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According to The San Francisco Chronicle, Samuel L. Jackson has surpassed Harrison Ford to become the highest-grossing actor in movie history. Having recently participated in 2004 box office giants like Kill Bill, Vol. 2 and The Incredibles, and with a part in the upcoming Star Wars, Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith, Jackson seems content to play supporting roles in one blockbuster after another.

But in this week's box office champion, Coach Carter, Jackson has the lead, playing Ken Carter, the controversial high school basketball coach who set an example for the world of sports in 1999 by shutting down his own undefeated team because of how poorly they were performing in school.

Mark Moring (Christianity Today Movies) says the film is "well worth watching to see the portrayal not only of a man who sticks to his principles, but of life at a struggling inner-city high school, complete with all of its typical disadvantages—truancy, gangs, drugs, poverty, low graduation rates and even lower academic expectations." Moring, who also interviews the real Coach Carter here, says the film is "a pretty good sports movie, made a little better—and more interesting—by the knowledge that it's a true story."

Josh Hurst (Reveal) is not quite so impressed. "Jackson gives one of the finest performances of his career. He is commanding, magnetic, and suitably inspiring. Unfortunately, he's also stuck in an otherwise lousy film. The rest of the Coach Carter crew seems content to settle for mediocrity by giving us lackluster, workmanlike storytelling, hardly a fitting tribute to the great man for whom the film is named."

Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) argues differently, saying that the supporting characters are portrayed more effectively than Carter himself. He writes that Carter "is perhaps drawn to be a bit too saintly to be believed, but the strength of Jackson's performance overcomes the one-dimensionality and formulaic nature of the script. The screenwriters … do a better job with the supporting characters. The various players and their girlfriends are clearly delineated and given decent backstories to add depth and flavor to the otherwise predictable plot."

Marcus Yoars (Plugged In) says, "While Carter's homilies are terrific and the on-court drama rocks, this film plays to the MTV faithful with salaciousness that knocks it out of bounds. A party features alcohol, cheap hookups and kids stripping to their underwear for a scandalous swim. Teens grind suggestively at a dance, and a pregnant girl makes the 'brave' choice to redeem her future by having an abortion. Add nearly 100 profanities (two dozen s-words) and this well-intentioned film fouls out."

Cliff Vaughn (Ethics Daily) argues that this discomforting portrayal is necessary. "Coach Carter isn't as squeaky clean as some other recent sports movies, but not every story or situation can honestly be told that way. Ken Carter's task was different from Jim Morris' in The Rookie or Herb Brooks' in Miracle. An extreme situation called for an extreme approach, and Ken Carter's approach will inspire anyone to muster courage in the face of adversity."

Shannon Hammell (Christian Spotlight) points out, "The objectionable content seemed to be condemned more than condoned, which is a good thing. The movie teaches that in life we will always have obstacles. It's up to us to overcome them and be successful. I recommend this film, though I would suggest that parents go see it with their teen-age kids … and afterward talk about what transpired and the lessons that can be learned."

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January (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49