The Red Sneakers

The Red Sneakers is a 2002 American fantasy comedy-drama television film produced and directed by Gregory Hines. The film stars Vanessa Bell Calloway, Dempsey Pappion, and Ruben Santiago-Hudson.[1] It premiered on Showtime on February 10, 2002.

The Red Sneakers
DVD cover
Screenplay by	Mark Saltzman
Story by	Jeffrey Rubin
Directed by	Gregory Hines
Starring	Vanessa Bell Calloway Dempsey Pappion Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Composer	Stanley Clarke
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producers	Tommy Lynch Gary L. Stephenson
Cinematography	John Berrie
Editor	Tim King
Running time	109 minutes
Production company	Dufferin Gate Productions
Distributor	Showtime Networks
Release
Original network	Showtime
Original release	February 10, 2002

Plot

This coming-of-age story features a mediocre high school basketball player (Dempsey Pappion) who is given a pair of magical basketball shoes by a stranger (Gregory Hines). He quickly becomes a superstar shooter on his team. He is recruited by college basketball scouts and plans his future in college basketball, as he neglects potential academic scholarship possibilities.

Cast

• Vanessa Bell Calloway as Berniece
• Dempsey Pappion as Reggie
• Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Uncle Joe
• Scott Thompson as Aldo
• Philip Akin as Mr. Seabrooke
• K. C. Collins as Roscoe
• Kendra FitzRandolph as Courtney
• Cabral Richards as Khalil
• Vincent D'Onofrio as Mercado
• Gregory Hines as Zeke
• Sarah Barrable-Tishauer as Larosa
• Jordan Walker as Noah Greggory
• Drew Nelson as Jacob
• Neil Crone as Coach Blake
• Reuben Thompson as Alvin Duke
• Jake Goldsbie as Boy

Exhibition

The film premiered on Showtime Networks on February 10, 2002.

Reception

Critical response

Sara Long, with the faith based and family oriented Dove Foundation gave the film a positive review, writing, "The Red Sneakers is an enjoyable movie based around inner desires, and what one knows is right as far as actions go ... Then the movie turns around to focus on the inner battle over how to behave against what one wants, and what one should do. Though this movie does have several instances of profanity, it is nothing too severe. Because the overall content is well displayed, the film is approved for ages 12 and up.[2]

Awards

Nominations

• Emmy Award – Outstanding Directing in a Children's Special – Gregory Hines – 2003
• Emmy Award – Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special – Gregory Hines – 2003
• Writers Guild of America – WGA Award (Television) – Children's Script – Mark Saltzman (teleplay) and Jeffrey Rubin (story)
• Young Artist Awards – Best Family Television Movie – Leading Young Actor – Jake Goldsbie – 2003

Film festivals

• Chicago International Children's Film Festival – 2002

References

1. The Red Sneakers at IMDb .
2. Long, Sara. Dove Foundation, February 10, 2002. Accessed: May 14, 2013.

External links

• The Red Sneakers at IMDb
• The Red Sneakers at AllMovie