By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Academy Award winning actor
J.K. Simmons (“Whiplash” and “Being the Ricardos”) turns in another stellar performance in
“National Champions,” a sports drama from director
Ric Roman Waugh (“Greenland” and “Angel Has Fallen”).
“National Champions” is based on
Adam Mervis’ stage play of the same name. The ever so timely movie takes an unflinching look at the big business of college sports and the athletes who drive it as well as the price they often pay for doing so.
In “National Champions” Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback LeMarcus James (a superb Stephan James, “If Beale Street Could Talk” and “21 Bridges”) is about to make the biggest decision of his life. He and his roommate, Emmett Sunday (Alexander Ludwig, TV’s “Heels” and “Vikings”) believe that it’s time for athletes to stand up and demand fair treatment and equitable compensation for all that they bring to the university. Everybody associated with the football program is handsomely rewarded on behalf of THEIR efforts while many players often struggle to make ends meet, not to mention put their health at risk.
Timing is everything. So, LeMarcus decides to make a bold power play and round up some of his teammates and stage a strike three days before the undefeated Wolves take on the 13-1 Cougars in the National Championship game in New Orleans.
It takes a lot of convincing for some players to come around. Many don’t want to miss this championship game and playing on such a big stage. LeMarcus reminds them they need to look at the bigger picture, which includes their health and finances. It’s time the university stop exploiting them.
When their head coach James Lazor (Simmons) and assistant coach Ronnie Dunn (Lil Rel Howery, “Free Guy” and “Space Jam: A New Legacy”), as well as other NCAA officials/corporate honchos and team boosters like Mark Titus (Jeffrey Donovan, “Wrath of Man”), Katherine Poe (a sensational Uzo Aduba, TV’s “Americanah”), David Koecher, (TV’s “The Goldbergs”), Tim Blake Nelson (“Nightmare Alley”) and Andrew Bachelor (TV’s “In Treatment”) find out what’s happening, they go ballistic. They try to locate LeMarcus and Emmett who have left the team hotel and are orchestrating their moves from a secret location.
With the clock ticking and a boycott looming, the stakes become even higher. The pressure of it all has even driven Coach Lazor’s taken for granted wife Bailey (TV’s “Schmigadoon!) into the arms of university professor Timothy Olyphant, TV’s “The Mandalorian”). Although it’s clear that is where she’s wanted to be all along. However, he has something up his sleeve and plans in the end that don’t include her.
Meanwhile, the university continues to dig in deep because there’s too much money at play to pull a stunt like this. So, they start bringing out everything they can find to smear LeMarcus’ name including a tragic incident he was involved in years ago.
Is it enough to make the QB retreat, call things off and suit up for the game?
I won’t tell, but “National Champions” is a drama that you’ll want to see. While the movie doesn’t feature any gridiron action, it’s still as exciting and riveting to watch as a Hail Mary pass thrown by Russell Wilson, who also has a cameo in the film and serves as co-executive producer. In other words, “National Champions” is a big winner.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"NATIONAL CHAMPIONS"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
