Review of "The Express" The Ernie Davis Story

Over the past weekend the movie "The Express" hit theaters and was a hit in some people's eyes but, in the eyes of most critics the movie was just moderate. "The Express" is a movie of the Ernie Davis story which deals with segregation in the 1950's and 1960's. This movie is a compelling true story of the two-time All American Ernie Davis who was also the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy which is the most prestigious award in college football. The movie also includes Syracuse University's first National Championship for college football which came in 1960 with Ernie Davis as the team's elite running back. Since the movie is based on a true story it doesn't exactly have a happy ending. After Ernie Davis' last season with Syracuse he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns but was shortly diagnosed with leukemia and died within a year, never being able to play a snap in a Browns uniform. Over the movie's premiere weekend beginning Friday October 10 they have already brought in over $4.5 million.

I myself watched "The Express" this past weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact I would grade the movie as a whole an A-.What I enjoyed most about the movie was that it was based on a totally true story and had real life events with some clips of those real events included in the movie. Watching the movie was also an eye opener to the segregation which surrounded college sports and the country at that time in the United States. One movie it reminded me of was "Remember the Titians" which became very popular and was another box office hit. The only thing I didn't like about the movie was how at times it moved quickly through Ernie's younger life and quickly through his senior year at Syracuse as well with little explanation. Overall I think the movie will be a major hit because it's a good time to come out with a football story during the fall and midway through the football season because it's a time when people are very excited about football. Another reason is because "The Express" is an inspirational true story about the first African American Heisman Trophy winner, although he died from a tragic illness at a young age before he could play a professional snap.

For more information, click here.