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Heaven Is a Playground

Play trailer Poster for Heaven Is a Playground R 1991 1h 51m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
When not at work, a white lawyer, Zach Telander (D.B. Sweeney), likes to leave his affluent surroundings so that he can play basketball with a bunch of inner-city African-American youths. But life beyond the court for these young men is dangerous because of drugs and crime. It's also potentially dangerous when a big-shot sports agent, David Racine (Richard Jordan), comes around to scoop up potential talent. Zach and coach Byron Harper (Michael Warren) try to keep the young men centered.

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times What is strange about Heaven Is a Playground is how this dynamite material is defused -- how the movie meanders and loses its way, drags to a halt when it should be most exciting, and goes through strange shifts in tone and style. Rated: 1.5/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Oct 1, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member This weak basketball film feels like it was made by a production team that only half cared about the final product, and a cast that is pretty hit and miss...but mostly miss. It is inconsistent in tone and themes, and adds too many superfluous characters that add little to the proceedings. Might have had a shot, but it really never lands on it's feet...hell it barely takes off. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member really loved this movie , very good for people who absolutely love basketball. shows the real deal of pro players. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Being a guy that hates sports movies, I actually like this one, maybe it has to do with the fact that I am mark for basketball films like the one with the Harlem Globetrotters' visiting Gilligan's island. This one is slightly entertaining at least in the absurd feats that are performed. However, it also accurately reflects the mind of young black kids and moronic sports stars, who we give so much many and attention to in society. Check out this film if you hate White Men Can't Jump. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member I've seen it 114 times... Not the greatest movie but I just like it Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member this movie is beast.bo kimble and act but he can jump. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Only true basketball players might know about this one... Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Heaven Is a Playground

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Cast & Crew

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Heaven Is a Playground

Heaven Is a Playground (1991) Heaven Is a Playground (1991) Heaven Is a Playground (1991) Heaven Is a Playground (1991) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When not at work, a white lawyer, Zach Telander (D.B. Sweeney), likes to leave his affluent surroundings so that he can play basketball with a bunch of inner-city African-American youths. But life beyond the court for these young men is dangerous because of drugs and crime. It's also potentially dangerous when a big-shot sports agent, David Racine (Richard Jordan), comes around to scoop up potential talent. Zach and coach Byron Harper (Michael Warren) try to keep the young men centered.
Director
Randall Fried
Producer
Keith Bank, Billy Higgins
Screenwriter
Randall Fried
Production Co
Aurora Film Corporation, Heaven Corp.
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Aug 10, 2004
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Surround