NIRSA Basketball Officials' Training DVD

Advantages: Samual L Jackson, enthralling and true
Disadvantages: Initially seems just like Dangerous Minds

...plays the lead role of Ken Carter, a former professional basketball player who is has been persuaded to coach the team of his old and now failing high school Richmond. He makes all members of the team sign contracts, committing them to attend all classes, sit in the front row of classes and maintain a grade average of C+ plus he spends the first few weeks of training working on their basic fitness and teaching them set moves which he names after family members for ease of recall. Just to top it off if any team member is late for practice or shows any disrespect to Carter then they get punished by having to perform push-ups and fitness sprints. Before long the team are on an unbeaten run and look like a different team - so much so that some start to get big headed and arrogant - something that Carter despises and some have not been attending... Read review

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Advantages: Has a message, good film, Di Caprio at his best
Disadvantages: None

...Introduction ~~ Set in the early 1970’s in New York the Basketball Diaries is about young and talented basketball player – Jim Carroll (Leonardo Di Caprio) Carroll is a promising basketball player who will make it to the top with a little bit of effort and skill. Wanting to become a basketball player is difficult and it means drugs and alcohol are a no-no but living in 1970’s New York Jim Carroll just can’t resist the temptations of drugs and prostitutes which are all around him. Cast ~~ I have to admit to never rating Leonardo Di Caprio as an actor, thinking that he only starred in corny, cheesy blockbusters but his outstanding performance in the Basketball Diaries completely changed my opinion. Acting as a stoned junkie must be the hardest task for an actor and Di Caprio excels as it. Though you must... Read review

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Advantages: Love story shown through 4 stages of their life
Disadvantages: More of a Us Film

..."All is fair in love and Basketball," says Omar Epps to onscreen girlfriend Sanaa Lathan "Love and Basketball". Epps and Lathan play childhood friends who grow up around the trials and tribulations of the basketball world. Epps has problems with his pro-basketball father as Lathan does her best to try to amount up to a world she so desperately wants to fit into. This love-story set against the back drop of emerging basketball players. It could be seen by some as a "black movie" aimed squarely at that audience. But they are they wrong. This is one of the most tender love stories I have seen in years. It all has to do with the strong cast. . In this film, Omar delivers the edge of a spoiled athlete who has the soul of a boy. Lathan is so real and truthful in this love story. Since the majority of the film focused on her we saw the depth... Read review

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