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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 01/01/2000
1.5/4
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. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 10/01/2005
2/5
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Audience Reviews

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01/13/2013 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. See more 04/18/2008 really loved this movie , very good for people who absolutely love basketball. shows the real deal of pro players. See more 04/14/2008 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. See more 01/08/2008 I've seen it 114 times... Not the greatest movie but I just like it See more 09/25/2007 this movie is beast.bo kimble and act but he can jump. See more 09/24/2007 Only true basketball players might know about this one... See more Read all reviews
Heaven Is a Playground

My Rating

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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