Penn State football is much more than football. The reason for that is Joe Pa. His almost god-like status didn't come about by just amassing wins. His emphasis on academics and integrity was widely known in central PA for generations. Al Pacino (not surprisingly) gives a touching portrayal of a good-hearted man who failed to recognize the level of evil in his midst.
I found myself tearing up a number of times, getting into the torment he must've felt on so many levels. The victims themselves, the school, his players, his legacy. Such a sad story for everyone involved.
The movie seemed to portray events fairly accurately. Although I do remember the truly somber mood at the Nebraska game. There wasn't much cheering. Both teams not only walked out onto the field arm in arm, but they did so in almost complete silence. The movie doesn't really show that very well although you do hear announcers talking about the teams kneeling in prayer together. The phone call at the end of the movie from another possible victim gives an uneasy impression that Joe may have known more than he let on. The fact that there's no one left alive to confirm or deny John Doe 150's claim from years earlier is a further reminder of how the sins of one man have affected so many.
