Hoop Dreams

Watching Hoop Dreams came at a rather serendipitous time for me. No, I don't harbor dreams of becoming a NBA legend; I gave that up when I realized that I had to get used to 5'6 for the rest of my life. Some of you may know I moved to Los Angeles to realize my dreams of becoming a cinematographer. So Hoop Dreams, a film about two boys with dreams of playing in the NBA struck close to home.

Hoop Dreams follows the story of Arthur Agee and William Gates, two kids from inner city Chicago who dreamed of playing in the NBA. As trite as that sounds, the film tells a compelling and respectful story about the dreams that define us in our youth. In 3 hours, director Steve James takes us through the financial hardships, social difficulties, and family problems of these two young men and shows their transformation in light of these burdens. Although focusing on basketball, resiliency is at the root of this film. Hoop Dreams describes the complications of following one's dreams, inviting the viewer to ponder where his own dreams were waylaid by the obstacles of life. Naturally, some dreams remain intact, while some change with age or circumstance.

Appropriately, the narration of this film evokes a sense of allegiance with the two main character, of wanting to root for the boys as their constantly derailed by financial issues or wrenching defeats. The editing ramps on like a roller coaster, elevating you with their accomplishments, but depressing you after a mistake. Though at the same time, the film never sentimentalizes the characters. A great film doesn't simply make you feel for the characters; pity or compassion shouldn't make a great film out of a good one. The boys tell their stories with dignity; the voice narration remains stark with a core of sympathy. Hoop Dreams succeeds in balancing whatever feelings the story inspires with the respect and genuineness with which it is told.

One can read the story as a tragedy; two boys crushed under the weight of their own shortcomings. Part VI of Aristotle's Poetics defines a tragic story as inspiring pity or terror. Pity and terror derives from the connection the story inspires with the viewer. Those stories that make you see yourself on the screen (or page) make you locate his faults within your own grand tale. Hoop Dreams places your own dashed dreams or damning obstacles in your way right up on the screen. It had that effect on me. I'm sure it will on you. But one should understand that the boys captured on film follow their dreams with conviction; Hoop Dreams greatest accomplishment is by celebrating that conviction and challenging the viewer to proceed with that same verve.