Rez Ball

How many of these rag tag kids go from outcasts to heroes sports movies do we need? Watch Bad News Bears, Hoosiers, Mighty Ducks then repeat if you want to watch the same movie again. For that matter, if you substitute an individual for the kids, you can just watch Rocky (the first 3 anyway) or Million Dollar Baby and get all the underdog overcomes adversity to win sports contest thrills you will ever need.

Rez Ball is just the same plot with poor direction, no development of a connection between the viewer and the character, obtrusive musical montages instead of actual acting and checking off some Dine stereotypes. Oh, and if they said the phrase "Rez Ball" one more time, I planned on sticking an icepick into my eardrums.

I'm all for using Native American actors in films wherever you want to cast them. Just make sure you create a good movie first.

Sydney Freeland's 2024 film "Rez Ball" is a potent sports drama based on true events that rocked a small Native American town. The movie deftly addresses difficult subjects like suicide, pain, and loss while emphasizing the resiliency, optimism, and solidarity that arise after tragedy. The Chuska Warriors, a high school basketball team on the Navajo Reservation, must unite under the new coach Jimmy Holiday (Kauchani Bratt) after their top player Nataanii committed suicide. What might have been a tale of hopelessness turns into one of resilience and healing as basketball becomes the motivating factor for their group's recovery.

Through a deft blending of themes of coming-of-age, bereavement, and community, Freeland's directing crafts an emotionally charged and inspiring story. The movie manages to find a fine balance between exploring the painful nature of loss and being a pure sports story, using basketball as a metaphor for the community's tenacity. With the help of a formidable ensemble cast that includes Jessica Matten and Julia Jones, "Rez Ball" depicts Native American resiliency in addition to highlighting the emotional hardships of its characters. The breathtaking New Mexico vistas are used to provide depth to the tale in this masterfully shot movie. "Rez Ball" delves profoundly into the themes of optimism, loss, and cultural pride.

For what they spent and all the hype building it up, I expected better.

In the end, it's just another forgettable Netflix film not worth a repeat viewing. Some average cinematography, choppy editing... nothing stands out, except the countless times they have to show Shiprock in the background with a long lens. This is such a native/New Mexican movie cliche that its lost its caché.

Hoosiers this ain't! Don't expect to see Gene Hackman, or really anyone mildly recognizable in this mediocre digital file. Glory Road was even better than this! I won't discourage others from watching, but I will say don't expect much.

As an entire package, the movie was not horrible. BUT... The production left everything to the imagination. The cinematography was rushed. The script was so obvious that it looks like it was made to be shown to 3rd graders. The direction was paint by numbers. I have watched my microwave heat stuff up that was more entertaining and defiantly MORE FIRE than this project. It looks like so many corners were cut, they should have just shelved the project altogether. They made it into a lifetime project instead. Better luck next time. The only high point was the female cast was very easy on the eyes!!

Forget the cultural differences, this movie has heart. The tropes are common in sports movies, the underdogs fight back in dire circumstances, but it executes to inspire. It speaks from the perspective of those who have plenty to fight for.

There are many movies to compare to but none that have spoken from the voices that have been unheard for a long time. Think Rocky, Coach Carter, and Remember the Titans.

It's worth a watch based solely on understanding those unlike ourselves but with the same inclination to prove they matter. It is not a perfect movie by any means. The young actors do an excellent job of portraying what others like them direly need. Inspiration.

It's worth the watch.