BRIAN’S SONG

BRIAN’S SONG is a poignant remake of a television classic which presents a powerful tale of courage, redemption and overcoming. Many people consider the original the greatest made-for-TV movie ever made. The original won five Emmy Awards and was one of the most widely watched movies on television, with nearly half of all households tuned in to its first broadcast. In many ways, the production value of this excellent remake exceeds the original, a seemingly impossible task.

Opening in 1965 at the Chicago Bears football training camp, Brian Piccolo is a handsome rookie who handles life with a series of wisecracks. His biting humor targets African-American player Gale Sayers, in part because both of them are fighting for the same position on the team. A friend of Brian’s calls the quiet and slightly shy Gale uppity, and Brian makes his mission in life bursting what he sees as Gale’s arrogant bubble.

Coach George Halas (played by veteran actor Ben Gazzara) decides that Brian and Gale will room together for the season. This, of course, intensifies the locker room conflict as well as violates the racist attitudes of the day which abhor such an arrangement. Meanwhile, Brian is married to Joy and has some adorable children, while Gale is married to Linda.

On the field, Gale is a natural, and the first season passes with Brian warming the bench while Gale racks up the yards and touchdowns. When Gale hurts his knee badly at the end of another season, he is prepared to give up his career. However, Brian makes it his goal to bring Gale back into the game, revealing a compassionate heart underneath his wisecracking demeanor. With Brian pushing him all the way, Gale makes an amazing comeback, but Brian also has improved tremendously, so they both start.

Toward the end of the next season, it is clear that Brian is not performing as best he can. Doctors discover he has lung cancer. Gale tries to help him and specifically asks his teammates to pray to God for love for Brian Piccolo.

The legacy of this well known story is that the Brian Piccolo fund has raised millions of dollars toward cancer research which now makes it possible for 95 percent of the people with Brian’s type of cancer to go into lifetime remission.

This is an extremely redemptive story about people overcoming their egos and prejudices to give their lives for those they may not even like. It is also a story of courage in the face of racism, adversity, compassion, and loyalty. This is a film to make the most stoic of movie watchers weep, but for most they will find this mix of humor, warmth, and powerful emotion worth the tears.

The direction of the new BRIAN’S SONG by John Gray is superb, bringing out the best in the actors. The performances are flawless, especially Mekhi Phifer who plays Gale and Sean Maher who plays Brian. Mr. Phifer does some of the most powerful acting ever seen.

Regrettably, the movie is slightly marred by racial epithets which are rebuked and locker room obscenities which are not. These flaws, however, are more than overcome by a poignant appeal to pray and the redemptive actions of all those involved.

BRIAN’S SONG is a masterpiece. It will lift the audience up and make the toughest sports fan cry. It is an ode to courage and redemption. Bravo!