Coach Carter

From the same school of plot development that Dangerous Minds attended, Coach Carter tells the story of the Richmond basketball team who learn that "student" comes first in "student athlete". Cliche philosophy and lines such as, "I met you as boys and now you're men," are given pride of place, but for entertainment value and moral fortitude, you can't go far wrong with this effort from the director of Save The Last Dance.

The problem with the film as a media text is that it does not stand up to deconstruction. Behind the camera is a director who has no distinctive style. The action-packed basketball scenes spice up the drama, but never excel beyond music video quality, which is not an insult. The editing is snappy, mixed with a hip-hop beat - the energy of the games is truly communicated - but no attempt is made to do something new. The best way to enjoy Coach Carter is not to look beneath the surface, but allow yourself to be carried away by the innocent excitement.

It was always going to need a strong lead. The no nonsense and iron willed demeanour that Samuel L Jackson brings to the role makes him ideal for putting across the image of a man who can hold court in front of these hard life ghetto teens. What he brings also is an amusing aggressive streak that makes the audience glad they are not in the gym with this psycho, who, despite pounding his players with endless "submissions", still locks the doors when their grades don't come through.

Carter is a difficult character to understand. He seems ready to refuse entry to hard nut bad boy Timo Cruz (Rick Gonzalez), but caves in when Junior Battle (Nana Gbewonyo) turns up at his shop with his mother and begs forgiveness. As the film progresses, however, we learn that he is doing everything he can to get his players into college and gain a life worth living.

Occasional outbursts punctuate what is mostly a submissive relationship between coach and team and the director Thomas Carter (no relation) focusses on delivering a realistic ensemble, rather than the typical teen comedy entourage of weird and outrageous characters. This decision to stay close to realism is brave. It gives the film an enhanced depth that makes the lessons learned more heart warming and honest.

What it lacks is subplot development. Cruz's drug running is given screen time between games, but ends abruptly. He moves from being a hard case to a shivering wreck on Carter's doorstep, in need of a strong father figure, which we are to assume he does not have. A little background information would not have been amiss.

Cruz's doorstep tears also bring to attention the relationship between Carter and his son Damien (Robert Richard), which appears very son-and-sir in nature. There is a hint of tension beneath the surface that we glimpse when Damien arrives late to practise and there may also have been an undertone of jealousy when Carter hugs Cruz, but this is not elaborated upon and there is a slight emptiness in their bond.

However, Coach Carter remains entertaining throughout. Realism and drama merge to hit home the lessons that the team learn. Its struggle to overcome the stigma of stereotyping is captured patiently, yet there is never a dull moment. Jackson brings a mountainous presence to his role that allows the audience to feel the film's extremes of pride and disappointment.