Chatverock Takes itself way too seriously

Ceticultsot Beautiful, moving film.

Hattie I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

pampeachtree Enjoyed the movie but for purist there were many factual inaccuracies. Syracuse did not play Boston College in 1959. The West Virginia game in which WV and their fans are portrayed as very racist was played in Syracuse not Morganton. In the Texas game of that year the score was never 15-14. There are others but that suffices. When a description is "based" on a true story it means not everything is necessarily true. Remember that as one videographer told me, "we are artists and entertainers and not historians!"

eric262003 "The Express" falls in the annals of the ever-so-growing sports drama of one individual having to break barriers in impossible odds only to come out on top in the end. It's part of the same category of other classic sports films like "Remember the Titans", "Glory Road" and "Pride", we can say that is something that we have all seen before and you know what's coming next. Not to sound dull-minded, "The Express" focuses primarily on one individual by contrast to the team, the film concentrates on the triumphs and hardships college athletes of African-American extraction had to endure as they opened unlocked doors and opened minds.Though dependent on superficial Hollywood dramatization, "The Express" conveys an insightful look into how African-Americans struggled to be noticed and even more focus is on being accepted. Even though it sparks realism in storytelling, it still has fabricated hyperbole in its execution. The structure defies routine, and the emotional stirrings emanates by the 90 minute mark, all the while leaking out an overlong diatribe about why our central character hardly ever gets the credit like his teammate and friend Jim Brown.Our story proceeds around the year 1960 in Texas during the Cotton Bowl as the Syracuse Orangemen are up against the all famous Texas Longhorns. The star halfback and our central character Ernie Davis (Rob Brown) is one of three black guys on the Syracuse team. Ernie must fend off against the biased crowd while overcoming racial taunts. As he's at the line of scrimmage, his mind wanders into flashbacks to his youth in Pittsburgh, up to his recruitment of Coach Ben Schwartzwelder (Dennis Quaid) and his team to an undefeated season.Football is the symbolic meaning of life here in "The Express". Ernie's emotional stages seems to be synonymous with the United States in their quest for equality. It's sadly refreshing that the racial integrity isn't just focused on the South, but, the Northeast States exhibits equal amounts of racial ignorance and cold shoulders especially when he arrives in Syracuse's all Caucasian campus. When Syracuse goes down South, the racism is welcomed with open arms and how he had to sleep in different hotel rooms due to his skin colour. Although Ernie Davis is main character we follow here, there's a lot of intriguing character development in Coach Schwartzwelder being he's a West Virginian who had a disdain towards African-American, but soon shows a change in heart and eventually becomes sympathetic towards Ernie Davis.Though the acting isn't grandiose, it's still very well in it's subtle manner. Rob Brown adds good charm and great intentions as the mild-mannered Elmira Express. His intensity speaks volumes in his performance than his words. With the prejudicial abuse surrounds his well-being, he's able to utilize his eye movements to express his inner anger. Dennis Quaid is the veteran performer here and excels better as a supporting player here, even though he seems to be playing a familiar role we've seen before by him. He's been in sports themed movies before like "Any Given Sunday" and "Everybody's All-American", only here he's playing a coach rather than a player. Other significant notables include Charles S. Dutton as Ernie's grandfather, in limited role, but of great value and Darrin Dewitt as football great Jim Brown who was prominent in helping Ernie sign with Syracuse.Outside the football scenarios there are personal moments that happen in Ernie's life in this film including his relationship with his grandfather and his mother. The love relationship between Ernie Davis and his love interest Sarah Ward (Nicole Behaire) never fully envelops. They appear as friends, but there's no indication if they're just platonic, engaged or married. Some important scenes surrounding Ernie's life that could've been a personal interest was edited out or just neglected. As film about chasing your dreams and dodging racial bullets, "The Express" is the ideal biopic. And while he made history on the college level gridiron, it's his civil approach towards the racially enhanced environment that earns our admiration and a worthy film to watch.

SnoopyStyle Ernie Davis is 10 years old in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He stutters but runs really fast. He lives with his grandfather Pops (Charles S. Dutton). His mother Marie Davis returns telling him that she's remarried. They move to the white town of Elmira, NY. Years later, Syracuse University football head coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid) is looking to replace Jim Brown who has just signed with the Browns. With Jim Brown's help, he signs the wide-eyed Davis (Rob Brown) who would go on to become the first negro to win the Heisman Trophy.This is a functional biopic taking on all the familiar ideas. It is beautifully shot. Rob Brown has a wide-opened personality with his bright-eye performance. The biggest problem for me is that the movie recruits the audience with a more interesting character in Jim Brown. I can't help but think that Jim Brown has the more compelling story. There isn't anything wrong but there isn't necessarily anything new. It's a workmanlike effort.

ctomvelu1 Loosely based on the life of the first black football player to win the Heisman Trophy, this follows a chap named Ernie Davis -- a name most viewers are unlikely to be familiar with -- throughout his school years. When he reaches Syracuse College, he finds he is one of two black players on his team. His coach is played by Dennis Quaid. The period was just far enough back in time that there were very few black football players, and in some states, blacks could not stay in the same hotels or attend social functions with whites. All of this is dealt with in a forthright manner, although some facts have been slightly altered to punch home the drama of the era. Quaid's coach is a gruff old man with a heart of gold, a role Quaid likely will be playing more and more often as he ages. You may not recognize many of the actors in this, but they are uniformly excellent. Worth a watch, even if you dislike football.