North Dallas Forty

Viewed April 24, 2021.

A bit rapey. Even for me.

I'd imagine this would've been a lot more entertaining at the time but feels very average and is very cringey to watch now

Hasn't aged very well with it's rapey vibe first half, and then exceptionally melodramatic second half. Nolte is very good.

Gritty look at pro football. Dated and the actual sports scenes are laughable, but the message still sticks for the most part.

Nick Nolte, beaten-up and grizzled (isn't he always?) as an NFL wide receiver who's seen better days, and who finds himself in growing conflict with his coaches and managers. Highly entertaining, with an observant, bawdy script, Ted Kotcheff's spot-on direction, John Scott's bluesy score, and a superb cast. Nolte is superb, nailing the comedy and sadness of the material equally well; Mac Davis, G.D. Spradlin as his hardass coach, Charles Durning, Bo Svenson, and John Matuszak excel alike.

Score based on distant memory.