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North Dallas Forty (1979)
Rate:
4
Viewed:
1/05, 11/08
11/08:
North Dallas Forty is the most famous football picture made because of the fiction book that Peter Gent wrote,
reflecting his playing days with the Dallas Cowboys during the 60's.
Unfortunately, it's not a good movie. A lot of the content is now dated. I'm tired of the same message that's
played endlessly. They've made the point; let's move on.
Looking at Nick Nolte's body, I have a hard time believing he's a football player. A guy like him won't
make any college football team today. The excessive amount of chain-smoking and beer-chugging, jeez...no wonder why it's
such a pain to get up and walk around in the morning.
If Phil Elliott doesn't like where he's at, then why not quit the team and find something else to do? Oh, don't
like the pay? Well, it's more than what most people made that time. It doesn't matter anyway because the joke is on him
as he'll end up paying for it big time through medical bills.
For two hours, North Dallas Forty is a boring picture that contains little, albeit real, football action, some talk,
and a lot of nothing in between. Save for a few, there isn't much of character development, and the plot
is at best minimal. Yet there are memorable moments that underscore what it's like to be a football player.
By the way, I like the touchdown play during one game between Chicago and North Dallas. Also, Mac Davis,
who plays the quarterback, bears an uncanny resemblance to the Family Feud host Richard Dawson.
All in all, although famous for several reasons, North Dallas Forty is dated.