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Online Store - Edge of America
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List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $9.99
Your Save: $ 4.99 ( 33% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Showtime Ent.
Starring: Tim Daly, Geraldine Keams, James McDaniel, Wes Studi, Michael Flynn
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Paramount
EAN: 0758445114928
Format: Closed-captioned
Label: Showtime Ent.
Manufacturer: Showtime Ent.
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Showtime Ent.
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2006-02-28
Running Time: 106
Studio: Showtime Ent.
Theatrical Release Date: 2003
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Editorial Reviews:
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From acclaimed director, Chris Eyre, whom People Magazine calls "…the preeminent Native American filmmaker of his time" comes this touching and inspirational story about loyalty, friendship and courage. New man in town Kenny Williams (James McDaniel) has just accepted a position as an English professor at the Three Nations Reservation in Utah. Finding it hard to fit in with the tight-knit Native American community, he decides to take on the challenge of coaching the high school girls' basketball team.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: "Rocks With Wings" Documentary Usurped By Hollywood Writing, Directing & Production: Glamorization Of The Lady Chieftains' Story
Comment: Rick Darby, an independent film maker, went to Shiprock, New Mexico, to document what he perceived to be a fascinating story about a Navajo Reservation girls High School basketball program, the Lady Chieftains, and their "unusual" coach, Jerry Richardson. After years of filming, stated financial and legal difficulties, and the tragic death of Coach Richardson, Darby put together "Rocks With Wings" (the translation of the Navajo word for the Shiprock formation that dominates the community). The documentary aired on PBS on 12/10/2002, and went on to win the Documentary Feature Prize at the 2002 Urbanworld Film Festival.
At some point along the way, Chris Eyre--a Cheyenne/Arapaho, award-winning film director and producer--teamed up with Tim Daly and Showtime to make a theatrical version of the story. Partially because Darby was attempting to get greater distribution for his film, and partially due to other undisclosed legal reasons, Eyre, Daly and Showtime, along with the creativity of Willy Holtzman's script, were able to alter details of the story to make their film. The made for television movie, "Edge of America," premiered in the Netherlands on 10 December 2003; and in the US on 2 May 2004. I highly recommend both films, although only "Edge of America" is currently available from Amazon.com (see comments about how to obtain "Rocks With Wings").
While "Edge of America" has excitement, drama, comedy, and most of the advantages of a Hollywood movie, including superb acting by the young actresses playing the basketball players, "Rocks with Wings" does a better job of putting the feat of winning the 1988 New Mexico State Championship title into perspective with Navajo culture and traditions. Moreover, for me, "Edge of America" works to too hard to "sanitize" the vast difference between Coach Richardson, the other coaches, and the community (of Shiprock). "Edge of America," also seems to be a movie more about Coach Richardson than the Lady Chieftains of Three Nations Reservation High School in Utah (actually of Shiprock High School, Shiprock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Reservation). And, I think to a large degree, "Edge of America" over emphasizes the fact that Jerry Richardson was black, from a poor town in Texas, and the "victim" of bigotry. I suspect the later is emphasized to increase interest in the story. And while "Edge of America" portrays the community coming together behind Coach Richardson, nothing in the research I have done suggests that such a "happy" reconciliation of differences actually happened.
There are several other important "factual" differences between "Edge of America" and the actual story. Richardson actually started out as a football coach (as one other reviewer discusses), then joined the coaching staff before becoming the head coach. There were several other non-Native coaches besides Richardson, including Bill Dowty who transferred from nearby rival Kirtland Central High School. Perhaps equally important is the fact that Kirtland did not have an all non-Indian basketball team (indeed, prior to Shiprock's rise, many Navajo families moved to Kirtland so their children could play for those teams). Also, to the best of my knowledge, Kirtland is not a "stronghold" of Mormanism as alluded to in the film.
In the final analysis, however, despite all of these criticisms of "Edge of American," I feel compelled to re-iterate that the film is very, very good. It is, in deed, exciting, entertaining, moving and fun to watch, and I would highly recommend the film.
If this review was not helpful to you, I would appreciate learning the reason(s) so I can improve my reviews. My goal is to provide help to potential buyers, not get into any arguments. So, if you only disagree with my opinion, could you please say so in the comments and not indicate that the review was not helpful. Thanks.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I Liked It
Comment: This was a very different film for me. Not only do we have a black man trying to fit into the Indian life, but we have Indians trying to be accepting of a black man trying to fit into Indian life. Morals and trust are what this film is based on. Do they believe in him enough for him to gain their trust?
I liked the film enough to watch it more than once. It is one to own for the kids. Introduce them to something more than expensive game platforms and television shows that corrupt their minds. Its different and it can be lovable.
Customer Rating:
Summary: playing the game
Comment: When a black teacher takes a job at a reservation high school, he is lumbered with the task of coaching the girls basketball team, a group of no-hopers who've never won a game. As he seeks to create a team, a seemingly impossible goal is presented- can they make it to the state finals? This isn't just about basketball or human relations, it's about the trials, triumphs, aspirations and setbacks of kids supported by teachers and family pursuing a common dream. A good story well scripted, an excellent cast turning in first rate performances, effective direction. This is one of those minor but well made movies that give you more than many a Hollywood blockbuster.
Customer Rating:
Summary: On the Rez, Basketball is God....
Comment: I had the priviledge of being indirectly associated with this movie. The film was based upon the girls basketball program in Shiprock, New Mexico. In 1987, I watched the championship game between Shiprock High School and Kirtland High School. One of my teachers at that time (who was also my football and track/field coach) was Mr. Jerry Richardson.
I read through the brochure for the then upcoming Sundance Film Festival in Utah. As I was skimming the synopses of several film features, I read a very familiar background for the Festival's opening night movie. Immediately, I called a few "certain" people and eventually confirmed that this movie was based upon Coach Richardson and the Lady Chiefs. After pulling off some major schmoozing, I lucked out and scored Opening night passes to this gala event held at Abravanel Hall.
It was great to see this movie. Although the name and location had been changed because of legal reasons, the general storyline was similar.
But the story of Coach Richardson is a great one. He was a good person. He brought a lot of character and insight to a community where life can be tough. And during his coaching tenure there at Shiprock HS, he gave us some vitality. Sadly, he was killed in auto accident during his coaching tenure with Central Florida University.
It is hard to depict his life from the movie although James McDaniels captured Coach's essence very well to where it was scary. So here is a better overall portrait. Picture an African-American man going from a New Mexico Navajo reservation school with several girls basketball state championships under his belt across the Nation to coach a NCAA Division I women's basketball program in Florida.
I guess there is so much more to the story and Chris Eyre did an awesome job with the production contraints he had. Tim Daly is truly a great person in person as well as producer of this film. Willie Holtzman did an outstanding job with his screenplay and story considering how long and how many hoops he had to jump through to get his script to movie. But mostly, I think DeLanna Studi gave this movie some serious depth with her acting craft as well as her beauty. Same goes for the other girls. Trini King actually played ball at Shiprock HS.
I wish this movie had one of those big blockbuster budgets because it could have seriously been an even better film. It is good on its own but I'm sure lack thereof of budget led to some of those legal reasons for the name and location changes. For this reason, I gave it only 4 stars.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Less would have been more
Comment: Chris Eyre's movies are always interesting because he lets us glimpse into the lives of contemporary American Indians. "Edge of America" is no exception and definitely worth watching.
However, unfortunately, the story does not really explore any of the issues it touches on, such as inter-minority racism, lack of adequate housing on the reservation, economic problems, alcoholism and drug abuse, single parenting, teenage pregnancy, lack of perspectives for teenagers and all the related problems, cultural differences and resulting misunderstandings between minorities, and more.
It was not clear to me why the new English teacher - Kenny Williams - took the job in the first place. At some point he said he "needed to slow everything down", but I would have liked to learn more about his motivation to live and teach on an Indian reservation.
I was glad to see Wes Studi in a different role than that of the bad guy, and I enjoyed his exchanges with Mr. Williams, but I did not see a real connection between Mr. Williams and the girls and could not follow the change in their relationship that supposedly happened somewhere along the line.
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