That Championship Season (1999)

One of Best movies I have ever seen

It burns me. Leonard Maltin's 2005 movie review doesn't even mention this version. The 1982 version, which he does mention, cannot even compare. That version, with Robert Mitchum, was ill-conceived and Mitchum was miss-cast. But the performances by all in this 1999 version is outstanding, especially Paul Sorvino who appeared in both versions.
Both Sorvino's acting and directing in this movie is top shelf and I believe a reflection of his experience from having been in the earlier version. There will, of course, be someone who will see racism, male superiority complex, etc which of course is all bull. The fact is that this movie is just plain great acting and directing with outstanding character developement and is worth watching over and over again.

DM January 26, 2008

worth every second........

This is a top notch drama with top notch actors. This story is the 20 year reunion of a basketball team and the coach that took them to the state championship, and this movie takes place in the coaches house. The scenery doesn't change, but what is impeckable with this story is the sudden changes between humor and seriousness; and not to mention the sudden changes between comoradarie and disbandonment. This story is more political than I care for, but easy to follow. September 17, 2007

Good drama, interesting characters

Overall I enjoyed this movie very much, after a slow start. It was adapted from a play, and this shows; especially in the fact that the action is set almost entirely in one location. At first I thought this made the movie a little boring, but as the plot and characters developed it actually became quite interesting.

The movie is very much character driven, it is about four ex-basketball players and their coach who get together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of a championship win at the coach's house. All five principal characters are flawed and to an extent dissatisfied with their lives. The storyline is basically about how these flaws and frustrations create conflict between the characters and how all of these tensions come to the surface on this night.

I thought that the acting was excellent, and even though the characters come across as ammoral and even pathetic, the viewer can relate to them because they are after all, flawed humans, just like everyone else. My only criticism would be of Gary Sinise's character; an alcholic whose role in the film was mainly to show-up the weaknesses of the other characters. His sarcastic remarks became a little annoying firstly because what he was pointing out was obvious anyway; and secondly because he was hardly a model of a well-adjusted person himself.

So I would definitely recommend this movie as an interesting character study. August 3, 2005

powerful acting and true reality

The movie is definitly unique and not for everyone but in my opion the best movie iv'e seen in ages.The diologue in the movie is very sophisticated and the acting very powerful there is so much going on you really have to listen.After having a close circle of friends iv'e started to realize what the movie is all about doubting your friends and being betrayed by them.And also realizing that your not were you want to be in life each character is very diffrent and is dealing with diffrent issues. This movie in some respects is better than these action blockbuster hits if your in to serious and sophisticated drama. This movie is for you watch it i garauntee you will be moved watch it when your happy or sad it doesent matter.This film cant be bashed except for the fact there is to much swearing. You might say oh it sounds to deppresing it is at times but so is real life that's what this movie is. True and sad reality and haning on to friendships.If you think this movie is bad you'd best email me and tell me beaugraham@hotmail.com January 12, 2001

An Anthem for The Klan

A very disappointing and tedious exercise that will hopefully prevent Paul Sorvino from directing another film. Except for another fine performance by Gary Sinise, don't expect to be moved, either physically or emotionally. It flows like a series of cliched bigotries, with no specific direction. The dialog spoken by the coach (Sorvino) is as vitriolic as the Edward Norton character in American History X, (and would most certainly be embraced by neo-Nazi groups). But at least in that movie, Norton's character experienced some ultimate redemption. In this film, the audience receives nothing in return for spending 2 hours with a quintet of pathetic white males. Yuck. August 13, 2000

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