Samuel L Jackson scored a modest hit with "slick" sporting drama Coach Carter. It's a true-life tale following the efforts of the titular coach to instil self-discipline in a team of rag-tag basketball players from the wrong side of the tracks. Director Thomas Carter (no relation) dealt with similar themes in ghetto romance Save The Last Dance, but this has a grittier edge and was better received by critics.
Basket Case
The focus is on the real Ken Carter in The Man Behind The Movie, a surprisingly well-rounded featurette tracing his glittering career in college sports and his influence on a new generation of players. As well as word from Carter himself, his family (including son Damien), and Samuel L Jackson offer their thoughts on what makes the man tick. "He tends to be slightly more aggressive and sensitive to things than other people," says Jackson. But an ex-student puts it rather bluntly when he says, "He was just mean!"
If there's one man who can make mean old Mr Carter feel nervous it's basketball peer Mark Ellis. He had the job of training the supporting cast and a team of "special ability extras" with a cruel regimen of "sprints, running stairs, defensive drills and running plays" - whatever that means. Actually, it's all explained in Fast Break At Richmond High, an engaging behind-the-scenes look at a three-week course that tested the actors to their limits. "I came home sore," moans Robert Ri'chard (Damien) but Ellis doesn't have time for whiners. "He's a hard-ass," says Texas Battle (Maddux). "It's his way or the hard way." For the technically minded, there are also notes on the CG-assisted choreography.
Free Throw
Six deleted scenes put a little more meat on the bones for the supporting characters and build on the conflict between Carter and Damien. In denying his son a chance to hang out in Richmond, we're given a more acute sense of Carter's inner conflict, ie reconciling his lofty ideals with a desire to lift his family higher up the social ladder. There's a similar feel to a scene where Kenyon (Rob Brown) talks about his plans for college with a girl from the prestigious University of Berkeley and naturally we're also treated to another of Carter's pep talks.
Unfortunately director Thomas Carter contributes almost nothing to this selection of extras. A commentary by Ken Carter (relating his real-life experiences to those portrayed film) would've been a neat alternative to a director's commentary, but the makers have dropped the ball on that as well. Overall though, this DVD offers a good range of insights and a winning dose of inspiration.
EXTRA FEATURES
