Rez Ball scores its fair share of points on the cinematic court

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As a film enthusiast with a soft spot for underdog stories, I found myself deeply moved by “Rez Ball.” The film masterfully intertwines the grit of reality with the spirit of hope, creating a compelling narrative that resonates beyond the basketball court.

Tucked away in Chuska, New Mexico, there’s a promising high school basketball team that resonates within the local community – the Chuska Warriors, who hail from the Navajo Nation. The team experiences a blend of triumphs and challenges, but it’s their star players, Nataanii (Kusem Goodwind) and his friend Jimmy (Kauchani Bratt), who truly shine on the court with their remarkable skills. However, Coach Matten (Heather Hobbs) consistently encourages them to focus not only on their partnership but also on the collective strength of the entire team.

The team is heavily burdened emotionally due to the loss of Nataanii’s mother and sister. Unfortunately, they also lose Nataanii himself, their friend, brother, and most dependable player. This leaves these young men without a close companion, and the team begins to fragment, with individuals like Jimmy becoming increasingly self-focused. Coach Matten recognizes the potential of the team to reach the championship. However, in order to restore order, she must implement drastic changes, such as adopting a style of play called Rez Ball.

Lately, it appears that several family-friendly live-action films are striving to replicate the kind of movies Disney was known for before they shifted their focus towards Marvel productions and adaptations of animated titles. Movies like “Wonka”, “IF”, “The Boys in the Boat” and now “Rez Ball” all share aesthetics and storylines that could have been Disney productions, given their inspirational underdog themes reminiscent of films like “Remember the Titans”, “Miracle”, and “Secretariat”. In this case, “Rez Ball” is following suit. The writer and director Sydney Freeland, who collaborated with Sterlin Hajo on the script, has intentionally structured “Rez Ball” in a manner similar to Disney’s underdog sports movies.

The success or failure of such titles hinges on their ability to resonate emotionally. Titles like “Cool Runnings” and “Miracle” quickly draw you in with relatable stakes. Conversely, productions such as “Invincible”, “We Are Marshall”, and “American Underdog” may struggle due to underdeveloped or uninteresting main characters. Unfortunately, the 2014 film “Million Dollar Arm” missed its mark by prioritizing Jon Hamm’s personal life over the compelling trio of Indian cricket players adapting to American baseball. Fortunately, the director behind “Drunktown’s Finest” mostly manages to create an inspiring sports tale that leans more towards the successful end of the spectrum. This is partly due to their willingness to delve into darker aspects within the storyline.

In the movie “Rez Ball,” as one sports commentator points out, the Chuska Warriors and other local basketball teams offer a ray of hope for residents of Chuska Navajo. Problems like alcoholism, limited job opportunities, mental health issues are all prevalent here, making life difficult. Jimmy’s mother, Gloria (Julia Jones), sadly accepts that she may never see her son excel in basketball or life due to the high number of tragic deaths. “I’ve been to too many funerals,” Gloria laments, expressing a disheartening view about indigenous people that “No matter how hard we try, we always seem to find a way to fail.” This perspective mirrors the grim outlook on life portrayed by Doctor Sanada in the ending of “Drunken Angel,” played by Takashi Shimura.

In a similar fashion, Drunken Angel offered a contrast to Sanada’s bleak outlook with the sudden appearance of a seemingly doomed patient, and Rez Ball does the same by presenting Jimmy and Coach Matten as hopeful counterpoints to Gloria’s perspective. Despite the very real issues that continue to plague the Navajo people and indigenous communities at large, these contrasting viewpoints never trivialize or ignore them. Instead, they are treated with due seriousness throughout Rez Ball’s narrative.

In this film, there’s a careful blend of acknowledging the harsh truths and avoiding an overly grim portrayal, which sets it apart from films like Champions or Here Comes the Boom. Diving headfirst into the nuanced aspects elevates Rez Ball to a higher tier. To top it off, Freeland and cinematographer Kira Kelly showcase inventiveness in depicting major basketball sequences. A long, flowing shot of the Chuska Warriors playing with text about their victories appearing in different parts of the scene stands out as particularly effective. The most impressive aspect, though, is a series of crucial free throws by Jimmy, which are predominantly filmed against a dark backdrop illuminated only by spotlights. This stylistic choice recalls the visually striking finale of Creed III.

The screenplay by Freeland and Hajo has a somewhat uneven history, particularly in managing its multiple storylines. In the final scene of Rez Ball, there’s a prolonged focus on Jimmy and his mother, emphasizing their relationship as the heart of the film. However, at times, this central dynamic gets lost amidst the intertwining plots, such as Matten reinforcing her coaching prowess or the tense dynamic between teammates Jimmy and Bryson (Devin Sampson-Craig). Characters like a Chuska Warriors player fixated on live streams or Coach Benny (Ernest David Tsosie), who had initially been prominent, tend to recede into the narrative backdrop as more stories unfold.

The ending of “Rez Ball” left me gripping my seat and whispering “come on,” just as any good sports film should. However, the emotional release at the end could have been even more satisfying if every storyline had led to this crucial game. Additionally, some stronger elements within the script, such as a female antagonist calling Jimmy “titty baby” or certain overly dramatic dialogue, lean towards the style of “Full-Court Miracle” rather than “Moneyball.” Disappointingly, while basketball scenes are well-shot, Freeland and Kelly generally portray “Rez Ball” as a typical Netflix original movie. The use of wide shots is sparse, and the staging of individual scenes lacks creativity.

The film “Rez Ball” doesn’t revolutionize the formula of sports movies, as most in this genre seldom do. Nevertheless, top-tier contemporary films like “Hustle” and “Ford v. Ferrari” manage to breathe new life into the usual storylines without completely escaping predictability. In a similar vein, “Rez Ball” manages to keep the familiar engaging by adding an emotional touch. While it may not reach the same level of creative brilliance, it still stands out as a superior choice among many in this category. If high school basketball players across the nation aren’t soon using “stoodis!” (the catchphrase used by Jimmy and his friend before a game) on the court following the release of “Rez Ball“, we’ll know for sure that Netflix original movies don’t have significant influence over pop culture.

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2024-09-23 15:45