In our latest class, we watched the movie “The Longest Yard”. She picked this movie to point out certain aspects of masculinity depicted throughout the film. It is clear from the first scene that this was a “mans” movie. The movie is about a once pro football player named Paul Crew that is notoriously known for shaving points on a football game who ends up being imprisoned for stealing his girlfriends car and going on an all out drunken police chase. While in prison he is asked to lead a team of inmates against the guard’s football team in a “tune-up” game to start off the guard’s season.
The character’s in this movie were all mostly male, and for the most part they all were roided out jocks. The guards were all big tough no nonsense guys, that had little remorse for Mr. Crew or the rest of the inmates. The inmates were mostly the same as the guards. They all joked around with one another, and were ready to fight at any moment. This movie showcases the competitiveness of men when put around one another. The majority of the inmates were very happy that they get the chance to hit the guards that ridicule them on a daily basis. The guards were equally pleased to beat up on the prisoners and blow them out on the field. The black inmates at first were hesitant of joining the team due to Paul Crew’s reputation of turning his back on his team, but Crew earned their trust and respect by taking a beating in a pick up basketball game. We stopped the movie right as the team had been fully assembled and were preparing for the big game.
All in all from what we watched, this movie had many instances of masculinity throughout. The men’s attitudes and demeanor in this film reminded me of Social Darwinism. It had a “dog eat dog” or “survival of the fittest” tone to it. The male characters had very few feminine traits about them, and there were very little female roles. Between all the testosterone, fighting, hitting, and dirty comedy infused action, The Longest Yard was a great example of a masculine film.
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