Coach
Carter
(Paramount/MTV Blu-ray)
Picture: B Sound: B Extras: C- Film: C-
As old and tired as the “teacher
saves troubled youth cycle” has become, the films keep getting made. Sometimes they still work, like in Freedom Writers, while in others they
do not. Except for another solid
performance by Samuel L. Jackson, Coach
Carter goes nowhere fast, is very predictable and is the kind of film that
ruins the idea of “based on a true story”: because it feels so untrue.
Based on a real basketball coach
(maybe they could have called this “Welcome Back, Carter”) who returned
to the school he used to be (and be a star) at, he intends to go in and whip
the uneven basketball team into shape and teach them how to be hoopers and
gentlemen. Though the casting is also
not bad, this goes on and on and on for over two hours and never amounts to
anything we have not seen, so except to see Jackson in action (though I liked
his other school film 187 better),
this is maybe worth one look if that.
Otherwise, give this one a permanent time out.
The 1080p 2.35 X 1 image was shot
in Super 35mm film format by Director of Photography Sharone Meir and is weak
here, as it was in 35mm, with the image a shade too toned down and the grain
here is not used to best effect.
Fleshtones do hold nice, but detail and depth are also problematic. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix just shows the
budget limit of the film, though Trevor Rabin’s score is not bad. Extras include Coach Carter – The Man Behind The Movie, Fast Break At Richmond High, 8 Deleted Scenes, a Music Video,
trailer in HD, Writing Coach Carter: The
Two Man Game and Coach Carter: Making
The Game.
-
Nicholas Sheffo
