preview

Al Pacino's By Inch

Decent Essays

Ellen Cannon Dr. Bailey Eng 102 “Inch by Inch” “On this team, we tear ourselves, and everyone else around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our fingernails for that inch.” This is a line taken from Any Given Sunday, a movie If the coach would have given an overly emotional speech that the players could not relate to and make sense of, his speech would not have been as effective.about a professional football team struggling when their quarterback is hurt. In the movie, Coach Tony D’Amoto, played by Al Pacino, is forced to reconsider the strategies that he has always used to lead the team, and, in return, gives one of the most famous speeches in movie history when encouraging the team before their final game of the season. Pacino’s “Inch …show more content…

The team has grown apart, and they have been playing as individuals rather than as a team. Their lack of togetherness on and off the field has caused them to lose quite a bit. However, facing their final game of the season, the team’s desire to win is at an all-time high. The coach knows that just thinking about the final game can stir up the team’s emotions, and there were many times in the movie where the owner of the football team made it clear that Coach D’Amoto would not come back to coach the team the following year. This also stirs up many emotions because it is possible that this will be the last game they ever play with their coach. The coach uses the team’s vulnerability as a way to encourage them. He says things like “You got to look at the guy the guy next to you... You’re gonna see a guy who will go that inch with you. You’re gonna see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team,” to bring the team to a passionate uproar. As D'Amato delivers his speech, another way he is able to evoke emotions through his tone of voice and mannerisms. For example, at the beginning of the speech when he is talking about how the team is down his voice is solemn and weak, and as his speeches continues his voice becomes excited and hopeful. By the end of the speech he is yelling with authority. From nervous, to sympathetic, and finally to the wrath essential to be football title holders, Coach D’Amoto takes his team on a roller coaster ride of emotions. When watching the movie, even the audience is drawn in by Pacino’s incredible deliverance of the speech, and one cannot resist becoming entwined in the enthusiastic encouragement the coach gives his

Get Access