The Rocket (2005)
In the late 1930s, a young machinist named Maurice Richard distinguished himself as a ice hockey player of preternatural talent. Although that was enough to get him into the Montreal Canadiens, his frequent injuries cost him the confidence of his team and the fans. In the face of these doubts, Richard eventually shows the kind of aggressive and skillful play that would make him one of the greatest players of all time as "The Rocket." However for all his success, Richard and his fellow French Canadians face constant discrimination in a league dominated by the English speaking. Although a man of few words, Richard begins to speak his own mind about the injustice which creates a organizational conflict that would culminate in his infamous 1955 season suspension that sparks an ethnic riot in protest. In the face of these challenges, Richard must decide who exactly is he playing for.
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I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.
There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.
This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.
The movie starts with the Richard Riot in 1955 Montreal. In 1937, he is a machinist trying to make it in hockey. His boss is an union-basting English. He's 17 and Lucille Norchet at 13 has an eye on him. In 1942, he gets a tryout with the Montreal Canadians. He and Lucille get married despite her father's objection at his poor status. Initially, his signing is ridiculed as newspapermen label him fragile. He is close to being traded but nobody wanted him. His hockey dominance is eventually in the record books. He is a man of few words but he starts raising his voice against the racism set upon the French Canadian.It's a rather static biopic emotionally. Richard is a stoic man of limited words until he is challenged. This is a generally straight ahead historical drama. Expenses were not spared as the sets are not in want. It's a recounting of his hockey life. His personal is only interesting for about fifteen minutes. Julie LeBreton seems a little old to play 18 year old Lucille but she grows into the older version. The acting is generally solid. This could be great for a hockey fan of a certain age but it does need something more special to hook the general public.
(Sorry if I made some mistakes, English isn't my first language) I have already seen Québécois film before this one and I found only the comedic ones were good. But then I had some good surprises with Québécois drama films (C.R.A.Z.Y. and Aurore) and then there was MAURICE RICHARD.Maurice Richard is one of this movie that has the ability to get me in because of the acting (other films that gets me in because of that are Schindler's List, V for Vendetta, Casino Royale and The Departed). I especially like Stephen McHattie's performance as Dick Irvin. He is one of those actors (with Jack Nicholson and Mads Mikkelsen) that have all the qualities : a wonderful look, a great voice and precise facial expressions.Other great elements about this movie are the choreographies. The hockey scenes in this movie are definitively the greatest one ever made in cinema (wich is surprising for a no-American film).One of the plots element of the film is how a simple member of the proletariat who lives in an impossible situation will become a Canadian-french hero.
As a person of French descent as well as French Canadian this movie was the best sports movie i've ever seen better than Raging Bull i almost cried tears of heartfelt pride Maurice Richard is a cultural icon he allowed us to hold our heads really high and like Jackie Robinson he sparked a cultural revolution for Le Quebecois after years OF racial prejudice he was like a burning flame in the darkest of placesfor us he was our beacon from humble beginnings he rose to greatness so we to are able to risei can't really remember a time i didn't know about him and his legacy and what he meant to us as french people especially the riots of march 17th 1955 in Montreal and through out the Quebec province
"The Rocket" was superb. Canadian filmaking at it's finest (another great recent example is Cronenberg's "A History of Violence"). The hockey legend was played to perfection by a stoic Roy Dupuis. And Dick Irvine's coach was anything but cliché. If you liked "The Rocket" you'll probably enjoy reading Quebec author Roch Carrier's biographical look at Maurice Richard and the Quebec he lived in entitled "The Rocket". Carrier, who penned "The Sweater" ("We were five Maurice Richards") and a quote from whom appears on the Canadian $5 bill, writes a thorough history of Richard, the Habs during his reign there and splatters the background with the tumult of the Quebec people over nearly 50 important years.The movie ranks No. 2 amongst all hockey films, with "Slapshot" undeniably in the No. 1 spot. The list drops off dramatically after that.