Undefeated-2012 Review

The Ballard of the "Uncommon" Man

So it's been a few months since it's DVD release in the UK and nearly a whole year since it won a tiny golden man for Best Documentary at last years Oscars, so at the risk of sounding incredibly cheesy, it has lost none of it's message.

The documentary follows the Manassas High School Tigers Football team, it's players and more so their Coach and his determination to improve the lives of the young men on his team.
To give you a quick indication of the situation of the players, in one scene they are asked to raise their hands if any of their parents graduated College. Only about four players raise their hand. When asked if they had any close relatives that had been to prison, every hand in the room points to the ceiling. This is the path that most of the players will follow if they do not change their way, one player has only just come out of prison to play in his second year on the team.
Coach Bill Courtney wants different for this team. He himself grew up without a father and puts his all into Manassas Football. Hours watching film on other teams, starting charities to fund the team even investing money from his struggling business to give his team a chance.  A chance at winning and a chance of improving their futures, using football to make them better people. If they can work as a team now then they can be less selfish outside the game. This sounds like the age old sporting philosophy but here we get to see it in action and working.

Unlike other documentaries who may try and beat you over the head with the message, this one plays it very quietly. It could easily try and set up Coach to be a hero or try and push the issue that these young men are living in difficult conditions. This lets the season play out, and lets you see the reactions of the players and coach for what they are. How frustrated Coach gets with the players but he will not let himself give up on anyone, or how much it means to one player to play his final game for the team and more so get the money to simply go to College, something we often take for granted.

In a time where the economy is down, jobs are hard to come by and there is very little opportunity for young people to develop and improve their lives, there are people out there who will help as long as you help your own cause.
This is a special documentary about a special "uncommon" human being in Bill Courtney, a man who simply will not allow himself or his team to give up, on themselves or each other.

This is a human story about fighting against the odds and not accepting what is expected of you. Go and watch it,you'll be better for it.


Iwan Rees