Pride (2007)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

Sunu Gonera

Writers (WGA):

Kevin Michael Smith (screenplay) &
Michael Gozzard (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

23 March 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Family | Sport

Tagline:

Inspired by true events.

Plot:

The determined Jim Ellis starts a swim team for troubled teens at the Philadelphia Department of Recreation. |

Plot Keywords:

Teenage Boy | Basketball | Janitor | Teenage Girl | Coach

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Terrence Howard	...	Jim Ellis
Bernie Mac	...	Elston
Kimberly Elise	...	Sue Davis
Tom Arnold	...	Bink
Brandon Fobbs	...	Puddin Head
Alphonso McAuley	...	Walt
Regine Nehy	...	Willie
Nate Parker	...	Hakim
Kevin Phillips	...	Andre
Scott Eastwood	...	Jake (as Scott Reeves)
Evan Ross	...	Reggie
Gary Anthony Sturgis	...	Franklin (as Gary Sturgis)
Jesse Moore	...	Artrell (Willie's Father)
Carol Sutton	...	Ophelia (Andre's Mother)
Tony Bentley	...	Race Official (UOFB) (as Tony Bently)

Also Known As:

P.D.R. (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic material, language including some racial epithets, and violence.

Runtime:

USA:104 min | Germany:104 min (European Film Market)

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:PG (certificate #43194) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Louisiana State University - Highland Road & Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Cinered Internationale Filmproduktionsgesellschaft mbH & Co. 1. Beteiligungs KG

Trivia:

The journal that the character of Puddin Head writes in is actor Brandon Fobbs's actual personal journal.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: As Sue drives away after meeting Jim at the diner, the camera is visible in the triangle window of her car over Terrence Howard's shoulder.

Quotes:

Jim Ellis: My life is way too short for me to spend my time around people who don't care about nothin'.

Movie Connections:

References "Good Times" (1974)

Soundtrack:

LET'S CLEAN UP THE GHETTO

Solid Sports Flick - Terrible Ad Campaign

It's obvious that a lot of people giving PRIDE a "1" are reacting to the trailers and radio ads that make this movie come off as a "black vs. white" thang. In reality, the movie it self is much more nuanced and filled with universal themes. It's been said that the achievement in sport by people of color is responsible more than anything to bring a semblance of equality in America. In sports, it's mathematical. A strike is a strike, a touchdown's a touchdown no matter who throws it. PRIDE is worth supporting because it shines light on a real-life person who used sports to teach young kids there's a bigger world past the playground, and if you develop your talents you won't have to fall back on the race card to catch breaks. Pride is a solid sports flick with strong performances by all that will suffer because of some unimaginative and lazy marketing. If you like Terrence Howard or Bernie Mac or even Kimberly Elise, make this one worth your time. Otherwise, wait for the Mark Gastineau story.