Friends of Odell Public Library, 307 S. Madison Street, Morrison, IL, will host the film “Hoosiers,” on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, beginning at 2:00 p.m. There is a passion to high school sports; nothing in professional sports equals the intensity of a really important high school basketball game. “Hoosiers” knows that.
This is a movie about a tiny Indiana high school that sends a team all the way to the State Basketball Finals, in the days when schools of all sizes played in the same tournament. The school, Hickory High, is so small that it can barely field a team, especially when the best player decides to drop out. Can a school this small actually become State champs?
“Hoosiers” is a comeback movie, not only for this small team, the Hickory Huskers, but also for their coach, a middle-aged guy named Norman Dale (Gene Hackman.) He seems to be too old and too experienced to be coaching in an obscure little town. It is also the comeback story of Shooter, the town drunk (Dennis Hopper.) It seems everyone in this movie is trying to start over in life. Basketball is their catalyst.
What makes this film special is not only the story, but its details and characters. The screenplay writer knows not only sports. but also about high school politics on a school board and in a town that thinks they know more than the coach.
Hickory High School is where Coach Dale hopes to make his comeback, but not only for himself. He meets Shooter, the alcoholic father of one of his team members, and enlists him as an Assistant Coach with one rule: no more drinking. Coach Dale also falls in love with a fellow teacher, played by Barbara Hershey.
“‘Hoosiers’ works magic in getting us to really care about the fate of the team and the people. This film combines sports with human nature. This is a movie that is all heart,” opined Roger Ebert
Come and cheer on these underdogs as they strive for basketball’s highest prize!
Pop and popcorn will be served. There is no charge, although donations are welcome.