‘The Long Game Review: Mexican Americans Struggle For Acceptance Unfolds On The Golf Course In A Gently Rousing FamilyFriendly Drama

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Set in 1956-1957, The Long Game is full of beautiful, clean, shiny classic cars and fits the film's narrative perfectly. That's not to say there aren't twists and turns in the action-packed drama, but director Julio Quintana ( The Boat ) keeps it fresh, using subtle humor and comedic imagery to portray the true story of underdog athletes. Her victory over bigotry. As a high school principal, Jay Hernandez devotes his passion to golf and to seeing better things for Mexican Americans and his students. He and his villainous team, the Mustangs, participate in a group of practice clubs together, with Dennis Quaid as a key partner and Cheek Marin as the wise Yoda who effortlessly delivers ancient magic.

Hernandez gets a new job as principal and plays JB, but JB's real attraction is the country club in Del Rio. Yet even at the suggestion of JB's wartime friend Frank Mitchell, a professional golfer played by Quaid (he had worked with Quintana at Blue Miracle a few years earlier), the club manager (Richard Robichaud) tells him he's the only one who can can game it. Foreign. The members, led by Judge Milton Cox (Brett Cullen), are unwilling to accept Mexico among themselves.

For the five Mexican-American high school students at the center of the story, only one of them, the wonderful Joe Trevino from Julianne Works, is a full-fledged character. Del Rio is a city whose tranquil white walls cannot hide the unseen. And sometimes he doesn't even bother to hide it; Signs in businesses warn: "No dogs, no Mexicans". Country club owners Joe, Jane (Gregory Diaz IV), Felipe (Miguel Angel Garcia), Mario (Christian Gallegos) and Lupe (Jose Julia) regularly hang out with cheap giant Cox and his humble son (Michael Southworth). ). ), but in her time he dug a well on public land. Impressed by her dedication and connection to Del Rio Country Club, JB invited Quit fans to form the San Felipe High School Golf Team.

Their gruff captain and top player, Joe, distrusts his father ( Blue Miracle's Jimmy Gonzalez) over the potential of the so-called bringos. This taunt is reciprocated by Polo (Marie), the golf course attendant, who follows John and the others into his hazmat suit, occasionally offering wisdom. Frank also turned down JB's offer to serve as an assistant coach for the initially reluctant Mustangs. The connection is short-lived and never threatening, as happens in the long game , and soon everyone has their eyes on the Texas State High School Golf Championship. Tournament after tournament, the boys assume their new roles as players while challenging entrenched privilege and prejudice.

From JB's wartime flashbacks to the obsessive hilarity of the title sequence, which introduces the main characters and main character Guerrera (Oscar Nunez, of The Office ) on the first day of school, director Quintana initially struggled to find tone and perspective. But he and his team are never short of energy and a compelling sense of purpose, and as they enter the ninth chapter of the narrative, the film hits the road.

The scripts, written by Quintana, Jennifer Stetson and Paco Farias, encourage fluidity and directness. Even the super nerds that JB and the team encounter are real losers and cheaters. But to be fair, the film avoids predictable plot twists, like when Frank's eternal flash simply vanishes because he's more invested in the boys' dreams; Without explanation, Quintana let Quaid's performance speak for itself. The golf motifs evoked by JB and Polo fail to shake literary curiosity, but at the same time have an understandable subtlety.

Shot primarily in Colombia with some locations in Texas, this feature film is full of lush landscapes and breathtaking skies. Production designer, costume designer and DP Alex Quintana (brother of the cottage) conspired to bathe a soft, hopeful green head in bright summer light.

The long-term game does not suggest that such a hope will come easily. At its core, the film isn't just about JB and the boys, but grace under oppression as Lucy confronts the pettiness of the country club ladies (Michael McCausley and Heather Kafka). On his way to Mustang State Championships, JJ Il believes that "looking and acting who we are" is the first step to true acceptance. As strangers, they not only have to abide by the rules, but also follow them to the end. The gradual development of the long game of the title, the inevitable anger and pain turning into golf, sometimes how high someone? Turn the other cheek in the face of obvious hateful stupidity?

Works' outstanding performance explores the fire and conflict in a confident Joe caught between his father's resentment and hopes for control and the ambitions of his girlfriend (Paulina Chavez), who is looking forward to college and university. writing profession. As always a celebration, Long Game recognizes the complexity of Mustang's history. Every frame of Stars and Stripes exudes sincerity and sarcasm. The balance that JB and his crew achieve is no easy feat, as evidenced by the interplay between the soundtrack's best songs and Townsend's moving score, but it's one of the things that define the film's moments.

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