The Replacements

The Replacements

2000

Director: Howard Deutch

Writer: Vince McKewin

118 Minutes

In 1987, the National Football League used replacement players for weeks four, five, and six of the regular season. In week seven, veteran players crossed the line and the replacement players were let go once again. But for one night, they were heroes.

Shane Falco is a hero.

In the film The Replacements, Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) is the coach of the Washington Sentinels. When his veteran players strike, McGinty hires replacement players lead by former Ohio State Quarterback Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves).

Simple. High concept. Fun.

But, there was heart to this film. There was meaning. It was a film for everyone that ever played sports and longed for their one-time shot to play again. It was a film for sports fans that wish their favorite players would play with heart instead of playing for their wallets. And it was a film for anyone who’s been apart of a great team that came to an end.

The film stars Reeves, Hackman, Orlando Jones, Jon Favreau, Rhys Lfans, and John Madden.

In the scene above, the replacement players are told the veteran players have crossed and tonight is their last night playing in the NFL. The team is down 14 to 17, with the ball, late in the forth quarter. And they have Shane Falco, who dressed during half time when their starting quarterback didn’t have enough heart.

Shane huddles the team up and says, “I know you’re tired. I know you’re hurting. I wish I could say something that was classy and inspirational, but that just wouldn’t be our style.”

He follows with this, “…Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever.”

When you know it’s over, that’s all you need to hear. It means whatever you have left should be left on the field. There is no tomorrow. There is only tonight. And tonight, we can be heroes.

This is why we love films like The Replacement and Varsity Blues. These are films of heroics. They aren't advancing on a beachhead or flying in an A-10 warthog, but they are heroes because they stand up for what they believe in and leave it all on the field.

And when given a second chance, none of them wasted it.

In the time of salary caps, lockouts, and bonuses, we need films like these to remind us how great sports can be and how at the heart of each game, there are heroes. It's not about the money. It's not about cars, houses, and girls. It's about football. And Shane Falco let them know that.

Like I said, he is a hero.

McGinty says it best, “When the Washington Sentinels left the stadium that day, there was no tickertape parade, no endorsement deals for sneakers or soda pop or breakfast cereal. Just a locker to be cleaned out and a ride home to catch. But what they didn't know, was that their lives had been changed forever because they had been part of something great. And greatness, no matter how brief, stays with a man. Every athlete dreams of a second chance, these men lived it.”

In the end, glory lasts forever.