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Terrence Howard goes the inspirational sports movie route -- can anyone guess why gay audiences would be interested?
Dive Right in -- What's in the Water's F-I-N-E:
Pride
3-23-07 "Knight Thoughts" web exclusive
By Richard Knight, Jr.
Pride
3-23-07 "Knight Thoughts" web exclusive
By Richard Knight, Jr.
Terrence Howard steps into traditional sports movie territory with Pride. The movie is based on the true story of Jim Ellis, an
aquatics coach who can’t get a job in his profession during the early 1970s in Philadelphia. Jim, who once had a promising career as
a swimmer has one hot prospect. This is a position as an assistant swimming coach at a wealthy private school. But his chances
end the moment that the head coach, played by subtle racist Tom Arnold, sees that he’s black. Desperate, Jim accepts a temporary
post cleaning out a community center that’s scheduled to be closed by the city’s community liaison (Kimberly Elise) because it’s
fallen into neglect after being forgotten by the youth it’s supposed to serve. The center is presided over by Elston, a cranky janitor
(played by Bernie Mac) who just wants to lie on his cot and watch TV and certainly wants no part of Jim.
But Jim is determined to do a good job and it’s not long after he begins clearing out the clutter that he comes upon the center’s
vast, unused pool. Soon, the pool area has been cleaned out and Jim is taking a daily dip. Then at Jim's urging, a group of
itinerant local toughs who play basketball at the center are joining him in the water and just a couple of laps or two beyond that
they've formed a team in order to compete with those snotty, racist white kids that Arnold has been coaching to glory all these years
without any competition. A subplot involves a drug dealer who wants several of Jim’s team members to peddle dope for him and
Jim's nascent romance with the lovely Elise.
Pretty much everything in Pride follows the template of dozens of other inspirational sports movies and its only fresh angle seems to
be utilizing a cast of talented African-Americans poured into what have traditionally been stories of white dominated sports teams.
But like its white counterparts, the movie’s very predictability is perhaps its greatest asset. Thus, this is a world where hard work and
perseverance will triumph over adversity AND erase racism, dignity and intelligence will win out over oafish ignorance and violence,
romance will blossom in the least likely of places, the Pusher Man will be bested, the cranky curmudgeon will end up smiling, etc.,
etc.
The result is just as satisfying, the music score just as inspiring (and the soundtrack is salted with a raft of hot 70s tunes), and the
adverse conditions and bumps in the journey just as predictable as previous sports movies of the same ilk. For gay audiences in
general, and dinge queens in particular, Pride also offers the added bonus of watching a bunch of half naked black hunks frolicking
at length while engaged in traditional water sports (and no, NOT those water sports, ladies).
aquatics coach who can’t get a job in his profession during the early 1970s in Philadelphia. Jim, who once had a promising career as
a swimmer has one hot prospect. This is a position as an assistant swimming coach at a wealthy private school. But his chances
end the moment that the head coach, played by subtle racist Tom Arnold, sees that he’s black. Desperate, Jim accepts a temporary
post cleaning out a community center that’s scheduled to be closed by the city’s community liaison (Kimberly Elise) because it’s
fallen into neglect after being forgotten by the youth it’s supposed to serve. The center is presided over by Elston, a cranky janitor
(played by Bernie Mac) who just wants to lie on his cot and watch TV and certainly wants no part of Jim.
But Jim is determined to do a good job and it’s not long after he begins clearing out the clutter that he comes upon the center’s
vast, unused pool. Soon, the pool area has been cleaned out and Jim is taking a daily dip. Then at Jim's urging, a group of
itinerant local toughs who play basketball at the center are joining him in the water and just a couple of laps or two beyond that
they've formed a team in order to compete with those snotty, racist white kids that Arnold has been coaching to glory all these years
without any competition. A subplot involves a drug dealer who wants several of Jim’s team members to peddle dope for him and
Jim's nascent romance with the lovely Elise.
Pretty much everything in Pride follows the template of dozens of other inspirational sports movies and its only fresh angle seems to
be utilizing a cast of talented African-Americans poured into what have traditionally been stories of white dominated sports teams.
But like its white counterparts, the movie’s very predictability is perhaps its greatest asset. Thus, this is a world where hard work and
perseverance will triumph over adversity AND erase racism, dignity and intelligence will win out over oafish ignorance and violence,
romance will blossom in the least likely of places, the Pusher Man will be bested, the cranky curmudgeon will end up smiling, etc.,
etc.
The result is just as satisfying, the music score just as inspiring (and the soundtrack is salted with a raft of hot 70s tunes), and the
adverse conditions and bumps in the journey just as predictable as previous sports movies of the same ilk. For gay audiences in
general, and dinge queens in particular, Pride also offers the added bonus of watching a bunch of half naked black hunks frolicking
at length while engaged in traditional water sports (and no, NOT those water sports, ladies).
