movie review~ Coach Carter

The movie “Coach Carter” is about the true story of a coach who tries to teach his players that there’s more to life than basketball.

Ken Carter (Samuel L.Jackson), a former star player for his high school basketball team, Richmond Oiler, returned to his high school as the head coach of the team, after establishing himself in business field. Taking the job as head coach of the team, Ken Carter found that the players of the team are not developing well in either skills or disciplines and it causes the team in winning just 4 games all along the last season.

Ken Carter intended to change his players’ miserable attitudes and their dismal performances. Besides, he discovered the importance of going into college for those boys in order for them not to follow his former teammates which most of them ended up in jails. So, he came out with a plan which he put his players under certain obligations mandated in a contract form and forces them to sign the contract as a requisite to play for him. The contract stipulated that all players had to be acting in a respectful behaviour, maintaining an average 2.3 grade point, sitting in front rows during class and wearing jacket and tie during the game day. Yet, his tactics caused Timo Cruz and two of their last season’s best scorers quit the team.

Under Carter’s tough and intensive training, his team soon become undefeatable throughout the season, setting up a 16-0 winning strike record and carves Richmond Oiler’s name on the State Champion’s trophy. The players of the team, nonetheless, developed towards arrogant, proud. They taunted their opponents every time they took the victory.

The climax of the story was when Carter found that his players didn’t obey what they had promised to Carter since the very first day. Their results in exam had totally made Carter gone insane. So, Carter was forced to take a drastic action by locked up the gym and benched his team. His act had become a controversy among the parents and even the media. By the 4-2 votes to end the lockout, Carter decided to quit his job. Yet, when he went back to gym for packing, he was heartened by the determination of his players which all of them were studying in the gym and the answer “what is your deepest fear” by Timo Cruz.

Although at last they lost to St. Francis at the first round of high school Championship, Ken Carter was proud with his players. The ending of the story stated that six of them were managed to get scholarship and go to college.

Throughout the movie, there are several social issues related to teenagers. One of them is the morality which seems to be no longer exists among the teenagers. The players of Richmond Oiler are not showing their respect towards the oldies instead they use rude words such as, “Niger”, “shit”, “bitch” in conversation with others. Besides, the movie also displays the issue of drug-dealing. Timo Cruz in the movie always hangs out with his cousin who is a drug dealer and he also involves in that. But after his cousin was shot by the roadside, he finally realizes his fault and seeks help from Ken Carter. Teenage pregnant is also shown in the movie. Kyra, in the movie is pregnant and the father is Kenyon Stone, one of the players. After they knew about the new, Kenyon feel s anxious as he is just high school student and would not has the ability to take good care of both Kyra and the baby. Kyra, nevertheless, insists on having the baby. They cannot come out with a solution and ended break up. However, at last, Kyra takes the decision to go for abortion.

After watching the movie, I am able to get some messages:
Teamwork is the keyword to success in a team or group.
We should develop a respectful attitude towards other.
Do not even try to involve in drug-dealing activities.


Some memorable quotes I like in the movie:
Timo Cruz: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Jason Lyle: You said we're a team. One person struggles, we all struggle. One person triumphs, we all triumph

Coach Ken Carter: You shooting the ball, what's your name?

Jason Lyle: Jason Lyle, but I ain't no sir.

Coach Ken Carter: Oh, well are you a madam? [team laughs]