We Are Marshall (2006)

In 1970 a plane carrying almost the entire Marshall University football team and staff crashed on its way back to Huntington, killing everyone on board. While some felt it was disrespectful to continue on the next season, a team led by new coach Matthew McConaughey managed to rebuild itself after the disaster. I do enjoy a good sports film, though I don’t relate to ones that rely on an entire community supposedly being transformed by a single team. Not that I doubt such towns exist, I’ve just never experienced one. Along with an impressive cast that includes Ian McShane, David Strathairn, and Anthony Mackie, what sets this one apart is its reflection on loss and shared grief. The actual sport takes a way back seat to this theme.