One on One (1977)

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

People are voting emotionally.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Robby Benson co-wrote and stars in this simplistic basketball drama about a short but energetic high school basketball star who graduates to a university team on scholarship, immediately butting heads with the hard-ass coach when he appears not to be living up to his reputation. Of course there's also a spunky female graduate student assigned to the faltering phenom as a tutor (no growing pains portrait should be without one). Derivative sports drama with a soft-spoken hero who refuses to give up, leading to his participation in the Big Game (complete with his new sweetheart in the stands). G.D. Spradlin is over-the-top as the coach; his menacing quality and hayseed-sheriff persona are far heavier qualities than this flimsy script can support. Benson constantly wants to manage our responses to him: he's the naïve kid who is conned by a nubile hitchhiker, he's the quiet guy who's shy around girls, he's the budding rebel who tells the coach "I'm gonna beat you!" We're not allowed to perceive any of his angelic attributes for ourselves--it's spelled out in the writing. Young audiences at the time naturally responded to the climax (which is well-mounted by director Lamont Johnson), but the movie is a connect-the-dots job. ** from ****

What was there about Robbie Benson? To a lot of fans back then, I guess it was mostly that he was cute. But I always thought he was a very good actor...good in that he seemed "real". This is hardly my favorite Benson movie (I much prefer "Tribute" with Jack Lemmon). But here, Benson is perfect because he seems to be just what the main character is -- a clean cut and remarkably naive small town boy who goes to a powerhouse university on a basketball scholarship. What an eye-opener it is for the boy...and for the viewer as he/she begins to learn how college athletics worked.When I watched this film again after all these years, I was sad...sad that Benson didn't remain in front of the camera, instead of going behind the camera. There was a lot of potential there, and I think he could have maintained an impressive presence in film.In the film, Benson's character screws up at the university because in his small town high school he was the star basketball player -- and a bit of a hot dog -- and at university he is just a freshman who is extremely immature. Eventually his hard-nosed coach wants him to resign his scholarship...which he refuses to do. The film works for Benson, but the outstanding performance was by G.D. Spradlin, the sadistic coach who, to a large extent, has mismanaged Benson but in some ways is right about Benson not fitting in with the team. I usually don't like him as an actor, but here he is excellent. The scenes where Benson and the coach have it out are very strong.The problem with this film is a rather predictable ending. I guess that's the only way it could end. And the ultimate end -- when Benson tells off the coach, well, that is rather weak, seemingly because Benson didn't want to say a bad word. Ah well, otherwise, it was a very good movie.It was difficult watching this film on TCM because the sound was not synced perfectly with the visuals. Not sure what happened at TCM. They're usually so perfect.I'm not much on sports movies, but this is a good one!

This was the first Robbie Benson I ever saw. Once I did see it, I have always been alert for other things which involved his talents.This movie was especially meaningful to me because I took a much younger friend to view it with me. After seeing the movie I bought the fabulous movie soundtrack album by Seals and Crofts, and those songs were played over and over by this young friend and I until every word and note could be sung-along with the artists. I think this experience was an inspirational time for both myself and my young friend, who could identify in many ways with Benson's character.Decades later I find that few fans of Seals and Crofts even know they recorded such a soundtrack, much less having any familiarity with the movie One On One. However, I have always since sought-out other features and appearances by Robbie Benson, and have become a life-long fan of this talented, if somewhat obscure, actor. I will continue to seek-out his productions and performances wherever Robbie Benson may show himself next. We are blessed by the gift of such a competent and gifted artist.

*******Possible Spoilers********Who is the bad guy? The bad guy is the guy who tries to force Steele to renounce his scholarship through force,intimidation,financial, and physical harm. The bad guy is the guy who gets another player to bust Steele's nose, cut bloody Steele's face. Not one of the best movies. But one I've always liked. I just like the way that Henry didn't quit through all that adversity. Through the students telling him he wasn't smart enough and the jocks/coaches telling him he wasn't athletic enough. Henry takes all the punishment the coach throws at him and works to make himself better and stronger. The actor playing Steele pulls off the look of a young naive basketball player perfectly. Sure Henry wasn't perfect...taking a car to come there and trusting his roommate and taking that stuff to "pep him up" and then "hotdogging" after taking that stuff. But that just adds even more to his naivety. It's a really good movie if you don't take it too serious. A good underdog movie.