Believe in Me (2006) User Reviews (15)

charming, uplifting

[jredwolf · 8/10 · 8 February 2006]

I just saw a screening of this independent film at the Santa Barbara film festival. The screenplay is an adaptation of a novel written for juveniles, Brief Garland, by Harold Keith, which was first published in 1974.

The film focuses on the character of the coach of a girls' basketball team in a small town in western Oklahoma during his first years at the school in 1964-66. He arrives to coach the boys team, but is maneuvered into the coaching job for the girls. Over the course of the film, he learns how to coach the girls, and helps develop a competitive team at a school where girls' basketball had never been supported before.

I watched the film with particular interest because I played high school basketball in 1964-68 in Tennessee, where, as in Oklahoma, we played the six-on-six half-court game that most girls played until after Title IX was passed in 1972. I was disappointed to see that the girls in the film played the full-court five-on-five game, which is slower, messier, and lower-scoring than the half-court game we played. By playing with fewer players, the court was less crowded, and girls had more freedom to drive to the basket. Since defenders made long passes to move the ball upcourt to the offensive team, the speed from end to end was actually faster than the boys' game!!

Had the film's auteur truly appreciated the game that the heroines of the film actually played in the sixties, he may have created an even more exciting film, with less forced editing to simulate speed and grace.

I know, I know, you don't believe me. Oh well . . . .

Wonderful Hometown Story

[kbridgman · 7/10 · 31 January 2012]

When I first heard about this movie what intrigued me most was that it was about a legendary basketball coach from Oklahoma...my home state. At first I thought it might be a Hoosier's formula movie, but after watching it for the first time, I realized that it stood on its own merits as a great story about dedication, trust, and how believing in yourself and having someone else believe in you can transform lives to inspirational levels. It is a moving story where a rag-tag group of small-town girls basketball players begin to believe in themselves because their coach believed in them. It is one of those "stand up and cheer" movies that will leave you feeling inspired...you will find yourself cheering for those girls.

Emotional, heartfelt and spirited.

[michaelRokeefe · 7/10 · 24 September 2007]

Based on the book "Brief Garland" by Harold Keith; written for the screen and directed by Robert Collector. A fictionalized story based on real-life Oklahoma Hall of Fame coach Jim Keith. In the 1960s, Clay Driscoll(Jeffrey Donovan) and his wife Jean(Samantha Mathis)move from Muskogee County in eastern Oklahoma to a small farming town suffering a drought in western Oklahoma. Driscoll arrives thinking he has a job teaching history and coaching the boy's basketball team. To his dismay he ends up coaching the girl's team, the Lady Cyclones. His perseverance and stubborn pride gives him the courage to go against the school board President Ellis Brawley(Bruce Dern), who has the town and the school board in his back pocket. He also owns the bank that holds mortgages on most of the homesteads in town. Returning to a second season, the hard-headed coach and his determined girl's team fight for equality and their share of the dream of winning the State Championship. The whole town backs the coach and his "girls" to finally put Ellis Brawley in his place. An inspirational and feel-good movie. Also in the cast: Brandi Engel, Kristin Brye, Bob Gunton, Anne Judson-Yager and Heather Matarazzo.

Heartwarming positive feel good movie

[jamesrwallace · 11 July 2012]

There has been much written about this movie here so I don't need to say much except, in my opinion, this is a GREAT movie and should be seen by many. Especially families and young girls who aspire to play sports. I've watched it twice. The story line, the actors and directing are clearly professional and worthy of much credit for the job they did. The fact that many parts of this are true increases the value of the film. I've been in many high school gyms like those featured in this movie and it felt very real to me; both the crowd reaction, the plays on the court and the sense the you were REALLY watching a high school girls basketball game and not a movie.

derivative but sometmes touching sports story

[Buddy-51 · 6/10 · 26 January 2008]

Sort of a distaff version of "Glory Road," "Believe in Me" tells the true life story of a girls' high school basketball coach in 1960's Oklahoma who, by instilling the values of hard work, perseverance and teamwork into his players, leads his underdog team to victory in the state championships. In this case, it is not the girls who give the coach the majority of his headaches but rather the town leaders, who don't believe that girls' sports should be accorded the same level of respect and financial support that has always been given, without question, to the boys.

As conceived by writer/director Robert Collector, "Believe in Me" floats along quite contentedly on a sea of inspirational-sports-movie clichés. Yet, despite its overall predictability and corniness, the movie contains enough genuinely touching moments to make it worth recommending. Moreover, Jeffrey Donovan is so earnest and appealing and brings such a self-effacing modesty to the role of the coach that he draws us into the character and the story almost against our will. Samantha Mathis is also effective as the wife whose words of wisdom and support sustain him in his most difficult hours. Bruce Dern is stuck playing what is probably the most one-dimensional character in the movie - the grumpy town leader who does everything in his power to undercut Coach Driscoll's efforts on behalf of his team. The girls are pleasant enough as a group, but none steps out of the background long enough to make herself a compelling individual.

This is definitely a minor addition to the list of memorable movies about team sports, but given its limitations and modest ambitions, it makes for passable viewing.

Great Movie

[windtalkers · 10/10 · 14 June 2006]

I just saw this movie at the Jackson Hole Film Festival and I was impressed for the quality of the photography, the story and the acting. The storyline is very simple: in the 60's a young basketball coach moves to small town Oklahoma to coach the male team of the local high school but he's rerouted instead to the female team. He's totally against it but he has no choice, while he gains the respect and support of the girls, the town folks take a dislike for him because of his methods and because in their mind a girls team is not worth of interest. Through a series of victories, for the team and for the girls, he will make his basketball team a well respected one in town and among the competing high schools. I hope they will find a good distributor for this movie; this would be the feel-good movie of the year. Plus I met Robert (the Director) on several occasions during the festival and he's such a nice and heartwarming guy, I wish him much success (Hey Robert, I'm the one who drove you to the Casino Night from the Amangani ;-) ). One thing... I'm surprised that on IMDb men liked this movie more than women, very strange.

One of the better "based on a true story" sport movie

[onthatnote · 10/10 · 10 September 2009]

This is a great family movie and a great movie for teachers to see. It especially hits home for teachers, who are of course, coaches, but also those classroom teachers who have the same relational interactions as coaches like choir teachers (me), band directors, and the like.

The casting was excellent. I did not feel that I was watching actors, but actual people. Bruce Dern did his role so well, you really despised him. (I didn't realize he was THAT old already. I guess I'M that old already!) The girls were believable, the coach was well acted, the wife was a natural pairing for him--all very good acting. I, like you, can't stand cheesy "docudramas." You will want to watch the "making of" special features. You will have a pleasant surprise about the winning shot in the movie.

I highly, highly, recommend this movie. I have been encouraging my colleagues and all my students to rent it.

An empowering film for both women and men

[allison-lee · 10/10 · 5 February 2008]

I waited until my husband was out of town to watch this, because I didn't think he'd be into it. I wish he'd seen it with me, because this story is a story for everybody.

The main character, Clay Driscoll, is genuine to the core. He exhibits the kind of traits that I want my son to grow up to possess. Despite being given a basketball team that he didn't want to coach, he sticks to his responsibility and gives it his all. It's a story of his discovering his own mettle and strength, and discovering what he really wants.

But the basketball team he coaches...those are girls after your heart! I cried with a sense of triumph during this movie and took a shine to Clay's wife, who encouraged and supported her husband throughout all the trials of the journey with his team. I highly recommend this movie--especially for a family or a youth group or if a teacher wants to show a movie at school. It is well done and powerful. I wish more movies were of this quality.

I was in this movie and highly disappointed

[dee_gardner33 · 1/10 · 4 November 2007]

I was an un-credited extra in this movie, and although I was not in the movie for professional reasons more to cure boredom I was extremely disappointed. This movie not only did not take into account the half court 3 on 3 rules of the sixties but also the hair and costuming was more of the 50's than the 60's. I myself refuse to watch the movie after being involved in a good portion of the filming and have advised others not to watch it do to the behavior of a certain actress that I now refuse to watch anything that she is in, and the inaccuracy of the story. In real life the girls did not win state but the town did pull together to support the girls team. Which is what the director portrayed to us was the point of the movie; obviously he changed his angle during post production. This was not worth my time to be in it let alone watching it, those are moments of my life I'm not planning on wasting again.

Believe in Me (Brief Garland) reaches to the heart of every female athlete.

[neuwirm · 10/10 · 21 August 2007]

This is an excellent book/video that should be seen by every athlete, girl or boy, and those who coach them. The movie is full of action, yet tasteful enough that you can show it to young people. I visited with the actual coach of this team and he unsuccessfully fought to keep the six-on-six style of play in the movie. He requested to keep the book name and the movie name the same but that was nixed, also. I agree that for those of us who played this way, it was disappointing to watch the girls play five on five. I graduated in 1977 from a school about 30 miles from Sayre, where Coach wrote the story about. The movie is full of action, yet tasteful enough that you can show it to young people. Basketball ROCKS in southwest OKLAHOMA!!!!!

A wholesome and motivating movie for viewers of all ages.

[grgessner · 10/10 · 12 November 2005]

Before PCSing to Japan, my family and I were delighted to serve as extras in the shooting of this movie filmed, in part, in Clovis and Portales, New Mexico.

We were pleasantly surprised and impressed with the professionalism and yet the down to earth manner in which the cast and crew conducted themselves during the entire "shoot" in New Mexico. The character and demeanor of the entire cast and crew, off screen, is reflected in the heartwarming finished product. This is a film that we can highly recommend for all ages, as it is based upon factual events, exciting and at times riveting in its action.

We anxiously await the public release of this film.

Good Guys Do Win .....Sometimes!

[ctsmith60 · 10/10 · 3 September 2007]

I really enjoyed seeing this movie about a man I am acquainted with. It is an uplifting kind of movie that makes one feel good and helps restore one's faith in people. Jim (Coach) Keith is such a fine man it really made my day to see a portion of his life, that I was unaware of, brought to the screen for others to appreciate. I cannot claim to know the Coach well, but I worked several years where he coached in the late 70's and he was and is quite a good natured gentleman and a pleasure to be around. I hope in time this movie will get a lot of play on TV so others can appreciate the character of this fine man. It is a great family movie and if you are needing a lift then watch this movie. You will be glad you did!

super actress

[epivet1 · 10/10 · 14 March 2007]

met young actress Anne in Knoxville where she was attending a LadyVols practice after going to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame with her family- such a gorgeous young woman and so down to earth, AND a special actress~ This is an interesting story especially as it is true. Was interested to talk to young people after the movie who had no idea that "girls couldn't play" not so long ago. We have definitely come a long long way!

As far as the acting, they were pretty good but young actress Anne stood out- perhaps because of the deep personal meaning this movie had for her (she is a former player- coached by her dad- sis also former player coached by dad- AND mom and grammama both played!!)

It is clear to see the whole family is special. We all had to run down and see the movie and it is great! excellent time spent~ highly recommend it esp if you are into women's bb or sports herstory~

Fabulous, Moving and Original

[deappichkata · 10/10 · 13 May 2021]

All we need sometimes is just someone to believe in us. Great movie! Highly recommend!

Coach Jim Keith coached at our high school in that small Oklahoma town. Can't wait to see the movie!

[ronjowaters · 10/10 · 9 February 2006]

We cannot wait to see this movie! We have heard so many positive comments about it already. It will be X-TRA special to my husband and me as we personally know Coach Jim Keith and his beautiful bride, Jorene. We had the privilege of graduating from high school (and playing basketball) in that small Oklahoma town where he coached a few years before the time line of this film. We know Coach Keith to be a man of highest integrity and will always count he and his lovely wife as role models from our high school days. What fun we had. Coach Keith was our special speaker for our 50th Alumni High School Reunion this past March 2005.

Yeaaaaa Coach Keith and Jorene. We love you and wish you the very best.

Ron & Jo Ann Waters

Class of '55