Coming Soon
THE MIGHTY MACS Movie Review
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- Category: Coming Soon
- Published: Thursday, 20 October 2011 20:19
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Many young female athletes have no idea that a mere 40 years ago their right to play organized sports did not exist. They may also be surprised to learn that the first Women’s College Basketball Tournament did not occur until 1972.
THE MIGHTY MACS tells that true story of a female college coach who changed the fate of women in sports. On that basis alone, THE MIGHY MACS, starring Carla Gugino and David Boreanaz, deserves your attention.
Sports movies based on real-llfe sports figures are not rare in Hollywood, but one that features a strong female lead who made a difference in the history of sports is. A League of Their Own starring Tom Hanks and Geena Davis is probably the only other one in the category until now.
THE MIGHTY MACS tells the unlikely story of Coach Cathy Rush who led a dedicated team of girls to three consecutive championships. What is even more surprising is that the team came from a small Catholic College who was competing with larger, better funded universities.
Carla Gugino portrays Cathy Rush who was the lead scorer on her high school basketball team before it was disbanded her senior year for lack of funds. Before 1972’s Title IX law, women’s sports were considered a luxury and easily disposed of. In college Cathy struggled under the leadership of her head coach but never lost the love of the game even going so far as to marry a NBA referee (David Boreanez). Not satisfied being a housewife, especially with her husband on the road all the time, Cathy applied for a coaching position at Immaculata College. Without a gym, locker room or proper equipment she willed her team into shape with an amazing 6 appearances in the final four, 3 wins and an overall record of 149-15 during her six year coaching career.
As a movie, THE MIGHTY MACS is missing some of the highs and lows of other sports films. None of the girls get pregnant, expelled or injured on the way to victory. This story avoids all those clichés. But that doesn’t mean that there weren’t any challenges. The obstacles were social and financial ones. Not only did Coach Rush have to find travel money to support her team through their championship season she also had to convince the faculty and community that women playing sports was worthwhile.
THE MIGHTY MACS is the first film for a small Pennsylvanian production company called Quaker Media. Writer, director and producer Tim Chambers may have chosen the subject for its local resonance but really it is a universal story. Like many films before it THE MIGHTY MACS is about teamwork, vision, breaking barriers and self-worth. The film captures the time when women had few choices and only the strongest were able to break out of their pre-determined roles.
As a piece of entertainment I found the film a little mild and predictable, but as a subject matter it should be required viewing. It is also one of those films that are very family friendly, especially for a mother and daughter. Carla Gugino did a fine job as Coach Rush, but David Boreanez didn’t have much of a part to sink his teeth into; he was mostly in the background pouting because his wife was always busy with her team. Ellen Burstyn was very convincing as Mother Superior, but my favorite character in the film was Sister Sunday played by Marley Shelton. She is a fourth year novice questioning the spiritual value and satisfaction of doing admissions paperwork for the school. It isn’t until the basketball team comes along that she finds her passion again.
There are spiritual elements in this film but this movie is not about religion. It is about faith of a different kind. Coach Rush had some buttons made up for her team that read “We will be #1”. As an act of solidarity the team pinned the badges out of view on their uniforms until they had the right to wear them outside. Soon the nuns was wearing the buttons as well and then eventually the town. Cathy Rush is painted as a motivator, innovator and an inspiration for women everywhere. She was an inductee in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and this film honors her achievements. I have to admit that I was unfamiliar with Cathy Rush and that is why I like these kind of films. Any time we can celebrate, acknowledge and highlight a person of excellence it is worth our while. For that reason I recommend this film.
THE MIGHTY MACS is in movie theaters October 21, 2011.
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