Review of The Heart of the Game (2005) by Clay M — 06 Feb 2008
How shameful that this movie was tied up in my queue for over a year while such drivel as Shoot em Up and The Brothers Solomon got the call to the big show (otherwise known as my living room DVD player) in a matter of weeks.
Well, I can't dwell on the past, what's done is done. I'm just thankful that I gave this documentary a chance. Heart of the Game is a story about the struggles of one African-American girl as she adjusts to life at a predominantly white high school.
It's also about a tax professor who decides to follow his dream and coach a high school girl's basketball team after years of obsessively rooting for his own daughters. You could also say this movie is about the inequalities of gender in sport as a Washington governing body attempts to prevent a player who missed her senior year due to pregnancy from joining the team for year #5.
Of course, the main thrust of this film is the story of Bill Resler, the tax professor, who coaches Darnellia Russell, the pregnant African-American superstar player, all the way from the basement of their division to the State Championship game.
I had forgotten how much I love a really good basketball movie. This one is on par with Hoosiers and Hoop Dreams.
This review of The Heart of the Game (2005) was written by Clay M on 06 Feb 2008.
The Heart of the Game has generally received positive reviews.
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