Good Video Hunting: 'Quantum Hoops'
By LARRY WILLIAMS
Harford Courant
June 24, 2008

Sports movies are so predictable. A team of lovable bumblers overcomes adversity to realize its impossible dream. Even documentaries tend to follow that arc. Fortunately, there are rebels like Rick Greenwald, director of "Quantum Hoops" (Green Forest Films, 2007), the story of Caltech basketball. The Division III Beavers haven't won in their conference since 1985. Wins outside the conference have been rare. A January 2007 victory over Bard College of New York snapped a 12-year losing streak. When somebody at Caltech says, "It's not rocket science," he means it's more difficult than rocket science. Basketball, for example. This delightful movie covers the whole history of the program, featuring great interviews with past players, and follows the 2005-06 team. Most of its players are playing organized basketball for the first time. One reason the movie is so good is that the team's ineptitude is not treated as a joke. The coach and players approach every game with intensity and as much optimism as they can muster. Here is a sports movie that's unpredictable, and genuinely inspirational. The DVD also includes an excellent 30-minute film on the Caltech women's team. Not rated.