PG-13 | 2h 2min | Drama, Family, Sport | 2020
Before I saw 2020’s sports drama “The Last Champion,” I had seen actor Cole Hauser on the movie poster smiling ear to ear and assumed it was a comedy. When I discovered it was a story of redemption, I was a little surprised yet intrigued. After all, John Wright, the character Hauser plays, is a gloomy-faced guy for much of the film’s running time, although things eventually get brighter.
A Wrestler With Great Promise
We learn that, back in the day, John was a standout wrestler in high school and was talented enough to eventually become an all-state wrestler. After that, he entered college and was named an All-American. But it didn’t stop there; John’s ambitions led him all the way to the Olympics, which culminated in his winning a gold medal.However, his athletic career was cut short when he got busted for steroid abuse. As he acknowledges later on in the movie, his one “stupid” decision threw his entire life into disarray and caused him to leave Garfield in shame, rather than face the disappointment of the townsfolk he let down.
Not everyone hates John, though. His old wrestling coach Frank Stevens (Peter Onorati), who still teaches high school wrestling in Garfield, welcomes the former hometown hero with open arms. Coach Stevens implores John, who walks around slumped over with downcast eyes, to leave his shameful past behind and move on with his life.
Faced With Change
But one night, when Coach Stevens suddenly dies from a heart attack, John is hired to coach the high school wrestling team—the very one he used to be on. He immediately sees potential in the team, although there is an intense rivalry between two of its standout wrestlers, social outcast Michael Miller (Sean H. Scully) and the team’s captain, Scott Baker (Casey Moss).Michael’s family is going through some financial troubles, which isn’t helped by his mother’s unchecked alcohol abuse and general irritability, which is typically directed at her son. Things get so bad that Michael gets busted for shoplifting some meat (protein for his wrestling diet) from a local grocery store.
Slow Burn
One enjoyable thing about this movie was that its slow burn was indicative of many great indie films I’ve seen. Director Glenn Withrow (“The Outsiders,” “Rumblefish”) takes plenty of time to develop his characters and gradually reveals their motivations.There are also some great faith-based scenes in the movie that feel genuine. One of them involves John, filled with shame and self-pity, seeking spiritual guidance from Pastor Barnes. Their interaction seems natural and authentic, as if we are witnessing it organically unfold from just a few pews away.
The film’s positive messages of communal reconciliation, forgiveness, and redeeming one’s self by helping others are very timely in this modern day and age. Just be aware that it’s more suitable for older kids and their families since it does contain some violence.