Sunset Park (film)

Last updated
Sunset Park
Sunset park poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Steve Gomer
Written by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld
Kathleen McGhee-Anderson
Produced by Danny DeVito
Michael Shamberg
Dan Paulson
Starring Rhea Perlman
Cinematography Robbie Greenberg
Edited byArthur Coburn
Music by Miles Goodman
Kay Gee
Production
companies
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
Release date
  • April 26, 1996 (1996-04-26)
Running time
99 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$10,163,782 [1]

Sunset Park is a 1996 American sports comedy drama film directed by Steve Gomer, based upon a screenplay by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld and Kathleen McGhee-Anderson. [2] [3] The film stars Rhea Perlman as the head coach of a high school boys basketball team from the Sunset Park neighborhood in New York City. The film also stars Onyx rapper Fredro Starr and features an early film appearance from Terrence Howard. It was produced by Perlman's husband Danny DeVito.

Contents

Filming took place in New York City. Included in filming locations were various high schools and public buildings as well as the world-famous Madison Square Garden. The Sunset Park soundtrack featured one of the first solo appearances of Ghostface Killah. Sunset Park was released on April 26, 1996 and went on to gross about $10 million at the box office.

Plot

Phyllis Saroka is a P.E. teacher at Sunset Park High School in New York City, who reads a flyer that her school is looking for a new boys basketball coach. Looking for more money to pursue opening a restaurant on St. Croix, Virgin Islands, she decides to give the job a shot despite knowing nothing of basketball. She contacts the correct people and is given the job.

She shows up for her first day on the job and the team is already skeptical of her. When she walks in, she lets basketball players run the team, calling their own fouls, running their own plays, and basically allowing them to be carefree. During a game, she makes some bad decisions which irks some of the players on the team. This inspires her to learn more about the game with the assistance of her players. They help her and the team begins to slowly find success.

The team also has to deal with outside forces that threaten the team. Tyrik "Shorty Doo-Wop" Russell is on probation and eventually gets into more trouble. Spaceman is also on probation, is constantly using drugs, and has trouble with a teacher. Busy-bee got shot during the season and misses several games.

Several other players are having academic trouble and some don't even get along with each other. The team also find out that the coach only plans to stay with them one season and then leave to open a restaurant.

The team eventually comes together despite their differences and troubles. They end up with very successful season, and get into the city championship. They go to Madison Square Garden to face their opponent (Washington Heights) and lose by a small margin. Afterward, the coach informs them that they should be proud of themselves and that she will return next season.

Cast

Reception

The film has a 13% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. [4]

See also

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References

  1. "Sunset Park (1996)". Box Office Mojo. 2005-03-20. Archived from the original on 2005-03-20. Retrieved 2015-06-27.
  2. Holden, Stephen (1996-04-26). "FILM REVIEW;How an Unlikely Coach Inspires Her Basketball Team". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  3. "Catalog - Sunset Park". AFI. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  4. "Sunset Park - Rotten Tomatoes".