69% (3) Finding Forrester 136 min, PG-13, [Drama] [Gus Van Sant] [12 Jan 2001]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 73%, Rotten Tomatoes: 74%, Metacritic: 62%, External Reviews
Awards: 5 wins & 13 nominations.
Actors: Anna Paquin, F. Murray Abraham, Rob Brown, Sean Connery
Writer: Mike Rich
External Links: Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English, German Country: USA
Plot: Because of scoring exceptionally high on a statewide standardized exam and being an exceptionally good basketball player Jamal Wallace is sent to a prestigious prep school in Manhattan. He soon befriends the reclusive writer, William Forrester.
Rotten Tomatoes: Four decades ago, William Forrester won a Pulitzer Prize for his classic novel. That was the last time the world heard of him. Now a recluse in Manhattan, his passion for literature is awakened by Jamal a 16-year old basketball player recruited by an elite Manhattan prep school for his brilliance both on and off the court. When Jamal sneaks into Forrester's apartment, he accidentally leaves behind his backpack, full of his precious writings. Finding these, Forrester is opened to a new world, one that gives him a reason to look past his prejudice and a reason to emerge from his self-imposed solitude. Forrester becomes his first fan and opens Jamal's eyes to a world of academia beyond the South Bronx apartment he shares with his adoring mother and brother. Though at times contentious, Forrester befriends Jamal and becomes his mentor. They spend many hours in Forrester's dusty apartment laughing, learning, debating and dedicating themselves to the love that binds them - the written word. Forrester convinces Jamal to enter the school's writing contest, but their friendship and loyalty is tested when Jamal must face an accusation of plagiarism - alone.
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64% (3) Coach Carter 136 min, PG-13, [Biography, Drama, Sport] [Thomas Carter] [14 Jan 2005]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 73%, Rotten Tomatoes: 64%, Metacritic: 57%, External Reviews
Awards: 3 wins & 15 nominations.
Actors: Rick Gonzalez, Rob Brown, Robert Ri'chard, Samuel L. Jackson
Writer: Mark Schwahn, John Gatins
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English Country: USA, Germany
Plot: In 1999, Ken Carter accepts the job of basketball coach for his old high school in a poor area of Richmond, CA. As much dismayed by the poor attitudes of his players as well as their dismal play performance, Carter sets about to change both. He imposes a strict regime typified in written contracts that demand respectful behavior, a dress code and good grades for players. Any initial resistance is soon dispelled as the team under Carter's tutelage becomes a undefeated competitor. However, when the overconfident team's behavior begins to stray with too many doing poorly in class, Carter takes immediate action. To the outrage of the team, the school and the community, Carter cancels all team activities and locks the court until the team shows acceptable academic improvement. In the ensuing debate, Carter fights to keep his methods, determined to show the boys that they need good values for their futures and eventually finds he has affected them more profoundly than he ever expected.
Rotten Tomatoes: The true-life story of a coach who tries to teach his players that there's more to life than basketball is brought to the screen in this sports drama. Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) was once a star player on the Richmond High School basketball team in Richmond, CA, and years later, after establishing himself in publishing and marketing, he returns to the school and to the team as the new basketball coach. Carter quickly sees that his work is cut out for him -- the team is having an awful season, and their fights off the court are more decisive than their play on the court. While Carter wants to make the Richmond cagers into a winning team, he also wants a lot more -- to teach the boys to respect themselves and one another, and that they must excel in the classroom as well as in the gymnasium. Under Carter's guidance, the team turns their losing season around, with the state title a genuine possibility. However, when Carter learns that a number of his players have let their grade point averages slip below 2.3, as mandated in a contract he entered into with the students, he decides to lock the team out of the gym and send them into study hall until their marks improve. Carter's plan quickly becomes a subject of controversy among parents and team boosters, and their objections are soon picked up by the local news media, many of whom are not sympathetic to Carter's belief that his players must have goals beyond college ball or the NBA. Coach Carter also features Rob Brown and Rick Gonzalez as members of the team, and R&B diva Ashanti in her film debut as the girlfriend of one of Carter's players. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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64% (3) The Express 130 min, PG, [Biography, Drama, Sport] [Gary Fleder] [10 Oct 2008]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 73%, Rotten Tomatoes: 61%, Metacritic: 58%, External Reviews
Awards: 1 win & 3 nominations.
Actors: Clancy Brown, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Dennis Quaid, Omar Benson Miller, Rob Brown
Writer: Charles Leavitt, Robert Gallagher (book)
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English Country: USA, Germany
Plot: This biopic focuses on the relationship of Ernie Davis (1939-1963), a gifted African-American athlete, and his coach from 1958 to 1962 at Syracuse University, Ben Schwartzwalder (1909-1993). Schwartzwalder recruits Davis with the help of All-American running back, Jim Brown. The civil rights movement is gaining steam; Davis experiences prejudice on campus, in town, and on the field, sometimes from teammates. How he handles it and how he challenges Schwartzwalder to stand up for his players provide a counterpoint to several great seasons that lead first to a national championship and then to the Heismann Trophy.
Rotten Tomatoes: Finding Forrester star Rob Brown steps into the cleats of Heisman Trophy-winning gridiron giant Ernie Davis in director Gary Fleder's inspirational sports docudrama. As a young boy reared not far from the northern Pennsylvania state line, Davis dreamed of blasting through the end zone and scoring a triumphant touchdown while fans rose to their feet and cheered. When Davis later became a star running back for the Syracuse Orangemen, his dreams were finally on the way to becoming a reality. Under the wing of coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid), it seemed as if there is nothing that could stop Davis from entering into the annals of sports history; even during an era in which the civil rights movement was just gaining momentum, this fledgling gridiron giant never once doubted his ability to rise to the top. When Davis was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after being drafted into the NFL, however, his will to survive soon eclipsed his dreams of success. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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63% (3) Stop-Loss 112 min, R, [Drama, War] [Kimberly Peirce] [28 Mar 2008]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 65%, Rotten Tomatoes: 65%, Metacritic: 61%, External Reviews
Awards: 2 wins & 5 nominations.
Actors: Abbie Cornish, Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rob Brown, Ryan Phillippe
Writer: Mark Richard, Kimberly Peirce
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English Country: USA
Plot: Decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King makes a celebrated return to his small Texas hometown following his tour of duty. He tries to resume the life he left behind. Then, against Brandon's will, the Army orders him back to duty in Iraq, which upends his world. The conflict tests everything he believes in: the bond of family, the loyalty of friendship, the limits of love and the value of honor.
Rotten Tomatoes: After serving his tour of duty in Iraq, a young American soldier who is ordered to return to the front lines as part of the military's controversial stop-loss policy opts instead to go AWOL in a thought-provoking military drama directed by Kimberly Peirce. Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Philippe) is a decorated Iraq War veteran who once served his country with pride. After his tour of duty comes to an end, King returns to his Texas hometown and attempts to pick up where he once left off with a little help from his family, as well as long-time best friend and war buddy Steve Shriver (Channing Tatum). But just as Brandon, Steve, and the rest of their war buddies begin to settle back into civilian life, Uncle Sam comes calling on them once again. Suddenly ordered back into active duty, the disillusioned war veteran begins to question not just his ties to family and his longtime friendships, but his capacity for love and his sense of honor as well. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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55% (3) Take the Lead 118 min, PG-13, [Drama, Music] [Liz Friedlander] [07 Apr 2006]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 67%, Rotten Tomatoes: 43%, Metacritic: 55%, External Reviews
Awards: 1 win & 6 nominations.
Actors: Alfre Woodard, Antonio Banderas, Rob Brown, Yaya DaCosta
Writer: Dianne Houston
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English Country: USA
Plot: In New York, the polite dance instructor Pierre Dulaine sees a black teenager vandalizing the car of the director of a public school and on the next day he volunteers to teach dance to students to give respect, dignity, self-confidence, trust and teamwork. The reluctant director Augustine James offers the troublemakers that are in detention expecting Pierre to give-up of his intentions. Pierre struggles against the prejudice and ignorance of the students, parents and other teachers, but wins his battle when the group accepts to compete in a ballroom dance contest.
Rotten Tomatoes: Inspired by a true story, Antonio Banderas stars as internationally acclaimed ballroom dancer Pierre Dulane. The film revolves around a professional dancer who volunteers to teach in the New York City public school system. But when his classic methods clash with his students' hip hop instincts, he teams up with them to create a new style of dance and becomes their mentor in the process. "Take the Lead" co-stars Alfre Woodard and marks the feature directing debut of veteran music video helmer Liz Friedlander.
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52% (3) Criminal Activities 94 min, Not Rated, [Crime, Drama, Thriller] [Jackie Earle Haley] [20 Nov 2015]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 58%, Rotten Tomatoes: 48%, Metacritic: 51%, External Reviews
Actors: Christopher Abbott, Dan Stevens, Michael Pitt, Rob Brown
Writer: Robert Lowell
External Links: Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Language: English Country: USA
Plot: Pic is about four young guys who reunite at an ex-classmate's funeral. One mentions to the others inside information on a stock that is a guaranteed lock to make them instant millionaires. Unfortunately, the deal goes south along with their investment. Things go from bad to worse: one of them borrowed his share of the money from a mobster.
Rotten Tomatoes: Four friends stumble into a deal too good to refuse. But when the investment goes bad, they learn that part of their funding came from a notoriously ruthless crime boss...and it's payback time. Now, they must successfully kidnap a family member of a rival kingpin in order to erase the life-threatening debt. In way over their heads, if they can complete the assigned task without screwing up, they just might escape with their lives.
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