User Reviews

At least "The Winning Season" knows that the whole down-on-his-luck coach and group of misfit girls basketball team who learn about life and winning together type of story has been done before. They did unfortunately follow the exact same formula, but with a hint of whimsy and self-awareness, it's above average for the genre.

Emma Roberts and the other girls comprising the team actually come across as real teenage girls. I found them cute and funny. As a big fan of Sam Rockwell, he seems to be the reason why this film is pretty good. He's basically a drunken asshole, very unlikable, but he completely draws you in so there's a real emotional connection for the dramatic elements. And as he has demonstrated before, his physical comedy antics are perfect making the comedy scenes pretty funny.

"The Winning Season" has been done many times before, but here they managed to do it without being cheesy, while providing quality scenes of drama and comedy. If you like the genre, it is certainly worth a look.

I loved this movie. I rented it on demand the same day as theatrical release. I thought it would be a goofy off the wall sort of comedy with Rob Corddry in it as the school principal. To my surprise this was a comedy that was very touching and heartwarming. I loved the developing relationship between Sam Rockwell (the girls coach) and the team. I was also very pleased to see a movie with a group of teenage girls that did not depict them as a bunch of catty little snots. Yes the team has their differences and cliquishness, but that is minimal compared to the bonding that goes on. Margo Martindale is great as the assistant coach. The actors in this movie are pitch perfect acting up to the limit of a real character but never crossing the line to where they are not believable. See this movie when you just want to feel good!

Every element comes together very well in this film give you much more than you'd expect from just another sports movie. Though it has a very "bad news bears" feel to it, the coach has real issues, but you don't really blame him for the problems he has. He ends up being more than just a coach to the girls, but a mentor and friend.

The acting all blends together well, and make the characters seem real with a scrip written with today's teenagers in mind. Even the soundtrack and graphic elements are a great edition and gives really brings it together.

I could normally care less about girl's basketball, but this movie will help you see there is more to this sport than just basketball. The winning season will captivate you and make you care about the characters and wish it was based on a true story.

Kind of Garden State with Basketball, a sneaky lowball story of a loser coach's shot of redemption with a girls' basketball team, the Lady Chargers, that is both very funny and also kind of effective on the drama front.

Everyone creates a low-fi vibe and just runs with it, small town values - we loved the comedy is in the small touches - and the timing - much of the comedy comes from the everyday conversations but just rings true.

If you like sports movies with a little more than just training and victory dances then this fits the bill well - it's well done at every step...

In many ways, "The Winning Season" is a bit like "The Bad News Bears" 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 "The Bad News Bears".

The 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, he'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?

This is an inappropriate film. It's fill of inappropriate language and I'd hate to think of either of my daughters ever having a coach like this guy. But, it's odd because you do like the guy in an odd way--he'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, it's still likable and clever and well worth seeing if just for Rockwell's strange portrayal.

This coming of age school sports drama adds nothing new to the genre. It has the usual tropes, washed out basketball coach, underperforming team with female teenage issues etc. However, it is really well done, with maybe a darker edge to proceedings than usual and some really good performances (Emma Roberts stands out and Rockwell as always puts in a good shift). If you want a coming of age drama and don't mind you have seen it all before, you could do a lot worse than this.

Terry (Rob Corddry) is the high school principal and he invites his old classmate Bill Greaves (Sam Rockwell) back to coach girls' basketball. He's a drunk busboy. He tries to reconnect to his daughter from his failed marriage. He's still struggling with his past basketball dreams. The girls' team isn't any good and has only 6 girls with 1 on crutches. The school bus driver Donna (Margo Martindale) helps out.

It's an odd mix of Rockwell playing a slacker indie and the girls doing a fun underdog sports movie. It doesn't always mix well but there are enough good parts. The characters are likable. There is some fun with the girl drama clashing with Rockwell. Rooney Mara and Emma Roberts play two of the girls. Emma is the more compelling actress. It's reminiscent of 'Bad News Bears' with a drunken Walter Matthau.

Just got back from seeing the premiere of The Winning Season at Sundance 09' and couldn't be more thrilled to report back that we have a winner.

The basic elements of the story are familiar; down in out coach finds a second chance with a bunch of scrubs and you know the rest. The Winning Season isn't groundbreakingly different from its ancestors, but just enough in all the right places to make this "dramedy" a very rewarding viewing. Audiences familiar with typical indie fare, will find that The Winning Season is indeed cut from an indie mold. The Winning Season does not gloss over the coach's failures, his abusiveness or the realities of the steep obstacles he faces. This is a good thing though, because being able to see the dark nature of the human condition makes the successes all that much more enjoyable. The strength of the The Winning Season is in its balances and ultimately the director/writers decision to allow humor and healing to be the driving force as the movie plays out. Far too often indie films allow their depressive themes to run rampant in what appears to be an effort to increase anti-depressant sales. There a lot of folks who think of any movie labeled as a "dramedy" to be fluff or mainstream box office disguising itself as an indie movie, but I would beg to differ. There is always room for reality and laughter to co-exist in a uniquely indie vision, and in the end movies should be allowed to make the viewer feel rewarded. The Winning Season aims to do that, and it's pretty much hit that mark.

On to the cast, Sam Rockwell (always underrated) is right on the money with his performance that never waivers from the lead characters self destructive nature as well as delivering such wonderfully dry humor that you keep thinking to yourself why isn't this guy getting more credit for being such a great actor. The young women in the film who make up the team are terrific and give such a sweetness to each of their roles, Emma Roberts in particular is fantastically clever in her role. Also, what a bonus to have Rob Coddry of Daily Show fame, as the goofy principle he just adds the right comedic touches to the scenes between he and Rockwell. Finally James Strouse, coming off two other well received Sundance films, ups his game here and brings a very strong effort. He should have very little problem getting more gigs with this type of quality output.

Watched this on Amazon Prime, mainly because it starred Sam Rockwell, a great actor. He plays a disgraced high school basketball coach and alcoholic who is given a chance by a Principal to coach his girls basketball team. The Winning Season doesn't stray too far from the normal sports movies, but thanks to a good script and fine acting it succeeds in being far better than most. A Thumbs up, P.S you don't need to like sports to enjoy this movie.

This is a great little movie with a lot of heart that should have gotten more notice. Sam Rockwell is great and continues to prove he's one of the best actors of his generation. Basically, it's about a guy coaching a high school girl's basketball team. A movie doesn't need to have a bunch of effects or explosions or twists to be great. This is an example of a solid, realistic script and wonderful actors coming together to make something that deserves to be seen. If a movie can make me laugh, cry and think, it's one I want to see again and again. You owe it to yourself to give this film a try. There aren't many movies about women's basketball, and I'm glad they took a realistic approach instead of the typical teenage fare.

This well-intentioned little film has so many serious flaws, it is really rates a 5. For most of its running length, it feels out of sync. As if the director had lost contact with the writer who had lost contact with the editor. And none of those guys were on talking terms with the actors. But underneath is yet another film that deserves some props. This is an "underdog sports team" movie that seldom if ever spends much time on the sport, and instead builds a really offbeat, often inappropriate, often illegal, relationship between coach and players. And, in spite of a weak script, the actors seem to be having more fun than the audience. So the movie is a 5 but we add 2 ratings points for heart, and we get a hard seven. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

You'd think a movie with that much acting clout would have some redeeming value, but this does not. First off, everything having to do with high school basketball is wrong on so many levels. In what era does this high school exist? Most schools across the country have well established girls basketball programs and have so for decades. This place seems like it's 30 years in the past for some reason and it's embarrassing and insulting to watch.

The writing is gawdawful throughout and there is some really terrible acting on display from some of the supporting cast (the coach's ex-wife and kid come to mind). Rooney Mara is stunningly terrible and this performance raises huge doubts as to whether she'll be able to pull off the much hyped Lisbeth Salander role.

The troubled basketball coach who brings his team of losers to the championship is as familiar as western shoot outs and "boy meets girl" rom coms. The pivot on this one - it's a team of grrls! Still, it would be a mistake to pass on this one. Sam Rockwell is perfect as the ne'er do well coach who gets a second or maybe fourth chance at redemption. It's his edgy performance and a strong supporting cast (including the athletes who bring a wonderful authenticity and charm) that take you beyond the contrived scenes and corny sports cliches. A fun and thoughful family movie with a satisfying ending. If you don't over think it. "See the three. Be the three!"

The guy played a pretty good run down character barley hanging on. Funny lines and situations. Movies shows how to be part of a group🐒. 1 plastic hummer swaying on a string in the wind. Western.

The plot of this movie is nothing new. The redemtion of a loser coach and his troubled life he has. In does however play to a comedic tone for the entire movie, sort of making fun of a genre that takes itself so seriously.

It is unique in having so many different plot/teen/strife/issues; It feels like they throw the entire arsenal at you. You think to yourself, do they even have time to Fix all of these conflicts; But, Like any great commerical they don't show you everything. They do however enough to get the point across.

The comedy was light and fresh, swearing added to the mocking tone of sports struggle movies. The redemtion is on both sides of the isle as the coach and his team learns something. If your in a basketball mode or just an avid sports fan, i'd recommend -

Sam Rockwell is perfect for this part, and does a great job with it. In real life h can't play basketball at all, but in watching this performance I found myself believing he was an all star. But he has a drinking problem, a very serious problem. The movie doesn't sidestep this at all, but it doesn't drag the movie down either. The actresses playing the girls all do a perfect job, and I commend them all. Emma Roberts is best, with Sharika Epps right behind. And Margo Martindale is fantastic, seems made for the part of the bus driver and then assistant coach. The Negotiation between her and Sam to take the job is hilarious. I won't give any real spoilers here, other than to say that I was left with the feeling that Sams Coach will recover in the end, and I found the ending was perfect for this disease, from which you're never totally cured.

I love Sam Rockwell. The humor is perfect. Written around this time you had the "hot tub time machine" type of humor take over movies. Raunchy bawdry & slightly immature humor that 13 year old boys and 30 year old men like. Still the director/writer kept true to himself and carved this classic indie type gem, The chemistry between the kids and the dialogue is el naturale. It just flows and seems real. Subtle pauses and stammers are accented in the "teens" dialogue.

Enjoyed the movie it was entertaining, and thoughtful