Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault (1996)

This movie I saw once but often think about the legend of "The Goat." I don't remember specific scenes particularly but I oft' think about this film. I'm not sure even when or even if I meant to see this. However thinking any film that has "The Goat" in the title had to be good. The absolute brilliant portrayal by Don Cheadle (who was relatively unknown then) and the general true story about this should have been great player is something I often think about. Just how we often think about how much better people were when they are gone is how I think about this film. I'm almost afraid to watch it now as I have seen twice as many movies now then I did then and I have such a reverence for it that there is no way it is as good as I remember. Just as I thought "The Karate Kid" was so great when it came out and having gotten my brown belt in Koden Kan and watching it as an adult and laughing at how absolutely bad the karate is. I don't know if I should watch it having studied film. Granted I'm no Roger Ebert (the only real movie reviewer that counts, Roeper do you know what makes a good film!!! Earl Dittman *cough* a guy that thinks anything on film is the best thing he's ever seen, Shame on you studios for thinking we will see things like "Daddy Day Camp!" Cuba Gooding Jr. you won an Oscar! What happened?) Sorry back to the movie If you want to see a movie no one has ever heard of and is a sad story but wished they could have seen this guy dunk on 12 foot rim (I think that is how high the top of the backboard is) how cool would that have been to see? Anyway kids don't do drugs, and maybe someday we could see some one like this someday. I particularly remember Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when asked after all the players he played against and with saying that "The Goat" was the toughest player he had ever played against. I just remember waiting all basketball season long to see Larry Bird and the Celtics play Magic Johnson & Kareem & the Lakers. Well just see this flick. If it is as good as remember just give this flick a try.

was a great movie I thought it told of a mans life the roads each of us choose sometimes the bad as well as the good all in all the goat made the right move eventually . great movie true to life it showed the great city of new york for which Iam from fantastic new york story it also shows what do a man do when he falls he gets up it also focus on greats like Connie Hawkins/earl the pearl / Kareem Abdul jab bar/wilt chamberlain also it showed the real EARL MANIGAULT FANTASTIC he had moves that were not seen in those days......all of the actors were fantastic including don himself great movie that all should see also Eric Lasalle was fantastic as a director......

Not really a basketball film - most of the action is pretty poor, but the film is a message of being disiplined and not succumbing to the things that can cause you top loose your dreams. Specifically abound the NBA but it does apply generally. It is inspiring to see "the goat" as a junkie and a failure but to rise up again as far as he could. Don Cheadle is excellent as ever - in fact most of the cast is. But please! Eric la Salle is truely awful, haming up his character, including sub-plots that means his character looses his hands, plays ball and visibly suffers the effects of drugs - all of which he does badly and it's almost like he set it up for him to "show-piece" his hammy acting. Apart from him it's a good TV movie and the story makes up for the lower production values.

Like many, I had never even heard of Earl Manigault until I saw the movie. I am not even that much of a basketball fan. But after seeing this movie, it created an all new interest in not only basketball, but learning a little more about Earl Manigault.It also teaches us a valuable lesson that I have always believed in.No matter how bad you may think you sank, there is always a way to make things better for yourself. Earl found that out with some help and taught it to a whole new generation of kids. Just like it said in the movie: " He rose on the court and fell, only to rise again".