A scorching summer in Brooklyn marks the annual street basketball
season and all eyes are on the quarter's revered basketball team,
Kenny's Kings. More of a family than a team, its star is Ed 'Booger'
Smith, who has been kicked out of home and taken in by coach Kenny
Jones who trains the team and finances it through his day job
in a liquor store. The coach is desperate to keep Booger out
of trouble and on course for a college scholarship, but Booger
is a "pathological liar" heading towards a criminal
record and Kenny's task in hand is more than just to win this
year's championships.
It's impossible not to be reminded of Hoop Dreams while watching
Danielle Gardner's documentary, but Soul in the Hole is raw and
unsanitised, refusing to clean up its soundtrack (supplied by
the likes of Wu-Tang Clan and Brand Nubian) or its characters:
"The rule says you cannot curse" one ref warns Kenny,
with little chance of seeing it upheld. Glass is swept off the
courts and nets are taped to hoops before games begin; off court
there are street water-fights, barbecues and, predictably, drugs.
The downside is that the result is often incoherent and - certainly
to those unused to Brooklyn accents - unintelligible. And while
Gardner's documentary has plenty of drama and vitality, it lacks
dramatic tension, failing to get really close to its subjects.
Not even Booger's team mates care what happens to him, so why
should we? The real star of Soul in the Hole is coach Kenny who,
beneath all the Brooklyn swagger and explosive bravado is one
of those rare local heroes who rarely receive the glory.
Reviewed by Monika Maurer
Reader comments about Soul in the Hole
rafaelabd (Email address withheld) writes:
soooo much a good stuff
i live in France and i've never had so much enjoying to play exept when i've just seen it
merci kenny!!!!!!!
Kevin Craig (Email address withheld) writes:
Soul in the hole was the second best b-ball movie ever made (Hoop Dreams).Some of the things booger does with the ball are amazing. If you love basketball like I do I recommend you see this movie.
n-depth (Email address withheld) writes:
"soul in the hole" was one of my first pieces of evidence to my brothaz down south showing the differences b/w basketball and NYC basketball; everyone was amazed. Now with the AND1 tapes to further support what "soul in the hole" started you see the face of U.S. basketball changing but there will always be a difference between the innovators and the imitators.
one love/
nana budinski (troyotroy@yahoo.com) writes:
I can say one thing: Boogieman is one of best point guards I ever seen.
His ball skills are amezing.
I was playin against guy from Detriot, Chucky Atkins, but boogieBOMB is all one coach can have.
My greatest compliments to Mr. Smith.
quemile (Email address withheld) writes:
this is one of the greatest bball movies i have ever seen. Ed booger was a star who failed to make it to the highest point in the game.
too bad, but it should serve as a lesson to all up and coming athletes.
I am in a little spot in africa.
J FELON (STAYHIGH85@AOL.COM) writes:
soul in the hole is the best basketball documentary ever made...with "rebound" bein the best basketball movie ever...lets get it right people, hoop dreams aint nothin compared to the goat...lets be fareal...the only bad thing about soul in the hole is it leaves you hangin, and if yall are anything like me youre pissed that you dont get no follow up information on kenny jones or booger...i mean, did they reconcile? is booger n kenny kickin it again? is boog still ballin? kenny still coachin? if yall got updated info on this hit me up at my email
j-felon JOLLA
Juan (Mrdnjn03@aol.com) writes:
I thought the documentary was great from the start it had you on your feet. I still want to go home and watch it over and over agian see if I can see something new. Even though i wanted to see some updates on what happened to Booger and kenny's relationship.Did they ever hook up agian and win the tournament? What is booger doing now?I wonder at times how would it had been if booger went to the NBA with those moves he is one of the best piont gaurds i have seen.
menefield (Email address withheld) writes:
the first time i heard anything about ed smith i was in like 9th grade playing AAU summer ball. when i finally saw the speed and that behind the back behind the head pass, i was an instant believer. but the reality is there are so many Ed "Booger" Smiths across the U.S. and not enough people encouraging them to stay in school. The standards have been lowered so much that guys go to high school just for a shot at making it to the N.B.A. Will someone ever consider doing a movie about that college senior who chooses another option besides a professional sports career? Megaphone whisper to Mr.Smith you started a basketball revolution.
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