The Air Up There (1994)

Jimmy Dolan is a college basketball coach who wants a big promotion. To get it, he needs to make a dramatic find. He ends up deep in Africa, hoping to recruit Saleh, a huge basketball ... See full summary »

Director:

Paul Michael Glaser

Writer:

Max Apple

Stars:

Kevin Bacon, Charles Gitonga Maina, Yolanda Vazquez

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Bacon	...	Jimmy Dolan
Charles Gitonga Maina	...	Saleh
Yolanda Vazquez	...	Sister Susan
Winston Ntshona	...	Urudu
Mabutho 'Kid' Sithole	...	Nyaga
Sean McCann	...	Ray Fox
Dennis Patrick	...	Father O'Hara
Ilo Mutombo	...	Mifundo
Nigel Miguel	...	Halawi
Eric Menyuk	...	Mark Collins
Keith Gibbs	...	Buddy Wilson
Miriam Owiti	...	Beisa
Douglas Leboyare	...	Ikedo
Francis Mutei	...	St. George
Gibson Gathu Mbugua	...	Harimbo

Storyline

Jimmy Dolan is a college basketball coach who wants a big promotion. To get it, he needs to make a dramatic find. He ends up deep in Africa, hoping to recruit Saleh, a huge basketball prodigy Jimmy glimpsed in a home movie. But Saleh is the chief's son and has responsibilities at home, since the tribe's land is threatened by a mining company with its own hotshot basketball team.

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Plot Keywords:

basketball | africa | college basketball | athletic scout | tall man | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some violence and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 January 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Afrika csúcsai

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$17,080,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$21,011,500 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Interscope Communications, Longview Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the story of his National Championship heroism, Jimmy Dolan refers to a play at the end of the fourth quarter of a game. College basketball is played in two halves, not in quarters.

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Quotes

Sister Susan: I only hope you're as good a coach as you are a bullshit artist!
Jimmy Dolan: [shocked] You're allowed to say bullshit?
Sister Susan: Only if I really mean it.
Father O'Hara: [in a low voice to Jimmy] Every day I thank the lord she's on our side.

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Connections

Featured in Where Are They Now?: A Delta Alumni Update (2003)

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Soundtracks

"ST. JOSEPH'S ALMA MATER"
Written by Brock Walsh

User Reviews

Charles Gitonga Maina makes this movie worth watching

What makes this movie above all is the delightful acting of the Africans, especially Mr. Charles Gitongo Maina. I read that he went on actually to play basketball at a US college, but his acting in this film was what made it believable. Kevin Bacon was fun to watch playing at a typecast basketball coach, although his physical presence belied the role. Without the physical presence of Maina, this film would have fallen apart, but his warmth and verisimilitude as an teenager torn between sworn duty and aspiration made this viewer a believer. Suspension of disbelief is a basic prerequisite to the enjoyment of this kind of moral tale, and Charles Gitonga Maina made it seem real. The film uses cliché throughout, but it is the acting of all the cast of characters which brings this small film alive. It is a film of bits and pieces but well acted bits make them endearing. It is not a great work of art, but it is filled with a genuineness which transcends itself, including some truly beautiful scenes and scenery and music. The style, grace and dignity of the African actors make the whole film a delight to watch. Speaking of its bits and pieces, the one truly discordant note in the whole story was the misuse of the quotes from Quran which really had no point or place or meaning in the story. It just perplexed me. It sticks out with a pointlessness in an otherwise heart warming story. The "Bismillah" was beautiful but out of another time and culture and milieu, and still leaves me wondering (?)