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Hoosiers Movie Review Summary

Actors: Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Hoosiers


A strong-willed college coach is banned from coaching college basketball by the NCAA for life (about 1940). After 10 years in the Navy, a friend (high school principal in rural Indiana) recruits him to coach the school's (total enrollment 64) basketball team. He must win over the close-knit church-going town, a skeptical team and teacher, Barbara Hersey. He not only improves his life, but wins over the town and the heart of Barbara Hersey by leading the team to the Indiana high school basketball championship game.
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The review of this Movie prepared by a Level 1 Blue Jay scholar

Before Gene Hackman coached a pro football team filled with misfits in The Replacements, he was the coach of an Indiana high-school basketball team in Hoosiers. The basketball team is also filled with misfits, but Hackman has a way of keeping them in line. The games are shot in black-and-white, which gives the film an authentic 1950s feel. The season is told in retrospective by a player who describes the action that builds up to the state championship game.
The review of this Movie prepared by Teddy




In 1951, washed-up college basketball coach Norman Dale (Hackman) arrives in tiny Hickory, Indiana to take the job of coaching the small and undisciplined squad of Hickory High. The citizens becomes suspicious of his unorthodox methods, the vice principal (Hershey) tries to keep his best player in the classroom, and another boy's father is the town drunk (Hopper), whom Dale nevertheless takes on as his assistant coach. With the whole town wanting him fired, Dale and his plucky team aim for the state championships. This is a lovely, uncomplicated, and moving film about life's underdogs that will make you cheer. Hopper won a best supporting actor Oscar in place of the one he should have gotten for "Blue Velvet" that same year.
The review of this Movie prepared by David Loftus



Script Analysis of Hoosiers

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Plot & Themes

Time/era of movie:    -   1930's-1950's Kind of sports story:    -   basketball Sports story?    -   Yes Job/Profession/Poverty Story?    -   Yes Job:    -   athlete

Main Character

Identity:    -   Male Profession/status:    -   coach Age:    -   40's-50's Ethnicity/Nationality    -   White American

Setting

United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Midwest Farm/Ranch?    -   Yes Farm/Ranch:    -   farm Small town?    -   Yes Small town people:    -   ignorant small town people Misc setting    -   sports arena

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   no torture/death Any profanity?    -   Occasional swearing

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