Breakinger
A Brilliant Conflict
Teddie Blake
The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.
Yash Wade
Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.
Payno
I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
chris miller
from the same director as "when we were kings," but much less focused and not as good...though, i must concede conquering the subject of a single fight is much easier that the love and history of an entire sport. a variety of subjects are interviewed - from streetballers like john hammond and pee-wee (forgot his last name) to phil jackson and kobe bryant (a bit laker-centric i thought). it gives the viewer a good overall look at the history and culture of basketball and stays fairly objective - showing both positive and negative sides of the culture and not taking sides when it comes to the old-school/new school or street/nba debates. hoop dreams is a better film with less of a focus on the history of basketball, but gives a more personal look at the effects of basketball culture. oddly it also manages to keep the scope rather wide despite focusing mainly on just two up and coming basketball players. B-.