Product Description
Peter Coyote (E.T., Erin Brokovich) and Karen Allen (The Perfect Storm) star in this touching family drama about the unifying power of basketball in a community torn apart by war. Both a riveting sports film and a tale of triumph over adversity, The Basket is "a hoop dream movie with a whole lot of heart" (Dallas Morning News)! In 1918, when the wheat-farming townspeople of Waterville, Washington, welcome home their first wounded son from WWI, they'restruck by the harsh reality of war. And just as bigotry and hatred toward two German orphans dividethe close-knit community, a new schoolteacher, Martin (Coyote), rolls into town with some strange ideas and an even stranger leather ball. Through the brand-new game called basketball, Martin strivesto bring harmony to the town...before it tears itself apart!
Product Details
- #43313 in DVD
- Brand: COYOTE,PETER
- Released on: 2001-12-11
- Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, DVD, Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC
- Original language:
English, French, German
- Subtitled in:
English
- Dubbed in:
Spanish
- Dimensions: .25 pounds
- Running time: 105 minutes
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The Basket, set in the United States during World War I, is a quiet family film about tolerance and basketball. German orphans Helmut and Brigitta are adopted by the pastor in the tiny farming town of Waterville, Washington. The people of Waterville are suspicious--both of the new "Huns" in town and new schoolteacher Mr. Conlon (Peter Coyote). Conlon sets the town abuzz by teaching (gasp!) German opera and showing his students a new game from the east called basketball. Can the small-town hayseeds beat the juggernaut team, the Spokane Spartans? Will Helmut get to play? And what about that new tractor everybody wants? The Basket doesn't generate quite the excitement of, say, Hoosiers, but it is not a bad movie at all and is beautifully shot, to boot. It's also a great way to teach kids that it isn't as easy as you might think to spot the bad guys. --Ali Davis
Rating: 
-
Some fine tuning
I came across The Basket in a video store and decided to rent it. This was my first mistake. My second mistake was watching it. I did find amusement in ripping on the characters with a few friends. Seems like the movie could have went through a little more fine tuning before they threw it to the home viewers. Some very nice scenery at times though. It's a one-renter.
Rating: 
-
Couldn't wait for the DVD!!!
I originally saw this film on a flight to Germany last April. I guess you can't tell a book by it's cover, so when I saw the title "The Basket", I thought it couldn't be all that good. I put my book down, put on the head phones and was immediately drawn into the story and the characters. By the end, I was thoroughly impressed and noted that this film had to be one of the best I'd seen in years. It's such a great story, the music was great, and the scenery was fantastic. Since last April, I've been patiently waiting for the CD to come out, now that I have it, I've watched it a dozen times. I'll be watching for more films by Rich Cowan.
Rating: -
Awesome picture
If you want a picture that makes you "feel good" then this is the one. It is simple to watch but you are never left with "pre digested" thoughts for you on this one. It is true to the human intellect. You will wonder about the small German childs mind and what he must be thinking when he is rebuffed by Americans in whose care he is placed. Your heart will sail with the affection of the young German girl's attention for a man whose brother just passed away from the effects of a leg blown off by a German's gun. All in all it was a great movie that took us back to a much simpler time.
Rating: -
Kind of blah
Not a horrible movie, but not that interesting.
Rating: 
-
The Basket
How wonderful to find a qualiy movie which reflects family values, struggles and commitment. Set during World War II, "The Basket's" rich cinematography place the viewer amidst the golden wheatfields of the Palouse. It successfully intertwines the beginnings of basketball with the homeland struggle of a small town which finds itself struggling to survive, struggling to cope with the losses of war and struggling to accept the changes it brings, among them the resettlement of two German orphans. Though not an action-packed thriller, "The Basket" is knitted together by original music; it is a film the entire family can enjoy together. Forgive it's hokey moment and you will be rewarded with a film where good triumphs over evil and love perseveres rather than taking the easy way out.
Rating: -
The Basket
How wonderful to find a qualiy movie which reflects family values, struggles and commitment. Set during World War II, "The Basket's" rich cinematography place the viewer amidst the golden wheatfields of the Palouse. It successfully intertwines the beginnings of basketball with the homeland struggle of a small town which finds itself struggling to survive, struggling to cope with the losses of war and struggling to accept the changes it brings, among them the resettlement of two German orphans. Though not an action-packed thriller, "The Basket" is knitted together by original music; it is a film the entire family can enjoy together. Forgive it's hokey moment and you will be rewarded with a film where good triumphs over evil and love perseveres rather than taking the easy way out.
Rating: -
The Basket, in theaters
We saw The Basket in the movie theater last year. If you like a quiet, thoughtful film that is appropriate for the whole family, then this is it. If you want special effects, car chases and swearing, this is not the movie for you. As best I can tell, from reading other comments here, except for one or two detailed critiques, those not liking the movie found The Basket to be boring. Presumably not enough car chases and explosions. Those liking the movie enjoyed the sentimental story and the emotional power, and an ending where everyone won something more important than a basketball game. We thoroughly enjoyed this movie, set in a rural community in the early 20th century.
Rating: -
If You're Over 65, This Film Is First Class Entertainment
Never expect Hollywood to change and make a mature movie with a mature story line for the whole family, like "The Basket." I've been to one movie theater in the last 20 years. My wife dragged me; it was "The Basket." I was stunned like alot of the other people in the theater. They stayed and applauded through the music accompanying the credits. Maybe you don't have to be a little kid to appreciate a clean family movie.
Rating: -
Brilliant!
Beautiful cinematography.
Wonderful story.
Original opera score.
Fantastic acting.
The best family movie made in 40 years.
Rating: -
People love it or hate it
I wrote the music for "The Basket" so I'm not going to offer my opinion of the content. I will say that I have heard literally hundreds of responses. Most people love the movie with a very personal intensity. It is not unusual that someone cries when describing their favorite scenes. On the other hand a small number of people I have spoken with hated this movie so much that it made them irrational. I have even received obscene phone calls about it. It makes some individuals that angry. Puzzling but true. If you like sex in your movies, or violence, with macho male heroes and sexpot female heroines, and the F word sprinkled throughout this ain't your movie. But there are plenty out there for you. I think that's why it appeals without exception to retired age individuals. It harkens back to a time when movies were about storyline, not special effects and jarring shocking content. Love to you all, Don Caron
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