An Extraordinary True Story.

Director: Steve James, rated PG-13 for some drug content, language

Starring: William Gates, Arthur Agee, Emma Gates, Curtis Gates, Sheila Agee, Arthur "Bo" Agee, Earl Smith, Gene Pingatore, Isiah Thomas, Marlyn Hopewell, Bill Gleason, Patricia Weir

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You have to realize... that nobody cares about you. You're black. You're a young male. All you're supposed to do is deal drugs and mug women. The only reason why you're here... you can make their team win. If their team wins, these schools get a lot of money. This whole thing is revolving around money." - Spike Lee

Why watch this? Two boys dream of playing in the NBA. Their chances are very slim indeed.

Plot Summary: Filmed over five years, the documentary follows two young inner-city Chicago teenagers who share the ambitious goal of making it to the NBA. As they navigate the intense pressures of high school basketball, they are forced to confront grueling athletic expectations, academic hurdles, and severe economic hardships. Ultimately, their captivating journey serves as a deeply moving look at family, resilience, and the realities of the American sports pipeline.
 

Dad's Preview: Sports as long been the dangled incentive for the poor to work for, the near-impossible bar to keep jumping towards. Precious few make it, but those that do, get a lot of money and become the man. It disproportionately impacts black inner city boys, and this very good documentary takes that head on. It's an important perspective, for white, middle-class guys like me, to see what life is like on the streets. I would wish their life on anybody. However, families live in those places, scratching out a life, where murder and drug use is rampant. Young men die there too soon, and nobody seems to care, except their mothers. This film is bittersweet, as we get to know and admire these two men, all while seeing the cards stacked against them. It's made even sadder by the more global impact on countless boys and their families all across America. Some dream, ain't it.

Kartemquin Films; Fine Line Features