That all-consuming drive towards being a professional athlete eats away at two inner-city Chicago boys and their families. And yet, they still find time to celebrate the little victories along the way, keeping this film from diving too much into an exploration in futility, and more of a life-affirming exploration of the nature of dreams.
Every school day, African-American teenagers William Gates and Arthur Agee travel 90 minutes each way from inner-city Chicago to St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois, a predominately white suburban school well-known for the excellence of its basketball program. Gates and Agee dream of NBA stardom, and with the support of their close-knit families, they battle the social and physical obstacles that stand in their way. This acclaimed documentary was shot over the course of five years.
Quick Stats
7.6
TMDB Rating
336
Votes
2h 54m
Runtime
$700K
Budget
$7.8M
Box Office
1119%
Return
Key Crew
DirectorSteve James
WriterFrederick Marx
CinematographyPeter Gilbert
ComposerBen Sidran
EditorFenell Doremus
Produced by
Fine Line FeaturesKartemquin Films
Where to Watch
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Critics & Reviews
1 featuredCast
William Gates
Self
Arthur Agee
Self
G
Gene Pingatore
Self
Steve James
Narrator (voice)
Dick Vitale
Self
Bobby Knight
Self
Spike Lee
Self
Isiah Thomas
Self
