Letzter Applaus für einen Basketballstar

Many of my formative years were spent watching, playing and studying the sport of basketball. That being said, I naturally tended to gravitate toward those individuals who displayed the greatest character, heart and passion for the game. And for my money, Hank Gathers could never be exceeded in any of those categories. As a weeping 12 year old child, I sat broken and dismayed at the news that one of my favorite basketball heroes and role models in life had died. No consolation could be offered, no explanation sufficient, that moment will live with me forever.

A couple of years following Eric "Hank" Gather's untimely passing, I was quite pleased to see that his life was to be portrayed in cinematic form, and that so many others who knew little if anything about the man could gain a sense of exactly who this enigmatic individual was. The film itself is not a tremendous example of exemplary acting, directing, or writing. But, the story, the meaning, the truth of the message is delivered in impeccable fashion. Nell Carter delivers without a doubt the premier performance, cast in a role tailor-made for her skills, she portray's Hank's stern, but very loving mother and does so perfectly. Victor Love as Hank and Duane Davis as Bo Kimble were slightly less impressive, yet personified their charters quite well. Lost in much of the film's focus on Hank's later years at Loyola Marymount is George Kennedy's portrayal of "Father Dave", the tough-love coach who helped to ground a young Hank Gathers and act as a surrogate in light of an absent father in the Gather's household.

Shot on an obviously low budget, Charles Braverman does a very nice job of giving the audience a look into the life and times of an unforgettable sports figure, and more than that, the loving and human side of the man that revered himself to almost anyone he ever came in contact with. Final Shot: The Hank Gather's story I would highly recommend personally if you enjoy heart-felt stories of true life. You will not be blown away by star power or high-budget sets or effects, but you will feel something when you watch this movie. A sad story in one sense, but thoroughly inspirational in every way. By the way, if you have tendency to get a bit teary-eyed, keep the tissue close by.

I had the pleasure of seeing Hank Gathers play basketball at Loyola- Marymount. When casting started for extra's in the television film, I applied and was in the crowd scene at Loyola U. when local shooting took place. Considering the film had a small budget it turned out very well. Director, Chuck Braverman took considerable effort to show Hank Gathers in a true light.Knowing the information I had on Gathers from his California days at USC and Loyola, I thought Braverman did a very good job. It was a sad finish to Gathers who had really found himself and would have had a fine career in the NBA and would have provided financial security for his son in Philadelphia.

I finally saw this replaying on the USA channel during March Madness.

This is a good story but has got to be one of the worst movies ever made. Hank Gathers must be rolling in his grave!

The actor playing Hank is awful. I've seen better actors in junior high school plays. The way he plays Hank Gathers, you'd think that Hank was mentally challenged.

And the actor they get to play Bo Kimble looks like a bodybuilder, not a baskeball player.

Not to mention the 7 foot basketball rims that the actors have to jump 2 inches to dunk on.

But if you ever want a GOOD laugh at awful filmmaking, check out this movie!

You won't be able to turn away, it's like watching a train wreck!

As a big college basketball fan, I, like many others was mesmerized by the on court exploits of Hank Gathers, Bo Kimble and company on the late 80's early 90's Loyola Marymount teams. A real tragedy on many levels occurred when Gathers collapsed and died on the court during a tournament game in March of 1990.

While it is honorable to try and remember Hank through film, this effort was embarrassing, to say the least. A fat Bo Kimble, 8 foot high basketball rims, and a cheesy looking Coach Paul Westhead are among the sins committed in this cheap jack production which would have Gathers vomiting in his casket if he saw the finished product. I give it a "three" out of "ten" only because it is supposed to be a labor of love, but it is not a good quality movie- no where near on the level of "Brian's Song", for instance. The sympathetic, feel-good tone conveyed in the film is somewhat nullified by the (unportrayed) real life ugliness brought on by Hank's survivors looking for a pay day in suing a litany of people, including the University, Paul Westhead, etc.. for Hank's death.

Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story is a moving film about a basketball player that many people today may not know of. It takes you through Hank Gethers' life as a child, then to his stay at USC, and finally Loyola Marymount where he tragically dies during an NCAA tournament game. The acting isn't great and it's cheaply made because it was a made for tv movie, but it is a very sad movie and worth checking out.