Pride (2007 film)

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Pride
Pride ver2.jpg
One-sheet theatrical poster for Pride
Directed by Sunu Gonera
Produced by Brett Forbes
Paul Hall
Patrick Rizzotti
Adam Rosenfelt
John Sacchi
Screenplay by Kevin Michael Smith
Michael Gozzard
J. Mills Goodloe
Story by Kevin Michael Smith
Michael Gozzard
Starring Terrence Howard
Bernie Mac
Gary Sturgis
Tom Arnold
Kimberly Elise
Music by Aaron Zigman
Cinematography Matthew F. Leonetti
Editing by Billy Fox
Studio Lionsgate
Cinerenta
Element Films
Fortress Features
LIFT Productions
Paul Hall Productions
Distributed by Lionsgate
Release date(s)
  • March 23, 2007 (2007-03-23)
Running time 104 minutes
Language English
Box office $7,094,650[1]

Pride is a 2007 biopic drama feature film released by Lionsgate Entertainment on March 23, 2007. Loosely based upon the true story of Philadelphia swim coach James "Jim" Ellis, Pride stars Terrence Howard, Bernie Mac, and Kimberly Elise, ((Cuba Gooding Junior)) and was directed by Sunu Gonera.

Pride is a film that depicts African-Americans succeeding in a sport — swimming — that is still largely dominated by whites. This differed from most other African-American films with sport themes as they usually feature sports where African-Americans have progressed into the mainstream, such as basketball (such as Coach Carter) and football (such as Gridiron Gang, Remember the Titans).[original research?] Pride differed from this theme by bringing attention to the often overlooked world of African-American swimmers.

The film centers around Jim Ellis (Terrence Howard) and grouchy but caring janitor Elston (Bernie Mac). The two have a short-lived rivalry before becoming good loyal friends.

Contents

Plot [edit]

It is 1974 and life is not easy for a black male to find employment, even college-educated Jim Ellis (Terrence Howard). While struggling to find anything better, Jim, a former competitive swimmer, is working on the decrepit Marcus Foster Recreation Center operated by the Philadelphia Department of Recreation. The center includes a dilapidated swimming pool, which Ellis rehabilitates. Ellis's presence and activities cause friction with a bitter, overprotective janitor named Elston (Bernie Mac). One day, Jim invites a group of black teens who have just been thrown off the basketball court in the Center's yard in for a swim. Andre (Kevin Phillips), Hakim (Nate Parker), Reggie (Evan Ross), Puddin’ Head (Brandon Fobbs), and Walt (Alphonso McAuley) prove to be fairly capable swimmers and with a few pointers, could become great swimmers. With some help from Elston, Jim decides to try to save the swimming pool by starting the city's first all African-American swim team. When the team acquires Willie (Regine Nehy), a female swimmer more talented than any of the boys, the prospects of competing against much more experienced rival white teams begin to improve. Jim also develops a romantic interest in a beautiful city councilor (Kimberly Elise), Hakim's sister and guardian. Throughout their struggles in and out of the swimming pool, Jim and Elston encourage and mentor the kids, helping them not only to become successful at swimming but also to struggle against prejudice, crime, and poverty.

In the Kevin Hart movie "Laugh At My Pain", Kevin Hart said that when he was little he used to swim at the Philadelphia Department of Recreation, and he said that the movie Pride was talking about it.

Cast [edit]

Reception [edit]

Critical response [edit]

Pride was met with mixed reviews. with a 45% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 108 reviews.[2] Some critics[who?] criticized the use of the word "nigger" in the film's opening scene where Jim is confronted by a racist predominantly white college that objects to his presence in the water of their pool and refuses to swim with him because they say he is "dirty."[3] The films plot about the "first black swim team" was spoofed and criticized by comedian Bill Burr as an example for overindulgence on white on black racism in movies with increasingly abstruse topics.[4]

Notes [edit]

  1. ^ "Pride (2007)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 11, 2011. 
  2. ^ "Pride". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 11, 2011. 
  3. ^ http://www.imdiversity.com/villages/african/arts_culture_media/kam_pride0607.asp
  4. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=947Hp-FJyR4

External links [edit]

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