The director/actor combo of Brian DePalma and Al Pacino, that brought the world Scarface and Carlito's Way, are re-teaming to bring audiences the Joe Paterno biopic Happy Valley. The film will be based on the Joe Posnanski book "Paterno."
Paterno coached the Penn State Nittany Lions for over forty years leading them to several national championships and becoming the all-time winningest coach in Division IA football history. Unfortunately, the end of his career was marred by the sexual abuse scandal of his former defensive coach Jerry Sandusky. Doing little to stop the situation, Paterno's statue was taken down and over ten years of wins vacated.
While I know that broaching the Jerry Sandusky issue in Happy Valley is inevitable and necessary I would sincerely hope that it doesn't become the overriding focal point of the film. People are two quick to forget that Paterno was a man that changed the lives of a lot people he coached, was active in the community, and a complex and interesting man in his own right. Although these things don't excuse his failure to act, I believe that De Palma and Pacino will show every facet of his life not just the final six months.
The film is still in pre-production and the start of principal photography is yet to be determined. Hopefully this film will arrive quicker than the Lombardi biopic which was supposed to come out two years ago.
Slightly related comment: Pos is one of THE BEST sportswriters working today, hands down. I'll read anything he writes even if the subject doesn't interest me a bit. I'll check out "happy Valley" for sure; it's bound to be interesting if for no other reason than he was already working on it when the Sandusky story broke.
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