Wolff rating: NOT BAD
Plot summary: A worn-out coach considers letting alumni money do some of his recruiting.
Biased, pithy comments: This is a character piece and a morality play. It contains some pretty mean hoops by O'Neal and company, but most of the action is inside Nolte's head. This would have been a much worse movie if someone less talented than Nolte had been in the spotlight, but even so the script seems strangely bland; it doesn't really feel like national championship basketball---the crowd is too mellow and shouts at the wrong time, among other things. Still, McDonnell plays the too-close ex just as well as she did in {\it Sneakers} and the facts, such as they seem to be, about college recruiting seem to be pretty accurate in comparison with what I've read.
Other Notes: Isn't St. Joeseph's in the suburbs?
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Nick Nolte, Mary McDonnell, J. T. Walsh, Anfernee Hardaway, Shaquille O'Neal, Matt Nover.
Directed by: William Friedkin