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 22 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

William Gates became a Church pastor in the area where the Cabrini-Green projects were once located. He was in terrible state personally when he began being involved with the Church and has had lots of people whom he had known personally from Cabrini become part of his congregation. Arthur Agee's father, Bo also became a Church minister after he had been given a second chance from the life of drugs and abuse he had done in his life until his untimely passing in 2004.

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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 Marshall High School and Coach Luther Bedford. This Chicago Public high school is dedicated to academic excellence for all its students. The Hoop Dreams Fund will be used to help Marshall's graduating seniors attend college.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Love Affair/Wes Craven's New Nightmare/Exit to Eden/Hoop Dreams/The Specialist/Little Giants (1994)

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Soundtracks

Dream Theme
Written & Performed by Tom Yore
© 1993

User Reviews

Documentary film-making at its best

It runs for three hours but it feels much less, such is the power that this documentary holds. Absorbing, you get sucked in and the film has this grip on you.

If Reality TV is your thing, I'd seriously give this film a go, then you can stop watching Reality TV and start to recognise, understand and prioritise real-world situations that actually matter, like racism, poverty, drug abuse, peer pressure and well, dreams.

You'll fall in love with the characters, and there's even a bad-guy for us to boo. You can sometimes question the manipulative techniques on display, but the film is actually not as guilty as some, the makers have a genuine affection for their subjects and do as much as they can within the rules of documentary to help them out without compromising their objectivity.

Be that as it may, this film should be compulsory viewing for many younger audiences, as it shows you exactly how real life differs from the garbage that passes for representation of youth on TV and in film today.

I really can't say enough about the need for more films like this, the fact that the Academy Awards were changed because of the strength of this film goes some way to showing you exactly how powerful it is.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 October 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hoop Dreams

Filming Locations:

Cabrini Green Housing Complex, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$700,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,396, 16 October 1994

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