Movie Review: Woodlawn
Given the dramatic potential of its nondenominational plot elements — high-school football, racial tensions in the 1970s Deep South, an appearance by a secular saint of college sports legend — “Woodlawn” should appeal well beyond the usual target audience for faith-based movie goers. This long, yet consistently involving true-story period drama by Jon and Andrew Erwin (“October Baby”), sibling filmmakers who bill themselves as the Erwin Brothers, could be described, accurately, as equal parts football-of-your-youth action of “Remember the Titans”, this-is-a-true-story emotion of “Rudy” and turn-to-God-for-help lesson of the more recent “War Room”. The overall narrative mix of history lesson, gridiron action and spiritual uplift is effectively and satisfyingly sustained.
Inspired by a true story, Woodlawn tells the story of a revival at an Alabama high school that parallels the resurgence of its football program. Like Mom’s Night Out, the Erwins’ latest film leans heavily on a genre formula.
Jon and Andrew Erwin
But since I tend to like Christian films to the degree they seek to tell dramatic stories in addition to displaying Christians as real, though mostly flawed, people. I actually appreciate the Erwins’ willingness to wed Christian content to well established genres. After a prologue in which Alabama legend Bear Bryant (Jon Voight) sees his Crimson Tide outmatched by an integrated USC program, Woodlawn shifts focus to a lesser known coach, Tandy Gerelds (Nic Bishop). Coach Gerelds’s team is in disarray, and there are rumors that the program, indeed the school itself, may soon be shut down.
But I find it curious that non christian media, Uproxx have review this movie as if it were complete fiction and the writers just added the christian themes as propaganda.
A movie about how faith helped some people could’ve been welcome, but it’s hard to accept Woodlawn‘s message of inclusiveness when it’s built on a foundation of excluding any other religions. It’s hard to buy that this brand of Christianity is fighting for the rights of the minority while so clearly throwing their own weight around as the majority religion. It seems completely ignorant (willfully ignorant?) of this too, couching its Christian bullying in yet another persecution narrative.
The Hollywood Reporter was a bit more generous, even thought it seemed to struggle with the “religiosity” of the story.
The Erwin brothers, who have a personal stake in the material — their father, Hank Erwin, is the real-life chaplain played by Sean Astin — lay on the religiosity on a bit thick, occasionally sacrificing credibility and coherence in the process. But the film largely succeeds in achieving its modest goals, delivering a feel-good, real-life inspirational story in a mostly engaging fashion. With its well-staged gridiron sequences and solid ensemble performances, Woodlawn may even manage to lure viewers away from their televised football games over the next couple of weeks.
The story continues when chaplain asks for permission to address the team, Coach Gerelds isn’t thrilled. But after riots in the school, he allows it. The movie follows the response of the players and coaches in a realistic manners
Alan Markfield / Pureflix
If the storyboarding and camera work here are a bit obvious, the placement of the altar call near the beginning rather than at the end at least gives the film room to breathe. Will the players’ examples rub off on the skeptical coach? Will decisions made in that gym stand up to the pressures, animosity, and racism that lurk outside the gym?
Those are interesting questions, and Woodlawn’s interest in transformation rather than just justification is a major step forward for Christian films. Also, unlike some of their peers, the Erwins have used their early films to hone their technique and get the most out of smaller budgets. (Don’t take my word for it: film star Sean Astin said in a press conference for Mom’s Night Out that the Erwins’ films look better than some films he has been in with exponentially higher budgets.)
Even though the film slips back into a few sports movie clichés, it doesn’t end as a cliché. Instead it makes for a refreshing turn into wrapping up all the characters and leaving the viewers satisfied.
If Christians want more faith-based, family-friendly movies then movies like this need to be supported at the Box Office. So go, get your tickets and bring your family out to see an excellent movie.
