Coach Carter


Coach Carter is a 2005 American biographical teen sports drama film starring Samuel L. Jackson and directed by Thomas Carter. The film is based on the true story of Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter, who made headlines in 1999 for suspending his undefeated high school basketball team due to poor academic results. The story was conceived from a screenplay co-written by John Gatins and Mark Schwahn, who created the TV series One Tree Hill. The film also recycles a handful of plot devices from another television series, The White Shadow, which director Carter also co-starred in. The ensemble cast features Rob Brown, Channing Tatum, Debbi Morgan, Robert Ri'chard and singer Ashanti.
The film was a co-production between the motion picture studios of MTV Films and Tollin/Robbins Productions. Theatrically and for the home video rental market, it was commercially distributed by Paramount Pictures. Coach Carter explores professional ethics, academics, and athletics. The sports action in the film was coordinated by the production company ReelSports. On January 11, 2005, the original motion picture soundtrack was released by the Capitol Records music label. The film score was composed and orchestrated by musician Trevor Rabin.
Coach Carter premiered in theaters nationwide in the United States on January 14, 2005 grossing $67,264,877 in domestic ticket receipts. The film took in an additional $9,404,929 in business through international release for a combined worldwide total of $76,669,806. Preceding its initial screening in cinemas, the film was generally met with positive critical reviews. With its initial foray into the home video marketplace; the DVD edition of the film featuring deleted scenes, a music video, and special features among other highlights, was released in the United States on June 21, 2005.

Plot

lives in Richmond, California. He becomes the coach for Richmond High School’s basketball team, the Richmond Oilers, having played for the team thirty years earlier. The team are rowdy, rude, and disrespectful. Carter gives the team contracts to sign and obey, asking them to sit in the front rows of all their classes, and above all, maintain a 2.3 grade point average in their studies. Carter asks the school’s staff for progress reports of the players' grades and attendance. Several team members walk out in disagreement, including Timo Cruz, a gifted player who is also a drug dealer and criminal.
Carter begins a strict, disciplinary training regime for the team. Carter’s son Damian joins the team, switching from the private school St. Francis, to play for his father. Kenyon Stone, the team’s captain, struggles to come to terms with his girlfriend Kyra being pregnant. The couple later have a falling out over Kenyon’s inability to commit to fatherhood. Another member, Junior Battle, skips classes, leading to Carter suspending him from the team. Battle’s mother Willa visits Carter, asking him to let Battle back on the team. Carter agrees once Battle apologises.
Cruz witnesses the team win a match, asking Carter to let him rejoin the team. Carter agrees, but only if Cruz completes a number of exercises before Friday. Cruz commits himself to this, though when it looks like he will fail, the rest of the team support him.
The team undergo extensive teamwork training, bonding with Carter. This leads them winning the Bay Hill Holiday tournament. That night, whilst Carter is speaking to his wife on the phone, the entire team sneak out of the motel and attend a party at a nearby mansion. Carter discovers their absence, crashing the party to round up the team. Carter berates the boys on the way home, though Cruz points out the team are now winners as Carter intended. Carter discovers the team have not been keeping to their contracts, skipping classes.
A livid Carter locks the gym, directing the team to the library where they will study with their teachers until their grades improve. A disillusioned Cruz quits the team again. Carter enforces his lockdown, forfeiting several games and enraging the local community. Carter reasons that aside from basketball, the boys have no other options in Richmond aside from crime, hoping their commitment to their studies will give them better options in life.
Cruz sees his cousin, Renny, a drug dealer, gunned down in front of him. Distraught, Cruz goes to Carter, begging to be let back on the team. The school board hold a hearing, where Carter explains his rationale, though he promises to resign if the lockdown is lifted. Aside from Principal Garrison and the board's chairwoman, the councillors vote to end the lockdown. However, Carter discovers the team refuse to play, continuing with their studying. Cruz, whom Carter has repeatedly asked what his greatest fear is, answers by quoting from A Return to Love.
Carter decides to stay, with the team succeeding in their academic goals. Kenyon reunites with Kyra, learning she has had an abortion. They make up, Kenyon asks Kyra to come with him to college, to which she agrees. The team play in a match against St. Francis, but lose by two points. St. Francis’ star player, Ty Crane, praises Battle’s skills. Though they did not win, Carter expresses his pride that the team came together to give themselves other options. The film ends with the team celebrating with the community, as graphics explain how several members went on to college.

Cast

Filming locations for the motion picture included, Long Beach, California and Los Angeles.

Soundtrack

The original motion picture soundtrack for Coach Carter was released by the Capitol Records label on January 11, 2005. The score for the film was orchestrated by Trevor Rabin. An extensive list of songs are featured on the soundtrack, which differs from the soundtrack recording. The recording includes five songs which were not featured in the film: "About da Game" by Trey Songz; "Balla" by Mack 10 featuring Da Hood; "Beauty Queen" by CzarNok; "What Love Can Do" by Letoya; and "Wouldn't You Like to Ride", by Kanye West, Malik Yusef, and Common.

Release

Following its cinematic release in theaters, the Region 1 edition of the film was released on DVD in the United States on June 21, 2005. Special features for the DVD include; two commentaries: Coach Carter: The Man Behind the Movie, Fast Break at Richmond High, Deleted Scenes and Music Video "Hope" by Twista Featuring Faith Evans. The film was also released on VHS.
A restored widescreen high-definition Blu-ray Disc version of the film was released on December 16, 2008. Special features include; two commentaries - The Man Behind the Movie; Fast Break at Richmond High; 6 Deleted scenes; "Hope" music video by Twista featuring Faith Evans; Writing Coach Carter: The Two Man Game; Coach Carter: Making the Cut; and the theatrical trailer in HD. An additional viewing option for the film in the media format of Video on demand has been made available as well.

Response

Critical reception

Coach Carter received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 64% based on 150 reviews, with an average rating of 6.1/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "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." On Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average, the film has a score of 57 out of 100, based on 36 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on a scale of A+ to F.

Box office

Coach Carter premiered in cinemas on January 14, 2005 in wide release throughout the United States. During that weekend, the film opened in 1st place grossing $24.2 million from 2,524 locations, beating out Meet the Fockers. The film's revenue dropped by 24% in its second week of release, earning $8,015,331. For that particular weekend, the film slipped to 5th place with a slightly higher theater count at 2,574. The thriller film Hide and Seek opened in 1st place with $21,959,233 in box office business.
During its final week in release, Coach Carter opened in 61st place grossing a marginal $26,554 in revenue. For that weekend period, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy starring Martin Freeman opened in 1st place with $21,103,203 in box office receipts. Coach Carter went on to top out domestically at $67,264,877 in total ticket sales through an initial 16-week theatrical run. For 2005 as a whole, the film would cumulatively rank at a box office performance position of 36.

Accolades

The film was nominated and won several awards in 2005–06.
AwardCategoryNomineeResult
2005 BET AwardsBest ActorSamuel L. Jackson
2005 Black Movie AwardsOutstanding Achievement in DirectingThomas Carter
2005 Black Movie AwardsOutstanding Motion PictureDavid Gale, Brian Robbins, Michael Tollin
2005 Black Movie AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading RoleSamuel L. Jackson
Black Reel Awards of 2006Best DirectorThomas Carter
Black Reel Awards of 2006Best ActorSamuel L. Jackson
Black Reel Awards of 2006Best Breakthrough PerformanceAshanti
Black Reel Awards of 2006Best FilmDavid Gale, Brian Robbins, Michael Tollin
ESPY Awards 2005Best Sports Movie————
2005 37th NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Actor in a Motion PictureSamuel L. Jackson
2005 37th NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Directing in a Feature Film/Television MovieThomas Carter
2005 37th NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Motion Picture————
2005 37th NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion PictureAshanti
2005 MTV Movie AwardsBreakthrough FemaleAshanti
2006 38th People's Choice AwardsFavorite Movie Drama————
2005 Teen Choice AwardsChoice Movie Actor: DramaSamuel L. Jackson
2005 Teen Choice AwardsChoice Movie Breakout Performance - FemaleAshanti
2005 Teen Choice AwardsChoice Movie: Drama————