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The Winning Season (2009) 6.6
Ratings:
6.6/10 from 2,746 users
Metascore: 53/100
Reviews: 11 user | 22 critic | 8 from Metacritic.com A comedy centered on a has-been coach who is given a shot at redemption when he's asked to run his local high school's girls basketball team. Director:James C. StrouseWriter:James C. Strouse |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Sam Rockwell | ... | ||
| Emma Roberts | ... | ||
| Rob Corddry | ... |
Terry
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| Emily Rios | ... |
Kathy
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| Rooney Mara | ... | ||
| Jessica Hecht | ... |
Stacey
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| Connor Paolo | ... |
Damon
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Meaghan Witri | ... |
Tamra
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| Melanie Hinkle | ... |
Mindy
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| Shana Dowdeswell | ... |
Molly
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Vanessa Gordillo | ... |
Flor
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| Shareeka Epps | ... |
Lisa
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| Margo Martindale | ... |
Donna
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| Melissa Graver | ... |
New Rome Forward
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| Caitlin Colford | ... |
Trish
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Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
Storyline
Only connect. In a Hoosier town, boys' basketball is king. Bill is a former athlete and high-school coach who drinks too much, rarely sees his daughter from an old marriage, and busses tables at a local cafe. A friend who's now a principal offers him a job coaching girls; Bill takes it without much spirit. Six come to practice; one has a broken foot. They're awful in their first game, and Bill has to figure out, with help from Donna, the school's burly bus driver, if he actually can coach girls. They respond, and Bill suddenly has a family of sorts, just as his own relationship with his daughter worsens. With a winning season in reach, will Bill blow this chance? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
Taglines:
It took a bunch of girls to make him man up.Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements, language including some sexual references, alcohol abuse and smoking | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
19 January 2009 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Até à Vitória See more »Company Credits
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| (European Film Market)Sound Mix:
Dolby DigitalColor:
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Did You Know?
Quotes
Donna: Hey girls. I just wanted to take a moment before we head to the sectional tomorrow morning. I know you're nervous, I am too. But... just remember we're a team. That's not something anyone can't take away from us. Now I've never been part of a team before and at my age it wasn't something I was expecting to ever happen. So, I wanna thank you for giving that to me. My whole life I felt apart from other people. I don't feel apart from you girls. And no matter what happens tomorrow I'll always be ...See more »
Just got back from seeing the premiere of The Winning Season at Sundance 09' and couldn't be more thrilled to report back that we have a winner.
The basic elements of the story are familiar; down in out coach finds a second chance with a bunch of scrubs and you know the rest. The Winning Season isn't groundbreakingly different from its ancestors, but just enough in all the right places to make this "dramedy" a very rewarding viewing. Audiences familiar with typical indie fare, will find that The Winning Season is indeed cut from an indie mold. The Winning Season does not gloss over the coach's failures, his abusiveness or the realities of the steep obstacles he faces. This is a good thing though, because being able to see the dark nature of the human condition makes the successes all that much more enjoyable. The strength of the The Winning Season is in its balances and ultimately the director/writers decision to allow humor and healing to be the driving force as the movie plays out. Far too often indie films allow their depressive themes to run rampant in what appears to be an effort to increase anti-depressant sales. There a lot of folks who think of any movie labeled as a "dramedy" to be fluff or mainstream box office disguising itself as an indie movie, but I would beg to differ. There is always room for reality and laughter to co-exist in a uniquely indie vision, and in the end movies should be allowed to make the viewer feel rewarded. The Winning Season aims to do that, and it's pretty much hit that mark.
On to the cast, Sam Rockwell (always underrated) is right on the money with his performance that never waivers from the lead characters self destructive nature as well as delivering such wonderfully dry humor that you keep thinking to yourself why isn't this guy getting more credit for being such a great actor. The young women in the film who make up the team are terrific and give such a sweetness to each of their roles, Emma Roberts in particular is fantastically clever in her role. Also, what a bonus to have Rob Coddry of Daily Show fame, as the goofy principle he just adds the right comedic touches to the scenes between he and Rockwell. Finally James Strouse, coming off two other well received Sundance films, ups his game here and brings a very strong effort. He should have very little problem getting more gigs with this type of quality output.