Touches You

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

The real-life story of the 1988 Dallas Carter team, who I always knew as the antagonists of Friday Night Lights, is in truth so much better than the story of the Odessa Permian team, it's surprising me that Bissinger didn't write a follow-up book solely about it. The drama of the grade controversy during the playoffs and the robberies that followed make for an excellent story. But here's the problem. Muhammad, who went to Dallas Carter and played football either on the team that is the subject of the film or around the same time period; wrote, directed, and even edited this film himself. Clearly, this was a passion project for him, but I think he was so close to it that he couldn't see the forest for the trees when it came to a lot of this film's problems. The biggest issue I have with the film is that there is almost no effort to establish character with any of the players. We're dropped in to this world as if we, like Muhammad, knew all of these people already. I will give credit to the sentencing scene at the end of the film, which was extremely powerful and well done.The story of this team is so interesting, and so powerful when seen through the sociopolitical lense of 1980s Texas, and race relations in our own time, that I wish this film could have been made by a more competent filmmaker with a more robust budget, like Barry Jenkins, Ryan Coogler, or F. Gary Gray. This movie should have felt more like Straight Outta Compton, but the end result is better compared to Facing the Giants.

I totally understand the want to rate the film highly because the message the film is send. The filming was fine and it seems the actors do a good job. The problem is that the story is not told well. It feels really disconnected and jumpy. Others have compared it to Remember the Titans and Friday Night Lights I disagree. In those movies I felt a connection to each character and watched them grow or connect with the viewer throughout the film. I really missed that here. I know I'm supposed to want Carter High to make it through the challenges it faces throughout the film, but I didn't feel an emotional connection to want the see Carter overcome.

I saw Carter High twice. It was even better the second time! Charles Dutton's passion for his players as the football coach really came across. His every line when addressing the players was some nugget of wisdom and guidance. The fact that this was a true story really made it all the more compelling. These young men had everything in their favor - stable families, caring, committed coaches who demanded academic and athletic achievement and proper conduct - yet still made the worst of choices. This movie dispels stereotypes and teaches us a lot. Arthur Muhammad did an excellent job putting out a movie with a message, without sex, violence, or unnecessary profanity. I would recommend this movie as a field trip for all middle school and high school students. Families should see it together and talk about it. It is also one to own on DVD later.

As you view this movie, you get to see all of the adversity the school had to endure each week on their journey to winning the State Championship in 1988. Charles Dutton, (Coach James) does his very best throughout the movie to teach and mentor the high school players to make good choices in life, on and off the field. Some of these life lessons, taught by Coach were left on the field, as some of the players took things into their own hands, and learning their own life lessons. If you enjoyed Friday Night Lights, please watch this one and hear The Truth from Carter's perspective and fall in love with this Movie. Carter High by Arthur Muhammad this is a master piece that closely matches the entire 88/89 Carter High School experience. May the truth now live on through this movie.