Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) is a man on a mission to turn a wild, rude, and terrible Richmond High Basketball Team into a champion team, inside and outside the court.
But it will not be easy. Carter's team is failing their class. On top of that, members of the team are embroiled in different issues, such as Timo Cruz (Rick Gonzalez), who deals drugs for his cousin, and Kenyon Stone (Rob Brown), who struggles to come to terms with his girlfriend being pregnant.
Not to mention that Carter's son, Damian (Robert Ri'chard), wants to join his team.
Carter must now make a hard decision to improve the lives of his team and his son without losing all of the respect he established.
"Coach Carter" is a moving film directed by Thomas Carter. The strength of the film is how well its story is constructed.
The story is really great. The conflicts of the characters connect with the viewers, and it's really moving. It is beautifully written, inspiring, and entertaining! It is common for sports drama to be very personal, but it is very hard to achieve without looking too cheesy and preachy. Thankfully, "Coach Carter" is neither tacky nor haughty. It is just perfect.
Samuel L. Jackson's performance deserves all the praise, as the "Pulp Fiction" actor commands all the attention every time he speaks. Appearing in as many as 20+ movies already since 1972, SLJ is truly one of cinema's greatest treasures.
What "Coach Carter" excels at is its powerful message of teamwork and camaraderie. Not only that, but it also touches on serious topics such as abortion and suicide.
To sum it up, "Coach Carter" is the film to beat for any sports drama. The playbook is balanced with moving drama, entertaining action, and compelling comedy in a well-planned play.
5/5
