Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Amateur (2018)

What is it about?

The recruiting and exploitation of a teenage basketball phenom expose the immoral undercurrent world of amateur sports and business. 

Who is in it? 

Michael Rainey Jr. - Terron Forte Jr. 

Brian White - Vince

Josh Charles - Coach Gaines

Favorite Scene: 

After concerns about her son's education, Coach Gaines gives Nia the truth about the reality of amateur and collegiate sports while staring at the stadium. 

Favorite Quote: 

"That stadium...and the tournaments, everyone else makes money off the backs of these kids. They're the reason for all of this, even to help the trust-fund babies so they can play lacrosse." 

Review: 

Amateur is a film that resonated with me. As an Athletic Director at the Collegiate level, it's a film that discusses the all-too-real occurrences of what is happening at the undercurrent levels in High School, Prep Schools, and on the "Brand" circuit, or the AAU scene. Amateur takes on the realities and dark corners of the journey for those looking to make it, and the majority who don't. 

Amateur does a nice job of taking on some of these topics, especially in discussing the pipelines for kids through these fake schools, allegiances, and partnerships. The film also doesn't tackle the issue but does approach the issue of Vince, a battered football player dealing with CTE issues after the game has left him with nothing but dreams. 

A favorite of mine is the character of Coach Gaines - a good guy who cares about kids but understands he has to work within the crooked system in order to succeed and to help. 

The film isn't perfect. It suffers from not going further enough in-depth on the issues. It also has a very hokey ending that sheds light on the difference between American and International structures - but gives the story an unreasonable ending. 

Nonetheless, without giving up anything further, Amateur does what it's supposed to do - provoke thought. 

Grade: 3/5

Recently Read

Was It Ever Real?

Does time change me? Or, did I evolve through experience? How many signals did I miss? Or, did I choose this fate? Do I understand the wrongs and regrets? Or, did I act with the best interest in the moment? What did they say about me? And, what will they say about me today? Was I appreciated? Or, did I imagine that? What were the opinions in the shadows? And, what were the feelings expressed before me? Is it a misunderstanding?  Or, a matter of not confirming?  Why didn’t it last? Or, was it never meant to? …ever able to? Was it ever real? Some of it? Part of it?

2025 NBA All-Star Weekend - "Throw this format in the trash"

There's no other way to put this, the NBA has a serious problem on their agenda going forward regarding All-Star Weekend. What was once the standard for All-Star presentations and must-watch television has quickly turned into social criticism and an entity that undoubtedly reminds fans of what used to be.  Simply put, NBA All-Star Weekend is broken.  I don't want to pile on like we expect the talking heads and personalities to do. This is fixable. Like everything else in sports. However, this...what we experienced tonight, is not it.  Other quick thoughts on the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend:  The Skills Challenge was cool when it was first introduced. Now, it's become over-produced. The map of the floor, the gadgets involved, and even the rules...just ask Chris Paul and poor Victor Wembanyama.  By the way, the constant camera focus on both of them following the "disqualification" had such "Principal Office" vibes.  The Three-Point content remains the purest...

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 2/23/25

3 Up   1. New Old Cookbook - I thought this was really cool. The oldest published cookbook just got a remake and is now available. The cookbook, by Malinda Russell, is 160 years old. There has to be some really good (clean) stuff in that book. It's also Black History Month (are we still allowed to push that?), and there's a lot of history and significance that can be found through food.  2. Frankie Munoz - This dude went from Malcolm in the Middle and decided, I'm gonna be a race car driver! Munoz finished 10th recently in his debut as a NASCAR driver.  3. Yankees Policy - It's about time. The Yankees really were eventually going to find themselves in something MUCH uglier than a narrative surrounding "would George have done this?!" or "Why, this is the Yankee way!". Kudos to Hal Steinbrenner for the move.  3 Down 1. Another Plane Crash - This one in Toronto. A place landed on its roof. What is going on out there? Doesn't help when you read and ...