Safety2020

Ray still overcomes adversity, but writers Rick Santora and Randy McKinnon sidestep the stereotypes that so often plague sports films to do so, making it one of the better sports films to be released in some time.

'Safety' - very good! Disney enters the sports drama market for what feels like the billionth time, though in fairness they usually nail it - and do the same with this. They've done many better, e.g. 'The Greatest Game Ever Played' and 'Glory Road', but I very much felt entertained by this. The cinematography is, truly, excellent - credit to Shane Hurlbut. I also took note of the editing (Terel Gibson), which is particularly neat at the beginning. The plot is compelling and features a lot of heart, it certainly uses the usual Disney/sports biopic beats but there's a lot of goodness in there as well. On this note, it has a decision scene where I half expected Chuck Norris to appear. Iykyk. I enjoyed the cast. Jay Reeves gives a terrific performance as Ray, while Thaddeus J. Mixson is more than solid as brother Fahmarr. Corinne Foxx (daughter of Jamie), James Badge Dale and, despite only a short appearance, Amanda Warren are also good. Cool, for me anyway, to see 'The Walking Dead' alum IronE Singleton involved. I'd recommend this, for sure.

Hudlin transforms a film that would be, in lesser hands, a formulaic hardship-as-aesthetic drama, into an earnest examination of what community means on the field, in the classroom and in our society.