fantastic basketball movie

“Above the Rim” was part of a slew of street basketball movies in the early 90’s and, while it doesn’t stand with the best, it manages to succeed on its own merits. This is not just about basketball but about growing up, what it takes to make it to the next level, and having the right people behind you.

It starred Duane Martin as Kyle Watson, a Harlem basketball player who’s really good at handling the ball, but also at trash talking and showboating. His dream is to get a scholarship to play at Georgetown and from there make a path to the NBA, but he still has a lot to learn if he’s ever going to impress anybody.

The movie has a lot to say about influences. Kyle’s aren’t great. His mom works most of the time and he’s currently being seduced into the glamorous life of the local gangster, Birdie (Tupac Shakur). There is something called a neighborhood shoot-out coming up, and Birdie wants him on his team rather than one run by his school’s coach.

But with that comes strings attached. Birdie essentially runs the neighborhood- he’s not only dangerous if you cross him but he seems very good at zeroing in on weaknesses of other people and using them to his advantage. Here’s another smooth, menacing bit of villain work from Shakur after “Juice”.

Leon is also pretty strong here as Shep, a former High School star who has moved back to town to be a security guard after a tragedy forced him to leave. He is believed to be the one true heir who can take over for the current High School coach, yet he seems to prefer broody solitude to coaching.

Nonetheless, the film works best as a drama about family- effectively and without much melodrama showing how it can let down and set someone on a path to destruction and how support can lead to a slightly more hopeful outcome. The film kinda reminded me of “He Got Game”, especially in a nightly showdown scene on the court between Martin and Leon.

But the court is also great for hooping in this movie and this has some of the most stylish, well-choreographed dunks, crossovers, and shoot-outs you’re likely to see in a basketball movie. It also allows us to see how the street leagues are a far rougher game, even with refs officiating.

And the performances from everyone are very good, from Martin to Marlon Wayans (always funny as shit-talking geek) to Bernie Mac (great to see him in a movie), poignantly playing a bum who peaked on the basketball court in High School.

“Above the Rim” tells us that there are many things that can derail a great career (cockiness, apathy, lack of proper advice) but even more things that can derail a decent life. The basketball court in this movie is a classroom, a symbol of hope, and also kind of a referendum on the ills of the inner city. It doesn’t always work, but it’s ambitious and is a really solid melding of life lesson and basketball.