Undefeated-2011

Director Daniel Lindsay, T.J. Martin

Starring Montrail “Money” Brown

Scott’s Review #134

Reviewed July 25, 2014

Grade: B

Undefeated (2011) is an emotional documentary, a true story of a high school football coach brought into a struggling, poor, suburban Memphis area high school and leading the team to a championship title.

The story of the coach taking various students under his wing, father-figure style, and helping them succeed not only in football but in academics as well is inspiring and heartwarming.

The coach’s passion shines through to the viewer.

As wonderful a story as it is, I felt slightly let down because, yet again, the slant is an affluent white family swooping into a poor Black neighborhood and saving the Black kids with their mighty influence.

Why can’t we see a film that is the reverse?

In the twenty-first century, this is becoming slightly offensive and one-sided. It is The Blind Side (2009) with real people!

With that rant out of the way, the documentary is pretty awe-inspiring, and the coach is portrayed as a fantastic, truly caring human being.

I laughed, cried, and rooted for the struggling football team to victory.

The portion on what has since happened to the football players is interesting to see.

Undefeated won the Best Documentary Oscar in 2012.

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Documentary-Feature (won)