Review: Express, The - 'Solidly entertaining sports-themed biopic.'

Period sports dramas don’t get any more formulaic or earnest than "The Express," a biopic of Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win college football’s highest honor for an offensive played, the Heisman Trophy in 1961. Sports dramas also don’t get any more heartfelt or poignant than "The Express," in no small part to Charles Leavitt’s ("Blood Diamond," "K-Pax," "The Mighty") serious-minded adaptation of Robert Gallagher’s biography of Davis and Gary Fleder’s ("Runaway Jury," "Impostor," "Don’t Say a Word," "Kiss the Girls," "Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead") sure-handed direction. A celebrated high school athlete with more than 30 college scholarship offers, Davis (Rob Brown), decides to stay close to his hometown of Elmira, New York and play football for the Syracuse Orangemen. He’s convinced to attend... [read full story]