Glory Road Movie Review

We happened to watch the movie "Glory Road" the second time recently and thought of sharing our views on this. We simply watched it because it seemed it has something to do with sports and falls in the category of motivational and inspirational movies. Like how generally good sports movies are, this one was also entertaining and inspirational. It really did well in presenting teamwork, discipline, ups and downs in the lives of coach and players. As with every movie, before we finally watch it, we do a little research. We did the same for this one too but only the second time around. When we watched it for the first time we were not so much aware of the accuracy of the fact on which the movie is based.

This movie is based on the racial discrimination that was prevalent during 1965. It was engaging and at the same time saddening to see how difficult it is to do something different than the norm. Introducing Black players in an otherwise all white team is not as easy as it seems today. Josh Lucas had given an impressive performance of playing the role of Don Haskins the Men's Basketball Head Coach from Texas Western College in El Paso. Moreover, it reminds of how much hard work it took by people like Don Haskins to be able to live in a world of much less racial discrimination if not no discrimination at all. Facing the greatest odds during the darker days of NCAA, this team won the championship and has changed the game forever.

About the Movie

Inspired by a true story, as described by Texas Western's head coach Don Haskins in his autobiography of the same title. It is a national bestseller released in 2005 by Hyperion Books.

Credentials or Awards: A movie that won ESPY award as the Best Sports Movie of 2006 Nominated for 2007 Black Reel award for best screenplay Best Song ("People Get Ready") and 2006 Humanitas Prize for Best Feature Film category.

Miscellaneous: Rated PG for racial issues including violence and epithets, and momentary language.118 min, Walt Disney Pictures, Filmed Primarily in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, English language.

Box office facts: Was box office number-one in the US grossing $17 million on its opening weekend. As of February 12, 2006, the film grossed a total of $42,647,449 in the US.

Directed by James Gartner, cast Josh Lucas, Derek Luke, Jon Voight

IMDB rating: 7.1/10 by over 10,000 viewers.

Interesting and engaging fact:

The photo shown at the end of the movie Glory Road is a photo of the real 1965-66 Texas Western team, rather than of the actors playing those parts in the film.

More facts and trivia of Glory Road the movie and the reality:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385726/goofs

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385726/trivia?tr0596461

Conclusion: This film is a worth watch considering the historical significance of including players from all over US not based on the color of their skin but their skills in the game of Basketball. You will find lot of accounts on which the facts were changed for cinematic purpose but the underlying theme of effectively presenting the racism and its adverse effects in real world and coming out of it as if it's walking on the "Glory road" is reasonably well presented.

If you are a die-hard basketball fan and are aware of all the nitty-gritty of the US NCAA history the inaccuracies, you might observe them while watching it, that might take away the charm of the film. If you are looking for a 100% fact based film then this is not the one for you. If you have seen Remember the Titans, Hoosiers you might not find that powerful performances.But, if you want to enjoy a movie with a socio-political theme in the sports world, an inspirational and motivational movie based on a true story, then it is a worth watch.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_office_number-one_films_of_2006_(USA)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glory_Road_(film)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385726/

For MovieTrailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1839857945/

To Buy Online: http://www.amazon.com/Glory-Road-Widescreen-Josh-Lucas/dp/B000EXZFCQ/ref=cm_cmu_pg_i