Inspired by true events.
The determined Jim Ellis starts a swim team for troubled teens at the Philadelphia Department of Recreation.
Genre(s): Crime, Drama, Family, Sport
Runtime: 104 minutes
Rating: 4.4/10 (3,923 votes)
Release Date: 9 February 2007
Country: Germany, USA
Languages: English
Company: Cinered Internationale Filmproduktionsgesellschaft mbH & Co. 1. Beteiligungs KG
Sound: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS
MPAA: Rated PG for thematic material, language including some racial epithets, and violence.
Director(s): Sunu Gonera
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Producer(s):
Kimberly C. Anderson - executive producer
Brett Forbes - producer
Victoria Fredrick - executive producer
Paul Hall - producer
Terrence Howard - executive producer
Eberhard Kayser - executive producer
Sam Nazarian - executive producer
Michael Ohoven - producer
Robert Ortiz - line producer
Michael Paseornek - executive producer
Malcolm Petal - executive producer
Patrick Rizzotti - producer
Adam Rosenfelt - producer
John Sacchi - executive producer
Marc Schaberg - co-producer
Randy Winograd - co-producer
Lex Breweur - producer (uncredited)
Writer(s):
Kevin Michael Smith - (screenplay) &
Michael Gozzard - (screenplay) and
J. Mills Goodloe - (screenplay) and
Norman Vance Jr. - (screenplay)
Kevin Michael Smith - (story) &
Michael Gozzard - (story)
Cast:
Terrence Howard - Jim Ellis
Bernie Mac - Elston
Kimberly Elise - Sue Davis
Tom Arnold - Bink
Brandon Fobbs - Puddin Head
Alphonso McAuley - Walt
Regine Nehy - Willie
Nate Parker - Hakim
Kevin Phillips - Andre
Scott Eastwood - Jake (as Scott Reeves)
Music: Aaron Zigman
Kimberly C. Anderson - executive producer
Brett Forbes - producer
Victoria Fredrick - executive producer
Paul Hall - producer
Terrence Howard - executive producer
Eberhard Kayser - executive producer
Sam Nazarian - executive producer
Michael Ohoven - producer
Robert Ortiz - line producer
Michael Paseornek - executive producer
Malcolm Petal - executive producer
Patrick Rizzotti - producer
Adam Rosenfelt - producer
John Sacchi - executive producer
Marc Schaberg - co-producer
Randy Winograd - co-producer
Lex Breweur - producer (uncredited)
Writer(s):
Kevin Michael Smith - (screenplay) &
Michael Gozzard - (screenplay) and
J. Mills Goodloe - (screenplay) and
Norman Vance Jr. - (screenplay)
Kevin Michael Smith - (story) &
Michael Gozzard - (story)
Cast:
Terrence Howard - Jim Ellis
Bernie Mac - Elston
Kimberly Elise - Sue Davis
Tom Arnold - Bink
Brandon Fobbs - Puddin Head
Alphonso McAuley - Walt
Regine Nehy - Willie
Nate Parker - Hakim
Kevin Phillips - Andre
Scott Eastwood - Jake (as Scott Reeves)
Music: Aaron Zigman
Posted on: December 5, 2008
June 21st, 2007
Pride -Charming movie based on the true story of Jim Ellis.Jim Ellistook an ailing rec center in downtown Philly in the 70s and puttogether a competitive swim team.Terrence Howard plays Jim Ellis – andI will be honest- he is why I watched the movie-Howard is captivating-amixture of charisma,anger and beguiling charm.This movie is arelentless cliché machine- it hit's every sports movie note that itshould- and it manages to work in spite of itself or because Howardelevates the material.Helmed by first time director Sunu Gonera- themovie works because of the authentic South Philly soul soundtrack andan engaging cast of teen actors.I have seen this movie before( I thinkthe underdog sports movie is the male version of the romantic comedy)-or rather several other movies that mix race,sports and coming togetherto achieve a goal in spite of overwhelming odds.Not my first choice fora rewatching or a rental- but not a terrible choice for familyviewing.The DVD has a deleted scene(an awkward scene with Bernie Mac asthe chaperone in a seedy motel with the swim teen) and an informativebut monotone commentary by the director.The movie was filmed in NewOrleans in order to capture the ghetto feel of 70s Philadelphia- and itdoes- but gives an idea how messed up Nawlins is after Katrina.Themovie suffers during the second and third act when conflict seems to beinserted cinematically and manages to deter from the gritty Philly thatthe filmmaker was trying to capture.Based on a true story this moviesucceeds in bringing a lump to my throat during the swim meet scenesand when we see the adverse conditions and retro attitudes of thecompeting teams.A solid movie for family viewing- although it is hokeyand predictable – it is entertaining due to another strong performanceby Terrence Howard and a strong supporting cast. C-
June 21st, 2007
Pride is MUCH better than the 2.6 rating – yes, it does wear its heartfirmly on its sleeve, but a turkey it most definitely is not. We lovedAkeelah and the Bee last year and would put this in the same sense ofjourney: the ad campaign and tag line should be:"The waves they createdchanged their world forever…"
It does what sport movies should do – gives you the training, thesport, the lift. Of course you know the step by step play but thatdoesn't alter the fact that this is watchable.
I'm afraid I don't get the objections on ground of race – I wouldimagine being poor, black, and impoverished and the first in my sportin 1974 would be realistically unbelievably tough.
If you like your films to be about values – then is is definitely worththe view.
IMDb voters should be ashamed – this is not the worst film of all timeby a long shot – or all our hearts dead?
Ignore the vote – and view with an open heart – we found it decent,inspiring, and all together a satisfying view.
June 27th, 2007
This movie was the most inspiring movie that I has seen in a long timeand for this man to take time out of his life to be so wonderful withthese group of kids makes my heart feel really good. My kids swim forthis gentleman and I really loves his techniques and my son also looksup to him as being his second father. I am so blessed that I came tothis team. My niece whom also swims for him says that the mostinspiring part of the movie was when they said "This is our housecoach". In the future I want to see that my children or the otherchildren that he is now coaching be there to see them in the Olympicsand to have him right by there side to say that this is my coach whobrought me here.
June 27th, 2007
PRIDE does not open any new doors in the genre of film biopics ofteachers who raise the status of downtrodden students to the point ofgenuine appreciation of self worth. The story has been told countlesstimes with different characters, both male and female, different races(African American, Hispanic, Caucasian, etc), and different areas ofthe United States. But despite the recurring similarity ofheart-on-the-sleeve stories such as this, PRIDE stands solidly on itsown merits, in part due to the well developed and written screenplay byKevin Michael Smith, Michael Gozzard, J. Mills Goodloe, and NormanVance Jr. based on the life and contributions to society of Jim Ellis,in part due to the sensitive direction of Sunu Gonera, and in part dueto the fine cast. The idea behind the story may not be new, but PRIDEis a fine example of the genre.
Opening in the 1960s we meet Jim Ellis (Terrence Howard) as a superiorswimmer unable to use his gifts because of his race. Jump 10 yearsforward and Ellis has finished college as a math major and seeks toteach in Philadelphia, only to face racism again. Desperate for work heaccepts a 'closing down' job at a condemned Philadelphia RecreationCenter tended by downtrodden Elston (Bernie Mac) who resents Ellis'intrusion into his domain. Ellis restores the center's swimming pooland gradually initiates a swim team for troubled teens, young boys anda girl who are new to swimming and even newer to the thought that theycan become someone important and rise out of their slum surroundingsand influence of drug lords. With time Ellis teaches the team not onlyhow to swim like champions, but also how to gain faith in themselvesthrough PDR (Pride, Determination, Resilience), eventually winning achampionship as a team of African Americans in a city still plagued byracism.
The cast is excellent: Terrence Howard once again proves he can createa character of complete credibility, completely immersing himself in arole with all of the subtle facilities of fine acting; Bernie Mac atlast is given a serious role and rises to the level of Howard in skill;Kimberly Elise and Tom Arnold provide fine cameo roles. But one of thetreasures of this film is the cast of young actors who seem so naturalthat they deserve special plaudits: Brandon Fobbs, Alphonso McAuley,Regine Nehy, Nate Parker, Kevin Phillips, and Evan Ross. ClintEastwood's son Scott Reeves plays a pivotal role as a racist swimmer.
So despite the overexposure of stories such as this, PRIDE stands outas one of the best. It is a beautifully filmed and well-developedhomage to a very worthy man and coach: PDR. Grady Harp
July 2nd, 2007
This movie evoked a bundle of emotions, from tears to smiles, andcheers. I know many people get tired of seeing movies like this one, Iam glad they still make them, for our children and grandchildren toknow what it really was like in that day and time. If you have not beenpersonally affected by hate of ANY kind then you may not fullyunderstand and will get sick of seeing the same old movies beingmade…. All I can say is kudos to the film makers, they captured thespirit of those times perfectly. From the white coach who saw no colorto the people who hated blacks simply because of color, to the youngmen being affected by the hate both white and black….. Two thumbs upfrom me…
July 7th, 2007
Great Film, first of all! I coach swimming and Ellis is a role model inmy world. But I wanted to address a few things another poster said.
One, at the final meet, you will notice that ALL the teams had verysmall teams. Look at the point accumulation, and that is obvious. Also,back then there were a very limited number of events, with each teamonly allowed to swim ONE swimmer per event. It is entirely possible fora small team to take the title as that is all that was brought to thesemeets…A small, select few.
Back in the 70's the sport was not broken up into boys and girlsevents, not to mention training was the same for both boys and girlsback then. Now you will find more emphasis is put on cardio (forendurance) for the girls, and the boys will lift weights for power. Donot get me wrong, BOTH will do cardio and lift, but boys and girlsoften are taught to emphasis different things these days. Back then,not so. The idea of a girl beating the boys, is certainly not farfetched.
As to the flip turn debacle…after a flip turn you should NOT bedisoriented, unless you don't know what you are doing. The lanes werenarrower back then as well, it is easy to kick someone IF you areintending to do it.
IF you like swimming, this is a pretty accurate portrayal of what Elliswent through, how he coached his kids and WHY PDR is STILL a powerhouseto this day.
July 17th, 2007
like a lot of people who have commented and wondered why this movie hassuch a low rating, i can really find a lot of positives from this movieeven if you can't relate to it based on colour of your skin, theirssome basic principles i feel we can all benefit from. The acting wasOK, no where near Gladiator quality of course, and i understand thatsome people don't like the way their race was portrayed through out themovie but i don't think that should be a problem, any one remember"Birth of a Nation" scored pretty high on here anyway. Point is thiswas based around a true story and it briefly YES briefly showed hownarrow minded people are, if not then but also now. Don't lie toyourself decent movie.
July 22nd, 2007
The movie begins with a young talented athlete who is not allowed tocompete in a swim meet because he is black. I believe that this wastruly the case in 1964. I found myself getting angry about the"authorities" who were a part of the problem.
Move ahead 10 years and that same black man has now completed hiseducation and is ready to make some type of an impact and is turnedaway, again, partially because he is now and educated BLACK man. Hesettles on a job of helping to close a Pennsylvania Rec Center andthings begin to happen.
Mr. Ellis finds himself caring about a group of young men who spend alltheir time playing basketball on the outside court of the RecCenter–but not coming into the Center or attending school. Throughthis man's concern and then coaching a swim team begins to be formedand the movie shows several aspects of the struggle these youth have toface. The main problem is believing that something can be different andthey can be a part of it.
As the team begins to take Pride in what they are doing the communitybegins to take notice and starts to support them. Of course the movieends with a (spoiler) miracle win. But it is only after they become aTEAM and care about each other.
Loved the movie. I don't understand why it was rated so low–itdefinitely does NOT deserve the 3.2 or whatever it is. Watch this ifyou get a chance. Thank You.
August 1st, 2007
In fact this movie isn't great. it isn't that bad either. certainly, itis not a 2.6 – 3.2 movie. more like a 6.5. I'd vote 10 just to bring upthe average. But it would be silly. let's give it a 7.
Back to the movie, though, it's one of the few where swimming isfeatured, instead of the statutory American sports. A nice change. Ididn't know of Jim Ellis, and don't know if its team really managed towin the city championship after just a few month's training. It looksunlikely to me.
Yet, the film is watchable, and it nicely shows that real people aren't(morally) black or white.
August 1st, 2007
"Pride" is the latest piece of sentimental uplift set in the movie-spunworld of real-life sports.
You know the drill. An idealistic coach takes a ragtag collection ofrecalcitrant youngsters, and through discipline, hard work, and alitany of inspirational speeches, turns them into a winning teamoverflowing with character and pride. When the youths have to battleracial prejudice on top of everything else – as in "Remember theTitans" and "Glory Road" – well, that's just additional icing on thefeel-good cake.
It would be easy to be cynical about a movie like "Pride." It clearlyknows all the right buttons to push as it manipulates the emotions andstacks the decks in ways that could call into question the integrity ofits makers. Yet, for all its slavish devotion to the formula, "Pride"works as a movie, thanks, primarily, to the actors who approach theirroles with an earnestness and sincerity that bring the concept to lifeon screen.
Terrence Howard portrays Jim Ellis, a former competitive swimmer, whoin 1974 is sent to dismantle a failing rec center run by thePhiladelphia Department of Recreation. Once there, he meets up with agroup of inner city boys whom he teaches to swim, and who, as a team,make the transition from hopeless underdogs to state champions in thecourse of a single season. Of course, it goes without saying that Ellishas to contend with the initial cockiness and lack of discipline of hisown swimmers, but he also has to battle the prejudice of the otherall-white teams against whom they compete as well as a local streethoodlum bent on drawing the boys into a life of crime.
Luckily, Howard receives strong support from Bernie Mac, Tom Arnold anda handful of fine young actors who acquit themselves well in the roleof the swimmers.
There are times when "Pride" lays it on a little thick, when it seemsmore interested in tugging at our heartstrings than in telling acompletely believable story, but I suspect that most members of theaudience will be as awash in goose bumps and tears by the end of themovie as the script itself is in clichés. But then, like it or not,that's the name of the game when it comes to inspirational sportsstories these days.