Review of:Coach Carter (2005)
Director: Thomas Carter
Rating:PG-13 for violence, sexual content, language, teen partying and some drug material.
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Ri'chard, Rick Gonzalez, Ashanti, Adrienne Bailon
Coach Carter is a film inspired by the real life heroics of basketball coach Ken Carter‚ who made national news by benching his entire squad for Academic Ineligibility. He received both high praise and spiteful criticism for his actions. This film chronicles that journey.
If you tried to name one of the most powerful actors of this time‚ I’m quite sure that Samuel Jackson would be on many list. He brings his considerable talents to a role that requires the toughness of a drill sergeant‚ and the heart of a man who sees a bit of himself in everyone. He plays the part well as he assumes the part of Coach Carter.
The film starts as any ordinary story might. Ken Carter is offered the basketball job from his old basketball coach (Ray Baker) at his old school where he still holds many of the basketball records. He has lived in the community of Richmond in better times and wants to bring some of the glow back to his school. To do this he institutes a contract with his players that require them to hold and keep a grade point average of 2.3 and to report to class‚ sitting at the very front. He also requires them to wear ties on game day.
The students he is dealing with come from a past basketball season where they have only won four games. With his help‚ and disciplinary tactics‚ they start an undefeated streak that last until Carter forfeits a game due to his team not living up to their part of the contract.
This single instance is where a lot of the focus of the film should be because it shows the way our society today thinks. In a time where the student/athlete is told the athletic part of his life is more important than the scholarly portion‚ this film shines a refreshing light at the thinking behind it. Instead of supporting his attempts to hold his Student/Athletes to their scholarly contract‚ many
parents criticized his attempts to keep them on that path.
Filtered in among the main storyline are many subplots that hold in them issues that are just as important. Teen pregnancy is addressed in the film‚ and the pressures associated with the choices you make. Ashanti does her first onscreen acting in this film‚ and she does an admirable job. Another issue focused on is drug and gang violence. These are all stories that we in the African-American community live with everyday in one form or another‚ and it was nice to see intelligent dialogue directed towards it.
Now if you go to this film expecting all out‚ foot to the pedal basketball action you will be disappointed. It does have some of that‚ but the main focal point of the film is on Coach Carter’s relationship with his players‚ and the players struggles. This fact alone would serve to make this a film to see‚ and if you take me on my word‚ you will.
