Amateur (2018)
14-year-old basketball phenom Terron Forte has to navigate the under-the-table world of amateur athletics when he is recruited to an elite NCAA prep school.
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This movie strips the reality of it all back at just the right amount as to not spoil the plot too much but still strike enough of a chord if you've got any personal connection to the game, fantastic watch and very moving
The storyline and acting are as square as can be. The slow mo gameplay footage clearly laughable with opponents clearly not attempting to block advances at all and letting the lead player through what looked like spaces wide as barn doors. Think how boxing scenes in third tier boxing movies always play out: the opponents don't bother to block or duck away from any oncoming punches, they also start turning their heads even before the punch lands... Writing seems to have been done by someone with no knowledge of neither basketball or reality. For instance: the new young rookie recruit asks if he will be a starter (starting 5 players) in his very first game for his new team. When and where has that ever happened? Also moral aspects are here poorly accentuated in spades. It all feels and reads like a poor Hallmark After School Special.
First off great movie. Nothing like any other basketball movie because the kid is friggin 14. He Got Game although stars the best baller ever Ray Allen is not about the game. Especially a child playing the game. The college game is lost and this is the reason why. It took 20 years for people to listen to Blue Chip. We need to start paying our student athletes because it's hard period to survive. Unemployment is hitting all time lows but 10% are hoarding all the money. If you haven't seen Blue Chip or He Got Game... why? Who are you?
With today's internet use and brands investing billions, Amateur exposes the current basketball system. Wonderfully written and directed. Don't miss.