Sunset Park (1996)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Steve Gomer

Writers (WGA):

Seth Zvi Rosenfeld (written by) and
Kathleen McGhee-Anderson (written by)

Release Date:

26 April 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

You gotta represent.

Plot:

A white school teacher takes over a talented, but undisciplined black high school basketball team and turns them into a winning team. |

Plot Keywords:

Basketball | Racial Slur

Cast

Rhea Perlman	...	Phyllis Saroka
Fredro Starr	...	Shorty
Carol Kane	...	Mona
Terrence Howard	...	Spaceman (as Terrence DaShon Howard)
Camille Saviola	...	Barbara
De'aundre Bonds	...	Busy-Bee
Talent Harris	...	Butter (as James Harris)
Anthony C. Hall	...	Andre (as Anthony Hall)
Antwon Tanner	...	Drano
Shawn Michael Howard	...	Kurt
Guy Torry	...	Boo Man
Scott Burkholder	...	Morris Bernstein
John Aprea	...	Dominic
John Vargas	...	Mr. Santiago
Rhonda Stubbins White	...	Carla

MPAA:

Rated R for some language and sexual references.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Netherlands:16 (video premiere) | Spain:13 | USA:R | Singapore:PG

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Quotes:

[Shorty sees his girlfriend, Cheryl, talking to another man]
Shorty: Cheryl!... Cheryl!... CHERYL! . . .
Cheryl: Don't be callin' my name out all loud like that!

Movie Connections:

Features Rage of Honor (1987)

Soundtrack:

Hoop N Yo Face

A Really Good, Honest, Completely Un-Corny "Hoop Dreams"-like Movie

I really liked this film a lot and I'm extremely disappointed that so many people seem to disagree. I have to admit, I wasn't too interested when I first heard the synopsis -- but "Sunset Park" isn't cornball or predictable like the storyline (or some of the other reviewers) seem to suggest. It's actually a very nuanced, complex, honest, funny, intelligent film. Scenes almost never end the way you expect them to. The coach is NOT a knight in shining armor like so many of the teachers you see in those heroic, one teacher can save the world movies. She is real and complex and has hang-ups and problems (mostly involving men and failure). The basketball players are also all amazingly convincing as genuine adolescent athletes. Their acting is flawlessly natural, almost documentary-like. Their characters have depth and humor and wit. I really became attached to them by the end of the movie and wanted to know more about them and their lives. I can honestly say I didn't want the film to end -- it's a pity that there probably won't be any sequels.