“Shooting Guard:” A Star Basketball Player Faces Adversity and Danger
Initial Thoughts About the Movie: “Shooting Guard”
Agapi Petra, the main character of the film, plays the basketball player role of Jamaal Bishop very well. He grieves and stresses over a situation in which his older brother, Chris Bishop was killed. Jamaal struggles with what he needs to do to help his family. He wants to be the man of the house and to try to be the hero. I love his competitive spirit and enthusiasm for the game of basketball.
I also like how the mother is portrayed. For example, she says to him, “Stop dribbling the ball before you break something!” In that moment, Jamaal was dribbling the ball in the kitchen, which perhaps was his way of trying to cope with all the stress. You could see much of the time that the situation surrounding his brother’s death distracted him. At one point, he wanted to go to the park to practice. Playing basketball seemed to be in a sense, a stress reliever for him.
Basketball or Family: Decisions About His Future
Jamaal and his mother faced eviction. They dealt with a desperate situation and needed to work out what was a costly resolution. Would Jamaal be able to continue to pursue his dreams and potential in playing basketball in college and beyond, or would he make decisions that would risk that and support his family? I liked Jamaal’s determination, but his actions led to a risky and dangerous set of circumstances.
Other Feedback Concerning the Movie
Although I do love the narrative itself, the film is replete with slang street talk and profane language. In a movie like this, such language does fit the characters, given their lifestyles, personalities, the situations presented, as well as the setting itself.
What “Shooting Guard” Might Have Included to Enhance the Quality of the Film
I would have loved to see at least some highlights from Jamaal’s high school basketball performances, since he is described in the film as a “beast” on the court and one who has a future in the NBA. Such scenes would have made the movie even more interesting and dramatic. Also, at the end, the filmmakers might show clips of Jamaal entering the court in college. Such scenes would emphasize his character arc and profile as an overcomer, as well as show his progress as a basketball star. Adding a couple of scenes like that at the end might naturally hint at a sequel, if they ever desired to produce a second film featuring Jamaal.
The movie’s length is only 01:13:23. A more expanded version would have improved the story. Typically, movies are closer to an hour and a half. Understandably, some films might have limitations due to low budget, etc.
Overall Summary of My Thoughts on the Film
A basketball player stresses over mother’s situation. He and his mother urgent need money before they get evicted. Jamaal Bishop then has to make some tough decisions, which led to a dangerous set of circumstances. The narrative definitely holds your attention, but the movie does include a plethora of profanity and slang, street talk. I think if the producers/directors somehow included highlights of Jamaal’s best basketball moments on the court, as well as future clips from his college career, such additions would have enhanced the overall story.
Would I Recommend Watching “Shooting Guard?”
If you don’t mind the language, I think you would enjoy the story, especially if you are a basketball fan. I happen to love basketball myself, and so naturally, the title and graphic that goes along with the film grabbed my attention. As you go through the film, especially in the second half, it’s hard not to keep watching. The narrative maintained my interest level, and I found it easy to follow.
