This is a movie that you can really relate to, the crazyness of high school sports if you have ever played (for a good team.) The characters in this film are so strong, QB Mike Winchell, James "Boobie" Miles, Chavez, Don Billingsly and even the quite Ivory Christian was a strong character as well as Coach Gaines.This portrays how crazy high school football can be in Texas and how sometimes it may go a little too far. The radio announcers were a strong feature to this as well. The players doing actual football plays, blood, pain in their voices, sadness, triumph, partying. It was all there and I can truly say one of the best sports movies I've watched.****Though I have not read the book I know they are very different from each other. It is my understanding that if you really enjoyed the book you will probably hate the movie.