Undefeated Review

Directors: Dan Lindsay and T.J Martin

Running Time: 113 minutes

Certificate: 12A

UNDEFEATED is Dan Lindsay and T.J Martin’s first feature documentary collaboration. Although, separately, they have quite an impressive portfolio of work which includes A DAY OF HYPE IN AMERICA and the LAST CUP: ROAD TO THE BEER PONG WORLD SERIES; consequently, this latest cinematic endeavour into American Football is bound to attract attention. Quintessentially, UNDEFEATED is a classic American underdog story, as it follows a selection of underprivileged inner city high school students who attempt to climb the league, from a bunch of no-hopers to a highly regarded team.

The film starts off on a strong note, compassionately yet quickly giving you a detailed round-up of both the high school’s history and, in particular, the impoverished state that inner city Memphis is currently in. Both topics are handled very nicely and stylistically, accompanied by an urban beat and snappy use of archive photos and footage. The film quickly moves forward and introduces the main contributors and impressively retains that snappy pace throughout.

We are quickly introduced to Bill Courtney, he’s a successful entrepreneur and former high school football coach. Classically, he’s a hard-ass on the field and clearly a fond believer in tough love, but as the film’s narrative progresses, his warm heart is revealed. He’s also an entertaining contributor and especially so for a non-American audience as (at least for me) he demonstrated character traits that I expect from a self-made American man. He’s a kind family man with his own business but above all else, a damn good coach.

“You gotta think outside of your circumstance,” is one of my favourite Bill quotes and much like many of his team, he grew up dealing with the absence of his father, and knows what it’s like living in downtown Memphis. Essentially, UNDEFEATED is a film about community and brotherhood, and although football is the subject around which the film revolves, it’s also a documentary that focuses on the importance of discipline and friendship. When Bill tells his players they need to think outside of their circumstances, he’s talking about the bigger picture – football as a way to get a college education and to be successful in life – rather than just winning a game.

Obviously the film does feature a lot of game play and thankfully to a non-Atlantic audience the commentary used, gently guides us through what is actually going on in the game. As a result, it’s easy to follow and most importantly helps us to understand and sympathise with the players, observing their painful reactions to both wins and losses. One particular scene in which the opposing team threatens to attack Bill’s players (win or lose) is handled very well.

UNDEFEATED also carries some important social commentary, specifically how integral sports are to the American education system. In the UK, it’s easier to coast through school without taking any extracurricular activities, do the minimum required in lessons, collect some GSCEs, and continue to coast through into university. In America it seems quite different. If you happened to be a victim of poor circumstance, living in areas with high crime rate, or growing up without supportive parents, it can be very difficult to receive any further education at all. This film also holds an important lesson to kids who previously lacked any enthusiasm to succeed and were bereft any motivation to learn, and through football became disciplined, driven and passionate about their prospects.

UNDEFEATED is already raking in awards left, right and centre and if you’re a fan of any genre of documentaries, I strongly recommend you check this film out and, we promise you, it’ll leave you feeling inspired and all warm inside.

UNDEFEATED is released Friday 3rd August.

Check out the excellent Dogwoof for screenings and more information and there’s also a nationwide screening of the film on August 7th, for more details on that, just click here.