No. 29 Heart of Champions aka Pressure Point (2021) 86 of 100

 

I saw this film as ‘Pressure Point’ on Netflix but its title on release was ‘Heart of Champions'. Both titles are somewhat generic but I prefer the later – ‘Pressure Point’ sounds like a web app fused with a cookery show.

We open with a university rowing team in the middle of a race. They head into the lead but are soon overtaken and finish last. A man watches from the side with binoculars – he’s going to be their new coach and is ably played by Mr Shannon.

He meets the team and comes across as a right pain in the ass by asking lots of questions – ‘Why are you here?’ ‘What is your purpose?’ ‘When does the canteen close?’. The team are already fractured with Alex having aspirations of making the US Olympic team. His Dad is a rich benefactor of the university and it was he who employed Shannon to get the team into shape so that his son’s dreams can be realised.

There are other issues in the team of course, with orphan Chris reluctantly rowing to meet his scholarship requirements and floppy haired John who has girlfriend issues with Alex. Shannon slowly brings the team around with some unusual training methods - but will all the infighting and politics stand in their way of a revenge victory over their Harvard rivals?

That summary of the film is a bit shorter than what I usually trot out, but the film is pretty straightforward in its structure, with the old enigmatic coach bringing together a squabbling team for possible ultimate success.

I quite liked the film over all but there was a lot of padding and a dull ‘B’ plot of a romance between Chris and Nish, an attractive lady played by an American sporting the worst British accent this side of Dick Van Dyke. The romance did help to bring Chris onside but I didn’t really care, to be honest.

Shannon’s character of Jack Murphy was decent but not fully explored. The film was set in 2000 so that a Vietnam vet background could be added in. We learn that Murph and some friends refused to defer their draft and a couple didn’t come home. The rich benefactor stayed out of the army and Murph resents this, whilst still taking the job. You could probably say the rich bloke was the smart one but at least Murph had the moral high ground as well as a ‘Member’s Only’ jacket.

The film mostly looks good with some nice overhead shots, likely taken by a drone. There is however a strange choice in the close ups in the rowing sequences with some obvious green screen in play. It does take you out of the action somewhat, when the characters are transported into a world of a projected background.

The finale, which follows a tragedy, is somewhat unlikely with a couple of late additions not slowing down the boat’s well honed performance. It was also strange that Murph’s coaching deal was ended off camera with him just appearing back at the end to observe once again.

You’ll see worse triumph against adversity mixed with enigmatic coach films, but this one doesn’t stand atop many of the others. Shannon is decent but his rousing speeches aren’t that well written or delivered, and I didn’t buy the team getting behind him. I’d have preferred the focus to be more on his character than on the Chris / Nish romance, but it was a decent effort all the same.

When is Shannon-On? - 03.06

Outcome? Unemployed but vindicated

Film 3/5

Shannon Stars 3/5