Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > The Winning Season (2009)

The Winning Season (2009) More at IMDbPro »

Videos
The Winning Season (2009) -- Here's a clip from James C. Strouse's 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.

Overview

User Rating:
8.8/10   57 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
James C. Strouse
Writer (WGA):
James C. Strouse (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Winning Season on IMDbPro.
Genre:
Comedy
Plot:
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. | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
(28 articles)
Rachel Weisz is The Whistleblower
 (From TheMovingPicture. 5 May 2009, 10:41 PM, PDT)

Nancy Found for "A Nightmare On Elm Street"
 (From OhMyGore. 26 April 2009, 1:59 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
It's a Winner! more

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Stephanie Beltz ... Van Hunt basketball player

Brian Berrebbi ... Bill's Manager

James Thomas Bligh ... Prairie Hill Assistant Coach-John Casey

Kevin Breznahan ... Joel

Rod Brogan ... Rick

Franco Bulaon ... Mexican Gang member

E.J. Carroll ... Male Announcer

JR Carter ... Basketball Game Spectator

Sara Chase ... Outback Waitress

Gary Cherkassky ... Joel

Caitlin Colford ... Trish
Lisa Chiariello Coons ... Basketball game spectator
Rob Corddry ... Terry Schemerhorn
Shana Dowdeswell ... Molly
Shareeka Epps ... Lisa
Amy Garay ... Basketball Game Spectator
Stefanie Grassley ... New Rome Cheerleader

Melissa Graver ... New Rome's Forward

Janis Grossman ... Basketball game spectator

Pamela Guthrie ... Grandma Tilly

Cassie Hansen ... New Rome Cheerleader
Maura Ruth Hashman ... Littleton Basketball Player

Jessica Hecht

Melanie Hinkle ... Mindy
Ed Jewett ... Semi-Finals Announcer

Ingrid Johnson ... Tamra's Mom

Anna Kuchma ... Basketball Game Spectator
Lynn Lamanno ... Mindy & Wendy's Mom (as Lynn Bily)
Jonathan Lang ... Knights' Mascot / 'Corn Mascot
Ken Limbach ... Basketball Game Spectator

Rooney Mara ... Wendy
Margo Martindale ... Donna
Ralph Meyer ... Mindy & Wendy's Dad

Ella Mische ... Missy - Van Hunt Basketball Player

Ashley Nardozi ... Cheerleader

Ella Jane New ... Jen P.H Huskers
Mauricio Ovalle ... Security Guard
Corinne Palermo ... Prairie Hill Cheerleader

Connor Paolo ... Damon
Rossella Rago ... Mexican Gang member
Jennifer Regan ... Concerned young mom

Dawn Ressy ... Basketball game spectator
Kenneth Richards ... Plainview boys team

Emily Rios ... Kathy
Enrique Sebastian Rivas ... Mexican Gang member

Clifford Rivera ... Mexican Gang Member

Emma Roberts ... Abby

Sam Rockwell ... Bill
Celeste Rojas ... Basketball Game Spectator

Daniel B. Roy ... Simon
Torie Sanders ... Prairie Hill basketball player

Brooke Sidkoff ... Cindy

Clarke Thorell ... Prairie Hill Coach - Derek Springer

Meaghan Witri ... Tamra
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
Germany:119 min (European Film Market)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Filming Locations:
New York City, New York, USA

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 7 people found the following comment useful:-
It's a Winner!, 20 January 2009
9/10
Author: sundevil27 from Salt Lake City, UT USA

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.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Winning Season (2009)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Lucky me fcostello60
Sundance First Look FabulousEmma
when is this coming out?? bballfan22
When and where is this going to film? danhuffman
Meet Emma On Set FabulousEmma
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Hoosiers Rebound Late Bloomers Believe in Me 17 Again
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.