Movie Review

Coach Carter

Summary

In 1999, Ken Carter, a successful sporting goods store owner, accepts the job of basketball coach for his old high school in a poor area of Richmond, CA, where he was a champion athlete. As much dismayed by the poor attitudes of his players as well as their dismal play performance, Carter sets about to change both. He immediately imposes a strict regime typified in written contracts that include stipulations for respectful behavior, a dress code and good grades as requisites to being allowed to participate. The initial resistance from the boys is soon dispelled as the team under Carter's tutelage becomes a undefeated competitor in the games. However, when the overconfident team's behavior begins to stray and Carter learns that too many players are doing poorly in class, he takes immediate action. To the outrage of the team, the school and the community, Carter cancels all team activities and locks the court until the team shows acceptable academic improvement. In the ensuing debate, Carter fights to keep his methods, determined to show the boys that they need to rely on more than sports for their futures and eventually finds he has affected them more profoundly than he ever expected.

Controversy surrounds high school basketball coach Ken Carter after he benches his entire team for breaking their academic contract with him.
Coach Ken Carter benching his MVP and undefeated team due to poor academic results.

The true-life story of a coach who tries to teach his players that there's more to life than basketball is brought to the screen in this sports drama. Ken Carter (Samuel_L._Jackson) was once a star player on the Richmond High School basketball team in Richmond, CA, and years later, after establishing himself in publishing and marketing, he returns to the school and to the team as the new basketball coach. Carter quickly sees that his work is cut out for him -- the team is having an awful season, and their fights off the court are more decisive than their play on the court. While Carter wants to make the Richmond cagers into a winning team, he also wants a lot more -- to teach the boys to respect themselves and one another, and that they must excel in the classroom as well as in the gymnasium. Under Carter's guidance, the team turns their losing season around, with the state title a genuine possibility. However, when Carter learns that a number of his players have let their grade point averages slip below 2.3, as mandated in a contract he entered into with the students, he decides to lock the team out of the gym and send them into study hall until their marks improve. Carter's plan quickly becomes a subject of controversy among parents and team boosters, and their objections are soon picked up by the local news media, many of whom are not sympathetic to Carter's belief that his players must have goals beyond college ball or the NBA.

 

Coach Carter Trailer

 

Main Casts of  Coach Carter Samuel L. Jackson ... Coach 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
	Texas Battle	...	Maddux
	Denise Dowse	...	Principal Garrison
	Debbi Morgan	...	Tonya
	Mel Winkler	...	Coach White
	Vincent Laresca	...	Renny
	Sidney Faison	...	Ty Crane
	Octavia Spencer	...	Mrs. Battle
	Sonya Eddy	...	Worm's Mother
	Gwen McGee	...	Kenyon's Mother
	Ausanta	...	Maddux's Mother
	Adam Clark	...	Gruff Uncle
	Paul Rae	...	Guardian
	Eugene Lee	...	Team Parent
	Adrienne Bailon	...	Dominique (as Adrienne Eliza Bailon)
	Dana Davis	...	Peyton
	Bob Costas	...	Himself
	Ray Baker	...	St. Francis Coach
	Lacey Beeman	...	Susan
	Marc McClure	...	Susan's Dad
	Kara Houston	...	Amber
	Carl Gilliard	...	Store Clerk
	Taryn Myers	...	Berkeley Girl
	Carolina Garcia	...	Bella
	Jenny Gago	...	President Martinez
	Ben Weber	...	Mr. Gesek
	Sylva Kelegian	...	Office Assistant
	Marcus Woodswelch	...	Teacher
	Derrelle Owens	...	Pinole Guy (as Derrelle 'Shortymack' Owens)
	Quiana Potts	...	Cute Market Girl
	Nina N. Onwubere	...	Cute Market Girl
	Terrell Byrd	...	Shay
	Tara Jett	...	Library Girl
	Richard Vasquez	...	Deejay
	Floyd Levine	...	Taxi Driver
	Rob Fukuzaki	...	Reporter
	Gregory Storm	...	Reporter
	Tracey Costello	...	Field Reporter
	Mark Jones	...	Field Reporter
	Deena Dill	...	Field Reporter
	Gregg McMullin	...	Bay Hill Coach
	Andy Umberger	...	Bay Hill Athletic Director
	Leonard L. Thomas	...	Preseason Game Referee
	Darin Rossi	...	Bay Hill Referee
	Deon Lewis	...	Hercules Game Referee
	David Medrano	...	Shooter
	Michael Jesse James	...	Passenger
	Mario Garcia	...	Additional Richmond Player
	Danny Kanamori	...	Additional Richmond Player
	Mark McClanahan	...	Additional Richmond Player
	Brandon Jerrard Pratt	...	Additional Richmond Player
	Chris Young	...	Additional Richmond Player
	Clyde Goins	...	Team Manager
	Dustin Fuller	...	Team Manager
	Maya Dennis	...	Richmond Cheerleader
	Felise Johnson	...	Richmond Cheerleader
	Rashaé Minor	...	Richmond Cheerleader
	Marae Onsgard	...	Richmond Cheerleader
	Tawni Sua	...	Richmond Cheerleader
	Miranda White	...	Richmond Cheerleader
	Cindy Chiu	...	Bay Hill Cheerleader
	Jessica Church	...	Bay Hill Cheerleader
	Jessica Herrera	...	Bay Hill Cheerleader
	Nicole Oliveros	...	Bay Hill Cheerleader
	Kasie Sage	...	Bay Hill Cheerleader
	Cole Volmer	...	Bay Hill Cheerleader (as Nicole Volmer)
	Deanna Watkins	...	St. Francis Cheerleader
	Lizzie Lander	...	St. Francis Cheerleader
	Diana Charles	...	St. Francis Cheerleader (as Diana Shepard)
	Chauntal Lewis	...	St. Francis Cheerleader
	Michelle Boehle	...	St. Francis Cheerleader
	Anna Zielinski	...	St. Francis Cheerleader
	Tanee McCall-Short	...	Dancer (as Tuere McCall)
	Allison Kyler	...	Dancer
	Kristi Crader	...	Dancer
	Diona Robinson	...	Dancer
	Nicole Neal	...	Dancer
	Kerry Wee	...	Dancer
	Brandon Phillips	...	Dancer
	Britta'ny Dixon	...	Dancer
	Roland Tabor	...	Dancer
	Robert Hoffman	...	Dancer
	Isaiah Vest	...	Dancer
	Marty Dew	...	Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Susyn Elise Duris	...	Parent
	Danielle McKee	...	Additional Richmond Player
	Ryan B. Adams	...	Assistant Coach in Photo Album
	John Barry	...	St. Francis Player (#31)
	Steven Barry	...	St. Francis Time Keeper
	Julius Callahan	...	Sideline Heckler
	Curt Clendenin	...	Student
	Justin Rodgers Hall	...	HS Student
	Trae Ireland	...	Basketball Player
	Matthew Jackson	...	Extra
	Shavon Kirksey	...	Kennedy Cheerleader
	Don Le	...	Basketball Fan
	Roger Lim	...	Benson Chiu
	Robert McMurrer	...	Fan
	Tiffany Michael	...	Girl in Hot Tub
	Carlos Moreno Jr.	...	Voice
	Muriel Redoute	...	Background
	Rhea Roma	...	Faculty
	Tony Sagastizado I	...	Parent
	Bruno Sandoval	...	Bay Hill Basketball Player
	Roberto Santana	...	Kennedy HS Coach
	Katie Soo	...	Cheering Fan
	Aleksandr Sountsov	...	Student
	Levi Tinker	...	Fan
	Dennis Waller	...	Student Mail Delivery Boy
	Christina Wickers	...	Susan's Friend
	Anderson William	...	Fan / Damien's Friend
	Evan E. Yu	...	Bayhill Tournament Audience