Fairfield-Echo.com

Rookie director executes a formulaic game plan in 'Glory Road'

After animation, Disney seems to be cornering the market on sports movies (Remember the Titans, The Rookie, Miracle).

So it is not surprising that the studio goes to that well again with Glory Road, the fact-based tale of the color line-breaking Texas Western University basketball team, the long-shot 1966 NCAA champions.

Buena Vista Pictures 'Glory Road' B- The verdict: An inspiring story from college basketball annals, but told with the usual sports movie cliches. Director: James Gartner Starring: Josh Lucas, Derek Luke, Jon Voight, Austin Nichols, Evan Jones, Emily Deschanel Run time: 109 minutes Release date: Jan. 13, 2006 Rating: PG for racial issues including violence and epithets, and mild language. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate 'Glory Road'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

Liberties have been taken, but the essential truth has been captured by rookie director James Gartner, that Don Haskins (Josh Lucas) moved up directly from coaching a girls' high school team to college ball. But without the resources to compete as a recruiter, he resorts to wooing black athletes that other schools simply passed over.

By the time they get to the championships, a showdown with Kentucky and arrogant veteran coach Adolph Rupp (a sneering Jon Voight), Texas Western fields the first all-black starting lineup, ushering in a new era of basketball.

The screenplay by Christopher Cleveland and Bettina Gilois does not soft-pedal the racism the team encounters in its travels, nor does it roam far from the usual emotional uplift of the sports genre. Just in case you are not sure how you are supposed to feel at any moment, Trevor Rabin's heavy-handed, soaring music score clues you in.

Lucas is aptly inspiring and the team is composed of numerous vivid performers, led by Derek Luke (Antwone Fisher) as the showboating star guard.

Still, even with the veneer of sociology, it really helps if you are predisposed toward sports films. Glory Road has a great story worth telling, but it cannot quite manage to sidestep the formulaic pitfalls of the sports genre.