Friday Night Lights

Pate, J., Berg, P., & Piznarski, M. (2005). Friday Night Lights. DVD, Universal Studios.

ISBN: 1417011416

Classification: movie, nonfiction

Genre: nonfiction

Age Level: 9th-12th grade

Subjects: fiction, friends, movie, poverty, prejudice, sports

Viewer's Annotation:

Friday Night Lights documents the incredible 1988 football season for the Permian Panthers from Odessa, Texas.

Summary: This movie is based on the book Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, a Dream by H.G. Bissinger. The book and movie both chronicle the 1988 football team of Permian High, in Odessa, Texas. Odessa is a town that revolves around high school football and the boys on the team carried the hopes and expectations of the whole town. The 1988 Permian Panthers made it all the way to the state finals where they narrowly lost to a rival team. Though the movie and the book center around the football team, the issues of racism and poverty are prevalent. The movie also forces one to ask what happens to a town that takes their football too seriously.

Reviews / Awards:

Movies for Guys Review

Author Info:
IMDB page

Potential Hotspots:

drinking, implied sex, family violence, swearing

Watchalikes:

• Dead Poets Society
  
• Hooisers
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
This is a great sports action movie with a book and TV series tie in. Viewers who pick it up for the sports will also be treated to a solid message about hard work and what it really means to be a winner.

Other:

This would be a great candidate for a book-movie club.

Trailer:

Evaluation:

4.5 stars