Brian's Song - a Study in Human Relationships

Sports movies aren't supposed to make you cry - unless the team portrayed in the film is your favorite and they lose in the end. One movie, though, that was sure to cause a lot of tears was Brian's Song. This 1971 movie starring Billy Dee Williams and James Caan is based on the true story of the friendship between Chicago Bears football players Gayle Sayers (Williams) and Brian Piccolo (Caan). The two meet when Sayers joins the Bears as a running back and encounters the competitive Piccolo. At first they're competitors, but soon a bond of friendship is formed. Their friendship is tested when Sayers is injured and Piccolo is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

While the movie focuses primarily on the relationship between these two strong and interesting characters, and how it is tested by Piccolo's impending death, it also has some neat game scenes. Unlike a lot of football films, there's no fancy camera work or trick shots, just some straight up views of men pummeling each other on the field.

The producers originally intended to case Louis Gossett, Jr. in the role of Sayers, but an injury just before filming started caused him to have to pull out, and Williams was cast. Williams, better known for his portrayal of cool dudes or gangsters, turned in a stellar performance as the mercurial Sayers. The chemistry between him and Caan was apparent in every scene.

The supporting cast, with such notables as the late Jack Warden as Bears' Coach George Halen, Bernie Casey as J.C. Caroline, and David Huddleston as Ed McCaskey; and with Judy Pace playing Linda Sayers, was also fantastic. The Chicago Bears players, coaches and staff also turned in credible performances playing themselves.

You might not learn much about the game of football from watching this movie, but if you can sit through it without tearing up your heart must be made of ice or granite. It has the quality of a war movie that shows the relationship that can be formed between men in the heat of battle.

With its G rating, Brian's Song is suitable viewing for the entire family.

References:

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1802838341/info

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068315/