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This is a Lifetime movie for men. Friendship + Disease = Box of Kleenex. So why is this famous TV movie good, because stars James Caan and Billy Dee Williams are great.
The story chronicles the real life friendship of Chicago Bears football players Brian Piccolo (Caan, THE GODFATHER) and Gale Sayers (Williams, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK). Their friendship broke color barriers. They were the first black and white players to room together on the road. Piccolo is a hard-working, positive attitude kind of guy with an aw-shucks sense of humor. Sayers is reserved, quiet and doesn’t like the spotlight on himself. They feed off each other -- Piccolo brought Sayers out of his shell and Sayers drove Piccolo to become a better ball player.
The film has all the classic inspirational sports story cliches, but Caan and Williams raise the material to a believable and natural level. Not for a moment did I believe these guys weren’t friends or that the filmmakers were manipulating me too much. Caan is known for playing gangsters and tough guys, but here he was able to show his range emotionally. I really only know Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian, but this film shows how good of an actor he is. Plus you also get the always-great Jack Warden (12 ANGRY MEN) as Coach George Halas.
Yeah, the film has its sappy TV movie moments, but by the time they come you care about the characters and feel sappy about them anyway. In many ways the film reminded me of LOVE STORY, which wins you over with the wonderful banter between the characters before the tragedy hits you like a sledgehammer. This is a landmark in TV movie history and a simply great biopic.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
