Above the Rim

Above the Rim is a 1994 sports drama film co-written, storied and directed by Jeff Pollack in his directorial debut. It stars Duane Martin, Tupac Shakur, Leon Robinson and Marlon Wayans. The screenplay was written by Barry Michael Cooper from a story by Benny Medina.
 
The film tells the story of a promising New York City high school basketball star and his relationships with two people: one a drug dealer and the other a basketball star who is now employed as a security guard at his former high school. 
It was released on March 23, 1994 by New Line Cinema.
==Plot==
Kyle Watson is a talented basketball player who is about to graduate from high school. While he waits to find out if he will receive a scholarship to Georgetown University, he finds himself in a difficult dilemma over a playground basketball tournament. 
He must decide whether to play for and follow his widely beloved basketball coach and Birdie, a local thug in the neighborhood. Thomas "Shep" Sheppard, a former standout player himself now works as a high school security guard. 
Kyle feels resentment towards the security guard because Kyle's own mother is falling in love with Shep. Coincidentally, Kyle's coach also wants Shep to coach his team when he feels it is time for him to retire. It is later revealed to Kyle that Shep is Birdie's older brother.
Kyle makes a decision to run with Birdie's team until he decided to come back to his old team, because of Birdie's wrongful actions against Flip and Kyle's friend Bugaloo. 
In the tournament, both Kyle's and Birdie's teams march to the finals, with Kyle's team playing solid team basketball, while Birdie's team plays a very rough style. Before the finals, Birdie threatens Kyle, demanding Kyle to throw away the game so that Birdie's team would win. 
Kyle is brutalized throughout the game with Birdie's team having a solid lead. Shep (unable to watch anymore) steps in the game in Kyle's place despite being aggressively attacked throughout. Shep helps the team come back, and in the final seconds, passes the ball to Kyle, who hits the game winner. 
After the loss, Birdie orders Motaw, his star player and gang member, to kill Kyle. Shep tries to protect Kyle by jumping on him and Motaw shoots Shep. Motaw is later killed by security and Birdie is later killed at a bar by Bugaloo as revenge for previous humiliations. 
In the end, Kyle is revealed to have gotten the scholarship to Georgetown University and during a televised game, Kyle hits the game winner while a recovered Shep watches with a smile.
==Cast==
*Duane Martin as Kyle, a talented basketball player who is determined to be accepted to Georgetown University, to play for their basketball team. He is seen as cocky and hot tempered but later changes his ways during the course of the film.
*Leon Robinson as Shep, a quiet bitter, introvert who used an incredible high school basketball player. He was later arrested after his best friend Nutso accidentally jumps off a high rise building while playing basketball.
*Tupac Shakur as Birdie, the local drug dealer. He is Shep's younger brother who secretly wants Shep to join him in his illegal empire. He later bribes Kyle to play for his team. 
*Marlon Wayans as Bugaloo, Kyle's womanizing yet goofy best friend who spent a year in juvenille detention for an unknown crime. He is often bullied by Birdie and most of his gang members.
*Bernie Mac as Flip Johnson, a crack addicted homeless man who used to play basketball alongside with Shep in high school. He is occasionally harassed by Kyle, Bugaloo and Motaw.
*David Bailey as Rollins
*Tonya Pinkins as Mailika
*Wood Harris as Motaw, Birdie's star player on his team. He is a homicidal psychopath who will threaten anyone with no second thought nor remorse.
*Shawn Michael Howard as Bobby, Kyle's shy and soft-spoken friend who plays in the basketball tournament.
*Henry Simmons II as Starnes
*Matthew Guletz as Nutso
*Michael Rispoli as Richie
*Byron Minns as Monrow
*Bill Raftery as Himself
*James Williams as Speedy
*John Thompson as Himself
==Production==
"Above the Rim" was filmed in July 1993. 
Allen Payne was the original choice to portray the role of Kyle Watson, but he was rejected by Pollack in favor of Duane Martin.
The filming took place in Harlem with various scenes in the movie filmed at the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics in East Harlem. 
Some of the basketball scenes were filmed at Samuel J. Tilden High School in Brooklyn, NY.
==Box Office==
"Above the Rim" was released on March 23, 1994, grossing $3,738,800 during its opening weekend debuting at #5, behind films such as "D2: The Mighty Ducks," "The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult," "The Paper" and "Schindler's List."
At the end of its theatrical run, it had grossed a total of $16,192,320.
==Critical Reception==
"Above the Rim" holds a 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 19 reviews. 
Peter Travers stated, "It's Shakur who steals the show. The rapper's offscreen legal problems are well known, but there's no denying his power as an actor." 
Variety said, "A fine cast and the movie's general energy can't overcome that mix of cliches and technical flaws, which should conspire to prevent any high flying at the box office."
==Accolades==
1995 MTV Movie Awards
*Best Movie Song: "Regulate" by Warren G (nominated)
==Trailer==
Category:1994 films
Category:Hood films
Category:1990s films
Category:American drama films
Category:American coming-of-age films
Category:American teen drama films
Category:American basketball films
Category:New Line Cinema films
Category:Directorial debut films
Category:Rated R
Category:Pages containing Mature Content
Category:African-American films