The Winning Season (2009)

The Winning Season: Directed by Jim Strouse. With Sam Rockwell, Emma Roberts, Rob Corddry, Emily Rios. A comedy centered on a has-been coach who is given a shot at redemption when he’s asked to run his local high school’s girls basketball team.

“In many ways, u0026quot;The Winning Seasonu0026quot; is a bit like u0026quot;The Bad News Bearsu0026quot; for the 21st century, though I certainly enjoyed this newer film much more. I draw the comparison because a rather crude drunk (Sam Rockwell) reluctantly takes over as coach of a rather bedraggled team–much like Walter Matthau in u0026quot;The Bad News Bearsu0026quot;. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film begins with Rockwell working in the kitchen at a greasy spoon. It seems his life has spiraled out of control and he is now being given a chance at coaching once again. But, heu0026#39;s a drunk and his relationship with his ex-wife and daughter are a mess…and he seems to have zero people or coaching skills. How the heck can he pull together a team consisting of only six girls to make a winning season?u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis is an inappropriate film. Itu0026#39;s fill of inappropriate language and Iu0026#39;d hate to think of either of my daughters ever having a coach like this guy. But, itu0026#39;s odd because you do like the guy in an odd way–heu0026#39;s not all bad. And, the dialog is quite clever and funny–and filled with expletives I think of it as a guilty pleasure–and a somewhat clichéd one as well. But, itu0026#39;s still likable and clever and well worth seeing if just for Rockwellu0026#39;s strange portrayal.”