Hoop Dreams (1994)

A film following the lives of two inner-city Chicago boys who struggle to become college basketball players on the road to going professional.

Director:

Steve James

Writers:

Steve James, Frederick Marx

Stars:

William Gates, Arthur Agee, Emma Gates

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 21 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Gates	...	Himself
Arthur Agee	...	Himself
Emma Gates	...	Herself - William's Mother
Curtis Gates	...	Himself - William's Brother
Sheila Agee	...	Herself - Arthur's Mother
Arthur 'Bo' Agee	...	Himself - Arthur's Father
Earl Smith	...	Himself - Talent Scout
Gene Pingatore	...	Himself - High School Basketball Coach
Isiah Thomas	...	Himself - Professional Basketball Player
Marlyn Hopewell	...	Herself - High School Guidance Counselor (as Sister Marlyn Hopewell)
Bill Gleason	...	Himself - Television Reporter
Patricia Weir	...	Herself - President: Encyclopedia Brittanica
Marjorie Heard	...	Herself - High School Guidance Counselor
Luther Bedford	...	Himself - High School Basketball Coach
Aretha Mitchell	...	Herself - High School Guidance Counselor

Storyline

This documentary follows two young African-Americans through their high school years as they perfect their skills in basketball in the hopes of getting a college scholarship and eventually play in the NBA. Arthur Agee and William Gates both show great potential and are are actively recruited as they look to enter high school. They start off at the same high school but unable to pay an unexpected bill for tuition fees, Arthur has to withdraw and go to the local public high school. The film follows them through their four years of high school and their trials and tribulations: injuries, slumps and the never ending battle to maintain their grades. Through it all, their hoop dreams continue.

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Plot Keywords:

basketball | athlete | national film registry | high school | college | 

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Taglines:

An Extraordinary True Story.

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Genres:

Documentary | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for drug content and some strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 October 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Basquete Blues

Filming Locations:

Cabrini Green Housing Complex, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$700,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$7,830,611

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,830,611

Company Credits

Production Co:

KTCA Minneapolis, Kartemquin Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

170 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Agee family moved out of the neighborhood after the film was released. Arthur Agee said a lot of his friends had died, and he had vowed to leave, especially after he was robbed at gunpoint before he left for Arkansas.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Announcer: Welcome to the 38th Annual NBA All Star game from Chicago Stadium.

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Crazy Credits

Thanks to the St. Joseph High School community and Coach Gene Pingatore who agreed to participate in a not for profit Kartemquin Educational film telling William and Arthur's stories. Today, St. Joseph, with a 39% minority enrollment, remains committed to the dream of a better life for all. Awarding need based financial aid to 40% of its students, St. Joseph with limited resources continues to maintain its academic excellence. A Hoop Dreams Fund has been set up to provide academic scholarships.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Best Films of 1994 (1994)

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Soundtracks

Hoop Dreams
Written by Ben Sidran, Ricky Peterson & Tony Mosley
Featuring Tony Mosley (as Tony M.)
© 1993 Bulldog Music & St. Paul Music (ASCAP)

User Reviews

Objective and Quiet, but Powerful Statement to Represent Disadvantaged Youth in Urban America

"Basketball is a ticket out of ghetto." (William Gates)

"... nobody cares about you. You're a black, you're a young male... The only reason why you're here [Nike training camp] is so you can make their team win. And if the team wins these schools get a lot of money." (Spike Lee)

These phrases, which have persisted as common knowledge among the African-American community during last several decades, have become familiar to the non-hyphenated Americans in the 90s, thanks to the films such as Boyz N the Hood and He Got Game. Among them, Hoop Dreams, a documentary that follows two black youths during a five-year period, is the most objective and the most quiet, but the most powerful statement to represent the disadvantaged youth in urban America.

The film reveals the pattern they follow. Being deluded by the luxurious surface of pro sports, they neglect education and then ending up going nowhere. The community suffers the vicious cycle and their feelings that the system exploits them remain.

Kudos to the filmmakers for their insane amount of work. They must have gone through numerous negotiations to attend and film various scenes, such as family's private events, classrooms, academic counseling, recruiting sessions with college coaches, and surgery operation rooms.