The Rocket (2005)
In the late 1930s, a young machinist named Maurice Richard distinguished himself as a ice hockey player of preternatural talent. Although that was enough to get him into the Montreal Canadiens, his frequent injuries cost him the confidence of his team and the fans. In the face of these doubts, Richard eventually shows the kind of aggressive and skillful play that would make him one of the greatest players of all time as "The Rocket." However for all his success, Richard and his fellow French Canadians face constant discrimination in a league dominated by the English speaking. Although a man of few words, Richard begins to speak his own mind about the injustice which creates a organizational conflict that would culminate in his infamous 1955 season suspension that sparks an ethnic riot in protest. In the face of these challenges, Richard must decide who exactly is he playing for.
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Too much of everything
It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.
There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
The movie starts with the Richard Riot in 1955 Montreal. In 1937, he is a machinist trying to make it in hockey. His boss is an union-basting English. He's 17 and Lucille Norchet at 13 has an eye on him. In 1942, he gets a tryout with the Montreal Canadians. He and Lucille get married despite her father's objection at his poor status. Initially, his signing is ridiculed as newspapermen label him fragile. He is close to being traded but nobody wanted him. His hockey dominance is eventually in the record books. He is a man of few words but he starts raising his voice against the racism set upon the French Canadian.It's a rather static biopic emotionally. Richard is a stoic man of limited words until he is challenged. This is a generally straight ahead historical drama. Expenses were not spared as the sets are not in want. It's a recounting of his hockey life. His personal is only interesting for about fifteen minutes. Julie LeBreton seems a little old to play 18 year old Lucille but she grows into the older version. The acting is generally solid. This could be great for a hockey fan of a certain age but it does need something more special to hook the general public.
As a hockey fan who also happens to love movies, the two combined made seeing "The Rocket" a must for me. It was playing only for a week in a tiny theater in NYC so I saw it the day after it opened. I was surprised to find out that it had been out awhile and only just arrived here two weeks ago.Roy Dupuis is a tower of dignity as Maurice Richard. I don't know what Richard looked like in real life, or what he was like, but Dupuis is a terrific actor, a great skater, and he cannot be faulted for anything. I have to admit that although I have naturally heard of Richard, I did not know much about his life and struggles, but now I am very interested in reading up on him. I was lucky enough to have seen three games at the Montreal Forum, which is where he would have played and have an enormous amount of respect for the tradition of the Canadians. They are still to hockey what the Yankees are to baseball, even though they are not always a playoff team. But its men like Richard that have created that tradition.The whole movie is very well done and it was nice seeing current NHL players in small parts. It is a better movie than all the other hockey movies I've seen (not that there are that many to choose from) and that includes "Slap Shot" which I love since its hilarious but its not even close to this, as far as the story it tells about a real stand-up guy, facing many obstacles and playing the greatest sport in the world. Hats off (since no one wore helmets back then..) to all involved. 10/10.
I saw the film of Maurice Rocket Richard only yesterday and like everybody, some most important scenes are missing, while few others do not follow the road. Though a lot less then those "clip-films" of to-day, this one is a good solid film but without continuous scenes. And in those years of 1940-1950, I sure think that the greatest of the great as a man and a hockey player should have said more about his situation and his fellows French-Canadian exploited and treated like baggage-wagon citizen on the ice (anglo payers calling him pea soup, damn Frenchmen etc.) and punished on his work (anglo bosses).The name "Canadian" instead of French-Canadian or Quebecers (not in use by that time), does mean he was a Canadian hero. Then, why the crowd at the Mapple Leaf Garden booing him instead of applauding? He was our number one hero, the whole Province of Québec whom he was its loud speaker by his will and courage of steel like we see in the film. The leading role by Roy Dupuis is so intense and powerful we forget the lacks during the film which interested me despite of that. I would have missed something not seeing this picture. Everyone should see the real story of a real French-Canadian hero.
(Sorry if I made some mistakes, English isn't my first language) I have already seen Québécois film before this one and I found only the comedic ones were good. But then I had some good surprises with Québécois drama films (C.R.A.Z.Y. and Aurore) and then there was MAURICE RICHARD.Maurice Richard is one of this movie that has the ability to get me in because of the acting (other films that gets me in because of that are Schindler's List, V for Vendetta, Casino Royale and The Departed). I especially like Stephen McHattie's performance as Dick Irvin. He is one of those actors (with Jack Nicholson and Mads Mikkelsen) that have all the qualities : a wonderful look, a great voice and precise facial expressions.Other great elements about this movie are the choreographies. The hockey scenes in this movie are definitively the greatest one ever made in cinema (wich is surprising for a no-American film).One of the plots element of the film is how a simple member of the proletariat who lives in an impossible situation will become a Canadian-french hero.