"We are all, all of us, including me somebody else's table scraps." Tennessee State University is having a problem with their sports programs. In order to save money they decide to drop the baseball team and add two smaller programs. One of the new programs they add is a men's golf team. The biggest problem they have is that no one wants to coach. The AD recruits swim team coach Catana Starks (Henson) since she has experience playing. She is very excited at the opportunity but when she is told she will receive no scholarships, funding or any help at all she decides to make her own rules. I love sports movies and especially the true ones like this. Like many sports movies this one focuses on the personal stories rather then the sport itself. That's what makes them so great. Unlike other sports movies though this one has a huge focus on the coach's life rather then how she helps the team come together. There are a few cheesy parts in this but for the most part the movie is very inspiring. There really isn't a big motivational speech like many sports movies have but what it does have are little lines that have the same power and inspiration as the long speeches usually given. The characters are great and are really likable. I really did enjoy this and I recommend this but it is not at the same level as Remember The Titans or movies like that. Overall, a very good and inspiring true story that I recommend. Even though there are a few cheesy parts it never comes off as being overly cheesy and laughable. I give this a B+.
17 Reviews
Not bad
luvnbusiness21 January 2015
I am an alumnae of TSU and I was looking forward to seeing this movie. There was a buzz about it, then nothing. I was so happy to find it on Netflix tonight and couldn't wait to view it. I never heard of Coach Starks even though I attended the school during the late 1990s. I enjoyed the film for what it was, but I thought it would be...more. More epic, more real, more dramatic. I think more time was needed to really develop the story and characters, but the acting was solid. I almost cried when I saw Michael Clark Duncan! Also, I would have loved to see our beautiful campus and some shots of Nashville. Overall, it was a good movie. It just didn't live up to my expectations.
They didn't tell the story of the schools first black golfers
elliott-0502428 November 2018
To bad this doesn't tell the story of the first golf team she had, which was actually all black players, 2 of which were injured football players and one girl. Wondered what actually happened to those first black golfers at the historically black college. The movie starts with one black golfer and 4 foreign players as her founding year.
Good story of a woman who formed a men's college golf team.
TxMike3 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I was able to see this movie on Netflix streaming movies. It is based on a real person, and a real university in Nashville. But as the end credits state many situations in this movie are fictionalized and many characters are composites of more than one person.
For example, in the movie when she starts a golf team in the 1980s she cannot find but one local golfer, so she goes to the phones and recruited internationally, getting players from all over the world. But here is what she says about her first season, " My first golf team consisted of two injured football players, two other guys and one girl who was permitted to play with us. I started out with that and they were all African-Americans. It continued on and then I started getting other interested players from other ethnic groups. Eventually, it evolved into having some international students."
So in the movie they lump all that into one season, including the eventual national tournament win in 2005, her last year of coaching.
None of that is to knock the movie, just to point out that it isn't really a documentary, rather it is a dramatization of her impact as a trailblazing coach, a female coach of a men's golf team.
The lead is played by one my personal favorites, Taraji P. Henson (of 'Person of Interest') as Dr Catana Starks, and golf coach. Now deceased Michael Clarke Duncan has a good role as a janitor that helps Sparks get the attention the program needed. And Henry Simmons is Kendrick Paulsen Jr., the wealthy former athlete who is now athletic director and gives Starks a hard time, threatening to fire her.
The golf is all amateurish, but it is there to tell a story. It was mostly filmed in and around the New Orleans area, including Dillard University and several golf courses.
Good movie.
For example, in the movie when she starts a golf team in the 1980s she cannot find but one local golfer, so she goes to the phones and recruited internationally, getting players from all over the world. But here is what she says about her first season, " My first golf team consisted of two injured football players, two other guys and one girl who was permitted to play with us. I started out with that and they were all African-Americans. It continued on and then I started getting other interested players from other ethnic groups. Eventually, it evolved into having some international students."
So in the movie they lump all that into one season, including the eventual national tournament win in 2005, her last year of coaching.
None of that is to knock the movie, just to point out that it isn't really a documentary, rather it is a dramatization of her impact as a trailblazing coach, a female coach of a men's golf team.
The lead is played by one my personal favorites, Taraji P. Henson (of 'Person of Interest') as Dr Catana Starks, and golf coach. Now deceased Michael Clarke Duncan has a good role as a janitor that helps Sparks get the attention the program needed. And Henry Simmons is Kendrick Paulsen Jr., the wealthy former athlete who is now athletic director and gives Starks a hard time, threatening to fire her.
The golf is all amateurish, but it is there to tell a story. It was mostly filmed in and around the New Orleans area, including Dillard University and several golf courses.
Good movie.
Interestingly good
james_abbey5 December 2018
Really good flick!
surrattdaddy3 May 2014
I really liked this flick! I thought the acting was really good overall.
Especially the Algerian guy Ben Youcef. His journey in the story was very interesting.
He starts off really rude and a jerk and then warms up and becomes the hero.
I've seen this guy on Law and Order and a few other things and I think he did a really wonderful.
The story is very moving and I like what it speaks to. That we all are the same and we all need to come together.
Definitely worth a check out!
Especially the Algerian guy Ben Youcef. His journey in the story was very interesting.
He starts off really rude and a jerk and then warms up and becomes the hero.
I've seen this guy on Law and Order and a few other things and I think he did a really wonderful.
The story is very moving and I like what it speaks to. That we all are the same and we all need to come together.
Definitely worth a check out!
A must watch for everyone and anyone who's in need of inspiration
afsanadel21 July 2019
The movie has a very interesting quote, about how we see the outer walls up high knowingly well that sooner or later, they will come down, and we'll be left with our own walls to deal with.
So many things to learn from one single movie, most important being.. excuses don't work, whatever your background or resources you have, you can still win. And that should be the only aim. Loved the movie!
Inspirational Feel-Good for all ages
Mal766927 April 2014
Inspirational film for all ages whose cast play to their characters. The screen play was well-written and executed. The cinematography beautiful. Lovely film filled with hardship punctuated by laughter- a definite feel-good movie! The storyline of "From the Rough" is universally appealing.. good triumphs over evil, humility rules as the bad boss learns to appreciate the value of his staff, a team learns it must rely on each other, a coach learns there is more than hard work to developing a top flight group of individualists into a cohesive team, and finally, the definition of minority is taken to task in the PGA's eyes. But truly is about love; love of the family, love of self, love of the team and love of the sport.
Outstanding female lead!
annienecakov28 April 2014
As a minority woman, this film spoke loudly to me. Don't give up despite the odds, keep doing your best, will be my take away after viewing this very inspirational film. An African-American woman swim coach at TSU becomes the first woman coach for a men's college golf team. Everything was an obstacle at this mostly African-American university, in particular, golf is just not a very popular sport for African-Americans. So Catana Sparks had to be creative and round up as best a team as she can, mostly recruiting internationally and ending up with a not so African-American team! We need more films like this, especially in America where people can see that with hard work, nothing is impossible!
A delightful film experience
terrygaffney7 October 2014
Couched within a story about a female African-American coach in a man's world, we discover a parable demonstrating how the combination of dedication, persistence and human compassion can overcome any number of obstacles one encounters in life, both external and self-imposed. The backdrops of an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) as the setting for both gender and (reverse) race bias, politics within a university system, and a few 'good-old-boy' networks help set the stage for the development of the main character played so ably by Taraji Henson. The film effectively develops the secondary story about the group of young men who comprise the golf team struggling to make adjustments in an unfamiliar environment as they transition from adolescence to maturity. Michael Clarke Duncan's character adds a comforting, soothing balm throughout the film. Henry Simmons' does quite a bit with his portrayal of the antagonist as a conflicted administrator, though the part is written rather thinly. Consistent humor throughout the film effectively keeps the film moving along swiftly and helps prevent it from becoming 'message-heavy'. At film's end you're likely to come away smiling and carrying a heart-warming feel-good aura about you as well
and oh, by the way, it's based on a true story; enjoy!
Entertaining and Inspirational
Brucenolop27 April 2014
Based on a true-life story, From the Rough is both entertaining and inspirational. If you like sports movies such as Hoosiers, Miracle, and Remember the Titans, you are probably going to like this one also. The screenplay is excellent, the cast is first-rate, and the production values are superb.
The team comes together and overcomes long odds to compete in men's college golf against well-entrenched and better-financed programs. You don't have to be a golfer to follow the action and to appreciate the techniques used by Coach Starks to forge the winning formula.
I recommend this to movie goers of all ages. Don't let the lack of a large marketing budget fool you; this movie is a hidden gem that you should make a special point to see.
The team comes together and overcomes long odds to compete in men's college golf against well-entrenched and better-financed programs. You don't have to be a golfer to follow the action and to appreciate the techniques used by Coach Starks to forge the winning formula.
I recommend this to movie goers of all ages. Don't let the lack of a large marketing budget fool you; this movie is a hidden gem that you should make a special point to see.
Uplifting and entertaining
Ksyn-986-86452527 April 2014
Loved this movie, very entertaining and uplifting. Inspirational and thought provoking. Characters were very believable and I loved message. I would highly recommend this movie. Great family movie. Something for everyone in the family. Music also great. I thought acting was quite good. I loved the fact the movie was based on a true story, it made it more meaningful. A new spin on a sports and diversity and adversity story. I think this is a great movie for teens. Very relatable because of the types of characters who end up on the golf team and how they each need to overcome their individual hardship and ban together as a team.
Excellent, inspiring movie for the whole family, as it has no profanity, nudity or violence. Very enjoyable!
rick-985-8867726 April 2014
From the Rough is an inspiring movie the entire family will enjoy. It tells the story of the creation of a men's golf team at a small African American college: Tennessee State. The coach is an African American woman who prods and inspires her eclectic group of golfers to achieve at a very high level. The AD at first offers her little help and no funds for scholarships, as he really doesn't think a golf team is what the college needs. Eventually, he approves the scholarships, but the coach has little luck attracting talent, since the school has never had a golf team before. She finally attracts a team by making calls to different parts of the world and each player's story is quite interesting. There are twists and turns throughout, as the new Athletic Director is a bit unsure of himself and doesn't make it easy of the new golf coach, who also coaches the woman's swim team. Very much a fun movie for the whole family!
Fantastic performance
byteinc27 April 2014
Taraji P Henson scores a hole in one with this fantastic movie!! The way she portrays Coach Starks is totally believable. The film tells the inspiring story of how Coach Starks pulled together a team of misfits and changed their lives for the better. It shows that people working together can accomplish great things, and it shows what one extraordinary person can do with lots of patience, perseverance, and hard work.
Justin Chon was amazing as a 'bad-ass' Korean teenager who is not comfortable with his straight laced father, but eventually he comes to terms with himself. Tom Felton is another character who grows throughout the film. Coach Starks has a positive effect on everyone she touches.
Her life does not appear to have been easy, but she makes the most of what she has. The fact that this is based on a true story makes it that much more refreshing.
Justin Chon was amazing as a 'bad-ass' Korean teenager who is not comfortable with his straight laced father, but eventually he comes to terms with himself. Tom Felton is another character who grows throughout the film. Coach Starks has a positive effect on everyone she touches.
Her life does not appear to have been easy, but she makes the most of what she has. The fact that this is based on a true story makes it that much more refreshing.
A Must-see Sports Drama
dmwygal28 April 2014
The film From The Rough is one of the best movies I've seen all year. It is a touching, sports drama based on a true story about Catana Starks,the first black woman ever to coach a college men's golf team. Acting performances from Taraji Henson and Henry Simmons are terrific. So is the screenplay which is very inspirational, and at the appropriate times very funny as we watch the coach try to build Tennessee State University's first golf team. With intense dedication and guts, this coach has to shape up a motley crew of young golfers she recruits from all over the world. She achieves great success, pushing past boundaries. It is the type of uplifting film you want to see over and over again.
Taraji P. Henson brings depth and character - Entertaining, Inspiring Film
arjiet28 April 2014
Taraji P.Henson played the role of a caring, but tough, take-no-excuses coach perfectly. The movie was well done and sweet (although the British dude was a bit annoying). Taraji is a very good actress and hopefully her talents will be further recognized in Hollywood. She should be carrying mainstream movies. If there is a movie god, please never let this woman be relegated to lower roles such as maids, servants, slaves or second fiddle. Taraji proved that she can headline a movie with her performance in this movie. She carried it, and was tough as nails and looked beautiful to boot. Great for kids and inspiring for girls and young women of all hues. Michael Clarke Duncan, although only having a few speaking parts, was also good and Henry Simmons was fine as always.
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