Undefeated- The Movie

Undefeated is a coming of age documentary from filmmakers T.J. Martin and Dan Lindsay based on the 2009 football season of the Manassas Tigers. The original plan was for a thirty minute documentary focused on O.C. Brown, and that turned into a full-blown movie project. Undefeated recently won the Oscar for Best Documentary!!

Manassas High School was founded in 1899, and the Tigers had never won a playoff game. It’s a school that doesn’t have the funds for a fancy field, proper equipment, or even a coach. What it does have though, is kids that want to be a part of something bigger.

Bill Courtney loved to coach. It was his dream actually, but it wouldn’t pay the bills, so he started his own business in 2001. He says he never quit coaching though. Coaching was his passion. His passion led him to Manassas, and 17 players that had a 6-54 record for the previous six years.

Courtney and his team of volunteers impacted those boys that were from the inner city. They cared about them and they prayed with them. It was more than just football, but it changed the way that football was played by those kids.

It changed lives.

It changed Manassas football.

There were a few times that I cried while watching. The stories of the boys are so endearing and heart breaking too. I was rooting for them personally and on the field, just like Courtney was.

There’s a line in the film where Courtney says, “If you think football builds character, it does not. It reveals character.” It’s such a powerful moment. I think I can still hear him saying it.

My husband came in while I was watching it, and sat down with me. He’s telling his friends they need to see it. That’s what I’m telling you. See it, it’s great. There are a few curse words in it, so you’ve been warned. It is PG-13, from The Weinstein Company.

Click here to watch the trailer. UNDEFEATED

Kim and Krickett Carpenter-The Vow

I had the privilege of talking to Kim and Krickett Carpenter last week. They are an amazing couple and I ended the interview feeling blessed to talk with them. I saw The Vow last Wednesday night, and I loved it! If you haven’t seen it yet, please make the time to do so soon.

Me: I have to tell you we were all laughing, crying and cheering you two on! Your story had us from the very beginning. I didn’t know that you never regained your memory Krickett, and I was left wanting more at the end. I wanted to see you two fall in love all over again!

Carpenters: Well thank you very much! We’ve been hearing that a lot, and have to tell you that the movie leads you right to “The Vow: The True Events that Inspired the Movie ”
Me: How old were you when you met?

Carpenters: Kim was 27 and Krickett was 23

Me: I read somewhere that your shared faith helped you two get back together again. Can you tell me about it? Was that a faith in love, each other, or the Lord? The movie didn’t really touch on it.

Carpenters: Our real strength and  faith is in the Lord. It came from two sets of parents who have over 100 years of anniversaries combined, and a very devout faith.

Me: I have to admit that I was angry with your parents, Krickett, and how they were treating you, but your mothers vulnerability when she said she remembered all of the good and forgave the one mistake, that was so great.

Carpenters: That never happened. The affair never happened. That was something that Hollywood added in, along with portraying me as being alone in all of it, and the divorce. I (Kim) was not alone, I actually have a twin and wonderful parents. We never divorced. At one point, Krickett was living with her parents and rehabbing, and I did move back in with my parents to regain some sense of normalcy, but we were never apart for more than four days. I would fly back and help her rehab.  At one point I felt that it was not going to work, but I wasn’t going to leave until I knew Krickett was capable of  taking care of herself and could look me in the face and tell me to go. It took a counselor to help us understand the aspect that Krickett had no memory of me.

Me: How did you find your way back to love?

Carpenters: On Valentines day 1996 I asked Krickett to remarry me, and on May 25th we rededicated our marriage. We took vows and made a commitment before God until death do us part. The institution of marriage is different for some now, as in the death of the marriage. Lack of commitment has created instability. It used to be death do us part as in the death of your soul mate.

Me: Tell me about your kids. What do they think of your story?

Carpenters:  They are a real blessing, and it’s a great life lesson for them. We are more excited about having them witness this and experience it first hand. We  kept our vow and our word. It’s a priceless lesson.

Our main prayer in this is to inspire lives and lead people to do the right thing. A place where families can grow and flourish. We had the opportunity to persevere and it was a matter of obedience to Christ. The media tried to portray me (Kim) as a hero,but I’m not. I made a vow and kept it. We are in a normal marriage where there are challenges and it takes work.
We are so happy with Channing and Rachel. They studied us and watched us in interviews. There are some things that are just dead on in the movie, and the movie will lead you to the “The Vow: The True Events that Inspired the Movie ”

My time with Kim and Krickett was too short, and I can’t wait to download the book and read more about them. I hope you will too.

Kim and Krickett Carpenter

Today I had the honor of speaking to the Carpenters about their book and movie, The Vow. I can’t give you any details about the interview until Valentines Day, so be sure and come back then.

I can tell you that the movie and their book comes out tomorrow, and you should definitely see the movie and buy the book. This couple is real and so genuine. Speaking to them felt like we had been friends forever. I can’t wait to share our interview with you on the 14th.

The one where I feel like a Rock Star!

Tonight I attended the advanced screening for The Vow from Sony Pictures, and let me just say you have to go see it this Friday!

We arrived about twenty minutes early with our reservation printed out, and bypassed the line to go straight into the theater. There were a couple other people standing by the ticket taker with their printed reservations, and they were being told that the seats were all taken, but they could come back tomorrow for a different movie showing. My friend and I looked at each other in a panic, and all sorts of thoughts were running through my head. The other people put their name on a list and left, and I handed my reservation to the man. He looked at it and said, “oh, you’re with Grace Hill Media, we have seats for you.” Then he took us to our seats, and they had signs on them with my name! I totally felt like a rock star!

The movie started without any previews and we were hooked from the beginning. I can’t give you details, but I am telling you to see this movie! It is so heartwarming and tender.

Tomorrow I have the honor of interviewing the couple that this film was based on. What do you think I should ask them?

I’ll be posting my interview with them on Valentine’s day!

The Vow

The Vow will be in theaters nationwide beginning Friday, February 10th. The film is inspired by the real-life story of Kim & Krickett Carpenter. They fell in love and got married, but Krickett lost her memory of Kim just two months after their wedding because of a car accident.  Kim had to win Krickett’s heart all over again.

Kim and Krickett were able to fall in love again because of their shared faith in the Lord, Kim’s patience, and Krickett’s compassion. They recently celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary!

The movie stars Rachel McAdams as Paige and Channing Tatum as Leo. What a beautiful couple for this romantic drama!

“Paige and Leo are a happy newlywed couple whose lives are shattered by a car accident that puts Paige in a coma. Waking up with severe memory loss, Paige has no memory of Leo or their marriage, a confusing relationship with her parents (Sam Neill and Jessica Lange), and an ex-fiance` (Scott Speedman) she may still have feelings for. ”

I’m looking forward to this Sony Pictures film, and I was asked to an advanced screening tomorrow night! I’m so excited to see it, and I’m taking my kleenex.

This movie is the perfect date night movie. My daughter and her boyfriend will be seeing it opening day to celebrate their 4 month anniversary and Valentine’s Day. When will you see it?

Click here to watch the trailer_The Vow