Coach Carter
cast: Samuel L. Jackson
The good: poignant messages
The bad: a touch too long
Based on the real-life story of a coach who locked down the gym when his basketball players failed to maintain an agreed upon GPA of 2.3, Coach Carter takes a touching and profound philosophy of life, success, and education and delivers it in a manner easily understood by the people it was clearly meant for - distressed students.
Samuel L. Jackson proves once again that he was born to play as any macho gusto character that they can come up with, bringing to the film a distinctive acting flair that few actors can possibly hope. His character is indeed the life and blood of the film, taking a loser of a team and turning the team and its players into not only champions but real men. And the good thing is, melodrama is thankfully kept in check.
Its somewhat surprising that this film is an MTV Films production, considering the usual audience of that network. It might even seem that this film is a hypocritical offering by a company more known for its liberal thinking and teenager-appealing content (sex, drugs, booze) than of traditional values and lifestyle. But if this is a change of heart for the network, then I'm all for it.
Coach Carter is a triumph for what it is - a film designed to elevate a striking and sadly diminishing message to a plane where audiences can appreciate it. Its nothing remotely awards-quality, but the message (at least most of it) is what counts in this film. Basketball movie? Nah. More like a religious convention, and that's a good thing. (4/5)
The good: poignant messages
The bad: a touch too long
Based on the real-life story of a coach who locked down the gym when his basketball players failed to maintain an agreed upon GPA of 2.3, Coach Carter takes a touching and profound philosophy of life, success, and education and delivers it in a manner easily understood by the people it was clearly meant for - distressed students.
Samuel L. Jackson proves once again that he was born to play as any macho gusto character that they can come up with, bringing to the film a distinctive acting flair that few actors can possibly hope. His character is indeed the life and blood of the film, taking a loser of a team and turning the team and its players into not only champions but real men. And the good thing is, melodrama is thankfully kept in check.
Its somewhat surprising that this film is an MTV Films production, considering the usual audience of that network. It might even seem that this film is a hypocritical offering by a company more known for its liberal thinking and teenager-appealing content (sex, drugs, booze) than of traditional values and lifestyle. But if this is a change of heart for the network, then I'm all for it.
Coach Carter is a triumph for what it is - a film designed to elevate a striking and sadly diminishing message to a plane where audiences can appreciate it. Its nothing remotely awards-quality, but the message (at least most of it) is what counts in this film. Basketball movie? Nah. More like a religious convention, and that's a good thing. (4/5)
posted by NaCl at Friday, June 03, 2005
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