Sweetwater

killing the game

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"Sweetwater" is based on the true events of Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, basically the first African American player to join the NBA. It is written and directed by Martin Guigui. This movie has a lot of potential for a great story, unfortunately, the film plants the seeds for a compelling narrative that it never fully harvests. This movie has some serious pacing problems. It is about Nat Clifton joining the NBA, but we don't see an NBA game played until the 90-minute mark of a 118-minute movie. Every scene feels like it is milking it for every second of emotional impact that it could possibly have. The music swells, the camera swings, as if something of great cultural importance is being said. This happens so often it makes the audience numb to the experience. Each scene seems to last twice as long as it needs. It comes across very melodramatic at times, which can almost be unintentionally funny. Talented actors like Jim Cavizel and Richard Dreyfuss likely were able to film all their scenes in one day. Cary Elwes does a fine job as always. Despite the fact that he is doing a cartoon voice, at least Elwes is good at doing voices. The examples of racism throughout the movie feel over the top. As SNL would say it, the characters are "Cartoonish Super Racist". It makes it feel like a problem that is disconnected from the harsh reality that it is. People can't relate to these characters, seeing themselves in their decisions and saying to themselves, "I should avoid making those same mistakes." The basketball action isn't shot in a very exciting manner. Sometimes basketball shots are out of frame, there a lot of cuts that make it hard to follow what's going on. There are a lot of scenes that go nowhere. This is a movie that could have greatly benefited from a montage. Something to give the story some flow and energy. With all those complaints out of the way, at the movie's core is a sweet and inspirational story. All the actors put in good performances, the music is nice and it's an interesting part of NBA history. It takes a good shot, but the basket does not go in.

Sweetwater showcases a unique blend of well-known actors, captivating locations, and meticulously crafted vehicles and props. While the production elements were undoubtedly impressive, my overall experience was marred by underwhelming acting, uninspiring cinematography, and a narrative that felt forced, often relying on guilt-tripping. More on that later. Let's start with the positives. The film's production team spared no expense in assembling a stellar cast of accomplished actors. Their presence undoubtedly lent credibility to the project and provided a glimmer of hope for an engaging story. Additionally, the attention to detail regarding locations, vehicles, and props was commendable. Each scene felt authentic and immersive, transporting the audience to the United States in the early 50's. However, despite these strengths, Sweetwater ultimately falls short in some critical areas. The acting performances, unfortunately, failed to live up to the talent of the cast. While they are capable actors in their own right, their delivery often felt lacking, lacking the depth and nuance required to bring their characters to life. This ultimately weakened the emotional impact of the story and left me feeling detached from the film's central conflicts. Furthermore, the cinematography left much to be desired. The lackluster camera work and uninspired shot composition left me yearning for more visually striking scenes that could have heightened the overall viewing experience. Another disappointment was the sound design and mix, which offered nothing particularly new or innovative. While the sound elements were technically proficient, they failed to create a memorable auditory experience. It would have been advantageous for the film to take more risks and experiment with soundscapes that could have enhanced the tension and immersion within the story. Lastly, the narrative of Sweetwater felt overtly reliant on guilt-tripping white men, often presenting them as one-dimensional figures whose sole purpose was to shoulder the blame for historical injustices. While it's important to acknowledge and address societal issues, the film's approach felt heavy-handed and forced, detracting from the overall storytelling and character development. I am not defending any of the actions that occurred during this time. I despise each and every form of racism. I also understand that this film could not make its point without showcasing the idiotic hierarchy of the color of one's skin, but it felt like a showcase of the moral superiority of the writers. In conclusion, Sweetwater had promising elements, such as a star-studded cast, impressive production values, and attention to detail in creating the 50's American ambiance. However, weak acting performances, lackluster cinematography, unremarkable sound design, and a narrative that leaned heavily on guilt-tripping white people held it back from reaching its full potential. While the film may still find an audience among fans of basketball history, it ultimately left me wanting more in terms of execution and storytelling prowess.

Truly beautifully made film, a true story of a great sportsmanship and devoted people, who practically changed the world in their own way. This film is very inspiring and masterfully shot. The sets, the costumes, cinematography, and the choice of cast is excellent - starting from the lead character and all the wonderful star actors we do not see too often in new movies. One of theist important aspects in film, at least for me is the score. Practically every other scene has a theme, beautiful music in the background which makes the scenes more intense. I definitely would recommend to watch it!!

So it sits firmly in the genre of mistreated black americans in 1950s America. Not to say these things didn't happen, but the film doesn't bring anything new. Black people not able to sleep in the hotel, seperate eating areas,, blah blah. Even the white woman black man forbidden romance. Anyway, the story is hiding behind all this, which is quite interesting, but on the whole this felt more like a lazy Sunday afternoon watch. No real bite to the film and some of the tense times simply didn't build up or weren't delivered properly. Should you watch it? If you like basketball history, or you have nothing better to do, sure. It's pretty forgettable and to be honest writing this review for the film felt like a sacrifice. You'll not miss much if you try something else. Production is nice. That's about it.

I couldn't believe I didn't know about this story. I have been avid basketball fan for 40 years. It's a great story told very well. I liked how the film was shot and kudos to cinematographer. You will be entertained and better for knowing this story. Swear really was an Iconoclast and has gotten very little play for his play, if you will. I hope this kovie brings his feats, play and wisdom to the fore front. The film really keeps you entertained with some drama and lighthearted moments. I have seen other Martin guigui. The director of the movie, other films and he has a unique style of developing a story. You won't be disappointed.