Even though it's based on a true story, Coach Carter is pretty formulaic stuff, but it's effective and energetic, thanks to a strong central performance from Samuel L. Jackson.
This is supposed to be about setting high standards, yet it's full of fudged ultimatums; in the end I couldn't be sure whether its morality was complex or just confused.
Read full articleSamuel L. Jackson shouts, yells, bellows, and screams his way through the fact-inspired film
Read full articleOn paper a routine sports yarn. On screen, thanks to Jackson refusing to phone it in, far more satisfying than you might expect.
Read full articleAlthough this is an inspirational genre pic that pushes all the requisite buttons throughout, you can(TM)t help but feel that rather than benching the team, director Thomas Carter should have benched a few of those ham-fisted sporting clich (C)s instead.
Read full articleSaved by bursts of energy and inventiveness.
...a decent-enough inspirational sports drama...
Read full articleDespite the attraction of fluently filmed basketball sequences, director Thomas Carter's simplistic approach to the social and educational issues involved makes this vacuous MTV-produced movie fall well short of the basket.
Read full articleWith subplots about pregnant girlfriends, drug-dealing cousins, and other sob stories that are mentioned but not developed, Coach Carter's exceptional message is delivered with little imagination.
Read full article
