On the Set of Hoosiers

Rating: Null/10 (8 August 2003)

Hoosiers is a great movie that truly captures 'Hoosier Hysteria' at its best. I have read many of the reviews on this forum and understand where some of the comments come from; those who never had the experience of living in a small-town Indiana environment can't appreciate how well the film captured the mood and emotion associated with Indiana sports, especially basketball.
What you see in Hoosiers is as real as it gets. I am fortunate to have a deeper tie to the movie than most, in that my uncle, aunt and mother were all part of the Hoosiers movie making experience. My uncle was one of the 'Good ol' Boys' and the inside stories they told about the event and the stars was exciting.
As a filmmaker, I for one appreciated the drama of the struggle the team endured that was captured to film. The passing of time as the team progressed to the state finals and the buildup in emotion and focus were real. During March, basketball is on the tip of any Hoosier's tongue and more so in the fifties! Hackman and Hopper were believable and created a dual drama in overcoming adversity and character building.
For those of you who were not big on the film, remember the art of movie making is designed to entertain and allow one to take a break from life as we live it and immerse ourselves in what's on the screen. Hoosiers let's us do just that. It's a feel-good movie that touches all the emotions. You laugh, you cry, you feel anger and pride. Hoosiers is a winner and worth seeing again and again.