Coach Carter is a biographical sport film, based on the real life of high school basketball coach Ken Carter, directed by Thomas Carter. The plot sees Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson), become the coach of the Richmond High basketball team, Carter sets about turning the team into winner, in multiple different ways, and has a huge impact on his student’s lives; caring after everyone else has given up.
This film is inspirational, there is no other word for it than that, these boys go from doomed youth, to promising young men that might actually have a chance to escape their awful circumstances. It promotes the value of hard work and perseverance even when it seems hopeless to do so, morals and values that never go out of fashion.
Jackson is as terrific as always, as an actor he has one of the best stage presences I have ever seen, and he captivates the audience’s attention from the moment he appears on screen. You really buy that he cares about these boys and wants what is best for them; the scenes where the community seems so against him break your heart because you know his intentions are good.
My one complaint would be that the two hour and fifteen-minute runtime feels indulgent, I would say that this film is too long, as such there is pacing issues; the second act has a hell of a lot of lulls that make you want to stop watching. I think it could easily have been chopped down by maybe half an hour and still worked just as well.
Overall, this film does what a lot of sports biopics want to do but can’t, and that is be truly motivational. It is an inspiration to watch and Samuel L. Jackson relishes every second he is on screen and gives maybe a career best performance?
Pros.
The emotional beats.
It manages to be uplifting and inspirational.
Samuel L. Jackson.
Interesting and engaging.
Cons.
Minor pacing issues, particularly bad in the second act.
4/5
Reviewed by Luke
Another Millennial Reviewer 