Hoop Dreams (1994)

Director:

Steve James

Writers:

Steve James (writer)
Frederick Marx (writer)

Release Date:

14 October 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Sport

Plot:

A film following the lives of two African American boys who struggle to become college basketball players on the road to going professional.

Plot Keywords:

African American | Basketball | College | Ghetto | High School

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 16 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

William Gates	...	Himself
Arthur Agee	...	Himself
Emma Gates	...	Herself (William's mother)
Curtis Gates	...	Himself (William's brother)
Sheila Agee	...	Herself (Arthur's mother)
Arthur 'Bo' Agee	...	Himself (Arthur's father)
Earl Smith	...	Himself (Talent scout)
Gene Pingatore	...	Himself (High school basketball coach)
Isiah Thomas	...	Himself (Professional basketball player)
Sister Marlyn Hopewell	...	Herself (High school guidance counselor)
Bill Gleason	...	Himself (Television reporter)
Patricia Weir	...	Herself (President, Encyclopedia Brittanica)
Marjorie Heard	...	Herself (High school guidance counselor)
Luther Bedford	...	Himself (High school basketball coach)
Aretha Mitchell	...	Herself (High school guidance counselor)

Runtime:

170 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

UK:12 | Finland:S | Iceland:L | Australia:M | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

KTCA Minneapolis

Trivia:

Many of the locations used in the movie are now either gone or substantially different. The neighborhood of the Cabrini Green housing project, where one of the players lived, underwent a "gentrification" shortly after the film wrapped. The baseball field shown, for example, now has been replaced by luxury condos and a shopping complex.

Quotes:

William Gates: It became more of a job than a sport to play.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Unhappily Ever After: Hoop Dreams (#1.13)" (1995)

A superb supporting "cast" powers this excellent film

"Hoop Dreams" brilliantly follows multiple parallel stories, bringing the viewer into the lives of two families of inner-city kids looking for a chance at the "big time", their ticket out of the ghetto. Although the main focus is on William Gates and Arthur Agee, their "supporting cast" is equally enthralling. From William's jaded brother Curtis, sublimating his own basketball aspirations to the reality of his blue-collar mailroom job, to Arthur's indomitable mom Sheila, doing the impossible every day as she keeps her troubled family together, there are a thousand reasons to cheer, laugh, cry, and rage packed throughout this amazing, inspirational, cautionary documentary.

By examining not only the players but also their families and environments, we are given a clearer view of their aspirations and motivations, what they plan to achieve and what they wish to avoid.

I will not summarize or elaborate further. If you have not seen this movie, put it on the short list. 9/10.