here and agree with practically all of them, from the poorly rated to the highest rated. All I kept thinking throughout the film once the audience learns about the heart condition, is why is this kid allowed to play football at all? No school would sign that acceptance and take the insurance risk. Also at the end of the movie when the superintendent reveals the vote that there were three votes for the coach and four with the super, does that mean he's back in? Usually the board consists of 5-7 individuals but that part wasn't clear to me. Or maybe that is when I didn't care anymore. Lead actor held my interest so I kept watching for him, The mock courtroom was a joke. Amen.

I call foul on this would-be inspirational ersatz afterschool special bout a driven high school championship football coach who seems more concerned bout.the cancellation of the big game and loss of his job (football is his Life, of course) than the player's death that occasioned it! Unconvincingly he eventually learns to say he's sorry, and that's the moral of our story. Actors adequate with the Very poor script and presentation they're dealing with here Didn't buy it.

This is so unrealistic. Benny's mom didn't want her son to play football, yet she cannot afford to pay for schooling, and Benny's grades were good but not good for a full scholarship... and she tells him to quit depending on people. Yet Coach could help him with a full ride based on ability. Ok mom. And she sues the coach, yet no one knew about Benny's heart condition. And that jerk team mate who complained about lack of playing time? Wow, he'd be gone and the way he talked back to coach at practice? That whole meeting with the mom, coach, and that lawyer? What a bunch of bull... revenge sprints, ignoring the value of discipline, etc... and Coach Greg? Wow. He rats on the coach, and lies in that meeting. This is such a ridiculous unrealistic movie. Again, that mother is ridiculous. The only reason I gave it a 2-star, is because it is about high school football. But this is a terrible movie.

The movie is interesting, while also being very sad. It is a little bit slow at some parts but it picks up.

There were several clichés here. Also, the lead actor played almost the same character he played in the Friday Night Lights series. We had the rich kid with a chip on his shoulder, the earnest star player, the well-meaning assistant coach, and the troublemaking redneck bar patron to name a few. But there were some good elements. The lead was actually a decent guy from start to finish, and both him and others grew emotionally or spiritually by the end. You keep waiting for some kind of religious preaching, but it never happens. Although you do see a Psalm on the wall of our lead's house. There's little or no character development or back story for the ball players, bartender, bar patrons, or school administrators, but you get some half baked attempts for the daughter and the star player. Music is barely used. This is good, because it would have been manipulative. What's nice is that the coach never really grovels. He is who he is. He just learns to tell people he's sorry when he feels it. It's cut and dry without too much ceremony. You can't help but like him. Unfortunately there just isn't much happening here, and the pace is excruciating.

This film takes a long time to say this: "it is okay as a man to express emotion. Go team."

In some ways this moves is really unrealistic The average weight of training gear is 9kg 20 pounds They ran 53M 11 Times that is 583m The average temperature is 15 degrees The guy looked around 75-80kg even with his heart condition he should have been able to run further then he did in the movie just doesn't seem right to me my personal opinion don't attack me

This thing just dragged on and on. Fortunately I could jump ahead in 10 second increments. OK story but I've seen ones like it many times.. Only interesting the last 5 minutes.

First of all this should be rated PG-13 with the language. I thought it was "wholesome" as one reviewer said. It was not. Also the acting was poor, casting was bad and story was slow. Unrealistic in many ways and just was a poor poor movie.