Coach Carter (DVD, 2005, Widescreen Collection)

Before reading my review of 'Coach Cater' - let me preface by saying that I'm a sucker for any sports movie. Rocky IV is my favorite movie of all time. I loved Remember the Titans, Million Dollar Baby, Raging Bull, etc.

In typical sports drama fashion, Coach Cater is the story of a coach who challenges his lost players to be betters athletes, sportsmen and people. Samuel L Jackson plays Coach Carter - the provocative and controversial coach who challenges his inner-city basketball team to dedicate themselves to his philosophy, their game, and their schoolwork. In the meantime, Carter is challenging the school-district, his family, and himself to assess their values and beliefs. Putting himself and his family on the line to advance the futures of his players, Carter asks the district, the school, and the players to do the same... and over time, the majority convert.

Samuel Jackson does a fine job as the passionate, hard-headed basketball coach and former player. The players and surrounding actors do a similarly fine job portraying their respective characters.

The most satisfying moment of the movie comes at the end when we learn what happened to the real-life players the actors portrayed... proving that the movie is not some far-fetched reenactment.

Other recommendations:
*Remember the Titans
*Million Dollar Baby
*Raging Bull
*Hoosiers
*The Program
*Radio
*61*
*The Hurricane