Siskel & Ebert - Hoosiers (1986)

Siskel: "... the sports ending, that's where I was let down."

[@johnpolis5211]

Siskel should have know that the movie was based on a real life story of Milan High School in Indiana, a very small school that actually did go to the finals and beat a bigger school. Back in the 50s, Indiana had one single basketball tournament for all schools. The fact that this type of thing actually happened makes it all the more endearing. For my money, the best sports movie ever made.

[@BallparkHunter]

Even as they reviewed this movie Indiana still had single class basketball. Siskel was also a big basketball fan, but maybe the story of Milan was not as widely known to many until after the movie was released.

[@CJinsoo]

the Milan Miracle was known to any true Hoosier basketball fan. Gene did not know that Milan also beat the big city team starring Oscar Robertson-in real life. Gene should stick to his true life love stories where everyone kills themselves.

[@thelastcopier]

Gene Hackman should have been nominated for an Oscar.

[@andysorensen1737]

I got nothing against Dennis Hopper’s performance, but yes, Gene was absolutely robbed.

[@iuaump4]

Same for Dennis Hopper for BEST Supporting Actor

[@writereducator]

It's not just a good movie. It's a great movie!

[@stever7157]

Not only the best basketball movie ever, but maybe the best sports movie period.

[@writereducator]

@@stever7157 My second place vote would be THE NATURAL.

[@ianbauer4703]

Classic

[@Tbone51]

This is based on the Milan-Muncie Central Indiana state championship game in 1954, where Milan (a school of 161 students) beat Muncie Central (a school of 1,662 students) for the state basketball title. At that time, and until 1997, Indiana had a single-class basketball tournament, where all teams in the state competed in a single-elimination tournament. The side stories are Hollywood, but the story of this event among people in our state is legendary. As a "Hoosier", Siskel should have known more about this. BTW: I saw the premier of Hoosiers at the Circle Theater in Indianapolis. Hackman wasn't there, but Dennis Hopper was. Anthony Pizzo, who wrote the screenplay, grew up at in Bloomington, Indiana and went to IU. He also wrote, "Rudy." David Anspough directed both movies as well and was born in Decatur, Indiana, where he played high school football, basketball, ran track, and also went to IU in Bloomington. The two (writer and director) were best friends in college at IU. Jerry Goldsmith, one of the all-time great composers in Hollywood, wrote the music for Hoosiers.

[@mijreed]

I love Ebert's sarcasm, "Well you could surprise everyone by having them lose all their games and still build their character..."

[@helloeverybody9675]

He’s always sharp, and usually more correct with his review

[@sandyfike841]

Hoosiers has staying power! Great movie that still summons the same emotions every time I see it!!

[@michaelmclaughlin6542]

Ebert nails it. Siskel misses the boat. This is a very familiar theme to those well versed in their reviews.

[@thelastcopier]

I think it went both ways. Sometimes I agreed with Siskel. Sometimes I agreed with Ebert. This time I agreed with Ebert.

[@patrickc3419]

For sure. Siskel had some pretty awful tastes.

[@asdfasdf7199]

siskel was a hack

[@patrickc3419]

@@asdfasdf7199 Considering that he didn’t like this, Unforgiven, Blade Runner, Christmas Vacation, What About Bob, Beverly Hills Cop, & The Terminator, and “barely” liked Rocky, I think that’s a fair assessment.

[@ronaldh8446]

For the most part that is true. Every once in a while Gene saw greatness where Roger didn't. Full Metal Jacket and The Thing (1982) come to mind. But it was usually the other way around.

[@rodroller6634]

Hoosiers, Rudy, Breaking Away, Knute Rockne All American. So many top sports movies set in my state of Indiana. One of the few things I’m proud of in living here.

[@movieman9100]

Hoosiers is one of the best sport films ever.

[@rundanerun]

Ebert nailed it. Siskel whiffed

[@disciple5150]

Larry Bird said whoever wrote the movie Hoosiers sure knew Indiana basketball. That certainly trumps Genes knowledge.

[@STONESGAM]

I always think Jimmy Chitwood is kind of like Larry Bird. That is the kind of player it would take for a little team like that to win it all. Teamwork, great role players and great coaching. They played great team, fundamental basketball and had great chemistry. It just all came together. Great flick.

[@adamr6794]

He called a true story predictable?

[@2beJT]

Gene was wrong about SO many all-time classics.

[@2beJT]

@Marty Ward how do you mean?

[@rviles2323]

Siskel would go on to call this film “decent but very overrated.”

[@79steelymatt]

"I'll make IT"-greatest line in movie history to me-Hoosiers not only best sports movie ever its Top 5 ever to me

[@gwp5066]

"My team is on the floor."

[@shipwreckedpoet3]

That's another good one! @@gwp5066

[@tylerjames6842]

on my top 10 list. i was born in 1952 and the opening music and scenes were just perfect for that time.

[@aislinnkeilah7361]

“It’s not a bad movie..” No kidding, fella. It became a classic - best sports movie. Of all time.

[@rossviles7794]

Lol, not even close to being the best sports movie of all time. It was an average picture. I could name ten sports movies that are better than this.

[@7star7storm7]

​@@rossviles7794 Saying you could but you didn't even put one man 😂

[@rossviles7794]

@@7star7storm7 A League Of Their Own, Mr. Baseball, Major League, Love and Basketball, Cinderella Man, Rocky, Breaking Away, Caddyshack, Miracle, and Eight Men Out. Not as easy as I thought to come up with ten. I like parts of Hoosiers. It’s just not my favorite sports movie.

[@7star7storm7]

@@rossviles7794 Caddyshack isnt in the same category.. Rocky is up there no doubt .. the rest are average imo .. I think Hoosiers was brilliant.. I put it up there with Field of dreams as true classics ..Each to their own I suppose

[@rossviles7794]

@@7star7storm7 Caddyshack is in the same category as it’s a sports movie. That along with Major League are still heavily quoted to this day. Mr. baseball is highly underrated. There were things about Hoosiers that were hard for to believe. I thought the Hackman and Hershey romance was tough to buy given the big age difference. Then Hackman cures the drunk, turns losers into winners in one year, and he does one or two more improbable things. I just thought it was formulaic.

[@patriciaarold1270]

I love Hoosiers. It is so interesting seeing Gene Hackman working with the team all the way to the state championship. And it is based on a true story of a small town school beating the big city school, even if it is just basketball. RIP Roger and Gene.

[@johnsorrelw849]

Yep, and neither critic seemed to know that... so thr plot was not implausible. If I recall it was something like Milo high school against my alma mater Muncie Cental, circa 1954.

[@epicgamesforyou3615]

Hoosiers is the kind of film you sit and watch on a crisp fall day with a glass of wine or a nice cup of coffee. It’s cozy it’s satisfying from the beginning opening score to the leaves falling in small town indiana.

[@sporty1701]

These two drove me crazy for years and years...we almost never agreed on anything. But you know what, I miss them them both. As it turns out, agreeing to disagree is a good thing, and a good movie critic is always subjective, not objective. Gene and Roger were the best.

[@seanogrady2629]

Even Gene and Roger disagreed often, as this clip exemplifies.

[@barrycrafts3939]

I love the fact that these movies age and this one ages as one of the best sports movies of all time. Sorry Gene. “Team Team Team” “I love you guys!”

[@scottwhitehead4467]

I love both of these guys, and I watched all of their shows religiously when I was in my teens. It was fun when they disagreed, but Gene puts up a big air ball on this one. Hoosiers is a great movie and all-time classic.

[@harrybradford299]

I agree. Someone should tell Siskel about Milan H.S. and Bobby Plumb.

[@HarrisonHollers]

Gene sucked! He was out of touch on many reviews. But he motivated Roger so I admire both.

[@rossviles7794]

He put up an air ball because he had a difference of opinion from you? I agree with Gene. I didn’t like it at all.

[@leonardshevlin7260]

​@@rossviles7794 The movie "worked" [on Ebert, and on other viewers] in spite of a lazy screenplay. People bought tickets because they wanted to root for the "good guys" and to see the talented big city school team defeated. The [award-winning] screenplay of "Breaking Away" took the trouble to create and allow the audience to know and care about a large number of wonderful characters [who were neither all-good nor all-bad].

[@eyeofthescar6890]

Worth seeing just for Jerry Goldsmith's score. Especially the opening scenes.

[@brianfinn4105]

Siskel & Ebert were the best! RIP

[@jeremygill2409]

Shocked Siskel didn’t like this gem. Love Hoosiers

[@samcarson6]

One of the finest sports films ever made.

[@nunnayobiznis]

Thanks so much for uploading these old clips. Please keep them coming if you have more!

[@twstf8905]

These guys are hilarious, espescially when they're passively aggressively disagreeing with each other lol and interrupting, they clearly take their jobs VERY serious. 🤣👍👍

[@itsmedrooms6071]

I just can’t take Gene’s reviews seriously when he gets a movie like this totally wrong. It would be one thing if this was an isolated occurrence, but unfortunately it wasn’t in his case.

[@mikeL65000]

This is the best basketball movie ever.

[@73challenger5031]

This movie is on my "A" list. If it's on, I watch it and have it on DVD. Great acting and inspiring and Barbara Hershey is beautiful!

[@buckeye5011]

But Gene, it was based on a true story, 1954 Milan High School beating Muncie Central for the Indiana state championship.

[@patrickshields5251]

Does Gene even do his research?

[@nikosvault]

@@patrickshields5251 Research would make it unpredictable?

[@patrickshields5251]

nikosvault I was just questioning if he did just to make sure that he's not ill informed.

[@faithshade1430]

I wouldn’t expect him to know that except for the fact he went to high school in Indiana. Milan’s state championship is a major part of Hoosier basketball lore.

[@faithshade1430]

Texas Chainsaw Jesus both are tools to teach YOUNG players to be patient. In basketball, developing the habit of taking quick shots tends to lead to more bad shots than good ones. By emphasizing the importance of ball movement and spreading the floor it will help young players learn to recognize truly optimal scoring opportunities.

[@fnlvnlol24]

The score is fantastic 🙌🏻

[@STONESGAM]

Siskel could be such an icy fuddyduddy sometimes. How can you not like Hoosiers? Hackman was terrific in that role. It was based on a true story which he doesn't seem to realize. His comment about Coach Dale being able to cure the alcoholic is ridiculous too. He wasn't able to cure him. He just wanted to give him another chance like he was being given....and give him some hope again. I don't think Hackman is surprised when he winds up in the hospital...but at least he was forced into finally dealing with it by hitting rock bottom. Siskel was way off on a lot of classics im seeing after watching some of these old clips.

[@LiveINtheGood53]

and also Derek, in the movie, Gene Hackman's character was giving another chance so why not give Dennis Hopper's character another chance, right? He even said that in the movie as Hackman was talking to his son who at first didn't like the idea of his dad as a coach. I thought this was a perfect thing in the movie and it still holds up today!

[@shipwreckedpoet3]

Roger could resist at the end, "Did you play by the way.....?" 😄

[@brimtime8117]

Man I wish I could go back to the 80’s, so different than today and so simple. Everyone seemed happy back then..

[@davidcarter2720]

... says nearly every generation about succeeding generations. They all felt that their generation, and those of their preceding generations, were superior to the newer generation(s). What I wish? That we could jump to any time - forward or backward - during which Donald Trump wouldn't be considered a viable candidate for dog catcher - let alone for the office of POTUS. The generation that elected him - primarily the boomers - are, indeed, the worst generation ever. And they're primarily the ones saying absolutely ridiculous things such as "man, I wish I could go back to the 80's(/70's/60's/50's) ...".

[@brimtime8117]

David Carter and we are winning and winning and winning, and we love the hate that you liberals spew... keep trying to get him out of office, it’s actually comical. You idiots try a grand scheme and it blows up in your face.... 80’s were awesome... and PRESIDENT REAGAN was as awesome as PRESIDENT TRUMP.

[@davidcarter2720]

@@brimtime8117 - how are you winning?

[@brimtime8117]

Jonathan Kent ha, ya us conservatives are scared to death. Bottom line is we have the presidency and will have both the house and senate after November 2020... and our savior PRESIDENT TRUMP will go on his fuck you tour and put all your idles like the Biden’s, Clinton’s , Pelosi, Waters and let’s not forget shifty Schiff... look at that list, those are YOUR leaders and your acting all big and bad??? Ha your party is a joke and our savior PRESIDENT TRUMP will keep America great and all you UNAMERICAN liberals can protest, try to impeach and lie but you can’t touch our PRESIDENT... and just FYI DON JR will run is 2024 and he’s gonna win, then in 2032 IVANKA will run and she will win... so from now until 2040 you libtards are gonna be all kinds of messed up... TRUMP 2020 TRUMP 2024 TRUMP 2032 WE LOVE TRUMP!!!!!!

[@brimtime8117]

David Carter look around idiot, you idiot liberals try us everyday and we are winning. TRUMP 2020 TRUMP 2024 TRUMP 2032

[@FeverDog420]

I just watched this again last night and I love Ollie: "I knew I had it all the way!"

[@paulclark4071]

"It was Dentyne."

[@citizenghosttown]

I'm with Ebert. Sure, Siskel is right when he says that it's predictable and familiar formula. But the movie succeeds in spite of that. That's what makes it one of the best sports movies of all time.

[@larky368]

He didn't "cure the alcoholic" He had a relapse and wound up in rehab.

[@73challenger5031]

and man, did I feel bad for his son, who got to witness his Dad's break-down on the court in front of all of the spectators. He showed great courage to keep the team moving on.

[@ianbauer4703]

That's right!

[@ronaldh8446]

Uhh Gene... it actually happened. It's based on a true story. A very small HS did in fact beat a big city team.

[@tomsmith2013]

Fantastic film (and I'm no sports fan). One of my all time favorites.

[@patrickc3419]

Hands down my second favorite sports film (Chariots of Fire is number 1)

[@blazerocker1734]

I miss these guys. Thanks for the upload.

[@jjmalm]

Ebert ending shots were 🔥

[@dh3279]

As usual, Gene was wrong on this one too. Never understood how he got that job. The other important story sub-plot they forgot to mention was the Jimmy Chitwood character, and the restraint Coach showed in recruiting him, and how he was rewarded for his restraint at the critical town meeting. That was a very important piece of the wonderful story.

[@Zwia.]

No i just watched it, typical corny, american always end good crap. Hackman was good though.

[@stephenmccollum1391]

That clip was from the end of the movie, not in the beginning of his coaching

[@CaminoAir]

Jack Nicholson was to play Coach Dale and that would make sense in terms of his being banned from coaching and his relationship with Barbara Hershey's teacher. However, Hackman is wonderful in the movie.

[@dnasty312]

Jack is also, of course, an avid basketball fan

[@murph165]

The movie was loosely based on Milan High's 1954 state title. Gene says in reality, the team Hickory was playing would've blown it out of the water. But the reality of it is that it didn't. Milan (Hickory) won the game -- and the title. And he says he went to high school in Indiana. How could he have not known that?

[@williamgullett5911]

My favorite sports movie

[@jameshood1928]

One of my favorite movies. Hackman was great. Neither Siskel nor Ebert seem to know that this film was based on a true story of a small school that actually did win the Indiana state championship.

[@murph165]

Funny how Gene says that since he went to high school in Indiana, he knows this team would've been blow out in the state tournament. Um, this was loosely based on a team (Milan High, 1954) that beat bigger schools on the way to the state title.

[@craigcampbell5956]

The school Siskel went to was Culver Military, private, not far from South Bend, and unless you played on the CMA bball team or closely followed it, you wouldn't know what was going on in the rest of the state, nor about Milan's accomplishment (not to mention, call and ask someone from IN about your hypothesis before you go on national TV). This explains why Siskel assumed South Bend teams always ruled. He should have checked himself out of the Culver/South Bend bubble before taping this.

[@FermiFred]

Best leadership movie of all time. Almost every scene can be tied back to leadership principle.

[@momsbook340]

Absolutely a fantastic movie based on one of the greatest upsets in team sport history.

[@disciple5150]

I went to school in Sheridan Indiana. A little single a school that routinely beat 3a and 4a schools in football. It’s also about 10 minutes away from Milan. The size of the school has nothing to do with it if you have a better game plan.

[@soonerwhirle]

Sheridan, Indiana North of Indianapolis in Hamilton County Milan, Indiana South East of Indianapolis in Ripley County Sheridan to Milan 106 miles

[@Senaleb]

Oscar Robertson played on that indiana team. That part of the story was true. RObertson said they were beating everybody pretty easy but this team was full of little white mites and we couldn't find them, they were so quick. Also part of the interesting...James Dean played against them that season too..

[@shipwreckedpoet3]

That's 100% true! Crispus Attucks lost to Milan in the semi-state finals when Oscar was a sophomore. He would have the last laugh though, winning the following year and then again for a second straight his senior year becoming the first team in Indiana to secure a perfect season and the first for any all-black school in the nation.

[@sheridanclan6]

The fact the Siskel didn't know this was based on a true story is a real head-scratcher since he is from Indiana. His ending comment that a team from South Bend would have blown the Hickory team off the court is painfully awkward, given the actual game upon which the movie was based.

[@injuredtabletennisplayer1474]

Man...I miss this guy.

[@meesalikeu]

the ‘ol picket fence yessiree

[@jessedorian]

"Damnit, Gene!"

[@FeverDog420]

Leave it to Siskel to downthumb another American sports classic. Jeez, Gene, neither this nor Field of Dreams was good enough for ya?

[@jimmers112]

Gene put up a brick on that review

[@kd17Burger]

LMAO

[@babybird871]

This is one of Gene`s worst reviews...not only because it`s a great movie but later he gave a thumbs up to the Whoppi Goldberg movie "Eddie" and called it "realistic"....Gene is often described as knowing more about basketball than most sports writers.... Eddie was not in any way realistic and was not in the same ball park or league as "Hoosiers."

[@joeschraubecornfield5945]

Years later they didn't get it the movie is a top 3 classic sport movie !!!

[@smyczek127]

Short but he hustles.

[@themcadamsminute8494]

Gene is also so pissy about nostalgia and heartwarming movies

[@celebrim1]

Gene was a snob. Sometimes when he was trying to fight for a movie that he didn't think a wide audience would give a chance, it was a positive quality. But in this case, with a well done movie that could appeal to a wide audience, it's just obnoxious.

[@themcadamsminute8494]

@@celebrim1 Brilliant point! Thank you for the comment.

[@mrmojorisin8752]

Gene didn’t like Field of Dreams, either. My tastes are almost always with Roger. I miss him.

[@marshmutt8975]

Terrible decision to open the clips with a near-spoiler. Should've used some of the early meet-the-coach clips.

[@jmctigret]

Great movie

[@chipbryant9477]

I guess nobody told siskel this was based on a real team.

[@rick2340atyahoocom]

This is a great movie based on a true story. Gene is way off here

[@mbrownie22]

You’re right Roger, does Gene not know this was based on an actual small town team that did win the State Championship against all odds.

[@cop39fl]

work the same converse sneakers and wool sweat socks when in high school

[@twil2389]

Based on a true story

[@bobmorgan1762]

Don’t forget, a little college in Muncie, IN - lost by only one point to UNLV (which won the national championship).

[@erichaynes7502]

I think it was agreed that Gene would be the one more likely to give a thumbs down, just so they could have an emotional argument to make the show more popular. Why not? These guys made millions.

[@jenfine]

Always enjoyed when Siskel and Ebert got bitchy with each other. Always out of love and respect!

[@OrangeKing529]

Just spoil the ending at the start of your review, why don't you

[@nicklengyel356]

Hoosier was a great film, Jimmy reminds me of a person named Larry Bird

[@allanfifield8256]

Siskel sure missed this one.

[@Offsides09]

Gene way off the mark on this one.

[@SchroederDS]

Except that… This film is based upon the true story of the 1954 Milan H.S. Indians who, as a small school competing in the single class state high school basketball tournament, did indeed win the state championship over a perennial powerhouse opponent.

[@braddye4983]

Both critics had fun with this one

[@ViciousAlienKlown]

Siskel sure did hate some awesome movies.

[@phightowerv]

👍👍Two thumbs up for Roger...two thumbs down for Gene 👎👎

[@iuaump4]

I'm trying to remember what they rated it!

[@tdsafff]

Roger: And did you play, by the way? Gene: No. Roger: He's short but he hustles. Roger getting the last word in and fucking killing it - I love it!

[@randycunningham7318]

Ebert did build it up. I thought it would have been better than it was, bc of his review.

[@georgegreen7668]

If he had really gone to an Indiana high school he might have known it was based loosely on the miracle of Milan, a school the size of Hickory that actually won the state championship.

[@BarberBobDetecting]

Gene is off the mark often, as evidenced by looking back on his reviews of classic, highly acclaimed films. He thought Taxi Driver was mediocre. Of course, he changed his tune later when it became apparent he was alone in this opinion.

[@Hellraiser0601]

Ebert read Siskel for filth!!! And I'm glad he did so.

[@samcarson6]

The game was actually true the Milan Miracle this was based upon.

[@ROGER2095]

I still remember the strategy: Pass the ball three times. It's good advice.

[@rogerpatton2242]

Not three.. FOUR!

[@lgmnowkondo938]

Hoosiers....THIS IS MUST SEE CINEMA!! Simple as that...nobody should tell someone NOT to see this movie. You'd have to be some sort of snob.

[@gregoryphillips3969]

Wasn't the movie based on a true story where the team actually won?

[@stocksgoupward5922]

Gene Hackman hated the movie and was convinced it would be a bomb and make no money. kind of like Richard Dreyfus saying Jaws was a disaster and would bomb too. sometimes you never know and sometimes the finished product surprises everyone.

[@DavidLongo22]

This one didn't age too well, I'd say. As @Jeff Theis pointed out, it was based on a true story (just ask Oscar Robertson!).

[@frankpalancio8471]

Roger got it right before the movie even came out. Gene was overly critical as usual.

[@stockvaluedotcom]

I wonder if Siskel knew the movie was based, rather loosely, on a real team.

[@cadertater]

Do they know it was based on a true story?

[@paulgutermann8413]

Special knowledge about Indiana? How could he not know about Bobby Plump and Milan High School?

[@thereviewartistrrp5493]

Most critics do suck at reviewing. Like he said that he seen this type of movie before. Hoosiers is the movie that started all. There wasn't before than

[@IndoorHydroponix]

It’s a shame they didn’t know it was based off a true story from the 50’s. They couldn’t have rewritten the ending and south bend didn’t blow them out.

[@spencer10182]

Hoosiers is way, way better and more memorable than Breaking Away! That was a decent film but nowhere near as great as this was.

[@kd17Burger]

Whoa whoa, them's Fighting words Breaking Away is a Classic Movie that holds up beautifully, but it's wrong to compare them as Breaking Away is not a "sports" movie as Hoosiers is Both Excellent Films that people should check out

[@petersurdo4984]

While I've watched Hoosiers about 50 times the Barbara Hershey character was shallow. Dennis Hopper was great. Not a huge Gene Hackman fan but it still works. The Jimmy Chitwood character was fantastic.

[@nickismith4787]

I agree. If they had left Hershey out it would have been a better film.