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Sam Rockwell, Emma Roberts, Rob Corddry, Margo Martindale, Shareeka Epps ... see more see more... , Jessica Hecht , Emily Rios , Shana Dowdeswell , Meaghan Witri , Melanie Hinkle , Rooney Mara , Vanessa Gordillo , Connor Paolo , Melissa Graver , Clarke Thorell , Rod Brogan , Kevin Breznahan , Brian Berrebbi , Rhonda Keyser , Sara Chase , William Wiggins , Colby Minifie , Colleen Broomall , Jennifer Regan , Devin Ratray , Ed Jewett , Marceline Hugot , E.J. Carroll , Caitlin Colford , Seth Herzog , Lynn Mancinelli , Pauline Sherrow , Angelina Aucello , Robert Keir

Set in suburban Indiana, the film stars Rockwell as Bill Greaves, an adult misfit recruited by the local high school principal (Corddry) to coach the school's floundering girls' basketball team. Initi... read more read more...ally retreating from what appears to be a hopeless situation, Bill perseveres and manages to help the team and its captain (Roberts) ratchet up its competitive spirit, while the girls offer Bill a renewed life focus. THE WINNING SEASON also stars Shareeka Epps, Emily Rios and Margo Martindale.-- (C) Lionsgate

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57% liked it

1,558 ratings

Critics

55% liked it

20 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 44 min.

Directed by: James C. Strouse

Release Date: September 3, 2010

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DVD Release Date: November 23, 2010

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Stats: 125 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (125)

  • itsjustme2004
    December 16, 2011
    itsjustme2004
    I didnt expect to like this movie. The start was a little slow, and I wasn't sure how well put together this movie was going to be. Before too long, however, I was all on board! Very dry, quirky, understated humor here, which seems to be Sam Rockwell's forte, and I love that. The... read more girls were fantastic. Just an all round fun Independent film.
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    August 3, 2011
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    It took a bunch of girls to make him man up.

    Great Film! This is not a bad film at all, It was shockingly impressive and good. Sam Rockwell was so hilarious and into his role, he's a very talented actor. He seems to be the reason why this film is pretty good. He's basically a d... read morerunken asshole, very unlikable, but he completely draws you in so there's a real emotional connection for the dramatic elements. And as he has demonstrated before, his physical comedy antics are perfect making the comedy scenes pretty funny. "The Winning Season" has been done many times before, but here they managed to do it without being cheesy, while providing quality scenes of drama and comedy. If you like the genre, it is certainly worth a look. Highly recommended!

    In a Hoosier town, boys' basketball is king. Bill is a former athlete and high-school coach who drinks too much, rarely sees his daughter from an old marriage, and busses tables at a local cafe. A friend who's now a principal offers him a job coaching girls; Bill takes it without much spirit. Six come to practice; one has a broken foot. They're awful in their first game, and Bill has to figure out, with help from Donna, the school's burly bus driver, if he actually can coach girls. They respond, and Bill suddenly has a family of sorts, just as his own relationship with his daughter worsens. With a winning season in reach, will Bill blow this chance?
  • LWOODS04
    July 12, 2011
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Sam Rockwell, Emma Roberts, Margo Martindale, Rob Corddry, Jessica Hecht, Shana Dowdeswell, Shareeka Epps, Meaghan Witri, Emily Rios, Melanie Hinkle

    Director: James C. Strouse

    Summary: Searching for a coach for his hapless girls' basketball team, school principal Te... read morerry (Rob Corddry) turns to his friend, Bill (Sam Rockwell), a divorced, drunken dishwasher who isn't even involved in his own daughter's life. But Bill's life changes as he bonds with the team. He develops a special connection with team captain Abbie (Emma Roberts), and while the girls start winning, Bill and his players still have a lot to overcome off the court.

    My Thoughts: "This is a great dark quirky comedy. I really enjoyed the relationships the girls formed together. How in the end, they had each other's backs and created a sisterhood. It's kind of like a basketball version of "Bad News Bears". Sam Rockwell did a great job as Bill. He started off as an asshole but ended being a great male figure for these girls that he hadn't been for his own daughter. They taught each other a great deal in the movie and it is a great inspirational story. All the girls were great in the film. A good film to see with your teenagers."
  • blkbomb
    July 9, 2011
    blkbomb
    The Winning Season is a Bad News Bears rip off in every way. A coach who has past experience in the sport but never fulfilled his potential takes over a terrible team. He's a drunk and doesn't really care about the team at first. But throughout the season he starts to and his tea... read morem begins to win, while he tries to forge a relationship with his daughter. The negatives of this movie are that it's cliche, predictable, and poorly acted by a few of the young girls.

    With everything I just said in mind, I still didn't hate this movie. I actually liked it.... I think. Sam Rockwell is good in everything he does and this in no exception. I'm also a Rob Coddry fan and even though he doesn't have a big role, his presence alone helped the movie. I'm also beginning to like Emma Roberts, although I don't find her acting to be great. She has a really likable way about her.

    Not a great movie or probably even good one, but it's entertaining and it does have some heart.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    February 6, 2011
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "It took a bunch of girls to make him man up."

    A comedy centered on a has-been coach who is given a shot at redemption when he's asked to run his local high school's girls basketball team.

    REVIEW
    ... read morer>
    At least The Winning Season knows that the whole down-on-his-luck coach and group of misfit girls basketball team who learn about life and winning together type of story has been done before. They did unfortunately follow the exact same formula, but with a hint of whimsy and self-awareness, it's above average for the genre. Emma Roberts and the other girls comprising the team actually come across as real teenage girls. I found them cute and funny. As a big fan of Sam Rockwell, he seems to be the reason why this film is pretty good. He's basically a drunken asshole, very unlikable, but he completely draws you in so there's a real emotional connection for the dramatic elements. And as he has demonstrated before, his physical comedy antics are perfect making the comedy scenes pretty funny. The Winning Season has been done many times before, but here they managed to do it without being cheesy, while providing quality scenes of drama and comedy. If you like the genre, it is certainly worth a look.
  • xas5
    July 25, 2011
    xas5
    Rockwell turns this otherwise beaten-to-death-story into a memorable film full of several perfect moments including a nice balance between comedy and drama. Emma Roberts also shines in the midst of a no-name female cast.
  • Hamee
    June 23, 2011
    Hamee
    This is a nice heart-warming movie about a girl's basketball team and their alcoholic coach overcoming many adversities. They may have a winning season, but it isn't the usual cliched ending this time around. Rockwell was hilarious as he played the school mascot to sneak his way ... read morein to the girl's final game.

View All The Winning Season Reviews

Critic Reviews

Stephen Holden
September 3, 2010
Stephen Holden, New York Times

In its final lap The Winning Season collapses into a sentimental farce that even Mr. Rockwell, now playing the clown, cannot redeem from cringe-inducing hokum. Full Review

Lou Lumenick
September 3, 2010
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

Rockwell does a typically fine job -- he's funny, touching and appalling -- as an alcoholic mess of a former high school basketball coach who's been reduced to washing dishes in a restaurant. Full Review

Sheri Linden
September 2, 2010
Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times

The story deepens through the clownish, heartbreaking exertions of Rockwell's gruff misfit, still working things out at the final buzzer. Full Review

Kirk Honeycutt
September 2, 2010
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter

A predictable and cliched dramady. Full Review

Melissa Anderson
August 31, 2010
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice

The Winning Season respects its misfits (and its audience) by not stripping away their foibles in the service of sports-movie clichés. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
November 26, 2010
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

Doesn't win points for originality, but the film keeps to a steady rhythm of entertainment, delivering a few laughs and tears along the way on DVD before it settles into its rightful home on basic cable. Full Review

Cole Smithey
September 12, 2010
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Sam Rockwell's never-ending ability to create intriguing characters proves essential to writer/director James C. Strouse, whose formulaic tale of redemption for a washed up basketball coach would othe... Full Review

Sandie Angulo Chen
September 10, 2010
Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media

Quirky indie sports flick is surprisingly serious, moving. Full Review

Willie Waffle
September 10, 2010
Willie Waffle, WaffleMovies.com

I want you to see this movie On Demand to witness the most underrated actor in all of the world, Sam Rockwell. That way, he won't have to make another movie like this ever again. Full Review

Jeff Otto
September 3, 2010
Jeff Otto, cinemaobsession.com

"The Winning Season" teeters hither and thither on its tonal seesaw, never quite sure where its going and often forgetful of where it's been. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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