Quick Review: The Heart of the Game

Beware: Spoiler ahead if you read on...
I won't spoil the entire film, although I'm tempted to. The synopsis is simple: It's a story that captures the passion and energy of a Seattle high school girls' basketball team, the eccentricity of their unorthodox coach, and the incredible true story of one player's fight to play the game she loves. This is a documentary, shot in a 5 year span and released last year in select theatres, reminiscent of Hoop Dreams nostalgia. What I loved about this movie wasn't just the dramatic basketball footage; it was the drive of Darnellia, one of the main characters, and how she rose from her mistakes, how she matured and fought hard to make her dreams happen. In life, you find too many people who drop their dreams or aspirations when faced with true adversity. In fact, Darnellia's personality suggests she falls into this same category... but she doesn't. You absolutely connect with her, feel upset when she makes mistakes, but your heart jumps and you unknowingly praise her for her perseverance. The other thing I liked about the film was the constant encouragement the coach gave. He was direct with his players but always took the game of basketball and tried to apply it as a tool to better the players' lives. The movie's gripping, intense, and makes you wanna smile the whole way through, except for those moments where you feel something bad's gonna happen. You wanna see a success story unfold? Watch The Heart of the Game. You don't have to be basketball or sports fan to enjoy this feel-good flick.