In one review I heard this movie compared to "Remember the Titans". Do not be confused with this comparison as it is totally wrong. The two movies are entirely different, with the only similarity being that football is the sport that is being played.
Friday Night Lights is more comparible to "Varsity Blues", but a more gritty, real, version of "Varsity Blues". The difference is that there is no clear villian, except maybe the characters own personal demons.
Billy Bob Thornton is very solid in this film, portraying a coach who is straight and up front with his players, finding ways to inspire them while playing politics with the school board members.
The main ingredient this film brings that other football films have not, is the way they filmed the action on the field. Even more that "Any Given Sunday", this movie hits hard with the boys are on the Gridiron. You can almost feel the hits, and are elevated by the action.
This movie will be appreciated by those of us who have played the game in school, but it will also be appreciated by those who are fans of the game. By the end of the movie, you will come to understand that while it is just a game, it is at the same time, so much more.
