"The Best Shot" - a film about change leading to good

"The Best Shot" - a film about change leading to good

One of the best sports movie productions of all time

Scott Fitzgerald wrote some time ago that Americans do not get second chances at life. His words are accepted as truth by many residents of the United States, but they are far from the truth. The message of new hope, of the battle between David and Goliath, the story of the transformation of a humble high school basketball team into a contender for the state championship title, intertwined with the personal drama of the coach trying to atone for the sins of the not-so-good life he leads are woven together in "The Best Shot", or in English "Hoosiers", which is definitely worth the attention of any sports movie lover.

According to "Best Shot" director David Anspaugh and screenwriter Angelo Pizzo, everyone deserves a second chance at a better, fuller life. For them, the mistakes of the past do not mean that you should bury your head in the ground and never raise it again. These are the ideas that one can perceive when looking at their creation for the first time.

It tells the story of a former college basketball coach who, in 1951, decides to return to his usual profession and takes over the team at High School in Indiana. Gene Hackman plays the role of coach Norman Dale, who has to play a man who sought a way to atone for the sins accumulated in the past. Dale's motivational words to the players quickly made him a crowd favorite. He tells the players that they face the challenge of proving themselves to everyone. His dark past is unknown to the people at the high school, but one of the teachers there, Myra Fleener, played by Barbara Hershey, senses that Dale's work is not entirely clean.

Coach Norman quickly lifts the spirits of the team and shows how strength of character and will can affect a team's performance. On top of that, he has to deal with his sidekick Shooter, played by Dennis Hopper, who is the town drunk. Shooter is also the father of one of the most talented kids on the team. Coach Dale sets a second goal aside from getting the team back on its feet, which is to help Shooter get back to normal life and become a part of society again.

The most dramatic moment in the film is when the High School team goes up against a team from a big city in the state of Indiana. In effect, this is a battle between David and Goliath, pre-arranged. Still, the surprise is a fact, but it is not the most challenging, because with every single minute of the film, you realize that the theme of the outsider achieving unexpected success is one of the main ones. Far more challenging is watching the work of Dale and his sidekick who, it's safe to say, revive a dead man and lead him to his best days.

Many residents of the state identify the events of the film as describing the history of the National Basketball Association team Indiana Pacers. Something that people who don't follow the NBA can hardly feel.

The love story is also present in "Best Shot" after Dale falls in love with teacher Myra Fleener. Their relationship is extremely interesting, even though it seems like it's very much in the background and there are skimpy or cut scenes that could describe it better.

The ending is not at all surprising. It's typical of any sports movie, because in the end, the high school team achieves its magical winning streak. How this is achieved is important. The personal story of Coach Dale, Shooter and the players is important. The combination of sports success and personal growth makes The Best Shot a real treat for sports movie lovers.