TV Reviews : ‘Hardwood Dreams’ in ‘Hoop’ Shadow

Writer-producer-director Mike Tollin might have considered changing the title “Hardwood Dreams” for his one-hour documentary that airs on Fox Sunday. That way the film might seem less of a knock-off of its celebrated predecessor “Hoop Dreams.” On the other hand, it lends a dark connotation to the jocular commercial term “March Madness,” now that the NCAA basketball tournament reaches its championship climax Monday.

Like “Hoop Dreams,” “Hardwood Dreams” follows young black basketball players through their on- and off-court trials as they envision an NBA future, where one can be “a millionaire, with fancy houses and beautiful women.” Instead of two young men, we have five--the starting varsity players at Inglewood’s Morningside High. And instead of a three-year period, we see them make their way through their 1992-93 season, when they came within a single game of repeating as California state champions.

Narrated by Wesley Snipes, “Hardwood Dreams” unquestionably suffers in the comparison. “Hoop Dreams” enjoys a more leisurely and detailed examination of the lives of its two young men. “Hardwood” is more hectic and cursory, more told than revealed.

But where it painfully succeeds is in its depiction of the punishing, nearly overpowering social environment of being young and black in urban America, where gunshots punctuate the school day and a tide of hopelessness rises to drown one’s future. The tone of pain, anger, confusion and the struggle to understand is more than apparent, not only in the players, but also in adults who recognize a failed system.

“Hardwood Dreams” offers an inspirational ending. But having seen it, chances are you’ll watch the NCAA finals not so much as a game but as a last chance for a lot of kids fighting for their lives.

* “Hardwood Dreams” airs at 7 p.m. Sunday on Fox (Channels 11 and 6).