Hoosiers, starring Gene Hackman, is the story of the underdog team, the Hickory Huskies, in their journey to the state championship basketball game in Indiana. Shot in 1986, the true events of the film take place in 1952. After the small farm town of Hickory, Indiana loses it's basketball coach, Coach Norman Dale enters the scene in an effort to improve the team's technical skills, and truly teach the boys how to play basketball. Coach Dale makes some controversial decisions, such as bringing the town drunk, Shooter, onto the coaching staff. The stubborn town is not keen for change, and with less success than anticipated, thanks in large part to the missing star of the team, Jimmy, Coach Dale is put up for review for the town council. Jimmy saves Coach Dale's job as he promises to play, but only if Coach stays. With Jimmy back on the team, and Coach Dale's efforts finally paying off, the Hickory Huskies suddenly become wildly successful and progress towards the state championship.
This is not just a story of a basketball team, but it includes the romance of Coach Dale and Ms. Fleener, Jimmy's care taker and a teacher at the school. It also tells the story of Shooter, who rises up from his poor habits as the town drunk to help coach the team, and fix his relationship with his son. As the preacher alludes in the pre game pep talk before the state championship, this is the story of David and Goliath, which gives us hope that the underdog always has a chance.
Because the film was shot in the 80's, it is not quite as artistically made as one made today, but the film angles and lighting is very good. Additionally, the basketball was staged very well, and captured well on screen with much of it in slow motion so we can see what's really going on.
Overall, I absolutely enjoyed the film. It was a very inspirational story, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes sports movies, or the classic "underdog" films. It can certainly be enjoyed by people of all ages, and is worth a watch.
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