Disney Movie about Cross Country

cbenson4 wrote:

You don't need to know the rules of XC in order to write knowledgeable books about running in general.

Correction:

It's preferred that you have knowledge of the fundamentals of XC scoring, but it's not necessary that you know the intricate details. If you have a good method to make people run faster, you can write a decent running book.

Now I've never read Shawn's books and I don't even know his views on running, so I can't comment on the merit of his writing.

cbenson4 wrote:

cbenson4 wrote:

You don't need to know the rules of XC in order to write knowledgeable books about running in general.

Correction:

It's preferred that you have knowledge of the fundamentals of XC scoring, but it's not necessary that you know the intricate details. If you have a good method to make people run faster, you can write a decent running book.

Now I've never read Shawn's books and I don't even know his views on running, so I can't comment on the merit of his writing.

Thanks, cbenson4. No, I didn't know about the "pushing" of the 6th and 7th runners. I ran three cross country season--two in high school and one on a college scholarship--and it simply never came up. There was never a meet I was in that was scored like that. You know, it IS possible to be a runner for 36 years and still not know everything about everything. I bet there are a great many very knowledgable runners who don't know all the obscure details or rules. When you run, you run, you're not a race official. Same thing in football. I've been a big NFL fan since I was 7 years old, but I wouldn't say I know every rule. That's why there are officials. But this is LRC, and envy, spite, and false bravado abound here behind anonymous names. At least I have the guts to post under my own name. As for the book, let it stand on its own merits because it does quite well. Read it, fans and harsh critics alike, and I think you'll see its obvious merits. Anyway, thanks again.

Any publicity wrote:

What's with the hate? Disney is making a movie about cross country! I don't care if Demi Lovato wrote it and Selena Gomez directed it. I'm stoked!

Do I hope that someday someone makes a good cross country film? Of course! But any cross country film is better than no cross country film.

Agree with all this

I was just thinking the other day, I wish Disney would do a movie about high school cross country, even if it was completely cheesy and "wrong" - just like their basketball, football, and baseball movies are all cheesy and inaccurate about those sports. A movie might at least made XC look like a legitimately fun sport.

But no, LetsRun won't accept it, because they score the top seven runners rather than the top five (and I bet the training philosophy will be inaccurate too, spoiler alert). I hate this forum.

cbenson4 wrote:

The little clips that show the dude SPRINTING ALL OUT WITH HUUUUGE ARM MOVEMENTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RACE with a 250+ STEPS PER MINUTE TURNOVER and SHOVING THE OTHER RUNNERS ASIDE WITH GREAT FORCE

make me doubt the credibility of the film.

Have you ever watched a sports movie? ANY sport?

I just can't get over the fat looking kid sprinting by the skinny white dudes and in that one scene legitimately plowing through them. I just burst out laughing at that part.

Looks like a typical cheesy Disney movie. At my age I might not even bother watching it, but probably would have enjoyed it when I was a young middle schooler. So maybe there is hope to inspire a future generation of runners?

Like others have said, shitty movie better than no movie, but damn, how hard is it to make a movie somewhat accurate?

Here's the original LA Times article where this story came to light:

http://articles.latimes.com/1997/dec/01/news/mn-59446

I play a small part (non speaking role) in the film.

Yes, it's cheesy.

Yes, it's a feel good movie.

However., there were some legit runners used in the scenes of the film. When you watch it, look in the background for people you may recognize. There were some great running people working on the race choreography, so there is some realism. As far as the pushing through, and the trash talk, etc, it's a stretch, but part of the formula for cheesy sports films.

It was originally scheduled for a Nov 2014 release, but a few months ago it was pushed back to February to be more competitive in the movie season. The state champs were filmed in LA about a year ago, and the film was completed in just a matter of weeks.

Jim White was on set a few times and was a nice guy.

Oh, another fun fact: for a team that is under-funded and beat down, they had some excellent uniforms (real nice Adidas gear) while everyone else had crap.

It's a chick movie...tears of joy for sure....

Be happy anyone cares enough about XC to have a major study do a movie....

Christ, stop complaining about everything.....

(not the previous poster, who was kind enough to provide some nice insight, being on the set)...

BoboUK wrote:

Here's the original LA Times article where this story came to light:

http://articles.latimes.com/1997/dec/01/news/mn-59446

Thank you for this link - a fascinating and humbling story.

I can make only superficial comments based on the preview commercial I saw but, once again, it appears that the actors in the film look nothing like real runners (body type, form, etc.)

I recall a recent article (from RW?) that addressed the difficulties in making a "running" film that looks realistic, but I still find it hard to believe that a casting director can't find a boatload of actors who can look the part of a real distance runner. Seriously, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting an out-of-work actor who is just looking for his/her shot, and it seems reasonable that many of them would have some sort of running background.

Look the Part wrote:

I can make only superficial comments based on the preview commercial I saw but, once again, it appears that the actors in the film look nothing like real runners (body type, form, etc.)

I recall a recent article (from RW?) that addressed the difficulties in making a "running" film that looks realistic, but I still find it hard to believe that a casting director can't find a boatload of actors who can look the part of a real distance runner. Seriously, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting an out-of-work actor who is just looking for his/her shot, and it seems reasonable that many of them would have some sort of running background.

I think two or three of the McFarland guys actually competed for the real McFarland team. There were many McFarland alumni (mostly jv types) in the background running scenes. Towards the end of the trailer there is a scene with a family dinner that shows a young man laughing--he ran varsity for McFarland circa 2011, and I think he is the #3/4 runner on the team.

It's easy to be critical of the film, especially if it's a trailer, but I can assure you this film treated the principal characters (the team and coach white) with the utmost respect. That, ultimately is the most important part. I will also tell you that the level of detail was incredible: there were props that won't get screen time that looked authentic to 1987. Water bottles, programs, race bib numbers, etc. Keep in mind, this film wasn't made for the LR audience but the general American audience. I can also tell you that the hundreds of extras used in the running scenes worked hard to create authenticity. Scenes would be filmed in this order: finish line, mile 1 hill, start line, mile 2 flat, mid race hill, etc. not exactly like running a real race, which was difficult, but enjoyable.

As far as the concern about the speed during the race and the pushing too, it makes for better cinema. Watch that footage, then go on YouTube and find a high school XC race footage and you will clearly see which one is more entertaining.

That squat manchild's sprinting reminds me of a certain someone making a statement in the 2005 World Championship 1500m:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abxUL7zz1nI#t=2m02s

BoboUK wrote:

Here's the original LA Times article where this story came to light:

http://articles.latimes.com/1997/dec/01/news/mn-59446

Thank you for posting this link - I'll see this movie just because of the story behind the movie

All good that this is a running movie, but I'll bet $10 they never touch the subject that they won the state meet in the tiniest schools division -

I looked up the results once - these guys were not fast - 17 minute 5k types.

Although I don't know what the course was. maybe it was up a mountain.

It's hard to believe you are serious about not knowing that the 6th and 7th man are used to"push/displace" top five runners from other teams. You ran two years in high school and were good enough to get a college scholarship where you ran for a year yet your coach never told you this? Truly hard to believe since coaches always use this fact to inspire #6 and 7 runners to race hard - since they can help their team.

This is NOT an obscure detail or rule, as you call it. And, unlike football rules, to which you compare cross country, our sport has very few rules.

I would be genuinely curious if any others with three years of competitive cross country experience are/were similarly unaware of how meets are scored.

And..... I have used my own name, as you say critics should do.

Costner has really been around the world of athletics in motion pictures. Baseball (BULL DURHAM, FIELD OF DREAMS, FOR LOVE OF THE GAME); golf (TIN CUP); swimming (THE GUARDIAN, that movie about Coast Guard rescue teams with Ashton Kutcher); cycling (AMERICAN FLYER): football (DRAFT DAY); nice to see him step into running, which is the biggest participatory sport of them all. And interesting that Disney makes another running movie, after their Gebreselassie pic.

Costner certainly doesn't have a "gym body," but he's a pretty decent athlete, I suspect. He had a nice pitching motion, a beautiful freestyle in the water, and a really sweet golf swing. So kudos to Costner.

Could be good. Regardless, I'll watch it. Pride will always get the best of me.

DIVISION III

Boys Team 1. McFarland 99

2. Robert Louis Stevenson 145

3. Yreka 153

4. Salesian 163

5. Bear River 166

Boys Individual 1. 15:29 Reggie Williams (River City)

2. 15:44 Scott Cole (Yosemite)

3. 15:57 Brian Ochs (Million College)

4. 16:00 Hector Ortiz (Orestimba)

5. 16:06 Bob Baca (Bear River)

6. 16:07 Ricky DeLeon (Moorpark)

7. 16:13 Thomas Yalles (McFarland)

8. 16:26 Dave Wester (Maranatha)

9. 16:29 John Heiber (Serrano)

10. 16:30 Ryan Coady (Village Christian)

there's the top 10 from 1987 - again, no idea what the course was, but one guy sub 16:13. And it could be 3 miles not 5k fro all I know - CA used to run 3 miles I think.

I'm glad Disney is paying attention to cross country. I agree with the comment that any cross country film is better than no cross country film.

It looks like a feel-good Disney sports movie that will be as realistic as "Remember the Titans" "Mighty Ducks" "Invincible" "Million Dollar Arm" "Glory Road" etc. etc. We can hope it will be more realistic than "Air Bud" or "Angels in the Outfield".

The target audience is older kids, younger teens, and adults who like cheesy sports movies, of which, I will admit I'm one. Most of these movies are not masterpieces, but I think they're fun.

Carping about the realism of little details is kind of beside the point. There has never been a strictly realistic running movie and and I doubt there ever will be because it wouldn't be especially interesting. For that matter, it would be hard to name any sports movie that is entirely accurate. You just have to accept this and enjoy sports movies for what they are.