Coach Carter (2005)
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A strict new coach challenges his basketball team to prioritize their education over their athletic success.
The story
In Richmond, California, Ken Carter becomes the coach of the Richmond High School basketball team, the Oilers. The team is initially undisciplined and disrespectful. Carter implements strict contracts requiring the players to sit in the front rows of their classes, maintain a 2.3 GPA, and submit to progress reports on grades and attendance. Despite parental opposition, most players sign the contracts, though some, including talented player and drug dealer Timo Cruz, walk out. Principal Garrison questions Carter's strict approach, doubting the players' ability to meet his demands. Carter imposes a rigorous training regimen focused on conditioning and teamwork.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Ken Carter becomes the coach of the Richmond High School basketball team, the Oilers. He implements strict contracts requiring players to maintain a 2.3 GPA and attend classes, leading to some players, like Timo Cruz, initially walking out. Under Carter's rigorous training, the team improves and becomes undefeated. After a holiday tournament, Carter discovers several players are failing academically and locks the gym, forcing them to study. This sparks community outrage and a school board hearing where Carter refuses to back down on his educational requirements. Following a tragic event involving Cruz's cousin, Cruz rejoins the team and eventually thanks Carter for saving his life. The team ultimately achieves their academic goals, and while they lose the state tournament narrowly, they are celebrated for their perseverance and earned scholarships. The film concludes with the team members pursuing their futures, including Kenyon reconciling with his pregnant girlfriend.
- First release year
- 2005
- Runtime (minutes)
- 136
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Thomas Carter
- Writers
- Mark Schwahn · writer; John Gatins · writer
- Cast and characters
- Samuel L. Jackson · Ken Carter; Rob Brown · Kenyon Stone; Robert Ri'chard · Damien Carter; Rick Gonzalez · Timo Cruz; Nana Gbewonyo · Junior Battle; Antwon Tanner · Worm; Channing Tatum · Jason Lyle; Ashanti · Kyra; Debbi Morgan · Tonya Carter
- Genres
- biographical; sports drama
- Themes
- professional ethics; academics; athletics
- Tone and mood
- energetic
- Premise and plot tags
- based on a true story; sports drama; coming-of-age
- Source material / true-story basis
- true story of Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter
- Reception
- The film received a varied reception from critics, with a 64% approval on Rotten Tomatoes and a 57 out of 100 score on Metacritic. Audiences gave it an 'A' grade on CinemaScore.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 6.1 · scale: 10 · review count: 149; Metacritic · score: 57 · scale: 100 · review count: 36
- Production trivia
- The film features the debut of Channing Tatum.; The film's score was composed and orchestrated by Trevor Rabin.; The film's soundtrack was released by Capitol Records on January 11, 2005.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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