Pride (2007)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

Sunu Gonera

Writers (WGA):

Kevin Michael Smith (screenplay) &
Michael Gozzard (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

23 March 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Family | Sport

Tagline:

Inspired by true events.

Plot:

The determined Jim Ellis starts a swim team for troubled teens at the Philadelphia Department of Recreation. |

Plot Keywords:

Teenage Boy | Basketball | Janitor | Teenage Girl | Coach

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Terrence Howard	...	Jim Ellis
Bernie Mac	...	Elston
Kimberly Elise	...	Sue Davis
Tom Arnold	...	Bink
Brandon Fobbs	...	Puddin Head
Alphonso McAuley	...	Walt
Regine Nehy	...	Willie
Nate Parker	...	Hakim
Kevin Phillips	...	Andre
Scott Eastwood	...	Jake (as Scott Reeves)
Evan Ross	...	Reggie
Gary Anthony Sturgis	...	Franklin (as Gary Sturgis)
Jesse Moore	...	Artrell (Willie's Father)
Carol Sutton	...	Ophelia (Andre's Mother)
Tony Bentley	...	Race Official (UOFB) (as Tony Bently)

Also Known As:

P.D.R. (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic material, language including some racial epithets, and violence.

Runtime:

USA:104 min | Germany:104 min (European Film Market)

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:PG (certificate #43194) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Louisiana State University - Highland Road & Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Cinered Internationale Filmproduktionsgesellschaft mbH & Co. 1. Beteiligungs KG

Trivia:

The journal that the character of Puddin Head writes in is actor Brandon Fobbs's actual personal journal.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: All of the cars were fine for 1974 except in several scenes, a 1982 Oldsmobile Delta 88 could be seen.

Quotes:

Jim Ellis: My life is way too short for me to spend my time around people who don't care about nothin'.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bill Burr: Why Do I Do This? (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

BACK STABBERS

Been there. Done that.

"... marathon swimming is the most difficult physical, intellectual and emotional battleground I have encountered, and each time I win, each time I touch the other shore, I feel worthy of any other challenge life has to offer." Diana Nyad

Pride is a cliché from the first frame to the end. But I can't change the truth on which these stereotypes were built. In 1974 Jim Ellis (Terrence Howard), a former swimmer now janitor, coaches a rag-tag, sand lot group of talented minorities from the Philadelphia Department of Recreation to state-wide championships in swimming by invoking PDR (pride, determination, resilience). Been there, done that in movies. Within the last year, several films were based on true stories told of coaches and players overcoming odds to become winners: Gridiron Gang, Glory Road, Coach Carter, and Invincible come to mind.

The difference from the usual fare is swimming, arguably not a strong sport for minorities. The real difference is Ellis, who slowly gains the trust of the lost young athletes at the local center. Ellis doesn't harangue like Bobby Knight or physically react like Woody Hayes; he just shows them how to swim precisely and focused while he also reinforces their need for education. Along the way, of course, is the hanging-about drug dealer/pimp with his alluring dollars and the nagging but attractive single mom, who reluctantly hooks up with Ellis.

All this usually formulaic film fiction-inspired-by-real events is made palatable by engaging actors and the spirit of this lovable coach, still working to this day, who never gave up on the students. Love and trust—sounds like an effective combo even for nations.

You've seen it all before, but you won't be bored because the truth about hard work and love is romantic and enduring.