basketball – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

Seasonal Watch: Basketball Movies – Jennifer Merin reports

June 6, 2026June 7, 2026 Jennifer Merin basketball, nba, sport films

For millions of Americans and for the international multitude who follow the sport, life at this time of year is all about basketball. Whether you’re a basketball fanatic or not, a diehard fan dedicated to an NBA team or not, or you’re crushing on a particular pro player or not, it’s hard not to follow the sport and its players at this time of year, when live playoff games are streaming and social media is screaming BASKETBALL. Thrilling videos let you watch, rewatch and marvel at the stunning choreography of great plays. But basketball life is chronicled off the courts, too, with inspiring cinematic stories about the game, its outstanding personnel and its social and cultural impact.

News

WEEK IN WOMEN: Sydney Freeland’s REZ BALL looks to score on Netflix – Brandy McDonnell reports

September 25, 2024September 28, 2024 Brandy McDonnell basketball, Chuska, Ernest Tsosie III, Jessica Matten, Julia Jones, Kauchani Bratt, Kusem Goodwind, Michael Powell, Native American, Navajo Nation, netflix, New Mexico, Rez Ball, Sterlin Harjo, Sydney Freeland

Navaho filmmaker Sydney Freeland’s Native American basketball drama Rez Ball is tipping off Sept. 27 on Netflix. Rez Ball is a sports drama that follows the Chuska Warriors, a Native American high school basketball team from Chuska, New Mexico, that must band together after losing their star player if they want to keep their quest for a state championship alive. It’s an all-American underdog story about Navajo kids and coaches told from an all-American perspective that has too often been overlooked.

Reviews

REZ BALL – Review by Ann Lewinson

September 19, 2024September 25, 2024 Ann Lewinson basketball, Chuska, Ernest Tsosie III, Jessica Matten, Julia Jones, Kauchani Bratt, Kusem Goodwind, Michael Powell, Native American, Navajo Nation, netflix, New Mexico, Rez Ball, Sterlin Harjo, Sydney Freeland

Much like Friday Night Lights, high school basketball is everything in sparsely populated, remote Chuska, New Mexico. But for the Chuska Warriors, expectations are lowered after the team loses its star player Nataanii Jackson (Kusem Goodwind). It falls on his best friend, Jimmy Holiday (Kauchani Bratt, a former high school basketball player making a solid acting debut) and the team’s coach, retired WNBA player Heather Hobbs (Jessica Matten) to rally the team. But the low morale Jimmy and his teammates struggle with isn’t just situational—it’s systemic. Movies like this aren’t called “inspirational” for nothing. So while Rez Ball may not be a slam dunk, it gets the job done.

Reviews

CHAMPIONS – Review by T. J. Callahan

March 10, 2023March 10, 2023 T. J. Callahan basketball, Champions, Kaitlin Olson, Kevin Ianucci, Madison Tevlin, woody harrelson

Based on a 2018 Spanish film called Campeones, Champions is basically A League of Their Own. After a series of indiscretions, a minor-league basketball coach (Woody Harrelson) is fired and ordered by a judge to carry out community service as the manager of The Friends, a team of hoops players with intellectual disabilities. Some critics are saying the film is patronizing and making a mockery of the disabled community, but that’s not the case. The cast brings out the best in each other and all are true champions.

Reviews

HUSTLE – Review by T.J. Callahan

May 31, 2022June 2, 2022 T. J. Callahan adam sandler, basketball, ben foster, hustle, Juancho Hernangomez, queen latifah

Adam Sandler is trying to pull one over on us in Hustle. The 5’9” out of shape funny man is playing a former basketball player at Temple — #22, the Double Deuce, who’s career ended after an unfortunate accident stopped him from hooping and left him to forge a rather lengthy career as a scout for the Philadelphia 76ers, Hustle is fast paced, predictable and crowd pleasing. The Waterboy finally grew up to be the coach. He turns up the witty charm despite having no chemistry with Latifah, who plays his wife.

Reviews

THE HOUSE THAT ROB BUILT – Review by Valerie Kalfrin

February 19, 2021February 21, 2021 Valerie Kalfrin basketball, documentaries, Jonathan Cipiti, Megan Harrington, Robin Selvig, The House That Rob Built

The House That Rob Built, released this month at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, pays loving tribute to retired University of Montana women’s basketball coach Robin Selvig. Fans of women’s basketball – and the university’s Lady Griz in particular – no doubt will enjoy the plunge into history. But other viewers might find that the accomplishments of Selvig and the women he coached bounce by too fast to absorb the emotional impact.