Film 52 (Goal: 300) of 2024

Continuing the streak of sports films leading up to the Superbowl, with another unexpected selection (thanks to the NETFLIX screensaver) in Brian Banks. I can't say I was overly looking forward to this, but it had a great rating on IMDB so I decided to give it a chance.

Boy I'm glad I did. I'm surprised how much I loved this. I've only seen him prior in Black Adam but man I need to see more Aldis Hodge on screen. He is fantastic in this role. I've always loved Greg Kinnear since As Good As It Gets and Mystery Men, and have felt he's been criminally underrated in Hollywood. And this film continues that trend. He's excellent as the lawyer who is eventually won over to try and overcome the insurmountable odds in Brian Banks case. Morgan Freeman has a tiny but impactful role throughout this film. It's better than some of things he's done lately with 10 times the amount of screen time.

There is a scene or two towards the end of Act 2, involving a key person in Banks' case that doesn't quite click. I'm not sure if it's the actress or the writing but it took me out a bit. But I'm nitpicking because otherwise I enjoyed everything in this film thoroughly.

The true story of American football star Brian Banks who was sent to jail - not only for a crime that he didn't commit; but for a crime that never happened in the first place! Aldis Hodge plays the role with quite some aplomb - he doesn't present us with a saint, but nor a terrible sinner either. Greg Kinnear is on form as his lawyer who trusts in his honest integrity and along with his "Innocence Project" team manages to get the whole crime reviewed in the courts. The story was well enough documented at the time, so there is no jeopardy in the plot; what this does illustrate is that the legal system is frequently flawed, and that part of the benefits of our society is that we are prepared to acknowledge that and deal with the consequences - albeit after an interminably long and frustrating period of time. Banks went on to success and to inspire hope amongst similarly wrongly convicted prisoners. We are left with a clear message that these fights are ongoing - and that men are frequently the victims!