| The Heart of the Game | 
 enlarge | Director: Ward Serrill
Actors: Ludacris, Joyce Walker (iii), Darnellia Russell, Alex Jessup, Devon Crosby Helms
Studio: Miramax
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.99
Buy Used: $6.29
You Save: $23.70 (79%)
New (46) Used (23) Collectible (1) from $6.29
Avg. Customer Rating:  28 reviews
Sales Rank: 8478
Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 98
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0 x 0
MPN: TM2632
UPC: 786936704594
EAN: 0786936704594
ASIN: B000LXGXX4
Theatrical Release Date: July 7, 2006
Release Date: February 27, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: DVD and case in excellant condition. Ships first class for fast delivery.
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Product Description
Go courtside for a true-life rush like no other in this inspirational documentary. Youll meet a real team full of drive toughness & the unbridled desire to make history. Follow the roosevelt roughriders girls basketball team during six turbulent seasonss. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 02/27/2007 Run time: 103 minutes Rating: Pg13
Amazon.com
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
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| Customer Reviews: Read 23 more reviews...
 Best Basketball Doc Since Hoop Dreams November 30, 2008
THE HEART OF THE GAME How is it that even sports documentaries seem to end with the great film cliche, "The Big Game"? You know how it works: you start with the scrappy underdogs that don't have a chance. Then that key player or coach comes in and turns every thing around and suddenly there is a chance to be champions. But it all hinges on that last big event when the whole world seems to be watching.
Maybe it's because that last pass, shoot or race can still put a lump in the throat and tear in the eye of even the most hardened of sports fans and movie goers. The Heart of the Game, a documentary about a girl's high school basketball team, the Roosevelt Rough Riders of Seattle, Washington, follows a new coach as he builds the team over seven years.
Ward Serrill, the film maker, could not have known he would end up with the aforementioned cliche when he began the project, but he must have been thrilled when it came about. Bill Resler, the college economics professor who became the team's coach, dreamed about the cliche of the big game and had to live through turmoil until "the big game" came about. And that turmoil, particularly the trials of two star players, Devon and Darnella, provides much of the drama for the viewer.
I highly recommend it for the sporting thrills, social commentary and unexpected humor (archive footage of early twentieth century woman's basketball. And you thought the guys used to have funky uniforms).
Art, Miami August 25, 2008
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 June 13, 2008
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 May 3, 2008
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 December 21, 2007
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.
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