Hoosiers

Here's a shout out to all of you Jon Reep fans...this film is set in Hickory! I realize it is Hickory, Indiana, not Reep's home town of Hickory, North Carolina...but every time they showed the signs, I couldn't help but calling out "Hick-ry". This film has been a classic in the eyes of sports lovers everywhere for years...but this was my first time viewing the film. The American Film Institute rated this film #4 on it's list of the top 10 sports films of all time (below Raging Bull, Rocky, and Pride of the Yankees...but I personally think that Hoosiers is better than the original Rocky). After seeing this film, I think that several of the more recent sports films have been patterned after this one. I'm specifically thinking about Coach Carter and Remember the Titans. All three of these films are based on true stories about coaches who use what appears to be unorthodox methods to turn their down-and-out teams into champions. Hoosiers is a well made film that appeared to be ground breaking at the time and which has set the standard for several other sports films.

I have a few complaints about the movie. Some things were not brought together well enough for me...for example, why does Jimmy decide to only play for the coach? He's only really had one experience with the coach...it doesn't make sense that he would change everything about himself because of one conversation with the coach. Also, when exactly does Barbara Hershey fall in love with the coach? She hates him, she hates him, then she kind of likes him as a person, then suddenly she's madly in love with him? I guess that's Hollywood for you. I was disgusted by their kiss...do they know that Barbara Hershey is 18 years younger than Gene Hackman? He could be her father! Their love story was completely unbelievable to me. Overall, I would say this is an enjoyable movie that warrants 4 pigs.