Pride (2007)

Director: Joe Wright. Cast: Jena Malone, Matthew MacFadyen, Keira Knightley, Donald Sutherland, Rosamund Pike.

A swim team comes together in a rundown urban rec center in Pride, the debut feature of Sunu Gonera. In a potent star turn, Terence Howard plays real-life local hero Jim Ellis, a swim coach strongly motivated to use his gifts. After winning over Bernie Mac's beaten-down custodian, Ellis rounds up the young ballers outside the center and teaches them the pool ropes. Meanwhile, Ellis romances the town councilwoman who's the last hope for the center to remain open; she's played by Kimberly Elise. Strong acting keeps Pride afloat, and though the script manufactures a run-in with the law in Ellis' past, at least it's in the service of a positive social message. Pride follows a time-worn formula, but at least it's a satisfying one.