Coach Carter Review

Rating: 9/10 (22 January 2020)

The movie I reviewed was Coach Carter, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Channing Tatum; it was directed by Thomas Carter. I consider this movie a success because it captures the idea of what many schools face who's students come from struggling homes and poverty, with low graduation rates, and high incarnation rates. This movie also shows the power of standing for what you believe In.
The movie follows an intercity basketball team that struggles to win games. Until Coach Carter takes over and transforms the team into a winning team using strict discipline; However, to play on Coach Carter's team, the players are required to maintain a certain grade point average and attend class. During the midst of a perfect season, Coach Carter finds out that the team fails to meet his requirements. He shuts down the gym and puts a hold on their perfect season until their grades improve. Against the judgment of parents and the school board, Coach Carter maintains his idea that academics come before sports.
Coach Carter is more than just a movie about basketball. It covers the fact in which many people deal with today - school systems with low graduation rates and high rates of incarnation. Coach Carter views the players as students before athletes, and instils the power of an education. This is seen in the movie where Coach Carter is explaining to the players, and the school board about the power of education. Well let me tell you what I see, I see a system that is designed for you to fail...growing up here in Richmond you're 80% more likely to go to prison than college" (Samuel L Jackson). Coach Carter is going against the anti-intellectual message that for African Americans to be successful, it won't be because of education.
Another reason I consider this movie a success because it shows the power of self perseverance. Coach Carter, know the full extent of the dangers that these young men face, as he once was one of them. Before coaching, he attended high school at Richmond being one of the most successful basketball players ever to attend there. He watched his former teammates get arrested, and some of them being killed. This is seen in the movie where he goes against the entire Richmond community to shut down the gym. The parents believe Coach Carter is betraying the boys because they view this season as the best years of their life "I came to coach basketball players. And you became students. I came to teach boys and you became men" (Samuel L. Jackson). Coach Carter is stating that for these young men to be successful, they must overcome the misconception that the only way to prosperity is not through education. Coach Carter resistance from every angle, and even putting his job on the line. He ultimately wins over the boys, and they begin to help each other improve their academics.
Coach Carter is a very successful movie because it goes much deeper than just a typical basketball movie; it shows a reality that many young men and women are facing. It also shows the importance of self-perseverance, and this is why this movie is a success.