The Winning Season is a 2010 sport comedy film written and directed by James C. Strouse

James C. Strouse

James C. Strouse is an American screenwriter and film director. He wrote the film Lonesome Jim , directed by Steve Buscemi. He wrote and made his directorial debut with Grace Is Gone starring John Cusack. Strouse won an Audience Award for most popular dramatic feature and the Waldo Salt...

, starring Sam Rockwell

Sam Rockwell

Sam Rockwell is an American actor known for his leading roles in Lawn Dogs, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Choke and Moon, as well as for his supporting roles in The Green Mile, Iron Man 2, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Frost/Nixon, Galaxy Quest, Matchstick Men, The Assassination of...

. The film premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival

2009 Sundance Film Festival

The 2009 Sundance Film Festival ran from January 15, 2009 until January 25 in Park City, Utah. It was the 25th iteration of the Sundance Film Festival.-Award winners:*Grand Jury Prize: Documentary - We Live in Public...

 and had a limited theatrical release on September 3, 2010.

Lionsgate bought the United Kingdom and United States rights to the film at Sundance. Plum Pictures and Gigi Films produced the film.

Plot

Bill (Sam Rockwell

Sam Rockwell

Sam Rockwell is an American actor known for his leading roles in Lawn Dogs, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Choke and Moon, as well as for his supporting roles in The Green Mile, Iron Man 2, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Frost/Nixon, Galaxy Quest, Matchstick Men, The Assassination of...

), a divorced deadbeat dad

Deadbeat dad

Deadbeat parent is a term referring to obligor parents of either gender that have freely chosen not to be a financially supportive parent in their children's lives...

, is estranged from his teenage daughter Molly (Shana Dowdeswell). Bill's friend Terry (Rob Corddry

Rob Corddry

Robert William "Rob" Corddry is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his work as a former correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and for his starring role in the comedy film Hot Tub Time Machine...

), a high school principal, helps him land a job as the coach for the girls' varsity basketball team. Bill begins to regret his decision when he meets the girls on the team: Abbie (Emma Roberts

Emma Roberts

Emma Rose Roberts is an American actress, model and singer. She is the daughter of actor Eric Roberts and niece of Julia Roberts. Roberts became known for her role as Addie Singer in the Nickelodeon television series Unfabulous. She released her debut album, which also served as the show's...

), Tamra (Meaghan Witri), Mindy (Melanie Hinkle), Wendy (Rooney Mara), Lisa (Shareeka Epps

Shareeka Epps

Shareeka Epps is an American actress. She starred in the 2006 film Half Nelson, alongside Ryan Gosling.- Life and career :...

), and Kathy (Emily Rios

Emily Rios

Emily Clara Rios is an American actress and model.Rios, a Mexican American, was born in Los Angeles, California. She was raised as a Jehovah's Witness in the city of El Monte, California. Rios was discovered while shopping in an area shopping mall. She has appeared in the short For Them and...

). The team improves under Bill's coaching and the girls advise him on his relationship with his daughter. The team's winning season, however, does not protect the girls from their real world difficulties.

Cast

• Sam Rockwell
  Sam Rockwell
  Sam Rockwell is an American actor known for his leading roles in Lawn Dogs, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Choke and Moon, as well as for his supporting roles in The Green Mile, Iron Man 2, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Frost/Nixon, Galaxy Quest, Matchstick Men, The Assassination of...
  
   as Bill
• Shareeka Epps
  Shareeka Epps
  Shareeka Epps is an American actress. She starred in the 2006 film Half Nelson, alongside Ryan Gosling.- Life and career :...
  
   as Lisa
• Emily Rios
  Emily Rios
  Emily Clara Rios is an American actress and model.Rios, a Mexican American, was born in Los Angeles, California. She was raised as a Jehovah's Witness in the city of El Monte, California. Rios was discovered while shopping in an area shopping mall. She has appeared in the short For Them and...
  
   as Kathy
• Rooney Mara as Wendy
• Emma Roberts
  Emma Roberts
  Emma Rose Roberts is an American actress, model and singer. She is the daughter of actor Eric Roberts and niece of Julia Roberts. Roberts became known for her role as Addie Singer in the Nickelodeon television series Unfabulous. She released her debut album, which also served as the show's...
  
   as Abbie
• Meaghan Witri as Tamra
• Melanie Hinkle as Mindy
• Margo Martindale
  Margo Martindale
  Margo Martindale is an American stage, television and film actress. In 2011, Martindale won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Mags Bennett on Justified.-Early life:...
  
   as Donna
• Rob Corddry
  Rob Corddry
  Robert William "Rob" Corddry is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his work as a former correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and for his starring role in the comedy film Hot Tub Time Machine...
  
   as Terry
• Shana Dowdeswell as Molly
• Caitlin Colford as Trish
• Connor Paolo
  Connor Paolo
  Connor Paolo is an American actor best known of his role as Eric van der Woodsen in The CW young-adult series Gossip Girl since 2007-2011.He became part of the two Oliver Stone films, World Trade Center and Alexander where he bagged his biggest break in Hollywood.He is currently playing Declan...
  
   as Damon
• Brian Berrebbi
  Brian Berrebbi
  Brian Berrebbi is an American writer and actor.He was born in Brooklyn, New York. He has written for The Andy Milonakis Show and is a frequent performer at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. He has appeared in numerous commercials, including commercials for Nabisco/Triscuits, Spike TV, and...
  
  as Steve, Bill's Manager