(1994)
Generally viewed as the greatest documentary of the 1990s (if not all time), Hoop Dreams is an epic look at two basketball wonders from inner-city Chicago; William Gates and Arthur Agee. The film tracks the most formidable years of their lives, from the time they are literally scouted by high school teams in middle school through their first year in college. In the end the film transcends the sport of basketball. It is an epic narrative of their lives, their families, and their communities.
Both boys are recruited by St. Joseph High School, a Catholic, predominantly white high school in an affluent neighborhood. The school is both culturally and physically far from their own neighborhoods. They have a three hour commute everyday. Before their sophomore year, tuition issues arise. While William finds fortune in the form of a sponsor (who oddly happens to be the President of the Encyclopedia Britannica Corporation), Arthur is forced to drop out of school because his parents can’t keep up with the expenses. He ends up attending Marshall Public High School. This offers an affecting contrast between the two protagonists.
Gene Pingatore, the well-intentioned drillmaster coach from St. Joseph, barks at his team to “think about the game on the way to the game” before sitting in the front seat of the bus in front of his stoic student-athletes. Cut to: loud mayhem on the Marshall High School bus, including kids playing cards in the back. It feels like a romanticized account of contrasted bus rides, but it’s all real. In fact, if this film were fiction, much of it would be dismissed as too unbelievable.
There are certain moments that were serendipitously caught on film. For instance, when Arthur’s vacant father unexpectedly shows up at the courts, he briefly plays with his son before walking off to the far side. The camera then captures him brazenly making a crack deal in plain view of his son. Other moments seem to magically fall into place, like when William’s mother is solemnly sitting in the O.R. waiting room as a melancholic Phil Collins track plays diagetically on the radio.
Time has aged this film beautifully. Some of the characters in the film, who often seem to be caricatures of themselves, have become even more exaggerated over time.
William with his math teacher at St. Joseph High School*SPOILER ALERT* The filmmakers chose the perfect two kids for their project. Both found some success on the court. Amazingly, Arthur and the Marshall Commandos actually make it all the way to the state championships, but come up short in the final game. It was cathartic to watch the Commandos lose. Not out of some kind of sadistic joy, but seeing them lose was reality. In real life, making it to the state championship game is a victory in and of itself. Rather than a Hollywood tale, in which the protagonist’s team would have undoubtedly, unquestionably, positively won the state championships (and the national title in the sequel, etc.).
Arthur cleaning his kicks. You should see this kid's Trapper Keeper.High Praise from Roger Ebert:
Many filmgoers are reluctant to see documentaries, for reasons I've never understood; the good ones are frequently more absorbing and entertaining than fiction. "Hoop Dreams," however, is not only a documentary. It is also poetry and prose, muckraking and expose, journalism and polemic. It is one of the great moviegoing experiences of my lifetime.Trivial Tidbits:
- Hoop Dreams was not nominated for the best feature documentary at the Academy Awards. This caused such an uproar that the selection process was modified thereafter. (source)
- However, it was nominated for best editing (lost to Forrest Gump)
- In 2007, the International Documentary Association (IDA) named Hoop Dreams the No. 1 documentary in film history
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