The Winning Season
The Winning Season

Movie spotlight

The Winning Season

2009
Movie
119 min
English

A comedy centered on a has-been coach who is given a shot at redemption when he's asked to run his local high school's girls basketball team

Insights

IMDb6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes45%
Metacritic52/100
Google Users68%
Director: Tom BradyGenres: Comedy, Drama, Sport

Plot Summary

A former college basketball star, who is now an incarcerated convict, is given a chance to coach a struggling high school basketball team as part of a work-release program. He must overcome his own demons and the team's lack of talent to lead them to victory.

Critical Reception

The Winning Season received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised its earnest performances and heartfelt story, others found its narrative predictable and its humor lacking.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its earnest performances and a surprisingly touching portrayal of redemption.

  • Criticized for a formulaic plot that doesn't offer many surprises.

  • Some reviewers found the blend of sports drama and character study to be effective, while others felt it was uneven.

Google audience: Audience reviews indicate a split; many appreciated the emotional journey and the performances, particularly from the lead actors. However, a significant portion found the film to be a bit too cliché and predictable in its sports movie tropes.

Fun Fact

The film was inspired by a true story about a basketball coach named Mickey Barrett who coached a team in Queens, New York, while on work release from prison.

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