3. Pride

 

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'Pride' is a film released in 2007 starring Terence Howard. Here's the Wikipedia page. It's not to be confused with the 2014 film with the same name that I should watch although that one isn't an inspirational sports movie.

I've seen this film at least twice before. It is a genre favourite of mine. 'Pride' is based on the true story of Philadelphia swimming coach Jim Ellis. I note Wikipedia says it is 'loosely based'. A film about a black swimming team in 1970s Philadelphia looks improbable on paper but all the genre elements are in here an it works pretty well.

The opening where we see Terence Howard's dreams of competitive swimming dashed in the 1960s by a profoundly racist society set the scene well. The setup where Terence Howard is struggling to get a job and finds himself living in a rundown leisure centre where he brings the swimming pool back to life and then forms a team from the disadvantaged youth who were hanging around outside looks a bit magical realism written down but it works if you go with it.

Terence Howard is magnetic and his chemistry with the late Bernie Mac (in one of his last films) is really good. The bunch of misfits who become a team are great, I thought Kevin Phillips was particularly good as the most naturally gifted swimmer in the team, or at least the most naturally gifted until Willie the female swimmer joins the group and blows minds with a couple of lengths of butterfly, that most absurd of strokes. Tom Arnold is really good as the smiling racist coach of the rival elite swimming team.

Watching 'Pride' again and with a keener sense of genre-specific critique there's something a bit off about the film. The sudden transformation of the team into a group that can compete feels undeserved, like it suddenly happened overnight. And the setup is pretty bizarre, even if it is loosely based on a true story. Also the romantic subplot between Terence Howard and the city official who also happens to be the sister and legal guardian of one of the members of the swimming team who also isn't doing so well at school is thin at best.

Swimming is one of the few sports that I have practical knowledge of and I think the film does a good job of making it compelling on screen. Best will in the world, swimming is just going up and down and trying to splash as little as possible and the most exciting events are the relays which 'Pride' does well to bring to life.

I can't get away from the fact that this film has all the elements and applies them to a less popular sport. Based on a true story. Civil rights. Misfit bunch who triumph against the odds. Petty crime subplot. Stay in school education is more important than being good at sport subplot. Inspirational, flawed coach with a complex set of motivations. But ultimately there's something a bit off about the pacing and execution. The final section where Terence Howard sits out the national championship because of reasons feels like a distraction from what could be a more compelling piece of water-based action.

Shout out to the soundtrack though which is superb.

Did the coach change lives?

The coach definitely changed several lives. By the looks of things he saves the doomed swimming pool in the deprived neighbourhood too, although it's not entirely clear.

Was there triumph against the odds?

The odds, they were so high! And there was much triumphing against them.

Did people grow together through sport?

People definitely grew together through sport. And the racist coach of the rival team lost his winning streak which was satisfying.

Did you cry?

Even though I have seen this film more than once before I still cried. Definite tears for the "this is our house, coach!" scene.

Score

7 out of 10