In the DVD version of "Greater," there is a blooper reel that offers some humorous outtakes during the filming. Those bloopers provided a good counterpoint to the sustained seriousness of the film that at times adopted an overly preachy and maudlin tone.
Based on the true story of Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth, the film is both a football story and a Christian parable, due to the faith that sustained the overachiever Burlsworth as the most successful walk-on football player in the modern age of collegiate football. The film is best summed up by the tagline "Faith, Family, Academics, and Football" that is the motto of football camps run by Brandon's older brother Marty.
The film spends too much time on the family matters of the Burlsworths and their home life on Cherry Street in Harrison, Arkansas. The father was evidently an abusive alcoholic, yet is only portrayed in the film as a harmless drunk. As the obese Brandon was growing up, he was given the nickname of "Chips and Cheesecake" by Marty, his older brother, who was separated from Brandon by seventeen years. This was quite a unique family dynamic, and the dysfunction was grossly downplayed in the film.
The most intriguing character in the film is known in the credits as The Farmer, who might be better termed The Cynic. The character is clearly the alter-ego of Marty, who has had a lapse in his faith after the promising life of his little brother was cut short. The Cynic has some provocative lines and questions that get at the heart of the nature of belief in a higher power.
But the best scenes in in the film are the football clips that chronicle the remarkable success of young Brandon as an offensive lineman at the University of Arkansas. In his first year, it appeared that Brandon would never hear the cries of the loyal Arkansas fans, chanting, "Wooooo...Pig Soooooie!!!" But by the end of his academic career, he had earned both a B.A. and a M.A. and had been selected as an All-American offensive lineman.
The 1998 miracle season of the Razorbacks was led by new coach Houston Nutt, who recognized early on how the "Burlsworth Factor" could provide the inspiration for a banner year at Arkansas, if led by the senior lineman. After meeting Burlsworth, Nutt discarded his plan to rebuild, relying instead on Brandon's senior class. In the most critical game versus Tennessee, it appeared as though the Razorbacks had the game won until the quarterback Clint Stoerner tripped over Brandon's feet and fumbled the ball away, giving the game to Tennessee. The announcer screamed, "O, my goodness!!!" as the game turned on this moment of the "miracle fumble."
The film does not mention that play calling and game management on the part of coach Houston Nutt cost the Razorbacks the game. The fault was not due to Brandon or to Stoerner. Rather, it was stupid coaching call that asked for a quarterback rollout play, instead sitting on the ball and letting the clock expire.
One of the film's main themes is the "pilgrimage road" traveled by young Brandon Burlsworth. In his youth, he was given a copy of John Bunyan's classic "The Pilgrim's Progress." By the end of the film, we see his dog-earned copy after he has completed a journey of hard work, desire, and dedication to nearly unthinkable success in his college years. The story of Brandon Burlsworth is one of doing the right thing in life. He is remembered for his strength of character and his values even more than for his bone-crushing blocks the gridiron.
Based on the true story of Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth, the film is both a football story and a Christian parable, due to the faith that sustained the overachiever Burlsworth as the most successful walk-on football player in the modern age of collegiate football. The film is best summed up by the tagline "Faith, Family, Academics, and Football" that is the motto of football camps run by Brandon's older brother Marty.
The film spends too much time on the family matters of the Burlsworths and their home life on Cherry Street in Harrison, Arkansas. The father was evidently an abusive alcoholic, yet is only portrayed in the film as a harmless drunk. As the obese Brandon was growing up, he was given the nickname of "Chips and Cheesecake" by Marty, his older brother, who was separated from Brandon by seventeen years. This was quite a unique family dynamic, and the dysfunction was grossly downplayed in the film.
The most intriguing character in the film is known in the credits as The Farmer, who might be better termed The Cynic. The character is clearly the alter-ego of Marty, who has had a lapse in his faith after the promising life of his little brother was cut short. The Cynic has some provocative lines and questions that get at the heart of the nature of belief in a higher power.
But the best scenes in in the film are the football clips that chronicle the remarkable success of young Brandon as an offensive lineman at the University of Arkansas. In his first year, it appeared that Brandon would never hear the cries of the loyal Arkansas fans, chanting, "Wooooo...Pig Soooooie!!!" But by the end of his academic career, he had earned both a B.A. and a M.A. and had been selected as an All-American offensive lineman.
The 1998 miracle season of the Razorbacks was led by new coach Houston Nutt, who recognized early on how the "Burlsworth Factor" could provide the inspiration for a banner year at Arkansas, if led by the senior lineman. After meeting Burlsworth, Nutt discarded his plan to rebuild, relying instead on Brandon's senior class. In the most critical game versus Tennessee, it appeared as though the Razorbacks had the game won until the quarterback Clint Stoerner tripped over Brandon's feet and fumbled the ball away, giving the game to Tennessee. The announcer screamed, "O, my goodness!!!" as the game turned on this moment of the "miracle fumble."
The film does not mention that play calling and game management on the part of coach Houston Nutt cost the Razorbacks the game. The fault was not due to Brandon or to Stoerner. Rather, it was stupid coaching call that asked for a quarterback rollout play, instead sitting on the ball and letting the clock expire.
One of the film's main themes is the "pilgrimage road" traveled by young Brandon Burlsworth. In his youth, he was given a copy of John Bunyan's classic "The Pilgrim's Progress." By the end of the film, we see his dog-earned copy after he has completed a journey of hard work, desire, and dedication to nearly unthinkable success in his college years. The story of Brandon Burlsworth is one of doing the right thing in life. He is remembered for his strength of character and his values even more than for his bone-crushing blocks the gridiron.