The Long Game
Summary
AlthoughThe Long Gameis an underdog write up , it ’s also a movie that draws on the real - life experience of a group of young men who overcame huge obstacles to do what they love . The picture draw from Humberto G. Garcia ’s 2012 bookMustang Miracle . Mustang Miracleis about the event that unfolded in 1957 in Del Rio , Texaswhen a group of Mexican - American in high spirits school pupil formed a golf team and win the state championship . They were initially barred from play , and their interest in golf stemmed from caddie at a country club that deny entrance to people of color .
InThe Long Game , the director , Julio Quintana , stay on true to many of the core elements of the squad ’s story .
InThe Long Game , the conductor , Julio Quintana , stayed dependable to many of the essence elements of the team ’s account . However , there are some dramatic embellishments that create a more cinematic experience . Many of thecast and eccentric inThe Long Gameare material hoi polloi who formed the Mustangs and accept the squad all the fashion to the championship . One of the cardinal bod is JB Peña , fiddle by Jay Hernandez , who was the superintendent of San Felipe High School and the squad ’s coach . He ’s join by Dennis Quaid and Julian Works , as well as many other talented thespian .
Here ’s what happened to all five golfers feature in The Long Game after their time on the San Felipe Mustangs golf Team in Del Rio , Texas in 1957 .
10Individual Team Rivalries Are Expanded
It’s well documented that the team experienced prejudice, but there are specific incidents in the film.
Felipe Romero , Guadalupe Felan , Gene Vasquez , Joe Treviño , and Mario Lomas were the untested men who last on to become the San Felipe Mustangs , and they experienced favoritism and hate from their opposing squad . This is a central theme to both Garcia ’s account book andThe Long Game , but there are extra specific detail and team members that the movie disturb upon . Much ofThe Long Gameconsists of Peña telling the boys that they ca n’t rent the taunt of the rival participant get to them , as the racism of the judges would always extend to the Mustangs being punished .
This bring in it all the more satisfying when the Mustangs beat the betting odds and win , but even then , The tenacious Gameshows that this is n’t the final stage of the story .
It ’s incredibly unmanageable to follow the Mustangs be the bigger people over and over againwhen the competition is so skew against them , and the white team are dismissive and instantly vicious to them . This makes it all the more satisfying when the Mustangs beat the odds and win , but even then , The tenacious Gameshows that this is n’t the terminal of the story . Showcasing clear incidents of prejudice and discrimination by other young human demonstrates just how profoundly racism runs through the community and is teach from one generation to the next .
Image by Yailin Chacon
9Personal Relationships Are Dramatized
For added depth and drama, The Long Game adds intrigue and complications to the player’s lives.
The Long Gameendingteases bright future for the Mustangs , as well as Peña . teach more about the real people illustrate that golf was a long - time love for many of the characters . It ’s heartwarming to see thatthe Mustangs went on to make in the golfing diligence , nurture family , and pass down the custom of teamworkand companionship to succeeding generations . However , inThe Long Game , a big stress is placed on the personal relationship of the reference , as well as how this impacted their golf game game .
This is a typical manoeuvre for any biographical drama , as account book tend to stick closer to the fact and a straightforward explanation of events . However , this is n’t compelling in film data formatting , and liberty must be take in for the quality to become three - dimensional in the hand . Whilenot every reference could be given adequate meter by the picture show , The Long Gamemakes sure that each member of the Mustangs is given a unequaled and truthful personality , as well as a rich life and story that cook their winner a electrifying part of the tale .
8Hiram Valdes Is Omitted
One of the coaches who helped JB Peña lead the Mustangs to the championship.
Major character reference are often left out of life history because there was already a more prominent role with a recognizable electric arc .
It could be indicate that Frank Mitchell ( Quaid ) replaced Hiram Valdes in term of narrative importance inThe Long Game , as Valdes is refer inMustang Miracleand is a central part of the story . Valdes was a coach alongside Peña and worked with the Mustangs to get them ready for each secret plan . It ’s likely that Valdes ' storey was engross pretty into both Peña and Mitchell ’s characters , as they ’re the main coach-and-four , with Peña take center stage .
However , while Valdes was an of import part of the real - aliveness events , in a celluloid , juggling too many characters that take a similar purpose can be unmanageable . Major characters are often allow for out of biographies because there was already a more prominent purpose with a recognizable electric discharge . ReadingMustang Miracleis a great follow - up or precursor to watchingThe Long Game . Learning more about Valdes and realizing how many masses were on the side of the Mustangs is wonderful to witness , asThe Long Gamemakes the audience care deeply .
In 1956, JB Peña and his wife moved to the small town of Del Rio, TX, partly for a job as a school superintendent, but mostly to fulfill JB’s dream of joining the prestigious, all-white Del Rio Country Club. So when JB is rejected on the basis of his skin color, he is devastated. But his world soon collides with a group of young latino golf caddies who work at the country club, and JB is inspired by the handmade course the boys built in the country to teach themselves golf. With little experience and even fewer resources, JB convinces the boys to start their own high school golf team, starting them all on a journey where they learn that it takes more than just golf skills to make history.
7Pollo’s Added Intervention At The Championship Game
Pollo’s character and the role he plays in the team’s victory is embellished.
Cheech Marin plays Pollo , a groundskeeper at the country club who ends up being implemental in their way of life to success . In the celluloid , Pollo gives the squad access to the old and toss clubs and equipment that the club members are n’t using any longer and gives them a free pass to use the path at night . Additionally , Pollo descend through for Peña during the championship game after he ’s barred from enteringthe track . In many means , Pollo is the guardian angel that Mustangs need as they ’re facing apparatus and rejections .
However , Pollo is more of an amalgamation of the many multitude who tolerate and foster support for the Mustangs throughout the journey . While much of their achiever can be traced back to their talent and persistence , The Long Gameis indisputable to remind the audience that no one is an island and that put to work together makes the team great . Every character execute various roles in helping the Mustangs come through the championship , and their interpersonal relationships makeThe retentive Gameall the more heartwarming .
6Joe & Daniela’s Relationship Is Elevated
Joe is the defacto leader of the Mustangs, and so his personal life is explored.
In all teams , it accept every player to contribute the grouping to victory , butin filmmaking , there must be a leader to focus on within the corps de ballet . The Long Gamechose Joe Treviño ( Works ) , a young piece with the best cut and most natural gift , who ab initio did n’t want to be on the team . The consultation quickly discover this is due to pressure from his father to conform to a safer career trajectory and not get mix up with the golf game community , as it was , and in many ways still is , associate with whiteness .
Daniela has plan to leave for college and go after her vocation , which breathe in Joe to want more for himself and later on join her in leaving Del Rio .
Joe is one of the only boys on the squad whose family life is talk about this way . Additionally , Joe has a relationship with Daniela ( Paulina Chávez ) , a missy who decease to San Felipe and is drawn to Joe . Though their family relationship get going as an innocent crush , the pair presently confide in each other about their dreams for the futurity . Daniela has plans to leave for college and quest after her career , which revolutionize Joe to want more for himself and later unite her in leaving Del Rio .
5JB & Lucy’s Fertility Issues Are Expanded
Their struggle to have a child is positioned as a factor in Peña’s drive to succeed.
Peña ’s human relationship with his wife , Lucy ( Jaina Lee Ortiz ) , is a ground constituent throughoutThe Long Game , and she ’s often a voice of reason when Peña want to fall by the wayside or modify himself to assimilate . Overall , Lucy is an underutilized character who could have been a more prominent part of the film , but when she is onscreen , she steals the scene . One of the classical aspects of the Peñas ' base life-time is thatthey’re childless even after test to have a baby for many years .
This automatically positions the Mustangs as Peña ’s foster nipper and is a deep worked up appeal to the audience , who ca n’t avail but feel for JB and Lucy . In terms of the Mustang ’s journeying to triumph at the United States Department of State backup , there is n’t much that the Peñas ' personal issues have to do with that storyline . However , in sports drama likeThe Long Game , the interview need to care about the charactersand what will happen to them after the pic conclude .
4JB Peña’s Desire To Belong To The Club
One of the first conflicts the audience witnesses is his denial from the club.
The interview understands that there is an undercurrent of personal motivation push Peña to get his boys acknowledgement and taste because he was denied this .
Overall , much more is discovered about Peña ’s personal living and require inThe Long Game , as this makes it easy to root for him and the Mustangs in worldwide . The film opens with Peña rejected from the club , even though this is part of the understanding he accept the job in Del Rio . It ’s a crushing gust for Peña and can be viewed as one of the prod incident of the secret plan . From there , the audience understand that there is an undercurrent of personal motivating pushing Peña to get his boys acknowledgment and admiration because he was denied this .
Additionally , the continuous return to Peña ’s military service and his desire to be recognize for what he ’s contributed to the nation are warm reminder of the theme . There is no enquiry in Peña ’s intellect or the Mustangs that they are American , but they ’re not afford the same privilege and treatment as other multitude in the country . However , whenPeña take in that the men at the commonwealth night club do n’t have the power to dictate who is an Americanor who is suitable of respect , he ’s set loose .
3Frank Mitchell Plays A Larger Role
Dennis Quaid is given a more prominent position in the film.
One thingThe Long Gamesuccessfully avoids is put Frank Mitchell , Peña ’s admirer and veteran , as a white savior or the ultimate instructor of the boys . However , he ’s still a more prominent character in the picture , and much of his impact and influence on the Mustangs was invented forThe Long Game . This makes gumption as Quaid is one of the biggest names in the celluloid and has a pull with audiences . However , Mitchell never eclipse the development of the other characters or undermines Peña ’s authorityas the autobus .
Dennis Quaid ’s Netflix hit is a reminderthat underdog variation movies never go out of style . to boot , though Mitchell does bear upon the case of the cinema , he is n’t a vital element of the pic , allowingThe Long Gameto decenter white as a whole . Quaid ’s character is a good companion for Peña and supports the boys , but his character arc is n’t as important as those of the main characters . Much of the narration would unfold in the same room if Mitchell were omittedfrom the story altogether .
2The Movie Begins In Their Teenage Years
Garcia’s book starts a little earlier in the team’s development.
The first chapter ofMustang Miraclebegins with Felipe Romero as a pre - teenaccompanying a champion to the land golf club and learn him caddy for one of the men there . It ’s a great opening that plant the tone for the residue of the level . It prove both how white-hot work force in the residential area process the biz of golf and how they reckon the young male child mold for them . Conversely , inThe Long Game , the opening snapshot catch up with the young men when they ’re well into gamy school and have show their Quaker group and their improvised course .
It ’s exculpated that several of the boy have been caddy for many year and that they ’ve developed acquisition establish on watch out the lodge members roleplay .
It was a smart choice on the part of Quintana and the producer not to let in flashbacks in the film , as this would have impede the overall stride . Instead , it ’s readable that several of the boy have been caddy for many years and that they ’ve developed acquirement base on watch the nine member play . Additionally , the viewer is introduced to Peña early on , fix him up as the protagonistmore than the boy . This makes it even more exciting when their paths finally traverse and destiny is put in motion .
The Long Game cinema follows the story of a 1957 high school golf championship , state the true story of the victory and the instrumentalist .
1The Country Club Is The Central Villain
The club is used as a narrative embodiment of the beliefs of racism and discrimination.
There are many resister in bothThe Long GameandMustang Miracle , but the biggest villain of the story is n’t one special person or country club but the tremendous institutions of prejudice and racial discrimination that operate sport , education , and lifespan in general . This is inarguably the biggest theme in the motion picture , andQuintana does n’t shy away from the realities of the racism the team experienced , even within the lift up story . However , because of the film ’s structure , there had to be a more concrete answer to who the bad guy was .
Though the land social club was dreaded both in and out of the book and in real life , its importance is elevated slenderly in the movie . This makes tale sense , as it was a radio beacon of privilege and respect in Del Rio , and it was where a few of the young men grew up caddying but were never provide to play . In mass medium , the country golf-club has been used as a metaphor for prejudice and exclusion , and the film makes use of goods and services of this ethnical shorthand , drive home the point that the Mustangs ' recognition from their community was of the utmost importance .
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Cast
In 1956 , JB Peña and his wife moved to the small town of Del Rio , TX , part for a job as a schooling superintendent , but mostly to live up to JB ’s dream of joining the prestigious , all - white Del Rio Country Club . So when JB is rejected on the basis of his skin color , he is devastate . But his public before long collides with a group of young Latin American golf tea caddy who forge at the land club , and JB is inspired by the handmade course the boy build in the country to teach themselves golf . With little experience and even few resources , JB convinces the boys to set out their own high schooling golf game squad , protrude them all on a journey where they learn that it takes more than just golf skills to make story .
