North Dallas Forty

Pro football fans may be disillusioned by this excellent, honest, and often brutal expose of the play-for-pay game. Phillip Elliott (Nick Nolte) is a veteran pass-catcher for the North Dallas Bulls, who bear a strong resemblance to the Dallas Cowboys--not surprising given that the film is based on a novel by former Cowboy wide receiver Pete Gent. The coaches (G.D. Spradlin and Charles Durning) and team owner (Steve Forrest) feel the fiercely independent Elliott has an attitude problem because of his blatant cynicism and his awareness of how he and his teammates are constantly being manipulated by management. Cast aside after being callously used to motivate a fello...