Classic Movie Pick: ‘Hoosiers’ Is Overlooked Classic

Every so often, I like to pick a movie that people are less likely to have seen, but that I think they would really enjoy. This week, I went with a film that is an absolute, bonafide, indisputable classic in “Hoosiers,” a movie very loosely based on real-life events and one of the most popular underdog stories ever to hit the silver screen when it came out back in 1986.

In case you haven’t heard, “Hoosiers” tells the story of a small-town basketball team from, hoop-crazy Hickory, Indiana, that defies odds and advances all the way to the state high school championship game for the opportunity to square off against a much-bigger high school from Indianapolis. 

The film stars Gene Hackman as coach Norman Dale and Barbara Hershey as local teacher Myra Fleener. Coach Dale replaces the previous coach and immediately rubs the locals the wrong way with his tough-guy tactics. Dale immediately kicks two kids off the team for being disrespectful. To make matters worse, he teaches his players how to actually pass a few times before launching jump shots. None of this goes over well, but just as Norman is about to be sent packing by the locals at a town meeting, reclusive star player Jimmy Chitwood shows up and goes to bat for the new embattled coach.

Aside from basketball tales, the movie takes dramatic turns when Myra and Dale become romantically involved, which is lovely until it comes out that Dale was let go from a previous coaching gig for hitting a player.

Oh yeah, Dennis Hopper is also in the film and plays a character named Shooter, a basketball savant who can’t control his drinking and is constantly embarrassing his son who happens to be on the team. That doesn’t stop Coach Dale from paying it forward and giving Shooter another shot. Get it? 

“Hoosiers” is a bit folksy at times, but stays in its lane. And at the heart of it all is the incredible acting of the legendary Gene Hackman who morphs into Norman Dale like he does all his characters — effortlessly, or so it seems to us!

“Hoosiers” was written by Indiana native and accomplished scribe Angelo Pizzo and directed by David Anspaugh. Neither are strangers to underdog stories as they also teamed up a few years later in 1993 to make “Rudy.” 

As fun as it is to watch this film and cheer for the action on and off the court, “Hoosiers” wouldn’t be as spine-tingling or inspiring without an absolutely amazing soundtrack from composer Jerry Goldsmith. The music makes “Hoosiers” one of a handful of films that, after people watch it, they all of a sudden want to get in shape and think they can actually move mountains … or do five sit ups. Luckily, the feeling subsides after about two days. But because of the way we feel in that “I can do anything because I just sat on the couch for two hours and watched a movie moment,” the “Hoosiers” soundtrack is right up there with “Rocky” and maybe even better. Yeah, I said it.

So stay out of the cold, fire up some popcorn and in the comfort of your own living room, check out “Hoosiers.” It’s this week’s classic movie pic of the week!

Editor’s note: For more movie and entertainment talk, join Pete Schwaba weeknights from 6 p.m. to 8 p .m. for “Nite Lite” on the Civic Media radio network.