Gridiron Gang (DVD, 2007, Widescreen)

As I stated in my review of WWE Films "See No Evil"., w/WWE Superstar Kane as the psychopathic killer., I again stress that WWE athletes have proven repeatedly that they can make powerful acting performances., given that WWE wrestling is scripted acting as well. These undiscovered talents finally took notice when "The Rock", (Dwayne Johnson), broke through Hollywood's closed gates., and transitioned from Sports-Entertainer to Actor., and delivered big. With hits like "The Mummy 2", "Scorpion King", "Rundown", "Walking Tall" & "Be Cool"., he showed the diverse talents that lie within., and paved the way for other WWE Superstars and Vince McMahon to create WWE Films Co., where he is also each stars film-agent. - Once again., the man who paved the way., is back in this gritty hard-hitting TRUE STORY, "The Gridiron Gang". - A compelling narrative about a juvenile detention centers worst offenders., who re-discover themselves, and "HOPE" within., in football. The Rock,(Dwayne Johnson), delivers hard in virtually every scene. The film's moments of honest grit and pathos are enraptured in perfect cinematic score, calculated for maximum emotional uplift. - Gridiron Gang opens with a sobering statistic: 75% of all juvenile inmates either return to prison or die violently on the streets. Juvenile Detention Probation Officer, Sean Porter, (The Rock), confronts this grim reality everyday at Camp Kilpatrick, outside Los Angeles. With his fellow counselor, Malcolm Moore (Xzibit), he tries to help the gang members, car thieves, and drug dealers turn their lives around, but success mostly eludes him. Until he decides upon the ultimate risk; to turn these wards of the county into a football team. Given the reluctant go-ahead by the camp's director (Leon Rippy), Sean and Malcolm tackle head-on, the lost spirits of these youth., driving hard to instill the values of teamwork and discipline in the newly formed Kilpatrick Mustangs — a task complicated by the fact that players Willie,(Jade Yorker), and Calvin, (David Thomas), come from rival South Central Gangs. As others, like the hulking Samoan, Junior (Setu Taase), violently resist authority, others like Kenny (Trever O'Brien) seem too psychologically scarred to achieve their potential. - Refusing to fail these young men at their last chances., and battling numerous setbacks, festering wild tensions, and family tragedies, the players begin to beat the odds as they finally become a real team., and REAL MEN. - Gridiron Gang is a lesson, with direction-based dialogue both on and off the field. It's cinematography depicts the scenes with sufficient tension and visual ingenuity. - The Rock has grown into a surprisingly great actor with a natural charisma., even convincingly showing a few tears in a pivotal scene with Yorker, who portrays the most volatile and troubled of the Mustangs. - Gridiron Gang does end on an additional powerful note. As the final credits roll, we see footage of the actual Porter and the real Kilpatrick Mustangs from 1993. These brief clips have an emotional heft that only adds to the uplifting momentum we carry at it's closing. - This is not just a film. It's a lesson in finding the good in everyman., even when they seem lost. AN ABSOLUTE MUST SEE !!

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Posted by CK-Auctions

Sean Porter (Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson) is a correctional officer for youths at the Camp Kirkpatrick facility in California. Tired of being little more than a babysitter to group after group of troubled teens, Porter comes up with a plan: to field a football team with his charges. Football teaches discipline and teamwork, something the kids could use, and it just might give the teens enough self confidence to turn away from the violent path that their lives have taken.

It's not easy though. Even after he's fought with the administration to allow the team and fund it, he still has to convince the other area high schools to play his team. After all, most of the coaches are very hesitant to field their boys against a group of gang bangers and violent criminals. But Porter doesn't give up easily, and after getting a full schedule of games, he has to turn his unruly mob inot a football team.

This was a good movie, and the thing that sets it apart from the many other cheer-for-the-underdog type films is its neutral look at inner city life. They don't paint the inmates of Camp Kirkpatrick as innocent people who just have it rough; they show the violence that is their way of life. When the assistant coach remarks that one player is always cheerful and smiling, Porter asks "I wonder if he was smiling when he stabbed that old lady for her purse?" On the other hand the teens aren't shown to be worthless people either. When one player, Kenny Bates (Trever O'Brien), cries and says that he just wants his mother to say that she loves him, you realize that these kids are vulnerable and have needs too.

The film does a great job at getting the viewers on the Mustang's side and cheering for them, but it is a little bit predictable in the way that it unfolds. In typical movie fashion after each hurdle is overcome and things are looking good, some bad news has to pop up to challenge the team. At one point near the end when an important game has been won, you just know that some catastrophe is going to try the team once more. This is an easy flaw to overlook though.

The most surprising thing about the movie is Dwayne Johnson. No longer billed simply as The Rock, he did an excellent job in the movie. This was quite different from the action roles he usually plays, and this film gave him the chance to show that he can really act. Some of his speeches to the kids were really inspirational, and he showed a range of emotions that I wouldn't have thought he could pull off. The man actually has some talent.

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Posted by CK-Auctions

This is a very inspiring movie. Sean Porter (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson") is a probation officer that helps runs a detention Center full of juveniles with a history of crimes like gangs, murders, and much more and he wants to make a difference in there lives by making them better people by giving them something to care about, and to try and keep them from going to prison once there adults or even worse end up dead, and with the help of his co-worker Malcolm Moore (Xzibit) they start up a football team for the boys in the detention center which teaches them alot, and most important discipline.
He test these boys to the fullest, and they learn to become fine young men. This movie is based on a true story, and it is truly a great movie and it is nice to know that there is someone out there that cares about our kids today. This is a really great movie that I give a 5 out of a 5 rating. I believe it is worth owning not just renting. I believe that all kids today should watch this movie.

This movie was awesome and touching. I loved that it was based on a true story, showing the struggles of children and the willingness of a person, along with his co-workers, not giving up on them. If one person takes the opportunity to show "at risk" children another way of dealing with life, what a difference it can make in someone changing their life, for the positive!

Gridiron gang is an excellent film, with a great performance by the rock as well as several new and old actors. The film does an excellent job of portraying the true story and the true style of life that exists in the California juvenile corrections system.