A Season on the Brink

For its first-ever feature movie, ESPN picked a hell of a subject in Bobby Knight. Based on John Feinstein’s 1985-86 season chronicle of the Indiana Hoosiers, Season tries to give a behind-the-scenes perspective on Knight’s infamous coaching techniques. Unfortunately, the movie falls into the same trap that the book does in that it attempts to redeem Knight’s sturdier qualities—school work, loyalty to those close to him—while pushing his temper tantrums to the background. This take on Bobby stays true to the book and wouldn’t have been a problem if the acting had been more convincing. The players seem completely emotionless, with almost no reaction to Knight’s outbursts beyond a smile or a frown, and even Brian Dennehy has a hard time conjuring enough energy to convey Knight in full tirade. The game sequences had a chance to thrive—ESPN had rights to use real game footage—but are hampered by random close-up shots that look as though they were a part of a junior varsity high school game. Knight’s personality is enough to hold some interest, and the real footage of Knight that runs during the credits shows what could have been.