Arts
B4 THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE
FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2021
Fact-based under-dog drama a touchdown Stirring film is a fascinating slice of sports history
‘12 Mighty Orphans’ Starring: Luke Wilson, Martin Sheen, Vinessa Shaw, Wayne Knight, Jake Austin Walker, Jacob Lofland, King Orba, Treat Williams, Larry Pine and Robert Duvall Rating: PG-13, for violence, profanity and suggestive references Available via: Movie theaters
By Derrick Bang Enterprise film critic This seems to be the season for inspirational, fact-based underdog stories, and we’ve got another good one. Indeed, I’m surprised it took so long for this astonishing saga to hit the big screen. Director Ty Roberts’ heartfelt adaptation of author and sportswriter Jim Dent’s mesmerizing 2008 nonfiction book may be the ultimate underdog saga, given its Depression-era setting. Events begin when Rusty Russell (Luke Wilson), his wife Juanita (Vinessa Shaw) and their little daughter Betty (Josie Fink) drive onto the grounds of the Fort Worth Masonic Widows and Orphans Home. Rusty has just become the institution’s head football coach: a significant step down from his previous successful position at Temple High School, and a decision made even stranger by the fact that Fort Worth Masonic doesn’t have a football team. Heck, it doesn’t even have a football field: merely an open stretch of gravel, rocks and grass occupied by scrawny goats. (The actual Russell had a good reason for this apparently rash and impulsive decision: a crucial detail poorly hinted at in the otherwise solid script by Roberts, Lane Garrison and Kevin Meyer. Brief and vague flashbacks to Russell’s WWI trench experience aren’t sufficient.) The challenge seems insurmountable, given that most of the older boys — the few with any potential, only 12 of whom qualify — are as scrawny as the aforementioned goats. They’re also an unkempt, illmannered and undereducated bunch, with a tendency to quarrel and fight each other. That’s particularly true of the newest arrival, Hardy Brown (Jake Austin Walker), delivered — his clothes ominously covered
Courtesy photo
As a meager few spectators watch, coach Rusty Russell (Luke Wilson, left) and Doc Hall (Martin Sheen, right) and a dispirited Snoggs (Jacob Lofland) contemplate the disaster unfolding on the football field. in fresh blood — by the local sheriff. Most of the other boys go by nicknames: Snoggs (Jacob Lofland), Wheatie (Slade Monroe), Fairbanks (Levi Dylan) and so forth. Their belligerence and uncooperative natures aside, the enormity of Rusty’s endeavor becomes clear when the field is cleared for the first practice. He expected the absence of anything resembling uniforms, but the boys don’t even have shoes. Nor is there a football, so Juanita and Betty improvise a substitute. Despite all this, Rusty remains hopeful; he senses an inner spirit, a yearning for pride, waiting to be nurtured. He understands that those who have nothing and are given an opportunity to amount to something will fight like hell to embrace and retain it. Wilson is ideal for this role; he exudes an unruffled, aw-shucks optimism matched by a warm,
embracing smile. Rusty never raises his voice, and his deceptively mild appearance is deliberately misleading; he wins discussions and arguments via disarming persuasion, invariably leaving the other guy wondering how and why he yielded. Martin Sheen is equally wellcast as E.P. “Doc” Hall, a country physician who serves as something of a caretaker for the orphanage. He’s a crusty blend of tart Texas flintiness and twinkling good humor: a familiar cinematic archetype that Sheen nonetheless makes fresh. The affection everybody holds for him notwithstanding, Doc also has a tragic side exacerbated by too much alcohol. That makes him a perfect match for Rusty, battling his own PTSD demons. The two men do their best to shape the team, and the first actual game is an anticipated disaster. But even this proves instructive because Rusty is
inspired — due to the fact that his players always are dwarfed and outweighed by the competition — to create the “spread formation” that subsequently became a game staple. (As Dent wrote in his book, this “allowed (Rusty’s) players to run through the competition like a bunch of field mice.”) Then, to everybody’s amazement, the tide begins to turn. Suddenly the “Mighty Mites” — as they’re soon dubbed — become media darlings at a time when the entire country needs something to root for, gaining the attention of even President Roosevelt (Larry Pine). Treat Williams pops up as Fort Worth Star-Telegram founder and publisher Amon G. Carter. Robert Duvall has an even briefer cameo as the fictitious Mason Hawk, a “wise old guy” — and former orphan — who offers guidance at one point. Walker is appropriately confrontational as the uncooperative
Hardy: the “tough kid” Rusty will have the most trouble reaching. Lofland, a busy actor perhaps remembered from a season of television’s “Justified,” is endearing as the meek but earnest Snoggs. Comedian Wayne Knight, late of “Seinfeld,” is oddly miscast as a bullying orphanage teacher/ administrator who enjoys beating the boys. The role is badly written — as if this token “villain” is somehow necessary — and poorly played. Production designer Drew Boughton and cinematographer David McFarland give the film an authentically gritty, grimy and dilapidated atmosphere — with a color palette favoring dusty earth tones — that reflects the era’s hopeless, dispirited mood. Most of the production was filmed in Fort Worth — Roberts knew they didn’t dare go anywhere else — and he grabbed plenty of locals as extras. He and editor James K. Crouch choreograph the football action for a winning blend of suspense, heartbreak, agony and triumph. Archival photos and text blocks that precede the end credits reveal just how inspirational Rusty, Doc Hall and those 12 ragtag footballers became. As I said at the top — what took this film so long? — Read more of Derrick Bang’s film criticism at http://derrick bang.blogspot.com. Comment on this review at www.davis enterprise.com.
Emmy-award-winning Woodland native brings films home Special to The Enterprise The historic Woodland Opera House is hosting one of Woodland’s own, five-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Scott Wegener, for a Father’s Day afternoon presentation of “The Spider’s Web” film trilogy. Films will be shown from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 20, at Woodland Opera House, 340 Second St. in Woodland. The three dramatic actionadventure films introduce teen geniuses Phillip Harrison and Malcolm Scott as they discover the secrets to the universe during a high school science project. This newfound knowledge thrusts them into a globespanning adventure as they solve
dangerous mysteries only they can comprehend. After each viewing, Wegener will discuss making his films with a zero budget, using extreme networking, goods and services. In the trilogy’s first film, “The Spider’s Web” (1995), 18-year-old Malcolm Scott (Adam Winston) becomes obsessed with solving an ancient riddle told by his greatgreat-grandmother (Gospel star Kaye Barksdale). Class loner Phillip Harrison (Nick Arrom) is likewise fixated on proving his father’s discredited theory of gravity obstruction. In the reboot “The Spider’s Web: Arch Defiance” (2015 TV pilot), after the government confiscates Harrison’s Gravity Obstruction Device, Malcolm
(Andre Tomlinson) and Harrison (Cody Oppel) are hijacked to Africa where mercenaries are hunting for a crashed space probe designed by Harrison’s father. In “The Riddle of the Spider’s Web” (2020), government agent Tyra Gunn (Samantha Russell) gets more than she bargained for after she is assigned to protect Phillip Harrison from rogue powers that want his gravity obstruction technology. It was filmed in Martinique, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio. Raised in Woodland, Wegener started making movies with an 8mm camera at the age of 15. After dozens of high school movies, Wegener enrolled in both CSU Chico (mass communications) and CSU San Francisco
(cinema), where he created a first-of-its-kind theatrical film production special major that combined courses from both universities to earn his degree in 1975. Now living in Cincinnati, he has written, produced, and directed five feature films, including “The Golem” (winner of three Emmy Awards), and “Beowulf: Prince of the Geats,” seen in more than 20 countries. The Spider’s Web films are among his favorites. “I wanted to create young characters who are smart, athletic and passionate about the world, who meet adversity head-on, whether it’s a science fair or saving the world, and use their wits to succeed against all odds.”
The doors will open at 11:30 a.m., with an introduction at noon and the first film starting at 12:10 p.m. The second film will start at 2:05 p.m. and the third film at 3:30 p.m., with an intermission and discussion in between. A social gathering will follow at 6 p.m. at Father Paddy’s Irish Public House, 435 Main St. in Woodland. Reserved seating tickets are $10, available at www.woodlandoperahouse.org or in the Woodland Opera House box office at 340 Second St. in Woodland or by calling 530-666-9617. Hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
WTC presents ‘Fathers and Suns’ podcast
ZZ Tush rocks it
Special to The Enterprise The Winters Theatre Company will present a podcast featuring eight 10-minute plays with the theme of fathers and suns, starting on Sunday, June 20 — Father’s Day and the first day of summer. Each of the eight plays
features a story about fathers, summer experiences or a combination of the two. Some of the stories may make audiences laugh, others may make them cry or sigh, but all of them feature thoughtful stories and voices to help celebrate the season. Learn more about each
of the featured plays on the Winters Theatre Company website at http://www. winterstheatre.org/202110-minute-play-festival/. The recorded performances will be audio-only and will be available from the website through the end of July.
Tribute band Fleetwood Mask will perform Special to The Enterprise
Courtesy photo
Davis-based ZZ Top tribute band ZZ Tush is back by popular demand, on Friday, July 2, at Green River Brewing and Taproom, 4513 Putah Creek Road in Winters. Albino Crow will open the show at 6 p.m. and ZZ Tush will take the stage at 8 p.m. The band typically plays for about 90 minutes, covering songs from all of ZZ Top’s albums. Admission is free.
The Woodland Opera House is bringing Fleetwood Mask, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band from the Bay Area, back by popular demand. Shows are at 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 10, at the historic opera house, 340 Second St. in Woodland. The band was formed out of a mutual love and respect for Fleetwood Mac’s music and story. With more than 25 years of professional music and theatrical experience combined, Fleetwood Mask band members are dedicated to providing audiences at festivals, wineries and clubs with an authentic Fleetwood Mac musical experience. Mick Fleetwood called Fleetwood Mask a “real treat,” going on record saying this
“terrific group of musicians ... plays the music as intended with passion and with style.” With a repertoire that spans Fleetwood Mac’s early period to their present sound Fleetwood Mask aims to be the “ultimate tribute.” The audience will revel in the harmonies of songs like “The Chain,” “Landslide” and “Go Your Own Way.” Reserved seating tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children under age 12. Social distancing protocols will be adhered to and face masks are required. Purchase tickets online at www.woodlandoperahouse.org, in the Woodland Opera House box office at 340 Second St. in Woodland, or by calling 530-666-9617. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
