Undefeated

Executive produced by Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Undefeated is exactly the sort of underdog story that would make an excellent feature film. Coach Bill, a Philip Seymour Hoffman lookalike, is always ready with a pep talk or a nugget of wisdom for his team, but he's also not afraid to talk tough with them when they need a kick in the rear. Although some might think of the situation as a case of white paternalism (a wealthy white businessman volunteers to coach the poor black kids), Bill is truly generous, even at the expense of spending time with his own four children.

But Bill's exceptional generosity isn't the point of the movie; it's about the three players who have different difficulties to overcome to make it out of their rough neighborhood and into college. In a move right out of The Blind Side, Coach Bill agrees to let OC live with him part of the week so that the teen can receive the kind of tutoring necessary to help him meet the minimum requirements to earn a football scholarship. We care about the OC and Money and even combative Chavis, and it's that irresistible pull to find out whether they end up victorious -- not just on the field but in the future -- that will keep you mesmerized until the credits (and epilogue title cards) roll.