Year of the Bull
by Todd Lubin
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DVD details
Director: Todd LubinDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 84 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-01-11
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Urban Works
DVD Reviews of Year of the Bull
DVD Review: Fine Documentary
Summary: 4 Stars
Similar in format but much less comprehensive then "Hoop Dreams," the filmmakers follow the senior football year of Miami high school football star Taurean Charles. The story unfolds in a rather predictable manner: As a football player, Charles is a fine natural athlete, reaching local celebrity status but severely lacking in discipline. As a student, however, he is less then competent. Coming from a fatherless home hasn't helped, but the so-called educators at his high school are really embarrassing. Almost everyone the young Charles comes in contact with on a daily basis are stunningly stupid people (there is actually a dry cleaning class at the high school!). Still the college scholarship is the focus of the young defensive end. Not surprisingly Charles sees college not for the educational opportunity, but as a way to the big show of the NFL. He has mild delusions, but he knows his limitations because he is reminded of them every day.
The filmmakers do a nice job profiling the athlete machine that is high school and college sports. This machine consumes, chews, and spits out kids not capable of understanding what is really going on. Charles is involved with some teen age mischief and appears to have little understanding of the true consequences of such actions, since after all, he still gets to play football. He does show a violent side off the field a few games in, still no penalty. Nice job coach. These are some of the worst coaches I have ever seen. Grown men who never made it, cussing at and beating up little kids. Unreal! Clearly, Northwestern has a winning record DESPITE the coaching staff. Charles has an injury mid way through the season, but he recovers quickly and he is back on the grid iron in time for the playoffs. Just when things are looking to improve, those darn SATs get in the way again. Shooting for a pathetic 820, he scores in the low 600's several times. Making it to the state finals, the team arrives four days early in the state capitol for preparation. In reality all they do is gamble and play video games the whole time. No shock, they lose to a much better coached team. Finally passing the SAT on his fifth try with a, ahummm, 930, Charles accepts a scholarship to The University of Florida Gators, a school well known for their division I football program.
The real story here is not the mundane path of a youth from the ghetto trying to break out vis-à-vis sports; it is the abysmal state of education at Northwestern High School. I will go on a limb and suggest that Northwestern is not the only school with this condition. I think those coaches should be jailed. I love the game of football, but this film is really a sad statement on the game. High school and college is about education first, athletics second but somewhere along the way we have allowed the reciprocal condition to become the norm and this film is a scary window to that reality.
Post Script: The film was released in 2003. Taurean Charles was suspended by the University of Florida early in the 2004 football season for an off campus fight that resulted in a misdemeanor conviction. In March 2005 he was dismissed. Such an incredible opportunity flushed away. So sad.
UPDATE: April 28, 2007 --News excerpts taken from BRENT WORONOFF, Daytona Beach News-Journal:
"While NFL teams have shown interest in three Wildcat seniors -- linebacker Taurean Charles, slot back Eric Weems and defensive tackle Ramon McCollough -- none of them are likely to be selected in the draft. NFL teams have had off-the-field concerns with Charles, who was released from his scholarship at the University of Florida in 2005 because of legal problems."
Thinking back to the film I felt compelled to update this review. I never excuse an individual's choices in life, but the scary stupid people "coaching" at his high school promoted a violent atmosphere in lieu of proper discipline. Those coaches can be held to some level of accountability for the results of a player with great natural talent who the NFL won't touch with a ten foot pole. We can only hope his educational options improved at Bethune-Cookman.
UPDATE: June 6, 2008 -- Such a sad story and all too common I suppose. Taurean Charles was brushed off by the NFL in 2007 and now in 2008 he is yet another nobody, washed up before he ever could be. Couldn't even pull off an arena football gig!! Such great raw talent wasted because of his environment. I sure hope those coaches at his Miami high school are proud of themselves now. There are no winners in this story I am sad to say. Taurean Charles' future seems all too obvious to me now...tragic...
More Year of the Bull reviews:
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Description of Year of the Bull
Year of the Bull is a stunning look into the life of one high-school football player determined to get out of the inner-city and into a Division I collegiate program. This documentary follows an entire season with the Miami Northwestern Bulls and Taurean Charles, an All-American, blue-chip prospect battling standardized tests, societal pressures, family conflict and internal struggles. In addition to the standout?s problems, he is faced with trust issues because everyone surrounding him has an agenda. This riveting film begs the ultimate question...what matters most SAT scores or the final score of the game?Bestsellers in DVD
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