‘The Longest Yard’
In The Longest Yard, one of his most successful films, Burt Reynolds (a college football player himself) is a natural as Paul “Wrecking” Crewe, a disgraced former quarterback who engages in a high-speed chase with police officers after stealing his girlfriend’s car. Sentenced to 18 months in prison, Crewe is forced to organize an exhibition game between the Warden’s football team and a group of convicts led by Crewe himself. The idea was to prepare the Warden’s man for their upcoming semi-pro season by beating up on the hapless prisoners—needless to say, that is not what occurs. Featuring riveting action sequences, memorable dialogue and one of Reynolds’ most subtle and nuanced performances, The Longest Yard is a touchdown in all respects.