brusty1
This is a great little movie with a lot of heart that should have gotten more notice. Sam Rockwell is great and continues to prove he's one of the best actors of his generation. Basically, it's about a guy coaching a high school girl's basketball team. A movie doesn't need to have a bunch of effects or explosions or twists to be great. This is an example of a solid, realistic script and wonderful actors coming together to make something that deserves to be seen. If a movie can make me laugh, cry and think, it's one I want to see again and again. You owe it to yourself to give this film a try. There aren't many movies about women's basketball, and I'm glad they took a realistic approach instead of the typical teenage fare.
MartinHafer
In many ways, "The Winning Season" is a bit like "The Bad News Bears" for the 21st century, though I certainly enjoyed this newer film much more. I draw the comparison because a rather crude drunk (Sam Rockwell) reluctantly takes over as coach of a rather bedraggled team--much like Walter Matthau in "The Bad News Bears". The film begins with Rockwell working in the kitchen at a greasy spoon. It seems his life has spiraled out of control and he is now being given a chance at coaching once again. But, he's a drunk and his relationship with his ex-wife and daughter are a mess...and he seems to have zero people or coaching skills. How the heck can he pull together a team consisting of only six girls to make a winning season?This is an inappropriate film. It's fill of inappropriate language and I'd hate to think of either of my daughters ever having a coach like this guy. But, it's odd because you do like the guy in an odd way--he's not all bad. And, the dialog is quite clever and funny--and filled with expletives I think of it as a guilty pleasure--and a somewhat clichéd one as well. But, it's still likable and clever and well worth seeing if just for Rockwell's strange portrayal.
sdrawdedivadnairb
Every element comes together very well in this film give you much more than you'd expect from just another sports movie. Though it has a very "bad news bears" feel to it, the coach has real issues, but you don't really blame him for the problems he has. He ends up being more than just a coach to the girls, but a mentor and friend. The acting all blends together well, and make the characters seem real with a scrip written with today's teenagers in mind. Even the soundtrack and graphic elements are a great edition and gives really brings it together. I could normally care less about girl's basketball, but this movie will help you see there is more to this sport than just basketball. The winning season will captivate you and make you care about the characters and wish it was based on a true story.
Saad Khan
THE WINNING SEASON – CATCH IT ( B ) The Winning Season is one of those Independent movies, which try to cover all the Clichés of Independent Cinema. In this movie we will see all the typical Clichés, A Loser Dad (Check), Father, Daughter Broken relationship (Check), Racist (Check), Gays (Check), Handicaps (Check), Teen Romance, where Boy is Callous (Check), Teen Girl falling for older man (Check), Drunk Coach (Check) and above all Quirky comedy with Wanna be Realistic ending (Where they Lost the Game & still happy because they come so far)Duhhh. So, after checking all these Cliché you can see what this movie is about "Dealing with every effing issue ever existed in Independent movies at Once". Sam Rockwell, Margo Martindale, Emma Roberts, Rooney Mara, Conner Paolo & all others were good. So, besides saying all this I won't say it was a bad movie, I think it was pretty engaging because every second something was happening so you don't get bore. Rent it on DVD & enjoy (Don't buy) it will work great on lazy morning.
AD
