Sunset Park (1996, Rated R, 99 minutes) available from Columbia/TriStar Home Entertainment
Stars: Rhea Perlman, Fredro Starr, Terrence Howard, Carol Kane, Camille Saviola, De’Aundre Bonds, James Harris, Guy Torry, Malinda Williams, Hattie Winston, and Vincent Pastore
Plot: A white woman (Perlman) who knows next-to-nothing about basketball agrees to take over the coaching duties for the all-black Sunset Park High School basketball team.
Features: Presented only in Full Screen, and Theatrical Trailers.
Final Word: Performances aside, the film doesn’t offer much of anything. That being said the film does feature some truly exciting game sequences and as previously mentioned-solid work from the ensemble cast as a whole. Perlman and Starr are particularly well matched and share a great rapport, and Howard whose stock rose considerably after his movie-stealing performance in The Best Man (1999) hints at the greatness that he’s capable of.
Rating: 2.5 briefs (out of 5)