High school basketball, a tough-but-caring coach, and a bunch of mixed up
kids coming of age are all in the game plan for Coach Carter. Sure, there
have been plenty of high school basketball movies before, but there's
always room on the team for another good player, and this film's got game.
Story
Coach Carter is the true story of a basketball coach, Ken Carter (Samuel
L. Jackson), who gained national attention by benching his undefeated team
for poor grades. Signing up to be the Richmond Oilers High School
basketball coach, Carter's first action as coach is to have the unruly
players sign a contract that requires them to perform in the classroom as
well as on court. Carter then enforces his tough love approach on the
boys, especially on his son Damien (Robert Ri'chard), who transfers from
his private school to Richmond against his father's wishes. The discipline
and hard work pays off as the team comes together in an undefeated streak
which puts the team on track for a run at the state championship. But the
success on the court is threatened by the players' poor grades. Carter
forces the team to study together instead of practice, and cancels all
games until the team's grades are up to snuff. This action leads to media
attention and the wrath of the school's principal as well as the parents
of the benched players. Of course, Carter's tactics work, and the players
succeed in class and on the court.
Acting
Samuel L. Jackson plays the title character, and as with every other
role he's had, it's hard to imagine it being played by anyone else.
Jackson's Carter is hard-hitting and in control but also has a temper. In
one scene, the actor goes a bit of over-the-top when Carter finds out that
some of his players are failing their classes, but it's not completely out
of place. One of the pleasant surprises of the film is the subplot
involving talented basketball player Kenyon, portrayed convincingly by Rob
Brown (Finding Forrester) and his pregnant girlfriend Kyra, played by
singer Ashanti, in her acting debut, who does an excellent job with her
character's full range of emotions. Their relationship feels very real and
its power is a testament to the young actors. Veteran character actress
Denise Dowse (Ray) also turns in a nice performance as Principal Garrison,
a woman who has given up on the majority of her students but still wants
to do what's best for them. As for the rest of the Richmond basketball
team, they keep the film grounded, especially Rick Gonzalez (Old School),
as Timo, a tough street kid who realizes the team can save him from of
life of drug dealing, and Antwon Tanner, as the wisecracking Worm, who
exudes the raw energy and emotion of high school sports.
Direction
Emmy-winning director Thomas Carter (no relation to Ken Carter)
delivers an admirable addition to the high school basketball genre. As a
cross between Hoosiers and Stand and Deliver, Coach Carter doesn't break
any new ground, but it also doesn't disappoint. Carter is pure fun to
watch, grabbing you from the start and never letting go. Ken Carter's
story is an excellent source for a film, and these filmmakers did it
right. Mark Schwahn's script has the hope, grittiness and honesty, while
Carter seamlessly moves the audience through the fast-paced basketball
games, the heartfelt emotional scenes, even throwing in some street
violence and a little sex. It could have been far too easy to let the
story slip into clichés and schmaltz, but this film is fresh and relevant,
conveying a great message to high school sport stars that their studies
are just as important as the game.
Bottom Line
Coach Carter drives hard to the basket and scores with good
performances, lots of pounding basketball and plenty of heart.
