Hoop Dreams

After reading Bell Hooks' argument, and watching about 2o minutes of the film, I feel as if this film is lost in translation. The film is set up as a documentary of sorts, but it is being passed off in trailers as a film with an established storyline conveniently laced with drama for white audiences.

I agree this movie doesn't necessarily do anything spectacular or groundbreaking for either white or black audiences. However, as a journalist going into broadcast, I don't find Bell Hooks' suggestions for what the documentary film makers should have done to be well advised. She expresses a wish for the film makers to be more critically interrogative about some of the aspects raised throughout the film. On one hand, she is correct, and if this documentary wants to break new ground and shed light on things, they should ask more provocative questions, but to be overly critical when doing so is not there job, provided you are viewing this as a documentary rather than just a film.

I also noticed in one of the short tv trailers that there was product placement at the very end for both Nike and Sports Illustrated. I thought this was sort of strange and out of place for any sort of product endorsement for a documentary/film. I doubt Nike and Sports Illustrated were giving money to these urban communities for renewal projects, and better schools.