IDF
03-10-2004, 05:36
For me it is the 1971 version of "Brian's Song" about Chicago Bears RB Brian Picollo who died in 1970 at age 26 from cancer.
The movie is about his friendship with fellow RB and future Hall of Famer Gail Sayers (arguably one of the best ever). The story shows how in the 1960s they became the first white-black room mates in the NFL.
You see how Gail tears his ACL and Brian gets to start. Brian isn't satisfied with how he got the job and helps Gail build his knee back up and eventually losing his own job to do it.
You see their relationship with good acting by James Caan (The Godfather) and Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars Episode V and VI)
Soon after getting the starting fullback job, Brian Picolo gets sick. Chest X-Rays show a tumor and a biopsy confirms it as a rare type of cancer known as embryonal cell carcinoma. The rest of the movie deals with their friendship as Brian grows sicker and sicker. 7 months after diagnosis, Brian dies.
The ending causes most men to cry. In fact an episode of "Just Shoot Me" dealt with them watching the movie and crying over it.
My Dad told me that once when he was in college (he played football) his team watched the movie on the road and there wasn't a dry eye in the room.
This movie is on many lists of best TV movies ever. It was ranked on ESPN as best TV movie and critics say it doesn't even feel like a TV movie and is more like a movie on the big screen.
Watch if you wish, but bring a Kleenex.
The movie is about his friendship with fellow RB and future Hall of Famer Gail Sayers (arguably one of the best ever). The story shows how in the 1960s they became the first white-black room mates in the NFL.
You see how Gail tears his ACL and Brian gets to start. Brian isn't satisfied with how he got the job and helps Gail build his knee back up and eventually losing his own job to do it.
You see their relationship with good acting by James Caan (The Godfather) and Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars Episode V and VI)
Soon after getting the starting fullback job, Brian Picolo gets sick. Chest X-Rays show a tumor and a biopsy confirms it as a rare type of cancer known as embryonal cell carcinoma. The rest of the movie deals with their friendship as Brian grows sicker and sicker. 7 months after diagnosis, Brian dies.
The ending causes most men to cry. In fact an episode of "Just Shoot Me" dealt with them watching the movie and crying over it.
My Dad told me that once when he was in college (he played football) his team watched the movie on the road and there wasn't a dry eye in the room.
This movie is on many lists of best TV movies ever. It was ranked on ESPN as best TV movie and critics say it doesn't even feel like a TV movie and is more like a movie on the big screen.
Watch if you wish, but bring a Kleenex.