Coach Carter Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
It begins on the street. It ends here.
In 1999, Ken Carter, a successful sporting goods store owner, accepts the job of basketball coach for his old high school in a poor area of Richmond, CA, where he was a champion athlete. As much dismayed by the poor attitudes of his players as well as their dismal play performance, Carter sets about to change both. He immediately imposes a strict regime typified in written contracts that include stipulations for respectful behavior, a dress code and good grades as requisites to being allowed to participate. The initial resistance from the boys is soon dispelled as the team under Carter's tutelage becomes a undefeated competitor in the games. However, when the overconfident team's behavior begins to stray and Carter learns that too many players are doing poorly in class, he takes immediate action. To the outrage of the team, the school and the community, Carter cancels all team activities and locks the court until the team shows acceptable academic improvement. In the ensuing debate, Carter fights to keep his methods, determined to show the boys that they need to rely on more than sports for their futures and eventually finds he has affected them more profoundly than he ever expected.
| Samuel L. Jackson | Coach Ken Carter |
| Rob Brown | Kenyon Stone |
| Robert Ri'chard | Damien Carter |
| Rick Gonzalez | Timo Cruz |
| Nana Gbewonyo | Junior Battle |
| Antwon Tanner | Worm |
| Channing Tatum | Jason Lyle |
| Ashanti | Kyra |
| Texas Battle | Maddux |
| Denise Dowse | Principal Garrison |
| Debbi Morgan | Tonya |
| Mel Winkler | Coach White |
| Vincent Laresca | Renny |
| Sidney Faison | Ty Crane |
| Octavia Spencer | Mrs. Battle |
| Thomas Carter |
7.10 out of 10 (17462 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Jackson carried this movie
posted on 28 Aug 2009I thought that the movie was pretty good. Mainly because I love Samuel L. Jacson. One reason that I think that this movie will do well is the fact that this is one of the first serious basketball movies made (Lord knows how many football movies there have been over the years). The one thing that I liked about it being based on a true story is that it didn't end like your normal fairy tale sports story...they lost. However I think parts of it were slow and that Jacson's role carried it through some parts, not all, were boring. His performance, however, was powerful and he tried to give a powerful message to the ghetto public schools of this country.
A fantastic movie, even if a bit cliché.
posted on 22 Aug 2009Coach Carter was one of the best sports movies I have ever seen. The idea of a group of at-risk kids who are brought together by one person and eventually triumph over all odds is a bit overused, yet this movie accomplishes the story in a fantastic way. You find yourself truly caring about the team, hoping that they will eventually accomplish their mutual goals. I never really become emotional during a movie, yet at the climax of action, I found myself on the edge of tears, if not jumping out of my seat and cheering. The film is brought together in a truly effective way, and overall, the movie is among the best sports movies in recent memory.
awesome
posted on 20 Aug 2009this movie was incredible. It's similarity to lower class neighbour hood high school was absolutely stunning. And Samuel Jackson plays perfectly into the role of a tough high school coach, who is torn between love for his players and his strict rules, but he never fails. Even the players are portrayed realistically as teenagers from the hood,smoking partying and fighting but managing to stay great basketball players.Even has a twisted ending which is rare for a sports movie.This movie is the best sports movie since remember the titans(which i also own). Anyways i loved and i definitely encourage you to watch/buy this movie
Even if you don't like basketball...
posted on 29 Jul 2009you'll love this movie! It is a classic old school battle between students (players) and teacher (in this case coach), but it really hits home on some of the major obstacles facing our youth today. It is a wonderful film that offers an array of solutions, extreme as they may be.Early on the film begins with coach Carter slamming one of his belligerent new players into the gym wall only to hear the player whine "teachers aren't supposed to touch students." The rest of the film proves how teachers and coaches can touch students in other than physical ways to effect positive growth and change.Ever wanted to know what goes on at the high school dance? This movie holds no punches in showing what is hot and what is not when it comes to todays dances and parties. This might jar some memories! In the end, this film is a lot more than the typical "you can succeed when things are really tough" film. In fact, the ending is not exactly what I anticipated. Although the film is built around some very good basketball action, the center focus is on the growing up process, accountability, parent involvement, and the idea that ones actions really do have consequences that effect not only themselves, but those they hold dear. And yes, in the end success that goes beyond the scoreboard.I loved it!
O.K. if you like the same old same-old in a new wrapping
posted on 25 Jul 2009This is not really a bad film and, given today's level of quality(or, more accurately, lack of it) of most big-studio films, it is certainly better than most. That, however does not excuse it from being another endless remake-of-a remake originally made back in 1962 or whenever. I've seen this same story too many damn times as "Hoosiers", or pick whatever sport you wish vehicle. I only saw it because my cinematically-unadventurous friend got it from Netflix without any research other than the minimal blurb provided by them. What a waste of a Netflix subscription! Originality and creativity have not been hallmarks of Hollywood studio films for a long time. It's become common knowledge that films made and distributed by them are made primarily for adolescents and "Asian mouth-breathers". The less discriminating the audience, the more the studios love it. Do your homework! Be adventurous! Use IMDb or Leonard Maltins Film Guide, or whatever reviewer you trust and reject the mindless product of the Hollywood assembly line.
Good Message... BAD morals!
posted on 19 Jul 2009Okay, so there was some good stuff in this movie. But there was so much junk around it, it just made you sick. I can understand trying to create the culture the boys lived in.. but i think it went overboard. There was so much cussing that you got distracted by what was going on. And they didn't need to show everything they did. I read something that the real coach carter called this a "family film".... I know i wouldn't want my kid watching this! They could of created a decent film, but it was predictable and boring. Pretty much like any other recent film... about 30 mins too long. Want a good recent sport video? Check out Miracle! Or even a little remember the Titian's would be better. There is enough crap in the world that they don't need to add it to ever movie that is put out.
A coach puts his job on the line just to get his basketball to graduate High School and go to college
posted on 17 Jul 2009I absolutely LOVE this movie. My town is nowhere close to being like that. But my AAU basketball team was going to the National tournament in Nashville, TN. And one day before practice we all met at the Asst. Coaches house and we all watched it. I think it really helped us and we now know how good we have it. And we all use to think that our coach ran us a lot, and we saw how much they ran and we don't even run half as much as they did! I loved this movie so much that I went and saw it in theaters 2 times then went out and bought the DVD and have always watched whenever I have noting to do or just feel like watching it. I think I have watched it about 11 times or so and it has helped me every time that I watch. I also find something new about. I also watched the behind the real Ken Carter and I know it is based on a true story but in real life they really did say those mean things to him. I also heard what the real athletes had to say and what they thought of him. In real life Coach Carter really did have 3 kids walk out on him and they said when he wanted to win to call him and he said he will but he never did call them. The real life athletes said that everything in that movie they really did feel until they got to know him. And now he is their idol and the man they look up to. Oh yea, there is one more thing that I saw about this movie that I couldn't believe. The schools got so bad and the government didn't want to support athletics so they now have no athletic teams in Richmond High or anywhere in Richmond because he government didn't want to pay for it. I am thankful that my government wants to pay for athletics because I am going to college on a full athletic scholarship to Duke...when I get that old and in high school...LOL
excellent
posted on 17 Jul 2009To sum it all up, i would have to say this movie was really, really great. The soundtrack was really good and the acting skills of everyone in the movie made it even better. The determination of Samuel L. Jackson's character pulled it all together and it seemed as if the actors who played the basketball players were actually there when the real event occurred and their talent shined through the screen. The young actor who played Timo Cruz in this movie really moved me. i felt as though he were speaking to me. The actor/model Channing Tatum is one of the most gorgeous men i have ever seen in my life. They need to make more movies like this.
inspiring story
posted on 07 Jul 2009I was expecting nothing more than a basketball movie and at first was only going to watch this because there was nothing to do. At the end of the movie I was almost going to cry. I loved the movie so much. It wasn't just about basketball, about the story of the greatest basketball coach that ever lived. I loved the move, it was inspiring sad movie with some violence. I think there were about 80 people in the theatre and about 75 ended up crying at the end of the movie. It was detailed and shows how far a coach would go in order to put his team on the path of discipline, honour and commitment. My rating for this movie is an absolute 10/10. Watch this movie-I loved it
A Great Show!!!!
posted on 03 Jul 2009"COACH CARTER" is one of the greatest movies I have seen! Sam Jackson gives an all-out heart wrenching performance in displaying a courageous attitude with positive energy! This is a must see film by all! A truly inspirational epoch, it gives you a feeling of great relief to see how you can achieve success! Samuel Jackson teaches all many lessons on truth, desire, honesty, and courage in an effective way that is sure to get you thinking and researching your attitude.The movie also shows how the youth needs proper direction and guidance from serious-minded adults. We should all learn from Jackson's actions.DEE JAY J.J. EAST ORANGE, NJ
Solid feelgood movie
posted on 17 Jun 2009Being a former all-star player on his high school's basketball team in the early 70's, a successful businessman takes a 4 month, $1500 job as a basketball coach at the same tough Richmond, CA high school 30 years later. But he takes the job not for the money, or to make the team win a championship, but to turn the lives around for the young men in a high school where only 50 percent graduate, and 6 percent go to college. Although he uses strict tactics of making the players sign contracts, wear ties to their own games, address each other as "sir", and do horrendous amounts of pushups or laps if they show attitude or are late, the one tactic that surprisingly puts him in hot water is when he locked the basketball courts unless the team, as an average, increased their GPA and school attendance. The tactics work, with amazing results. A truly heartwarming film with a great message, and a true story, believable in all its parts.
A been there done that movie with bad acting
posted on 15 Jun 2009I was watching movie previews in the theatre waiting for the feature presentation to start when this one came on. Instantly, I knew it was total cheese. Why? Because it starts off with TuPac's "Changes"...like every other "inspirational" movie. The thought was running my head was...this is going to be about a coach going to a inner city school and overcoming odds to show some "gangsta" kids that there's hope for them in the world. It makes me sick. This movie is so predictable. Remember "Hard Ball"? "Remember the Titans"? or "Save the last dance"? (Story is pretty much the same subtract the over-the-hill, hard ass coach). The movie sucked plain and simple I won't ruin the ending for you but I will tell you this....it sucked. Luckily it was just on the movie network and I didn't actually pay for it...I mean Christ...me pay for it? Holy jumpers, I would have complained that day to the manager. Do yourself a favor and spend the money you would on this movie on sulfuric acid...your eyes will thank you for the favor.
Violence, Poverty, and Basketball
posted on 01 Jun 2009I grew up 3 blocks from the Richmond border, and am all too familiar with the poverty, violence, and desperation that plagues its residents. In Richmond, like in many parts of this country, young men cope with the rough environment in which they grew up by playing basketball (jerseys are sported by just about any boy under 22).Having gone to high school with these kids (or rather with the Richmond kids who were bussed to my local high school), I became familiar with their subculture. What struck me most about the movie was just how well it captured the boys that I knew from Richmond. Maybe urban culture is the same around the country, but having grown up near Richmond and San Pablo (another neighboring city), they were the only urban youth with whom I was familiar.By the way, in case anyone was wondering about the party in the wealthy neighborhood to which the Richmond basketball team was invited, here in the San Francisco Bay Area, the communities are so close together that it is not uncommon for kids from poorer areas to hang out in areas that are more affluent, or to go to parties in those areas. However, I have heard that in other parts of the country, the "borders" between urban areas and the suburbs are not as fluid.I do not remember reading about the dramatic victories of the Richmond High basketball team in the local paper, but I did take a community college class taught by an instructor who my mother told me once had Coach Carter in his class, and many of my clients have kids who were or are students at Richmond High.After seeing so many films about events that took place years ago and far away, it was refreshing to see an interesting film about a community with which I am somewhat familiar. This film is worth at least a rental, particularly if you are from the East Bay.On another note: Go, CAL Bears.....
amazing!!
posted on 18 May 2009I think I'm obsessed! I've seen the movie twice and i'm planning on going again. It was amazing! The guys are so sexy, the movie is amazing, the tracks are hype and oh my gad! perfection! (to me anyways!) Honestly, you should go see it! I'm in love! =] I thought the story line was pretty good, and it's not one of those movies where you know whats going to happen. I was sitting with my bf and hes like "yeah obviously its going to happen!" ha ha but he was so wrong! I promise you, you won't be wasting your money! It's a good flick and I think everyone should see it.. at least once! Ashanti was pretty good too, considering i'm not such a big fan of her acting skills. Samuel L. Jackson didn't let me down on this one. Once again, amazing movie! =]
Song on commercial
posted on 14 May 2009I was wondering if anyone has seen the previews for the movie and the song they play towards the end of the commercial. Some of the words are "I've been waiting for this moment for all my life" I figured it a Phil Collins remix but I don't know the name or who sings it and I am having so much trouble finding it so if anyone can help me i'd really appreciate it. Thanks................. ................... .......... ........ ................ ........ . ............ .......... ....... ......... ........ .......... ............ ........... ......... .......... .......... .......... ......... ......... .......... ........... ........ . .............. ...... ............ ......... ...... ......... ........... ............ ........ ......... ..... ..... ..... ........... ........ ...... ......... ............. .......... ........ ........ .......... ........... .......... ........ ................
One of the best movies around
posted on 06 May 2009This movie isn't just about sport but has an underlying moral message which is been shown throughout the film. Sport won't get you far unless your a great but study and hard work in school will get you everywhere. Enter, a town that is quite poor and a basketball team who just want to win. Once Ken Carter accepts the job, the whole team changes and it is for the better. Another message this film teaches is respect, at the beginning just after meeting the boys, Ken expresses a need for the boys to show respect not only for themselves but for their friends and elders. He does this by explaining how the word 'nigger' can be used as a degrading term and how by dressing themselves with respect, behaving respectfully isn't bad at all.As soon as I saw this film, I knew that I wanted to see it. It has everything that makes a great movie, action, great dialog and most importantly, a good moral message and in a time where morally corrupt movies are on the rise, a great movie like this is a rare find.Intiallly, my friends didn't want to see this movie with me as they thought it was boring, and too intense but after months and months of waiting, I finally hired it out on DVD and watched it.You can actually take things away from this movie and it has a very good morals which can be applicable to everyone.
Dedicated to more than just SPORTS - A real to life portrayal of inner city.
posted on 06 May 2009Samuel L. Jackson does a masterful job in portraying Coach Carter as do the other actors in their roles. This film should go a long way in helping correct our inner city problems especially if the real players watch the film. It should shock some reality into them. I was disappointed that Hollywood felt it had to add some tawdry sex scenes and use vulgarity and profanity to get their message across. I understand that these things are part of the real world but they don't need to go to the degree they do in making their point. For example I think Coach Carter's profaning the name of Diety took away from his character and the moral value the film was trying to teach. It should be just as important to show respect for Diety as it is to respect one's self, leaders, and own race. If Hollywood wanted us to see real-life portrayals of profanity it should have come from elsewhere in the movie not from Coach Carter. Otherwise, I would have rated this a 10.
Great Movie
posted on 22 Apr 2009I'm a sports nut, I've seen almost all the sports movies, Hardball, Remember the Titans etc. This movie doesn't end how you would expect. It's more than winning and losing, its about life and how far you can go, not just in your sports. I thought it was going to be your classic happy ending movie, it's got an awesome ending but its not what you would expect. The fact that it is based on a real story makes it even deeper. If you love your game, you will love this movie. The acting is great and the story even greater. Definitely worth my 10 bucks. I would go see it again in a second. One person can make a difference. It's a movie that really gets you thinking and makes me wanna go be the best I can be.
Coach Carter is a great movie!
posted on 06 Apr 2009Although I don't usually care for sports oriented movies, my daughter rented the DVD of Coach Carter and I watched it after she told me it was a good movie. I was fascinated by the movie from start to finish and greatly inspired by it. I admired the fantastic job Coach Carter did with the basketball team, not only on the courts but in the classroom, and how he kept the kids off the streets and gave them a positive direction in their lives. Also, his discipline seemed a bit harsh at times, but his heart was in the right place and his methods worked. His dedication, responsibility, and optimistic attitude were a tremendous example for his student players. Coach Carter's job must have been hard and often frustrating but he didn't give up until he had given his students tools to have better lives than their parents, other relatives, and friends had had. I think its great that he now does motivational speaking and is still causing improvements to happen in the school district of Richmond. My hat is off to you sir! JLH in MI
The Progression of American Society; the downfall of Public Education
posted on 30 Aug 2009The movie, "Coach Carter", shows the truth of what we must as a people strive for. Through Samuel L. Jackson's outstanding portrayal of Coach Ken Carter we see that some people out there still see public education as a chance to EDUCATE, not just to play a game.As American Society progresses, our love of sports and recreation has intensified, and in turn the standards at which we are educated and expected to perform has become lax.Coach Carter, as a basketball coach, led his team to an amazing victory on the Basketball court. Coach Carter, as a man, led his to team to an outstanding life, and gave them hope. This movie truly shows and inspires people to see the true point of education. It's to learn so your life can always be great, and always contain substance. This movie is a testament to both Education and Sports, but notice, Education comes FIRST!