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:

Iceland:L | UK:12 | Finland:S | 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 The baseball field shown, for example, now has been replaced by luxury condos and a shopping complex.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:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Best of the '90s" (2000)

A very special movie!

What a powerful and honest movie this is. While non fiction films with screenwriters and actors try so hard to fit in honesty while creating touching scenes and making you believe in the characters, Hoop Dreams does it better than any film I've seen with little effort. While watching it, all the hairs on my body stick up and I get tears in my eyes every time. I've never seen a more touching movie about real people attempting to overcome the odds in my life. It's because we know the reality lives beyond the camera. Unlike films like Rocky, Hoop Dreams actually follows underdogs who stay underdogs after the camera turns off making it even more touching and profound.

Following Arthur Agee and William Gates, Hoop Dreams begins when they're young kids just playing basketball on the school yards. Scouts from prestigious middle schools, their families can't afford, are sent there to find pure talent on the courts. A scout finds Arthur presenting him the opportunity to go to Saint Josephs with a basketball scholarship. Arthur is confident he will make it to the NBA. He even says so whenever he sees the shoe commercials and won't let his mom or anyone else discourage him with the harsh reality.

After meeting Isiah Thomas and playing him one on one in awe, Arthur is kicked out of Saint Josephs on account of his low grades and not being able to afford it. His coach, at Marshall, says "it doesn't take a genius to realize he was kicked out because he didn't play like they expected him to play. They would have worked something out if he played like they expected him to play" (not an exact quote)

Meanwhile, Arthur's transferred back to Marshall while William becomes a sensation on the court. Hoop Dreams also follows the families attempting to survive in the tough Neighborhood. Williams brother is an ex ballplayer who's living his dream through William. He gets a job as a security guard and feels he has amounted to nothing. William even says, after he learns he will not make it to the NBA "Sometimes I feel Curtis should stop living his dream through me". Stuff like that is what makes Hoop Dreams incredible. Arthur's father starts dealing drugs, but repents. The harsh realities also kick in on the court. Junior year, while in his prime, William has an unexpected leg injury. He gets numerous operations and even misses most of a season. Although he gets some major scouts attentions at a basketball camp, the leg prevents him from playing to his highest potential ever again. His dreams of NBA basketball, day by day, become more a dream than reality. Meanwhile, Arthur is playing great basketball but his grades are low. He will not excel in his school work like he does on the court.

Senior year, Arthur and his underdog commandos make it down to the state finals and overcome the odds. William gets into Marquette University and obviously is not very excited about it. Hoop Dreams is by far the most touching film I have had the privilege of watching. It's amazing to watch two kids and two families attempt to overcome the odds and accomplish a dream. Anyone can relate to this film, not just basketball players. Watching two kids do something they love and get rewarded for it is a magical experience for not only them, but for us as well. Even the disappointment they endure hit us where it hurts. Hoop Dreams shows the harsh realities, unlike many Hollywood films. Arthur and William never make it professionally, they miss important foul shots, and they end up at colleges they have no interest in.

This, of course, is all a part of life. By showing all of this Steve James creates something really special that lives beyond the camera entering your heart. Hoop Dreams is one of the greatest movies ever made. You might think i'm overstating it, but 3 hours of this movie opened me to things in life no Hollywood movie has dared to try. While most movies work so hard to touch your emotions moving you with fake situations and unbelievable twists of fate, Hoop Dreams does it for 3 hours and more with such a subtle effort.10-10 for this miracle of a movie!! Sorry about the long review, I just love this film!