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The Last Game (Director's Cut)
List price: $14.98
Sale price: $14.23
You save: $0.75 (5%)
Actor(s): T. Patrick Murray
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
Creator(s): Cinematographer Mike PettineEditor Mike PettineProducer Mike PettineWriter Mike PettineCinematographer Alex WeinressEditor Alex WeinressProducer Alex WeinressWriter Alex Weinress
Director(s):
EAN: 0014381938838
Format(s): ColorLetterboxedNTSC
Label: Image Entertainment
Language(s): English Original Language
List Price: $14.98
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
Number Of Items: 1
Product Group: Video
Publisher: Image Entertainment
Release Date: 2003-12-30
Running Time: 88minutes
Studio: Image Entertainment
Theatrical Release Date: 2002-08-17
UPC: 014381938838
Editorial Reviews
Description:
With 15 undefeated seasons, Mike Pettine is the highest-winning coach in Pennsylvania Big School history. He cautiously enters the new season, pessimistic about his team's chances for another state title. That's his nature, always looking for weakness, the problem, and yet that's what makes him a good coach. However, nothing can prepare him and his Central Bucks West Bucks for the season that lies ahead of them... There are thousands of high school football teams in America, and this is the remarkable story of the most extraordinary season for one of them. Family and football... Is there anything else?
Amazon.com:
Sports documentaries don't get any better than The Last Game, which seems likely to remain the greatest film ever made about the undiluted thrill of high school football. You couldn't write a Hollywood script better than this riveting, real-life celebration of Central Bucks West--the reigning champions of Pennsylvania high school football--and the team's passionate hard-ass coach of 32 years, Mike Pettine Sr. The year is 1999, and as CB West storms its way toward an astonishing, undefeated three-season record of 45-0, we witness the many facets of an unfolding drama: star fullback Dustin Picciotti rises to prominence with an abundance of cocky self-assurance; former CB West player-turned-rival coach Mike Pettine Jr. prepares to battle his father's team in a crucial game; and Pettine Sr. wrestles with the decision to retire after this, his 33rd season. It all culminates in a final championship contest during which Picciotti and two other valuable players are injured--an escalating sequence of events that's guaranteed to have you white-knuckled on the edge of your seat. Given the pure, non-professional nature of high school football, the raw energy of this low-budget, shot-on-video production, and the volatile personalities involved, The Last Game reflects the spirit of CB West: It's just about perfect. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews Average rating - 4.5
Rating - 4 Date: 2008-09-22
Content: Having lived in central Bucks County for most of my life, I will admit to a complete bias toward this cinema verite style documentary, created by Alex Weinress and Patrick Murray; who follow the football team at Central Bucks West High School, located in Doylestown Pa, during their 1999 season. Mike Pettine, CB West's legendary (in high school football circles); head coach; gives the filmmakers carte blanch to follow the Bucks everywhere as their season unfolds. When the entire season suddenly seems to hinge on one play, they are right there as well. You'll just have to watch the movie if you want to know more about this item, though. Suffice to say that unbiased viewers; even those who have little interest in sports; may find themselves vicariously living and dying with the fortunes of these CB West kids as they fight for their third consecutive State Championship.
Though biased I can't fathom some of the criticism leveled at this movie. At first glance the drill sergeant-like attitude Coach Pettine exhibits toward his players may seem petty and demeaning, but anyone actually following the movie will certainly note his explanation for this. He knows that if they can take his verbal punishment they can then take the psychological battering leveled by opposing teams. A good example of this can be seen in the way the West players respond in a crucial game against BecaHi (Bethlehem Catholic High School) when they (strategically, it seems) adopt a no respect attitude toward the Bucks. BecaHi's blue collar kids, many of whose fathers and grandfathers must have worked at the steel mill in town before it closed, make it clear from the git go that they aren't in awe of Pennsylvania's supposed #1 team one bit; nor of nationally ranked fullback Dustin Picciotti. At one point after a play has ended, and while Picciotti's back is partially turned toward him, one of BecaHi's smaller players nonchalantly throws a shoulder into Picciotti while walking back to the huddle--what cohones! Conversely, Coach Pettine brooks no such behavior on the part of his players, whom he would rather see respect the other team while grinding them into the turf. In any event, BecaHi's psych-out ploy temporarily throws a wrench into the CB West machine during the first half of the game, but the Bucks then steel themselves and regain their form. Pettine's approach is vindicated. (This doesn't necessarily mean they win the game of course!) In another scene we see three West players walking out to the field before a game with Neshaminy High School, a contest described by the coach as a kind of midseason championship game. The kids are lightheartedly singing the words to the pop tune "Leaving on a Jet Plane" together. No game face on at all! It's as though Pettine's practices are so tough, the game itself is sometimes a breeze.
I mentioned earlier that Coach's "tough-as-nails" attitude toward his players is employed to enable in them the poise necessary to win games against topnotch opponents. This doesn't mean however, that the stereotype of the "tough but fair" high school coach is realized in Pettine who at times can be a perfect petty tyrant, screaming questions during games at slacking players; who; when they try to answer, are cut off with in-your-face insults--epithets really. He also isn't above berating his own coaching staff--right in front of his players, sadly. If viewers remember however, that they are watching a documentary, they can see that the filmmakers, with their fly-on-the-wall point of view, aren't trying to put Mr. Pettine up as a knight in shining armor. It must be admitted too, that the coach is a pretty complex individual. He readily concedes during one of his voiceovers in the film that football games mean little in the greater scheme of things; quite an eyebrow raising statement from a man you'd assume would maintain a "winning is everything" philosophy. In another telling scene, as the CB West kids find their backs against the wall near the end of a crucial game, several players are standing along the sideline in a semi-circle around the coach. He's imploring them to step up to the plate now that their best player, Dustin Picciotti, has exited the game with a twisted ankle. Through an uncanny coach-to-team flow of inspiration, he instills in these players the confidence in their abilities at that moment, a quantity absolutely necessary if they are to emerge victorious.
I wish I could describe the look in these kids' eyes as they hang on Coach Pettine's every word. I'll just say it's worth the price of the DVD alone.
In another segment filmed surreptitiously by an effectively hidden camera, the coach is shown to be quite a stand up guy. While relating to a college scout how this documentary originated Pettine explains that after he had conceded to the two filmmakers the privilege of filming the team, he was approached by an ESPN representative, coincidentally, to make a similar film. When Coach told the ESPN rep he'd already committed to Weinress and Murray, the rep replied, "Hey, this is ESPN!" Coach stood his ground however, and mentioned that although CB West was the #1 ranked team in Pennsyvania, #2 was league rival North Penn coached by his son Mike Pettine Jr, and that they might want to film that team; which they ended up doing.
When CB West then hosts North Penn for the league championship we see the first real tension in the film developing. The Philadelphia Daily News devotes a good part of its sports section to hyping the game; a perfect storybook match-up. We see the West players walking from the gym toward the battleground; the stands at War Memorial Field utterly filled to overflowing; five deep in the SRO areas; earsplitting bedlam even before the game's start, with the berserk North Penn students hurling epithets, some quite creative, at the CB West players. (Some of the North Penn rooters hold up signs that read "FTB".) (!) All this against the backdrop of the voiceover of a local TV channel's sports announcer: "....tonight it's for all the marbles.... father versus son....game of the century...." Again; if you need to know more; buy the movie!
The North Penn games themselves (there are two, actually), make a nice prelude to the contests that follow. As I mentioned, these Bucks are usually loose before a game, most of which they typically win by scores of 40 to 10 or so. The irony here is that this team can be crippled by their own talent since as they meet stiffer competition, they find themselves in unfamiliar waters. This kind of drama, which takes place in spades toward the end of the season; is well capitalized on by the two filmmakers, who, though working with a shoestring budget, seem to have done a good editing job. Anyone paying close attention throughout will be rewarded handsomely upon realization that these dramatic developments (created by the natural playing out of reality--the best kind), have been foreshadowed or "flashbacked" by the filmmakers. In one segment a potentially crushing development for CB West takes place as three of their best players leave another crucial game with injuries. In a flashback we then see a 4th string halfback griping about not getting enough practice time. Now he's given a chance to prove himself. Will he rise to the occasion? Or will he tragically; heartbreakingly; crumble under pressure? In an earlier segment shot during practice, Coach is yelling at #20, Andrew Elsing, showing him how to perform a certain gridiron feat. Later....
At this point it becomes hard to argue anymore for the legitimacy of the film's "highlight reel as unfolding drama" approach without ruining it for potential viewers.
I personally found the suspense toward the end of the film nearly unbearable.
Summary: Go Bucks, or; "Highlight reel as unfolding drama"
Rating - 5 Date: 2007-08-08
Content: Man how I miss the Pettine days. Hollywood could not script this. It has to be one of the top 3 football documetaries or movies of all time!!!!
Summary: BIG CB WEST FAN!!!!!!
Rating - 5 Date: 2007-07-25
Content: "The Last Game" relates a rich human story while taking us into the surprisingly ruthless, disciplined world of high school football. This riveting, highly personal film fascinates on several levels: the brutal sense of competition felt even at the high school level (Coach Pettine is no pussycat); the senior Pettine's struggle to decide whether it's time to close his admirable run as coach; and finally, the unusual, awkward dynamic of father and son going head to head as rival coaches. Surprisingly gripping and intense, "The Last Game" is one match-up you won't soon forget.
Summary: The Last Game
Rating - 5 Date: 2007-06-19
Content: The best football documentary ever made. I've seen them all and they cannot even come close to the feel of this movie. If I did not know any better I would think this film was fully scripted.
Summary: Hands Down
Rating - 5 Date: 2007-03-10
Content: This is by far the best football movie/documentary I have ever seen. It is hard to believe that this story is actually true; in fact if I didn't see it with my own two eye I would not believe it. This film was brilliantly filmed and beautifully done! If you like high school football or even football in general this movie is for you! I highly recommend this film to everyone! You wont be able to leave you seat!!
Summary: Best football documentary ever
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