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Even though it's based on a true story, Coach Carter is pretty formulaic stuff, but it's effective and energetic, thanks to a strong central performance from Samuel L. Jackson.
All Critics (149) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (96) | Rotten (53) | DVD (20)
This is supposed to be about setting high standards, yet it's full of fudged ultimatums; in the end I couldn't be sure whether its morality was complex or just confused. Mar 25, 2008 | Full Review…
This is supposed to be about setting high standards, yet it's full of fudged ultimatums; in the end I couldn't be sure whether its morality was complex or just confused.
J. R. Jones
Samuel L. Jackson shouts, yells, bellows, and screams his way through the fact-inspired film Oct 6, 2006 | Full Review…
Samuel L. Jackson shouts, yells, bellows, and screams his way through the fact-inspired film
Nathan Rabin
Although this is an inspirational genre pic that pushes all the requisite buttons throughout, you canâ(TM)t help but feel that rather than benching the team, director Thomas Carter should have benched a few of those ham-fisted sporting clichà (C)s instead. Feb 9, 2006 | Full Review…
Although this is an inspirational genre pic that pushes all the requisite buttons throughout, you canâ(TM)t help but feel that rather than benching the team, director Thomas Carter should have benched a few of those ham-fisted sporting clichà (C)s instead.
Chris Tilly
Saved by bursts of energy and inventiveness. Jul 5, 2005
Saved by bursts of energy and inventiveness.
Ken Tucker
Over long and deeply manipulative, Coach Carter should nonetheless be praised for its far-from-fashionable celebration of personal advancement through academic achievement. Feb 8, 2005 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Over long and deeply manipulative, Coach Carter should nonetheless be praised for its far-from-fashionable celebration of personal advancement through academic achievement.
Neil Smith
Carter gives every sports-drama cliche a chance to play. No bad idea is benched. Jan 27, 2005 | Rating: 1.5/4
Carter gives every sports-drama cliche a chance to play. No bad idea is benched.
Peter Travers
A quality sports drama. Sep 27, 2018 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
A quality sports drama.
Leigh Paatsch
With subplots about pregnant girlfriends, drug-dealing cousins, and other sob stories that are mentioned but not developed, Coach Carter's exceptional message is delivered with little imagination. Jan 29, 2018 | Rating: C | Full Review…
With subplots about pregnant girlfriends, drug-dealing cousins, and other sob stories that are mentioned but not developed, Coach Carter's exceptional message is delivered with little imagination.
Kiko Martinez
No one should have to sit in a movie theater desperately waiting for the half-time buzzer. Dec 12, 2016 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
No one should have to sit in a movie theater desperately waiting for the half-time buzzer.
Barbara Sullivan
With another in a long line of strong performances by Jackson, and some excellent basketball choreography, Coach Carter is fun, hopeful, occasionally silly and, what can I say, inspiring. Mar 18, 2011 | Rating: 6/10 | Full Review…
With another in a long line of strong performances by Jackson, and some excellent basketball choreography, Coach Carter is fun, hopeful, occasionally silly and, what can I say, inspiring.
Joshua Starnes
Engaging film with a terrific message. Dec 22, 2010 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Engaging film with a terrific message.
Nell Minow
Samuel Jackson returns to form behind a long string of disappointing performances as an ethically minded basketball coach at a tough inner city high school in Richmond, California. Apr 16, 2009 | Rating: B- | Full Review…
Samuel Jackson returns to form behind a long string of disappointing performances as an ethically minded basketball coach at a tough inner city high school in Richmond, California.
Cole Smithey
It's a cliche storyline, but it's captivating, heartfelt and inspirational to some degree. Coach Carter is great blend of basketball and drama and coming-of-age. Lead by the charismatic Samuel L. Jackson, the film's young cast and fluid chemistry makes it a slam dunk. 4.5/5
Super Reviewer
Coach Ken Carter: l came to coach basketball players, and you became students. l came to teach boys, and you became men. "It begins on the street. It ends here." Coach Carter is a good sports movie, even though we've seen these type of stories played out in the same way countless times before and after this film. It still excels as we see all the predictable moments, all the "I'm not playing for this guy," all the "Coach I want back on the team," and all the adversity the players have to go through. The movie is what it's been labeled. It's inspirational and it's heartfelt. While, a lot of movies fail in trying to achieve this by working too hard, this one works too hard at trying to achieve that, but still manages to. Ken Carter takes a high school basketball coaching job at a ghetto, "bad" school. The kids are undisciplined and don't care about school. They also are bad at basketball, having only won four games the previous year. Carter is there to change it all. He tells them the losing stops now. He tells them to either sign a contract stating you'll keep a 2.3 gpa, attend all your class, sit in the first row of all your classes, and wear a jacket and tie on game day. He makes them run endlessly to get them in shape and soon he has his team on track with an undefeated record into the middle of the year. But all that adversity is going to hit. Samuel L. Jackson thrives in the role of Coach Carter. He looks the part and he sounds the part. I wouldn't call it his best performance or anything like that, but he is very good. The acting from everyone else, ummm.... I'll go with so, so. But the movie is called Coach Carter and thusly the fate of the film really rested on Jackson's shoulders and he was able to hold it up. The movie has problems, most of them coming with the genre. Predictability, cliches, and heart tugging among them. Still, this is a better than average addition to the "Bad News Bears" type of story. Coach takes misfit riddled team and turns them into winners. Is it a masterpiece? Hell no. Is it bad? Hell no. I've seen it many times now and I still enjoy it. It's definitely a worthwhile film to watch if you haven't seen it yet. Try FX, it seems to be on that channel every other day.
Average sports drama that is predictable, Coach Carter doesn't do anything new or original. I felt that Coach Carter though good, was nothing great, and it was nothing new to the sports genre. The film is the same old, predictable formula. Everything you'd expect happens, despite this; the film manages to be good entertainment. However, the fact that the sports drama genre seems to be comprised of the same old ideas, is a tad annoying. There are good performances here, nothing ever great, but for what it is, it's pretty entertaining. Coach Carter is no different than every other sports drama, and relies on the usual plot elements that you'd expect. The film is average, and if you've seen plenty of sports dramas, its pretty predictable. Nonetheless I liked the film The cast did a good job here, and it had a good plot despite the fact that it's nothing really new. This film will appeal to sports film fans. Coach Carter is entertaining, but like I said, it's the same old tired formula, luckily the cast keeps this film entertaining and watchable. The film relies on cliches but overall it remains constantly dramatic and entertaining like every other sports drama. A good cast, and good plot keeps this film rolling and fun.
A very engaging film, this is Samuel L. Jackson at his finest.
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