This is a decent sports documentary which covers six intense seasons on a Washington high school girl's basketball team. At the heart of The Heart of the Game, the focus draws towards the Roosevelt Roughrider's passionate, dedicated coach, and his relationship with a troubled and talented point guard. The portraits afforded here do offer uplifting, adversity-conquering glimpses into the soul of true athletes and the support systems set up to help make them thrive, but still usually ends providing more glimpse then revelation. During the six year season coverage, the random ups and downs that occur for this championship-hungry pack of females do become redundant, often substituting genuine sentiment for cold statistics, summed up by rapper Chris "Ludacris" Bridges boring narration.
Coach Bill Resier remains an inspiration throughout, showing unfettered dedication to his young team, though the focus on young star Darnellia Russell does become questionable in the articulation of this simple film's thesis. It can feel at times that the filmmakers are trying to paint this talented young women in a light that will best serve their movie, despite the contradictory behavior coming from her on-screen. Nevertheless, the ensuing legal battle that saw her coaches and teammates fighting for her to finish senior year on the team drives a uniting morale that finally brings an emotional sting near the satisfying conclusion. Certainly not necessary, especially given the overshadowing Hoop Dreams that will forever dominate this niche, the realistically moving finale somewhat justifies the majority of doc's uninvolved detailing.
Coach Bill Resier remains an inspiration throughout, showing unfettered dedication to his young team, though the focus on young star Darnellia Russell does become questionable in the articulation of this simple film's thesis. It can feel at times that the filmmakers are trying to paint this talented young women in a light that will best serve their movie, despite the contradictory behavior coming from her on-screen. Nevertheless, the ensuing legal battle that saw her coaches and teammates fighting for her to finish senior year on the team drives a uniting morale that finally brings an emotional sting near the satisfying conclusion. Certainly not necessary, especially given the overshadowing Hoop Dreams that will forever dominate this niche, the realistically moving finale somewhat justifies the majority of doc's uninvolved detailing.