40 Minutes of Hell (2012)
An inside look at Arkansas basketball and the unique playing style taught by coach Nolan Richardson.
Watch Trailer
Cast
Similar titles
Reviews
Must See Movie...
It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.
This film is about the very successful college basketball coach, Nolan Richardson. He made a huge name for himself coaching for Tulsa and Arkansas universities--with a winning percentage a very admirable .711--and an NIT and NCAA title. The first portion of the film concerns Richardson's early years and the difficulties he and other Black Americans faced in the years he was a high school and college player. Not surprisingly, he grew up a bit bitter and with a bit of a chip on his shoulder--as he grew up in a very prejudiced atmosphere in the South. However, this attitude helped him when he became a coach--it energized him and pushed him to succeed. This let to him becoming a top coach with a top program by the 1990s. The only problem is, the same anger that helped him eventually led to his downfall--and this makes up the latter portion of the ESPN film. All in all, a rather sad film--you really feel for the guy and you wonder what might have happened because of his ill-timed actions. Well worth seeing.