Hoosiers

So, during the excitement that is March Madness, I figured why not watch a basketball themed movie, and there are few better ones than...

Hoosiers. 1986 Orion Pictures & Hemdale Film Corporation; distributed to DVD by MGM.
Starring: Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper, Sheb Wooley, Maris Valainis, Kent Poole, Steve Hollar, Brad Long, Wade Schenck
Director: David Anspaugh
Available at Amazon: Single DVD, or the Collector's Edition.

Or, as this film is known in England, Best Shot.

Hoosiers is inspired by the true story of tiny Milan High School in southeastern Indiana, and its trip to the high school state championship in 1954. The movie moves up their state championship by two years, and it changes their opponents from a school in Muncie to another one up in South Bend. (Differences?)

Despite the differences between real life and reel life, this is still an enjoyable movie, and the only one that really captures just how crazed the state of Indiana is about basketball. Highly recommended.

If you decide to buy, pick up the Collector's Edition. The Milan vs. Muncie championship game is included as an extra.