From the Rough

I am an alumnae of TSU and I was looking forward to seeing this movie. There was a buzz about it, then nothing. I was so happy to find it on Netflix tonight and couldn't wait to view it. I never heard of Coach Starks even though I attended the school during the late 1990s. I enjoyed the film for what it was, but I thought it would be...more. More epic, more real, more dramatic. I think more time was needed to really develop the story and characters, but the acting was solid. I almost cried when I saw Michael Clark Duncan! Also, I would have loved to see our beautiful campus and some shots of Nashville. Overall, it was a good movie. It just didn't live up to my expectations.

Taraji P.Henson played the role of a caring, but tough, take-no-excuses coach perfectly. The movie was well done and sweet (although the British dude was a bit annoying). Taraji is a very good actress and hopefully her talents will be further recognized in Hollywood. She should be carrying mainstream movies. If there is a movie god, please never let this woman be relegated to lower roles such as maids, servants, slaves or second fiddle. Taraji proved that she can headline a movie with her performance in this movie. She carried it, and was tough as nails and looked beautiful to boot. Great for kids and inspiring for girls and young women of all hues. Michael Clarke Duncan, although only having a few speaking parts, was also good and Henry Simmons was fine as always.

Currently watching this movie. I looked up further info about Catana. Everything I read said that her first team was all Black males not the mix as shown in the movie. Just wonder why they didn't make that part of her story authentic. Enjoying the movie.

Loved this movie, very entertaining and uplifting. Inspirational and thought provoking. Characters were very believable and I loved message. I would highly recommend this movie. Great family movie. Something for everyone in the family. Music also great. I thought acting was quite good. I loved the fact the movie was based on a true story, it made it more meaningful. A new spin on a sports and diversity and adversity story. I think this is a great movie for teens. Very relatable because of the types of characters who end up on the golf team and how they each need to overcome their individual hardship and ban together as a team.

"We are all, all of us, including me somebody else's table scraps." Tennessee State University is having a problem with their sports programs. In order to save money they decide to drop the baseball team and add two smaller programs. One of the new programs they add is a men's golf team. The biggest problem they have is that no one wants to coach. The AD recruits swim team coach Catana Starks (Henson) since she has experience playing. She is very excited at the opportunity but when she is told she will receive no scholarships, funding or any help at all she decides to make her own rules. I love sports movies and especially the true ones like this. Like many sports movies this one focuses on the personal stories rather then the sport itself. That's what makes them so great. Unlike other sports movies though this one has a huge focus on the coach's life rather then how she helps the team come together. There are a few cheesy parts in this but for the most part the movie is very inspiring. There really isn't a big motivational speech like many sports movies have but what it does have are little lines that have the same power and inspiration as the long speeches usually given. The characters are great and are really likable. I really did enjoy this and I recommend this but it is not at the same level as Remember The Titans or movies like that. Overall, a very good and inspiring true story that I recommend. Even though there are a few cheesy parts it never comes off as being overly cheesy and laughable. I give this a B+.