To Display Greatness !!
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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