In 1990, in Chicago, a sportswriter (Jim Caviezel) leaves a hotel and jumps into the back of a taxi, telling the driver he’s headed to the airport. On the radio, the sportswriter can hear a basketball game, which catches the sportswriter’s attention, and he comments on Michael Jordan’s recent performance on the court. The driver grins and claims that once upon a time, there were other great players before Michael Jordan. The sportswriter encourages the driver to share more, given their long drive to the airport. As they converse, the scene shifts back to show us the story in 1950.
In 1950, the taxi driver was Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton (Everett Osborne), a basketballer playing for a team known as the Globetrotters. At this time, the Globetrotters were playing against the well-known team, The Lakers. Among the crowd watching are Ned (Cary Elwes) and Joe (Jeremy Piven). After the game, Joe approaches Nat in the locker room and reveals that he coaches the New York Knickerbockers, also known as The Knicks, a team with no African Americans. Given that he just saw Sweetwater play a fantastic game, Joe reveals he could be the first African American to join the team if Nat wanted. When the conversation ends, Nat returns to his team and receives another disappointing payment for winning the game. His coach and manager, Abe (Kevin Pollak), tells Sweetwater that he and the team will sleep on the bus again.
As time passes, the NBA board come together, and a heated discussion is held about allowing African Americans to join the NBA. A vote is eventually held, and the outcome is disheartening. With no ability to move into the NBA, Sweetwater continues to play the game in a way and in a style that is not his own, so much so that it feels like Basketball is a show, not a sport. Thankfully, some people don’t agree with the board’s recent discussions and have come together to find a way to work with Sweetwater and get him into the world and realm they believe he was always destined to be a part of, the NBA.
Sweetwater is a docudrama that incorporates elements of a sports film. It is based on a true story that significantly impacted the sport of basketball. The film was directed and written by Martin Guigui, known for his previous work on 9/11 (2017) and Beneath the Darkness (2011).
I found this film informative, especially the details about Sweetwater’s life and his journey into Basketball. It’s fascinating to think that slam dunks and many other familiar basketball terms and rules once didn’t exist. The film includes many moments of compelling drama, such as witnessing Sweetwater being stuck in a contract where he is forced to continually play a game in a way that’s not who he is, receiving poor pay and living a lifestyle that feels undeserving, given his skills and passion as a player. Various flashbacks give us further insight into Sweetwater as a young boy, making him the man he would one day become. In terms of performances, everything here is generally acceptable. To my surprise, the standout performance is by actor Jeremy Piven. The music score at various times, including the opening scene, was fitting and delivered the right feelings, matching key moments and heavy scenes.
Most of the time, the dialogue didn’t feel natural or flow well, especially during discussions where multiple characters were on screen. Additionally, Sweetwater’s dialogue often came across as quotes rather than regular spoken lines. However, the film effectively conveys information about the actual journey and addresses the issue of racism clearly and straightforwardly. There is also a minor romance that feels unoriginal and uninspired. While I appreciated the journey and details, the film did not make a lasting impact.
Overall, Sweetwater is highly informative and contains compelling on-screen moments, successfully retelling the heartfelt story and journey of the basketball player Sweetwater. Even though I’m not a sports fanatic, I found this film educational and touching, especially in its portrayal of the finer details and the challenges surrounding racism in basketball. The film features many well-known actors, and I was surprised to see Jeremy Piven give a standout performance on-screen. The time period felt authentic, and the costuming was also noteworthy. However, the film’s dialogue and script are its weakest points, lacking realism and a natural flow. In the end, while Sweetwater is a fine and informative film, it may not have as solid and long-lasting impact as I had hoped, like my experience with The Boy in the Boat (2023).
Sweetwater (2023) is Available in Australian Cinemas from TBA!
5.3/10
7th September 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
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