Universal Pictures'

Friday Night Lights

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Lucas Black, Derek Luke, Lee Thompson Young, Tim McGraw

Directed by: Peter Berg

RS: 3.5of 4 Stars

2004 Universal Pictures Comedy

"Ain't much difference between winning and losing, except how the outside world treats you," says coach Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton). Though the movie is thick with sports-movie cliches, from the aggro dad (Tim McGraw) to the self-doubting quarterback, this story of the Permian Panthers trip to the 1988 Texas state championship still manages to achieve greatness via its ensemble cast, including Derek Luke as Boobie, an illiterate running back pumped up on Public Enemy.