This is easily one of the best documentaries of all time. The film chronicles the lives of William Gates and Arthur Agee from high school freshman through their senior years. If the film were about basketball or football or baseball or the National Spelling Bee, it would be telling the same tale to some degree. Competitions, notably sports, seem to be the only ticket out of the ghetto for many children.
Early in the film William and Arthur are recruited to play for top private school St. Joseph’s. William is considered to be the next Isiah Thomas, who also went to that school on his way to the NBA. He’s put on the varsity team as a freshman. Arthur plays on the freshman team. He has the skill, but lacks the discipline. When his parents can’t pay his tuition, he is kicked out. William on the other hand who looks to be a future high school All American gets all his tuition paid for by an alumni.
The St. Joseph’s sports machine doesn’t look positive at times throughout the film. It’s all about the money. It’s just scary that it has to start in junior high. But what really makes the film special is its frank look at life in the poor inner city. We get wrapped up in the daily trials and tribulations of both the Gates and Agee families. Emma Gates, William’s mother, is a hopeful single mom, who has witnessed the realities to an NBA dream first hand with her older son, Curtis, who now has a hard time keeping a job. Sheila Agee, Arthur’s mother, tries her hardest to keep her family together on welfare as she still finds time to go to nursing school. Despite times with no electricity, Sheila is kind when Arthur’s best friend Shannon Johnson comes to live with the Agee’s because his home life is far worse. Bo Agee, Arthur’s father, struggles with a drug problem.
Some of the stories turn out more positively than others, but underneath all the hardships show a true sense of hope and family. If this film has any real overall message, it’s that if you don’t waste your talents and opportunities you can dream big, but if you don’t make it it’s not the end of the world because if you’re shooting for the moon and only make it to the clouds it’s better than staying on the ground and never taking the leap.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
