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When the players failed to make the grade, they had to hit the books

Another intriguing subplot involves another player, Timo Cruz (Rick Gonzalez, The Rookie). Cruz has the biggest "attitude" on the team, and even challenges Carter to a fistfight on the first day of practice. Carter kicks him off the team, and Cruz reverts to a life of drugs and the streets. But when he sees his old buddies on the team doing well and getting their acts together, he realizes he's made a bad choice and begs Carter to let him rejoin the team. Carter lays down some nearly impossible conditions for Cruz to come back, but the kid is willing to give it a try—and leave his street gang behind. It's moving to watch Cruz battle his personal demons throughout the film, and to see how it plays out in the end.

Perhaps the most interesting—and disturbing—subplot is how the other adults in the story react to Carter's tough stand. The players' parents, adults in the community, and even his fellow educators—including the school's principal—are almost unanimous in urging Carter to drop his idea and let the boys play ball. For them, education seems secondary—if it has any meaning at all. The principal even says, "For some of these kids, this basketball season will be the highlight of their lives." To which Carter replies, "Well, I think that's a problem. Don't you?" Apparently, she doesn't think so—and therein lies much of Carter's problem: He's essentially standing alone, without much support. By the end of the film, it's quite revealing to find out who exactly ends up standing up for the coach.

Kenyon Stone (Rob Brown) and his girlfriend Kyra (Ashanti) make for an interesting subplot

In the film, Carter is, for the most part, is a decent role model. But his character isn't without flaws: In his my-way-or-the-highway stubbornness, he sometimes lacks grace. And he unfortunately resorts to using much of the same bad language that his players use—he preaches the qualities of respect and acting like gentlemen, and yet he sometimes cusses a blue streak. Hmmm . . .

The movie's main flaws are an overabundance of sports-movie clichés and hackneyed phrases, and over-the-top scripting of the on-court action. One game must've featured at least twenty slam dunks, as if everybody could play above the rim. Nobody gets a rebound, because there are no missed shots. Give me a break; it's just not like that, not even in the NBA. But at least the film's final game doesn't have a predictable ending; I'll give it that much.

Overall, it's a pretty good sports movie, made a little better—and more interesting—by the knowledge that it's a true story. Hoosiers is still the best high school sports movie ever, and last year's Friday Night Lights wasn't far behind that. If both of those films get an A, I'd give Coach Carter a solid B—which would be more than good enough to play on his basketball team.

Talk About It

1. What did you think of Coach Carter's rule that every player had to meet the minimum GPA for the team to continue playing? Was it fair to everyone? Why or why not?
   
   
2. What did you think of Coach Carter's disciplinary tactics, especially by punishing with so many push-ups and "suicide" running drills? Was he fair?
   
   
3. The film portrays the vicious cycle of poverty and a community's low expectations—as if it's almost impossible to break free from such circumstances. Was Coach Carter's method the best way to help kids break free? What other methods might have worked?
   
   
4. Coach Carter puts a high priority and respect and acting like gentlemen, and yet he uses bad language. Does that make him a hypocrite? Why or why not?
   
   

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Related Elsewhere:

Just Call Him "Sir"	Printer view
Ken Carter made headlines when he benched his high school basketball team for failing to make the grade, a story told in Coach Carter, opening Friday. We talked to Carter about the film and his journey.