Reviews

Contrary to IMDB describing this movie as a "drama/documentary," it's actually a comedy/MOCKumentary. Cheryl Dunye plays "Cheryl Dunye," a video store employee who is making a documentary about a black film actress from the 1930s. The 1930s actress is a fictional character, and Dunye does a nice job integrating the "film within a film" into her story.

Yes there are dramatic elements, particularly around race relations in the lesbian community. But there are many comedic moments, and very droll one liners. Dunye does a nice job gently poking fun at lesbians, African Americans, and radical leftists (the scene at the Center for Lesbian Info and Technology -- figure out THAT acronism -- is hilarious).

Some of the acting is amateurish (though Dunye herself is a standout! I wish she would keep appearing on-camera in other films. She's very talented). And Dunye the director should have done re-takes in a couple of shots where the actors blow their lines. But the clever idea of a mockumentary really makes the film interesting -- nice debut for Dunye. Will be interesting to see how her career pans out.

As others have said, this is a 3-hour movie that just breezes by! The story of these kids and their families holds your attention more than most feature films.

Having said that, I was surprised by many of the others' comments here. I didn't see this so much as a testament to the nobility of people in the ghetto, or any "guilty white liberal" perspective that keeps popping up in the comments here. Instead, I kept getting frustrated by the BAD decisions these people kept making, despite their obvious good intentions, and genuine love for their families.

***SPOILERS BELOW -- IF YOU DON'T WANT PLOT POINTS REVEALED, DON'T READ THIS****

For example: William Gates and his girlfriend having a child so young. A life-handicapping decision. For a guy with such big dreams, you'd think it would occur to him that that's not a great idea for a high school student.

Another example: Arthur's mother going on welfare. Now, here's an intelligent, attractive, well-spoken, able-bodied woman who seems capable of doing many, many kinds of work. She needlessly subjected her family to hardships, when instead, she could have found gainful employment. (Before you all jump on me: Yes, I heard her say she was "disabled" from an injury at work. I didn't buy that -- she could have found some other kind of work. And yes, like other viewers, I was thrilled for her when she finished her nursing program, and thought it was quite ironic that she finished at the top of her class, when her son was failing his work. She was a great role model for him in that regard.)

But the scene where she blames "the system" for taking away money from her family: Give me a break, lady!! "The system" gave your kid a shot at a great education. YOU are deciding not to provide for your family in the best way possible.

Another example: I didn't feel one bit sorry for William's brother. He CHOSE not to finish college, and he CHOSE to live vicariously through his brother.

Final example: Though this is more a tragedy, really, than a bad decision. It really was sad that Arthur's father, who loved his family and had good intentions, was so pulled by drugs and petty crime that he couldn't really "walk the walk" despite "talking the talk" re: helping his son live his dream. I was glad that he seemed to get himself straightened out -- he seemed like a good guy (and Arthur's mother seemed like a decent person, too, despite my criticisms above), so it was nice to see him come back to the family. But it's a tragedy, because that's the kind of crap that tears up inner-city families (just think: If he'd been able to keep a steady job and support his family: How different might things have been?)

Other people here blamed the coaches: No way. These guys are doing their jobs. They really want to help the kids, I think. They'd rather see these guys play well, do well in school, go to college and graduate, rather than be screw-ups who can't even pass the ACT (an easier test than the SAT, by the way). I mean, FIVE times to take the ACT, and then the score has to be rounded up to a barely passing mark? Again: Give me a break!! William knew for years what would be expected of him, but he was too distracted by injuries and fatherhood to focus on stuff that a 17-year-old kid SHOULD be focused on.

But I loved this movie: Anything that gets you thinking like this MUST be a good film. I highly recommend it.

I'd love to see a "where are they now" kind of thing, to see what's happened to all these people, 10 years later....