Coach Carter (2005)

Coach Carter (2005)

7/10

 

Starring

Samuel L. Jackson
Robert Ri'chard
Rob Brown
Debbi Morgan
Ashanti

Directed by Thomas Carter

2005 was a good year for movies, in that year we had Batman Begins, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Madagascar, and this movie. 

Coach Carter is a movie that tries to address a lot of issues at the same time, in a very unrealistic way that’ll make you raise an eyebrow. Now, be that as it may, even though it bites off more than it can chew within a limited runtime, the movie was fun to watch, it was engaging and heartfelt. 

It runs for 2hrs 15 mins, which to me was not a big up, as that caused it to have some pacing issues, but in general it is an easy movie to sit through.

The story is based on the true-life events of Coach Ken Carter, portrayed with passion by Samuel L. Jackson, though the film takes some artistic liberties along the way. Ken Carter is a strict and disciplined basketball coach who prioritizes his players' academic success over their performance on the court. When the team’s grades slip, Carter locks the gym and benches his star players until they improve their studies. His unwavering commitment to education and discipline creates tension, but ultimately teaches lessons about responsibility, respect, and self-worth.

The movie handles this simple plot with a well-crafted screenplay, using Jackson as the protagonist and driver of the message. This was a masterpiece performance by Jackson, and I do commend him for it. It was also nice to see the rest of the cast live up to their moments on screen. Each cast member pulled a rabbit-from-a-hat performance when the spotlight was on them.

That said, the film isn’t without flaws. The pregnancy subplot felt somewhat clumsily handled. While teenage pregnancy is a genuine and serious issue in many communities, the movie could have explored this storyline with more nuance and care. This aspect felt underdeveloped and missed an opportunity to deepen the social commentary about the environment these teens are growing up in.

Also, for a movie in this genre, it is kind of predictable. We have all seen movies like this before about the coach coming in and changing the life of the whole team, so this movie did not try to do something different.

If you haven’t seen Coach Carter yet or wonder what all the fuss is about, track down a copy and watch it — it’s definitely worth your time.