Sunset Park is a 1996 American basketball drama film directed by Steve Gomer, based upon a screenplay by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld and Kathleen McGhee-Anderson. The film stars Rhea Perlman as the head coach of a high school boys basketball team from the Sunset Park neighborhood in New York City. The film also stars Onyx rapper Fredro Starr and features an early film appearance from Terrence Howard. It was produced by Perlman's husband Danny DeVito.
Plot[]
Phyllis Saroka is a P.E. teacher at Sunset Park High School in New York City, who reads a flyer that her school is looking for a new boys basketball coach. Looking for more money to pursue opening a restaurant on St. Croix, Virgin Islands, she decides to give the job a shot despite knowing nothing of basketball. She contacts the correct people and is given the job.
She shows up for her first day on the job and the team is already skeptical of her. When she walks in, she lets basketball players run the team, calling their own fouls, running their own plays, and basically allowing them to be carefree. During a game, she makes some bad decisions which irks some of the players on the team. This inspires her to learn more about the game with the assistance of her players. They help her and the team begins to slowly find success.
The team also has to deal with outside forces that threaten the team. Tyrik "Shorty Doo-Wop" Russell is on probation and eventually gets into more trouble. Spaceman is also on probation, is constantly using drugs, and has trouble with a teacher. Busy-bee got shot during the season and misses several games.
Several other players are having academic trouble and some don't even get along with each other. The team also find out that the coach only plans to stay with them one season and then leave to open a restaurant.
The team eventually comes together despite their differences and troubles. They end up with very successful season, and get into the city championship. They go to Madison Square Garden to face their opponent (Washington Heights) and lose by a small margin. Afterward, the coach informs them that they should be proud of themselves and that she will return next season.
Cast[]
- Rhea Perlman as Phyllis Saroka
- Fredro Starr as Tyrik "Shorty Doo-Wop" Russell
- Terrence DaShon Howard as "Spaceman"
- Carol Kane as Mona
- Camille Saviola as Barbara
- De'aundre Bonds as "Busy-Bee"
- James Harris as "Butter"
- Antwon Tanner as "Drano"
- Anthony Hall as Andre
- Garin Casdorph as "Vanilla Thunder"
- Shawn Michael Howard as Kurt
- Guy Torry as "Boo Man"
- John Vargas as Mr. Santiago