Coach Carter (2005)

Controversy surrounds high school basketball coach Ken Carter after he benches his entire team for breaking their academic contract with him.

Director:

Thomas Carter

Writers:

Mark Schwahn, John Gatins

Stars:

Samuel L. Jackson, Rob Brown, Robert Ri'chard

3 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Coach Ken Carter
Rob Brown	...	Kenyon Stone
Robert Ri'chard	...	Damien Carter
Rick Gonzalez	...	Timo Cruz
Nana Gbewonyo	...	Junior Battle
Antwon Tanner	...	Worm
Channing Tatum	...	Jason Lyle
Ashanti	...	Kyra
Texas Battle	...	Maddux
Denise Dowse	...	Principal Garrison
Debbi Morgan	...	Tonya
Mel Winkler	...	Coach White
Vincent Laresca	...	Renny
Sidney Faison	...	Ty Crane
Octavia Spencer	...	Mrs. Battle

Storyline

In 1999, Ken Carter, a successful sporting goods store owner, accepts the job of basketball coach for his old high school in a poor area of Richmond, CA, where he was a champion athlete. As much dismayed by the poor attitudes of his players as well as their dismal play performance, Carter sets about to change both. He immediately imposes a strict regime typified in written contracts that include stipulations for respectful behavior, a dress code and good grades as requisites to being allowed to participate. The initial resistance from the boys is soon dispelled as the team under Carter's tutelage becomes a undefeated competitor in the games. However, when the overconfident team's behavior begins to stray and Carter learns that too many players are doing poorly in class, he takes immediate action. To the outrage of the team, the school and the community, Carter cancels all team activities and locks the court until the team shows acceptable academic improvement. In the ensuing debate, ...

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Plot Keywords:

high school | contract | basketball | coach | high school basketball | 

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Taglines:

It begins on the street. It ends here.

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content, language, teen partying and some drug material

Details

Official Sites:

Paramount [United States] UIP [Spain]

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 January 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

All Day Long

Filming Locations:

Safari Inn - 1911 W. Olive Avenue, Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$603,899 (Australia) (27 May 2005)

Gross:

$1,174,586 (Australia) (3 June 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Coach Carter, MTV Films, MMDP Munich Movie Development & Production GmbH & Co. Project KG

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The speech given by Timo Cruz in response to the question "What is your deepest fear?" is an excerpt from "A Return to Love" (1992) by Marianne Williamson. (Commonly misattributed to Nelson Mandela's 1994 Inaugural Address.)

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Goofs

No doubt for poetic license, a physical padlock has been put on the gym door by Kenny Carter to "lock out" his players from practice. In real life, Carter, as depicted a part-time walk-on coach, would not have the power to lock out Richmond High School's girls basketball team, wrestling team, badminton team and PE classes. The "lockout" was symbolic, not physical.

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Quotes

Coach Ken Carter: When we step on the floor every second that clock is ticking, we are pedal to the metal, we run the ball, we pressure the ball, and most importantly we control the tempo of the game, we make them play Richmond Oiler ball.

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Crazy Credits

During the opening credits there is the sound of dribbling and there are streaks where the cast members are shown.

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Connections

References Jerry Maguire (1996)

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Soundtracks

"Booty Shaker"
by Carmen Carter, Francesca Richard & Thomas R. Black
Performed by Lynn Watson, Carmen Carter, Francesca Richard & Thomas R. Black

User Reviews

Coach Carter was a good portrayal of a true story

I really enjoyed the movie and was actually inspired by the end of the film. The film was a little corny and syrupy from time to time but it was an overall good, positive film. I have read and heard so many comments about the morals and unacceptable behavior portrayed by some of the characters and in turn viewers bad-mouth the film simply because they do not agree with some of the behavior of the some of the characters in the film. But these people obviously missed the point of the film. Coach Carter was trying to instill values that he thought would help an entire community. The reality is that kids do have foul mouths, have unprotected sex, are faced with hard decisions (to have or not have a baby and selling drugs) everyday.

We should all be so fortunate to have the opportunity to see a movie that features a person that actually tries to deal with these issues without making judgment calls and instead offer resolutions to problems. He offered resolutions to his team's behavior and left it to them to make the right decisions. This was good because they were able to see the consequences of their actions. When they made the right decision, they were able to see the positive consequences. When they made the wrong decision the players were faced with negative consequences and had no one to blame but themselves.

The impact of a person of this magnitude is profound and if some viewers found fault with this movie simply because their reality is a little different at this moment then it was for the characters in this film is very unfortunate for the viewer. Because you never know when you might be faced with a person similar to that in the movie. You just might have to deal with this situation more personally than expected and if this happens what will you do? Because the consequences of your actions in a situation like this will be either positive or negative as well.