A sports writer climbs into a Chicago taxi cab gushing about Michael Jordan. Little does he know that the driver is groundbreaking negro basketball player Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton (Everett Osborne). In 1949, Nat and his Harlem Globetrotters teammates beat the all-white NBA champs, The Minneapolis Lakers. They are led by team owner and coach Abe Saperstein (Kevin Pollak). New York Knickerbockers coach Joe Lapchick (Jeremy Piven) is desperate to get Nat on his team and break the color barrier. He convinces his boss Ned Irish (Cary Elwes).

This needs a singular villain character. Sure, the villain is general racism which comes up everywhere and from all directions. The movie needs one character to encapsulate all that evil. It has elements of a good biopic, but it doesn't have the bite. It introduces the style of play argument a little too late. For me, it came out of nowhere although I guess there is that discussion in the taxi cab. It needs that childhood memory a lot sooner. It's a great story that needs to be told. Abe is a complicated personality in the story of basketball and I'm glad that the movie didn't make him too one-sided. It is still a simplistic portrayal. All in all, I love the true history aspect. The movie is pretty ok. It's an underdog sports biopic.

Nothing beats a good old biopic and Sweetwater is definitely one of them. Great story, great acting. I can't think of what not to like about it. The movie is about Nathaniel Clifton aka Sweetwater. The first black person to play in the NBA, well technically the second, but because of the issues surrounding it, I prefer to still consider him the first. Also the first to play for the Knicks and at the Madison Square.

The movie takes us through his time as a Harlem Globetrotter and how he got signed to the Knicks. This was set in the 50s, when segregation was still in full effect so you definitely know there's a fare amount of racism and stereotyping.

I really enjoyed seeing Eric Roberts, as well as Jeremy Piven, Richard Dreyfuss and Jim Caviezel who surprisingly played a very small role for an act of his calibre.

What the story failed to achieve was not telling us how a significant player like Sweetwater ended up spending the rest of his life driving a cab. I think the viewers deserved to know this very important aspect of Sweetwater and the system.

Give this a watch on a lazy Sunday and you won't regret it.

Sweetwater showcases a unique blend of well-known actors, captivating locations, and meticulously crafted vehicles and props. While the production elements were undoubtedly impressive, my overall experience was marred by underwhelming acting, uninspiring cinematography, and a narrative that felt forced, often relying on guilt-tripping. More on that later.

Let's start with the positives. The film's production team spared no expense in assembling a stellar cast of accomplished actors. Their presence undoubtedly lent credibility to the project and provided a glimmer of hope for an engaging story. Additionally, the attention to detail regarding locations, vehicles, and props was commendable. Each scene felt authentic and immersive, transporting the audience to the United States in the early 50's.

However, despite these strengths, Sweetwater ultimately falls short in some critical areas. The acting performances, unfortunately, failed to live up to the talent of the cast. While they are capable actors in their own right, their delivery often felt lacking, lacking the depth and nuance required to bring their characters to life. This ultimately weakened the emotional impact of the story and left me feeling detached from the film's central conflicts.

Furthermore, the cinematography left much to be desired. The lackluster camera work and uninspired shot composition left me yearning for more visually striking scenes that could have heightened the overall viewing experience.

Another disappointment was the sound design and mix, which offered nothing particularly new or innovative. While the sound elements were technically proficient, they failed to create a memorable auditory experience. It would have been advantageous for the film to take more risks and experiment with soundscapes that could have enhanced the tension and immersion within the story.

Lastly, the narrative of Sweetwater felt overtly reliant on guilt-tripping white men, often presenting them as one-dimensional figures whose sole purpose was to shoulder the blame for historical injustices. While it's important to acknowledge and address societal issues, the film's approach felt heavy-handed and forced, detracting from the overall storytelling and character development.

I am not defending any of the actions that occurred during this time. I despise each and every form of racism. I also understand that this film could not make its point without showcasing the idiotic hierarchy of the color of one's skin, but it felt like a showcase of the moral superiority of the writers.

In conclusion, Sweetwater had promising elements, such as a star-studded cast, impressive production values, and attention to detail in creating the 50's American ambiance. However, weak acting performances, lackluster cinematography, unremarkable sound design, and a narrative that leaned heavily on guilt-tripping white people held it back from reaching its full potential. While the film may still find an audience among fans of basketball history, it ultimately left me wanting more in terms of execution and storytelling prowess.