The clash between a newly integrated team and newly integrated society remains central throughout this movie. Though Glory Road is similar to Remember the Titans (2000), another film by Jerry Bruckheimer, the newer film takes race relations to the next level. Simply put, this movie ventures where Crash (2005) wasn’t willing to go. Where most movies limit racism to a word, this movie depicts Black players being assaulted and having their rooms vandalized. Although Brown v. Board of Education was ruled in 1954 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 had already passed, Glory Road reminds us that the late 1960s weren’t as racially progressive as people like to think.

The humor in this movie helps balance its more serious theme. Though confronting a strict coach and intense racism from the outside world, the Black players are still able to crack or joke or two and get into some trouble. There are also a great deal of one-liners. One skeptic of letting Black players onto the court makes an ironically prescient comment when he comments, “You’re acting like Black people are going to be the new face of basketball.”

The greatest part of the movie lies in the fact that it is very personable. Viewers feel a personal connection with the players, whether Black or White. All of the players have distinct personalities which are developed in less than two hours. Consequently, viewers are better suited to sympathize with the situations the characters face.

It’s very difficult to find fault with this movie since it was based so closely on historical fact. One could complain that the storyline of the homosexual player was not developed enough, but that would be very petty. There was also a Hispanic player on the team, but he had a rather insignificant role—I would have liked for Bruckheimer to explore further how he was perceived by both White and Black players.

Simply put, this is a great movie (but what else would you expect from Disney?). As we reflect on the greatness of UNC basketball, we often forget that the racial ratio was not always so fluid and diverse. Movies like Glory Road make sure that we will never forget.