Let's go back. Back to a time when hockey was played without helmets or masks. When being a professional hockey player was (apparently) not a full-time job. A time before agents and million dollar contracts, when talent won out over hype and gimmicks. A simpler time.
Specifically 1942, when Maurice "
The Rocket" Richard (Roy Dupuis), a Quebecois machinist who'd financially supported his family since age 16, is signed by the hometown Montreal Canadians after an open training camp. Richard dazzles coach Dick Irvin with his speed and determination, but other team officials urge Irvin to be wary of Richard's tendency to break bones. Despite Richard being too brittle to join the army and fight in WWII, Irvin signs him anyway and is torched by the press after Richard breaks an ankle after a handful of electric games.
Of course, the injury only motivates Richard to work harder and it is here that Pierre Gill's incredibly fluid cinematography really shines. Most notably on Richard's solo training sessions, the camera dances around him in perfect circles, capturing his dedication in a most alluring manner. Similar smoothness was seen in
Children of Men, but Alfonso Cuaron admitted that camera tricks were used to achieve the effect, lending the film an artificial flavor. The magic in
The Rocket lacks the overly surreal nature of the Cuaron film. Instead of separating one from the action,
The Rocket's cinematography pulls one right on the ice, skating around Richard with Olympic skill. Gill also uses an array of lens filters to create an appealing blue and smoky look at the past for a series of exterior shots. The resulting effect is like an animated ancient photograph, blurring reality with sorcery. Only when a lead cast member can be identified walking through the shot is one assured that one is not looking through a crystal ball.
Richard quickly surpasses his prior skills, leading the Canadians to the Stanley Cup the following season and becoming the first player to score 50 goals (in exactly 50 games) the next. As Richard's legend grows, it garners stories of Babe Ruth caliber. He spends an entire day moving heavy furniture, tells acquaintances that he's "spent," and then scores 5 goals in that night's game. When the Boston coach tells the press that his most brutal player is going to target Richard, "The Rocket" goes after the brute first, clobbering the rival on the ice and in the penalty box. And the amazing chapters of Richard's life go on.
What saves Charles Biname's film from being just another child of
Rocky is its attention to social aspects. While these issues are important and made Richard a multidimensional legend, they are not presented with enough detail. A reporter makes brief mention of the league screwing Richard out of a scoring title because he is Quebecois and Richard and Irvin have heated discussions about Boston having certain referees in their pockets, but they are merely left to talk. Where are the scenes of the Boston coach slipping a stack of bills to an official? Or statisticians scratching Richard's name off a list of league leaders? Richard and other racially-mistreated Quebecois players are in a tough position, but to really empathize with them, the actual scenes deserve to be shown. One needs visual proof to heighten the hate. Perhaps the filmmakers are banking on Quebecois audiences being so familiar with the Richard legend that only a mention will do. If so, the film exists as little more than a folk tale.
Considering the subject matter, the film could surprisingly use more hockey action, but the existing action scenes are masterfully executed. Dupuis is a pure athlete and this is the role he was apparently born to play: he previously channeled Richard in a 1997 Heritage Minute short film and in
Beautiful Sundays: Maurice Rocket Richard Story, a 1999 French-Canadian TV miniseries. Professional hockey players make appearances in supporting roles, but Dupuis is just as deserving of donning a real Canadians jersey.
The film nearly swept the 2007 Genies (Canadian Oscars), winning 9 out of its 14 nominations. Acting, directing, and technical categories were won and only Overall Sound, Original Score, Original Screenplay, and Best Picture were not rewarded.
The Rocket will be granted limited released this fall in the U.S. and deserves to be seen. Now that Quebec's top sports hero has been given due coverage, it's time for the U.S.'s best to get theirs.
Ali was good, but where are the Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams biopics? Hopefully
The Rocket will inspire such projects.