Perfectly decent, but anyone could make this film

Rating: 7/10 (28 December 2006)

Based on true events, Bruckheimer-produced 'Glory Road' tells the Disney-fied story of the underdog Texas Western University men's basketball team that won the National Championship in 1966 while starting, for the first time in NCAA history, five African-American players. Here we are offered a slice of racial prejudice, team spirit and overcoming odds, all bundled up under the fatherly banner of coach Don Hoskins (Josh Lucas).
First let me begin by saying that I do not know much about the circumstances surrounding or account of events that took place on the basketball scene in 1960's America, but it becomes clear that its content is a relentless, classic underdog story readily-molded to be milked by Disney's peachy P.C. outlook. 'Glory Road' is sport movie by the numbers, featuring an earnest, hard-working rookie coach, reluctant but idealist players, ups and downs, swelly climactic basketball games and newspaper montages of the team's national success. It is of course not so much a sports romp as it is a treatment of racial prejudice in the American sport scene and the latter is well-executed with the marginalized black Americans always taking a backseat to the white boys, in clubs, in competitions, in cafés and in dorms. It's mostly a rehash of 'Remember the Titans', but it is also a rather compelling set-up that is bound to elicit a response.
About the rehash issue regrettably, 'Glory Road' has perfected the art. James Gartner is a debut director and it shows in the safe, derivative plotturns that he steers the film with, proceeding down a militantly formulaic trajectory. There are the coach's dutiful locker-room rallying speeches about discipline and about how he "does not see colour" and hallmark staples such as "it's not about talent, it's about heart.", there are race-specific confrontations between the players, there is that one excellent player who wants to quit, and there are lofty political events framing the story. There is in this way a few too many Disney notions, and certainly you will find more corn than Kellogg's in the purposely poignant buddy moments. Similarly, the film boasts of no accolades in subtlety: the good guys (Josh Lucas) are really, really good and the bad guys (the racist coach Jon Voigh with prosthetic nose and ears) are really, really bad and his contingent of sinister white players resembles a Klan rally.
Having said that, 'Glory Road' is well written in terms of dialogue and story. I know I said the characters are polarized in terms of alignment and that there are cheesy gems interwoven in the dialogue, but the truth is that the rest of the script is actually quite catchy. For one, it is simply much funnier than I could ever have hoped for with comic situations and good one-liners en masse. The characters may not be the most original ever but they are superbly supported by the cast's performances. Josh Lucas turns in a likable, earnest interpretation of the dirt-poor but hopeful coach, although I may be swayed by the fact that I an in love with this man. Derek Luke is emotionally transparent as ever. Jon Voight has limited screen time, but communicates so much in his scenes. Best of all however, in spite of the PG rating, 'Glory Road' is never desperately Disney cutesy or silly. Lastly, there is an excellent vintage soundtrack.
7 out of 10