Coach Carter

Rating: 5/10 (4 June 2009)

Based on a true story, I knew the theme and leading actor, so that was enough to get me interested, from director Thomas Carter (Save the Last Dance). Set in 1999, this is the story of Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson), a sporting goods store owner who accepts the job of basketball coach at his old high school in Richmond, California, where he was a champion athlete. He is not only brought in to teach his male students basketball, but to help them improve their attitudes and results in school life. He is only going to let them be in "the team" when they have got good results for their classes, if they behave respectfully and ultimately get the attitude to win the game. Of course Carter learns they are still doing poorly in class, and while they are successful on the court, he is not afraid to stop them playing and having everyone go against him, which does happen. Eventually his students do improve academically, and they do get to play in the big game of the time, and even though they lose, their spirits are not broken, and they all went on to have worthwhile lives. Also starring Robert Ri'chard as Damien Carter, Rob Brown as Kenyon Stone, singer Ashanti as Kyra, Debbi Morgan as Tonya, Rick Gonzalez as Timo Cruz, Antwon Tanner as Worm, Nana Gbewonyo as Junior Battle, Channing Tatum as Jason Lyle, Texas Battle as Maddux and Denise Dowse as Principal Garrison. Jackson as always gives a good performance that seems the best reason to see the film, and it may have many clichés that you may see in other sports drama films, but it wouldn't hurt to try it. Worth watching!