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List Price: $29.99 | | Label: Miramax
Salesrank: 14800
Released: February 27, 2007 |
| Our Price: $9.99 |
| Used Price: $7.76 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
One need not have any interest in basketball to be moved by Ward Serrill's incredibly moving hypnotically riveting documentary. A HOOP DREAMS-style story transposed onto females in middle-class Seattle THE HEART OF THE GAME follows a high school basketball team's trials and tribulations over six years. Though it follows a team the film is ultimately the story of two unique courageous very different individuals--coach Bill Resler and star point guard Darnellia Russell. Resler who has very little experience as a coach has given up his career as a University of Washington economics professor to help out the Roosevelt Roughriders and their struggle to win the coveted state championship. Resler proves a brilliant and unorthodox coach with an almost metaphysical approach to athletic leadership. Along the way there are setbacks of all sorts not least of which is the race and class barrier between the poor African-American Darnellia and her paler richer teammates. With seamless editing powerful characters and multiple subplots Serrill's film unfolds like a great epic. And adding to the tale's innate drama is some excellent basketball footage which should prove compelling even to those without an athletic bone in his or her body. Rousing and complex HEART OF THE GAME is documentary at its most powerful and spirited. Award-winning musician Ludacris narrates.System Requirements:Running Time: 103 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. Rating: NR UPC: 786936704594 Manufacturer No: 05060600
Description of The Heart of the Game:
The Heart of the Game is, simply put, one of the most enjoyable and joyous documentaries ever made. For several years, the movie follows a girls' basketball team called the Rough Riders from a Seattle high school as they strive to win the state championship, and in the process discovers heart-wrenching twists of fate, vivid and compelling characters, colorful dialogue, and a nail-biting conclusion. The Heart of the Game starts with Bill Resler, a professor of tax law who agrees to become the head coach for the girls' basketball program at Roosevelt High School. He swiftly challenges the players with demanding drills and wild metaphors (each year he picks a different theme for the team, from "pack of wolves" to "tropical storm")--and the girls take him on, pulling together into a potent team. But when a girl from a poor neighborhood named Darnellia Russell joins the Rough Riders, her skill takes their fortunes even higher--until she unexpectedly has to quit. From there, the movie takes more and more compelling turns, carried along by the winning personalities of Bill and Darnellia. The Heart of the Game, like Hoop Dreams, works first as an exhilarating sports movie, but has a rich human story that will make it fascinating to people who don't care about basketball. First-time filmmaker Ward Serrill lucked out with the material, but he clearly labored to shape what must have been thousands of hours of footage into a taut, headlong movie. His labor paid off. See this movie. --Bret Fetzer
The Heart of the Game Reviews:
Art, Miami 
2008-08-25 - I caught the last half of this documentary on cable and was immediately mesmerized. It's a wonderful story of persistence and the fact that it plays out over a six year period makes it all that more fascinating.
Heart of the Game
2008-06-13 - This is a great movie as far as life lessons and high school sports go. I coach girls basketball and plan on having everyone watch this film. There is something valuable in almost every word or situation that occurs.
Great films that makes you ask some questions
2008-05-03 - This was a wonderfully engrossing film, a real find. I think Coach Resler was absolutely right in getting his female players to attack ferociously and not avoid contact, he had half the battle won already. But in thinking about the film after seeing it, I was left with some troubling questions:
1. While it seems clear that Darnellia Russell should have received a hardship year after being away from school with her baby, I'm surprised whe wasn't suspended or removed from the team for earlier transgressions. Going into the crowd, for one.
2. The players' extensive use of profanity is not consistent with Coach Resler's image of imparting life lessons.
3. How could the Coach or the other players not have been clued in to Devon Crosby-Helms' troubles with Tony Giles?
4. I'm struck by how worn out and tired Coach Resler looks by the end of the film. He didn't look or sound like the same guy anymore.
Those questions notwithstanding, this film was well worth seeing. Strongly recommended.
A must see for anyone interested in sports for young women
2007-12-21 - I read the book "The Heart of the Team" first. That was excellent. I think you get more out of the book. However, it was wonderful to see some live footage of the team playing in the movie. I think anyone interested in coaching women's sporting teams should watch this movie and read the book. If only because it is fun and inspiring. Way to go Bill!!! This movie is a documentary, so it didn't capture my five year old daughter's interest like "Bend It Like Beckham" did. It would be nice to have more movies available to inspire young girls to enjoy sports.
It is way more than a sports documentary 
2007-09-26 - You don't have to be a sports fan to enjoy this movie. Ward captures a great story in the middle of a sports setting. There is entertainment and enjoyment for all ages in this film. It is amazing that this is a true story. I especially enjoyed the quotes and comments of the head basketball coach.
Looking forward to Ward's next release. Hope he continues to find great
characters as he did with Bill Resler in this film.
