Sunset Park (film)
Encyclopedia
Sunset Park is a 1996
basketball
film. It stars Rhea Perlman as the head coach
of a high school boy's basketball team from the Sunset Park
neighborhood in New York City
. The film also stars rapper Fredro Starr
and an early film appearance from Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard
. The film was produced by Perlman's husband, Danny DeVito
.
The film touches on a variety of subjects including drama and comedy. The film was released in April and went on to gross about $10 million at the box office. It didn't garner much attention from award ceremonies and was not nominated for any major movie award. The film received an R rating due to adult language and situations, drug use, and violence.
The film was shot on location in New York City
. It was shot at various locations in the city. Included in filming locations were various high schools and public buildings as well as the world-famous Madison Square Garden
.
The Sunset Park soundtrack
featured one of the first solo appearances of Ghostface Killah
.
She shows up for her first day on the and the team is already skeptical of her. When she walks in, one player is heard saying "I know we gon' lose every game." She then lets the 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" Russell (Starr) is on probation and eventually gets into more trouble. Spaceman (Howard) is also on probation, is constantly using drugs, and has trouble with a teacher. Busy-bee (De'aundre Bonds) is 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 members 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 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.
coach who takes a job coaching boys basketball at Sunset Park. First, she takes the job to earn extra money for a year to open a restaurant but begins to become close to the team and eventually helps make them successful. She informs the team she will return next season after the city championships.
Shorty Doo-Wop (Fredro Starr
): The leader of the Sunset Park team. He becomes the closest to the new coach and actually helps her out the most. He turns on her once he finds out about her restaurant venture but eventually comes back to form and lead the team.
Mona (Carol Kane
): Phyllis' best friend. She supports all of Phyllis' decisions and brags about her achievements to others. She is not seen that much within the film.
Spaceman (Terrence Howard
): The carefree member of the team, he is the quiet, to-himself individual at the beginning. He eventually becomes a key component of the team on the inside. He has conflict with a teacher and Shorty as the film progresses.
Barbara (Camille Saviola
): Another friend of Phyllis, a lawyer. At Phyllis's request, she defends Shorty when he gets into legal trouble. She gets very angry when she finds out Shorty actually committed the crime he was accused of and she got him off the charges.
Busy-bee (De'aundre Bonds
): An undersized player, he is very supportive of the team and his teammates. He yearns to play but does not get very many chances to do so. He is shot while somebody tries to steal his coat. When he returns, he is given the chance to play and becomes successful.
Butter (Talent Harris): The main inside man on the team and is also somewhat of a leader as well. He is also a ladies man and is constantly bragging about how many women he has and has had in the past.
Drano (Antwon Tanner
): Drano is a guard on the team. He is scared to shoot the ball despite having good shooting skills. He is eventually given the confidence to go ahead and shoot the ball though and becomes a long-range threat for the team. He is also seen as the smart guy of the team because of his excellent school work. He is actually seen tutoring other team members.
Boo Man (Guy Torry
): A comedic character in the crowd during Sunset Park's games. He is constantly making fun of the players, their game, and the coach.
Mr Santiago (John Vargas
): is the principal that makes it hard for everyone.
1996 in film
Major releases this year included Scream, Independence Day, Fargo, Trainspotting, The English Patient, Twister, Mars Attacks!, Jerry Maguire and a version of Evita starring Madonna.-Events:...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
film. It stars Rhea Perlman as the head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of a high school boy's basketball team from the Sunset Park
Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Sunset Park is a neighborhood in the western section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Greenwood Heights to the north, Borough Park to the east, Bay Ridge to the south, and Upper New York Bay to the west...
neighborhood in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The film also stars rapper Fredro Starr
Fredro Starr
Fredro Scruggs better known by his stage name Fredro Starr, is an American rapper and actor from South Jamaica, Queens, New York best known as a member of hardcore hip hop group Onyx.-Music career:...
and an early film appearance from Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard
Terrence Howard
Terrence Dashon Howard is an American actor. Having his first major role in the 1995 film Mr. Holland's Opus, which subsequently led to a number of roles in films and high visibility among African American audiences. Howard broke into the mainstream with a succession of well-reviewed television...
. The film was produced by Perlman's husband, Danny DeVito
Danny DeVito
Daniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...
.
The film touches on a variety of subjects including drama and comedy. The film was released in April and went on to gross about $10 million at the box office. It didn't garner much attention from award ceremonies and was not nominated for any major movie award. The film received an R rating due to adult language and situations, drug use, and violence.
The film was shot on location in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It was shot at various locations in the city. Included in filming locations were various high schools and public buildings as well as the world-famous Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
.
The Sunset Park soundtrack
Sunset Park (soundtrack)
- Tracks :#High 'Til I Die - 2Pac#Motherless Child - Ghostface Killah feat. Raekwon#Just Doggin - Tha Dogg Pound#Back at You - Mobb Deep#Are You Ready - Aaliyah#It's Alright - Groove Theory...
featured one of the first solo appearances of Ghostface Killah
Ghostface Killah
Dennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
.
Plot
Phyllis Saroka (Perlman) is a P.E. teacher at a school in New York City, who reads a flier at her school that Sunset Park High School is looking for a new boys basketball coach. Looking for more money to pursue opening a restaurant, 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 and the team is already skeptical of her. When she walks in, one player is heard saying "I know we gon' lose every game." She then lets the 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" Russell (Starr) is on probation and eventually gets into more trouble. Spaceman (Howard) is also on probation, is constantly using drugs, and has trouble with a teacher. Busy-bee (De'aundre Bonds) is 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 members 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
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
to face their opponent 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
Phyllis Saroka (Rhea Perlman): A physical educationPhysical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
coach who takes a job coaching boys basketball at Sunset Park. First, she takes the job to earn extra money for a year to open a restaurant but begins to become close to the team and eventually helps make them successful. She informs the team she will return next season after the city championships.
Shorty Doo-Wop (Fredro Starr
Fredro Starr
Fredro Scruggs better known by his stage name Fredro Starr, is an American rapper and actor from South Jamaica, Queens, New York best known as a member of hardcore hip hop group Onyx.-Music career:...
): The leader of the Sunset Park team. He becomes the closest to the new coach and actually helps her out the most. He turns on her once he finds out about her restaurant venture but eventually comes back to form and lead the team.
Mona (Carol Kane
Carol Kane
Carolyn Laurie "Carol" Kane is an American actress. Kane has worked on the stage, on the screen and in television. She appeared on the television series Taxi in the early 1980s, as the wife of the character played by Andy Kaufman. She received two Emmy Awards for her work...
): Phyllis' best friend. She supports all of Phyllis' decisions and brags about her achievements to others. She is not seen that much within the film.
Spaceman (Terrence Howard
Terrence Howard
Terrence Dashon Howard is an American actor. Having his first major role in the 1995 film Mr. Holland's Opus, which subsequently led to a number of roles in films and high visibility among African American audiences. Howard broke into the mainstream with a succession of well-reviewed television...
): The carefree member of the team, he is the quiet, to-himself individual at the beginning. He eventually becomes a key component of the team on the inside. He has conflict with a teacher and Shorty as the film progresses.
Barbara (Camille Saviola
Camille Saviola
-Early life:Saviola was born in The Bronx, New York City, New York, the daughter of Mary and Michael Saviola. She grew up near Yankee Stadium and graduated from Music and Arts High School then attended college for one year before dropping out to get into acting...
): Another friend of Phyllis, a lawyer. At Phyllis's request, she defends Shorty when he gets into legal trouble. She gets very angry when she finds out Shorty actually committed the crime he was accused of and she got him off the charges.
Busy-bee (De'aundre Bonds
De'Aundre Bonds
De'aundre M. Bonds is an American actor. The actor Samuel Monroe Jr. is his 'God' brother.Bonds has mostly appeared as a guest actor on television shows; however, he was also featured in the Spike Lee film Get on the Bus, Tales from the Hood and the Rick Famuyiwa film The Wood...
): An undersized player, he is very supportive of the team and his teammates. He yearns to play but does not get very many chances to do so. He is shot while somebody tries to steal his coat. When he returns, he is given the chance to play and becomes successful.
Butter (Talent Harris): The main inside man on the team and is also somewhat of a leader as well. He is also a ladies man and is constantly bragging about how many women he has and has had in the past.
Drano (Antwon Tanner
Antwon Tanner
Antwon Tanner is an American actor, mostly known for his role as Antwon "Skills" Taylor on the CW drama series One Tree Hill.-Biography:...
): Drano is a guard on the team. He is scared to shoot the ball despite having good shooting skills. He is eventually given the confidence to go ahead and shoot the ball though and becomes a long-range threat for the team. He is also seen as the smart guy of the team because of his excellent school work. He is actually seen tutoring other team members.
Boo Man (Guy Torry
Guy Torry
-Early life:Guy Torry was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, along with his brother, actor and comedian Joe Torry. He attended Southeast Missouri State University where fellow comedian and St. Louisan Cedric the Entertainer attended. While attending college, Torry developed his talent for comedy...
): A comedic character in the crowd during Sunset Park's games. He is constantly making fun of the players, their game, and the coach.
Mr Santiago (John Vargas
John Vargas
John Vargas is an American actor best known for his role in the films Primary Colors and Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.-Early life:John Vargas was born in the Bronx, New York and moved to Puerto Rico when his father was killed in Vietnam. He was accepted into the Air Force Academy upon finishing...
): is the principal that makes it hard for everyone.