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8

GreatMartinFeb 20, 2015

“McFarland, USA” is a film that should be busting records this weekend but will probably be lucky to even make it in the top 5 grossing films. Based on a true story, showing the real people at the end, the reel people do an excellent job“McFarland, USA” is a film that should be busting records this weekend but will probably be lucky to even make it in the top 5 grossing films. Based on a true story, showing the real people at the end, the reel people do an excellent job holding your interest in what is a formula movie where you know it is heading, including who will ‘save the day’.

Directed by Niki Caro and a story and screenplay by Christopher Cleveland and Bettina Gilios, will put a smile on your lips and occasional tears to the eyes not by any manipulation but just presenting what happened. About half way through the movie, from the scene where poor boys who have never seen the ocean dive in with pure joy until the fade out you will be moved.

We are taken to the real town of Mcfarland, California, where the population are mainly poor Mexican-Americans and teenagers are lucky just to graduate high school. The most they can see of their life is picking vegetables and fruits, not getting paid by the hour or pound but by the field, to help their family.

Having recently been fired from his job for being too rough with a student Jim White (Kevin Costner) and his wife (Maria Bello), teenage daughter (Morgan Saylor) and preteen (Elsie Fisher) finds themselves fish out of water in McFarland where you don’t find hamburgers but tacos, neighbors present you with a live chicken as a welcome present and not only explain what a Quinceanera is but make one for the teenager as she celebrates her 15 birthday.

White, of course, is made fun of not only for his name but his not understanding what people who are different from him go through just to make it to the next day. Talking the principal (Valente Rodriguez) into letting him start a cross country running team, after seeing a couple of the boys run, not knowing anything about coaching runners you know where the picture is going even if you aren’t aware of the true outcome.

Never having been a fan of Costner’s in the sense I had to go see his pictures I will say after seeing him last month in “Black & White” and now in this one I am definitely a fan of his. All the adult performers, including the mother of 3 boys who are runners, and who live next door, played by Diana Maria Riva, are excellent but it is the boys: Ramiro Rodriguez, Carlos Pratts, Hector Duran, Sergio Avelar, Rafael Martinez, Johnny Ortiz and Michael Aguero that are the backbone of the movie.

“McFarland, USA” is a must see movie if you like upbeat, moving, feel good, get your pulse going and leaving with a smile on your face movies.… Expand

11 of 11 users found this helpful110

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8

Chazd3Feb 26, 2015

If grit and unpleasant realism is your schtick, you may not enjoy this as much as I did. It was more than just a down and out coach transforms the hopeless into champions feel goodie. We've seen just that dozens of times. These characters areIf grit and unpleasant realism is your schtick, you may not enjoy this as much as I did. It was more than just a down and out coach transforms the hopeless into champions feel goodie. We've seen just that dozens of times. These characters are more in depth with a more realistic blend of schmaltz. The story behind many of America's American immigrants is enlightening and uplifting. And of course, there's Costner at his best and a healthy dose of feel good!… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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8

Movi3R3vi3werFeb 22, 2015

Though predictable and cliched, McFarland USA is a heartfelt and inspiring sports drama with well fleshed out characters and helmed with a great, solid performance from Kevin Costner.

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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10

alangeeMar 22, 2015

What a wonderful movie. The movie is based on a true story. Yes, it was "Hollywooded" up a bit. Some artistic license was taken, but in the end, McFarland is a heartfelt, heart-warming, inspirational, feel-good movie that most of the familyWhat a wonderful movie. The movie is based on a true story. Yes, it was "Hollywooded" up a bit. Some artistic license was taken, but in the end, McFarland is a heartfelt, heart-warming, inspirational, feel-good movie that most of the family should enjoy. Kevin Costner and Maria Bello are great in the movie as are most of the other actors. It's nice to see a movie without gratuitous violence and about people learning o get along with one another despite their difference. I had no idea what this movie was going to be about. We saw it because everything else looked terrible, and were we ever surprised. The whole family unanimously felt it was one of the best movies we had seen. We were also surprised by how few theatres the movie is playing in. Sad that a movie of this quality does not get the distribution that so many garbage movies get.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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8

CorvinJun 15, 2015

Loved all of the acting and the dialogue, especially the humor. I'll be vague on my two quick nitpicks so as not to give anything away: The bridge scene came off as too coincidental and unrealistic and the outcome of the daughter's partyLoved all of the acting and the dialogue, especially the humor. I'll be vague on my two quick nitpicks so as not to give anything away: The bridge scene came off as too coincidental and unrealistic and the outcome of the daughter's party seemed unnecessary to the plot.

But the answer to poverty and exploitation is not to hope your kid runs fast enough to escape it. The answer is to end poverty and exploitation. I hope one day Disney makes films about labor movements (we have a rich, violent, and riveting history to draw from up to the present day). Or how about a film on the Black Seminole slave rebellion? It's a story never been told that would make an amazing movie.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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8

NShep53Mar 26, 2015

Transcends all the familiar sports movie tropes and is a movie worth watching. Kevin Costner is great here and Carlos Pratts is an actor to watch in the future.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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8

tjman09Mar 30, 2015

I'm not going to criticize a film for being too sappy, to me that means the film makes me smile even when it's not funny. While the film is cliched, from the characters to the story it's very funny, and entertaining. This is one of thoseI'm not going to criticize a film for being too sappy, to me that means the film makes me smile even when it's not funny. While the film is cliched, from the characters to the story it's very funny, and entertaining. This is one of those films sports fans will love, so if that's your genre check this movie out.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

DBPirate1129Feb 19, 2016

A fantastic film, much better than other sports movies out there. It is very inspiring, funny, and gives off a very hopeful message. It may be formulaic, but hey, so are all true story films. You just have to enjoy the characters andA fantastic film, much better than other sports movies out there. It is very inspiring, funny, and gives off a very hopeful message. It may be formulaic, but hey, so are all true story films. You just have to enjoy the characters and appreciate the people.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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8

hansenjw91Dec 2, 2015

McFarland U.S.A: Running away with accuracy.

McFarland U.S.A, didn’t turn too many heads when it came out, but the movie has important qualities that many overlook. It is an impressive sports drama that accurately portrays running. HavingMcFarland U.S.A: Running away with accuracy.

McFarland U.S.A, didn’t turn too many heads when it came out, but the movie has important qualities that many overlook. It is an impressive sports drama that accurately portrays running.
Having myself run Cross-country in High school, I have always been skeptical of Running movies — especially ones that are not based on true stories. One example is the recent film, “The four minute mile.” One may argue that it is an amazing movie of one’s personal achievement: It losses power though in being fictional, as does any other sports movie. The film McFarland U.S.A, is based off of actual events, and therefore becomes even more meaningful as you see the characters triumph. I would say director Niki Caro did an excellent job of portraying the lives of the characters, their battles and setbacks, up until their victory in the end. There are of course skeptics who point out that the film is not 100% historically accurate. However, what Hollywood film has been true to that? The film, nevertheless, receives 3 ½ stars from me.
A striking quote from the film states, “We fly like blackbirds through the orange groves, floating on a warm wind. When we run, we own the earth. The land is ours. We speak the birds' language… When we run, our spirits fly. We speak to the gods. When we run, we are the gods.” From my own experience, I would say this quote describes a runner perfectly. You feel powerful and unstoppable when you run fast.
This film is true to the sport of Cross-country, it is for anyone who knows the hard work and dedication it takes to be a runner.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

LagamedogMar 4, 2015

This movie is a excellent movie that everybody should see. Even though I already knew the ending, it is how they got there is the meet of the movie. This movies shows that you should not very give up even if you want to.

7 of 8 users found this helpful71

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9

JMGutierrezFeb 26, 2015

McFarland, USA is an excellent family movie, but has so much more to offer. As a Mexican-American, I have had to watch countless movies with which I've never experienced any personal connection. McFarland USA is a standout on this factor. ForMcFarland, USA is an excellent family movie, but has so much more to offer. As a Mexican-American, I have had to watch countless movies with which I've never experienced any personal connection. McFarland USA is a standout on this factor. For example, I most definitely enjoyed the subtle humor within this film, often times knowing the joke because of my own experience with some awkward moments during culture clashes, other various cultural undertones as well as the Mexican based, Spanish language. This is one of only a handful of movies I've ever seen to use these factors and I applaud both Costner and Disney for their work. I hope that now that Latinos are the largest segment of California's population, more films such as McFarland USA will be made. I would think for example, the exact same cast could be used to re-do an old James Cagney film "Angels with Dirty Faces", obviously, now re-set in L.A., but with the same young men. There are so many stories that could be told about Latinos that I think will uplift and inspire (why Cinco De Mayo is critical to U.S. history, who led the charge at Omaha beach and on and on). I hope people will see McFarland, USA, not only for the inspiring film about the underdog, but for what it could mean for the future.… Expand

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

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10

sweetspeaJun 12, 2015

See it! McFarland USA was an excellent movie. It made you feel good and would be a great movie to inspire people. Wonderful is all I can say. See it, Rent it!! Good job Costner!!

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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2

ScribeHardFeb 20, 2015

The story of the McFarland runners is an inspirational one, but 'McFarland USA' isn’t an inspirational sports movie. The runners win some but with no real thrill of victory. The runners lose some but with no real agony of defeat. There isThe story of the McFarland runners is an inspirational one, but 'McFarland USA' isn’t an inspirational sports movie. The runners win some but with no real thrill of victory. The runners lose some but with no real agony of defeat. There is only running and picking, occasionally interrupted by attempts at drama and humor, and all of it completely devoid of any sustained excitement or tension.… Expand

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

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4

TVJerryFeb 26, 2015

There have been many movies about a misfit team of underdogs and this one is so firmly fixed in the formula that almost every plot point is predictable. Kevin Costner plays a coach, who's made so many mistakes that the only job he can find isThere have been many movies about a misfit team of underdogs and this one is so firmly fixed in the formula that almost every plot point is predictable. Kevin Costner plays a coach, who's made so many mistakes that the only job he can find is in the titular town that's dominated by Mexican farm workers. When he discovers how tough and fast the students are, he forms a cross country track team. Usually, each team member has a personality, but this one only revolves around 2. It's also missing any humor, which would have added warmth. The only thing that sets this one apart is the focus on the Latino culture. Even though it is earnest (and based on a true story), it hits all of the clichés.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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2

ThegodfathersonFeb 20, 2015

There is almost no effort to create an uplifting drama here. The premise, which is solid, doesn't blend well with what Director Niki Caro, wants to achieve. There is the good performance by Kevin Costner and the brilliant cinematography thatThere is almost no effort to create an uplifting drama here. The premise, which is solid, doesn't blend well with what Director Niki Caro, wants to achieve. There is the good performance by Kevin Costner and the brilliant cinematography that you get to see, also great shots of farmlands. But all this doesn't matters if the movie isnt good. This is a movie that clearly wants to be Field Of Dreams, but doesn't have the balls to be it. There are painfully injected jokes and tear jerking moments included for attention. But this movie really looks good and has solid performances, but really it is turd, polished and scamming you for a movie that is uplifting.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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0

schwartzpmFeb 20, 2015

More "overcoming all odds" tripe. Designed to lull people into believing that everyone has the opportunity if they try hard enough, which, in this country is true fantasy. Would rather have seen a film about the other 99.999% who had to dealMore "overcoming all odds" tripe. Designed to lull people into believing that everyone has the opportunity if they try hard enough, which, in this country is true fantasy. Would rather have seen a film about the other 99.999% who had to deal with the reality of their circumstances without a guardian angel. This would have been a more realistic drama, instead of the feel good deception.… Expand

0 of 7 users found this helpful07

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2

RockWolfFeb 28, 2015

The show had some drama but was over cooked and under done. Too much effort to make the kids seem like superheros and that was the overdone. Maybe a few poor white and black kids added would have made this work better. I was given tickets toThe show had some drama but was over cooked and under done. Too much effort to make the kids seem like superheros and that was the overdone. Maybe a few poor white and black kids added would have made this work better. I was given tickets to this and should have stayed home.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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7

chugheadJun 21, 2015

It won't make the hall of fame like Remember the Titans or other sports classics, but it's up there with Dangerous Minds. It certainly puts small town USA on the map and shows that you can take young talented people from the wrong side of theIt won't make the hall of fame like Remember the Titans or other sports classics, but it's up there with Dangerous Minds. It certainly puts small town USA on the map and shows that you can take young talented people from the wrong side of the tracks and give them a dream beyond poverty and crime. Costner delivers… Expand