Jackson gives his best performance since PULP FICTION; "Hoosiers" Meets "Stand And Deliver"

Rating: Null/10 (24 January 2005)

COACH CARTER (2004) *** Samuel L. Jackson gives his best on screen performance since PULP FICTION as Ken Carter, a controversial high school basketball coach, whose unorthodox stylings led to his undefeated team being benched when they reneged their contract of maintaining a consistent academic performance matching in skills with their athletic prowess. Jackson joins the ranks of excellent cinematic coaches/instructors including Gene Hackman in HOOSIERS and Edward James Olmos in STAND AND DELIVER as the coolly demanding Carter with an equally efficient screenplay by Mark Schwahn and John Gatins and skillfully filmed by TV vet Thomas Carter makes this familiar tale fresh and consistently compelling, even for those who don't care for the game (including yours truly). Unexpectedly better than anticipated.