Can Lombardi Do Boffo Box Office? » Brats & Beer

August 2, 2007
posted under: Ice Bowl, Packers, Vince Lombardi

It looks like Hollywood and the NFL think there’s box office gold in the Green & Gold. There’s post at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel site today about a movie that’s in the works about coach Vince Lombardi and his 1967 championship Green Bay Packers. The script takes place during the week before 1967 NFL championship game against the Dallas Cowboys — the infamous Ice Bowl — and is based in part on Jerry Kramer’s book Instant Replay. According to Variety, the film is being backed in part by the NFL, which means access to Lambeau Field and archival footage, and the Lombardi family has also signed off on the project.

I’ve always thought that the life and times of coach Lombardi and the 1960s Packers would make for a great movie. I just wonder who in the world they’ll get to play the title character and do it believably — not just some caricature yelling, “What the Hell is going on out there!” I also think that the time frame is a little too obvious: In my mind, a great film about Lombardi and the Packers would follow the beginning of his head coaching career as he turns the Packers into world champions.

I just really hope this thing turns out well and not some piece of Hollywood schlock we’ll be embarrassed about later. But I’m sure I’ll go and see it anyway, regardless of what the reviews say.