But there is something interesting that comes across in these interviews and that's how unrelentingly genial every single player is about the whole thing. Almost every player across the span of the basketball program had to endure some type of gargantuan losing streak if not the current monster one, but Caltech basketball memories are all pleasant for these guys.
In a school known for its academic rigor, basketball isn't so much a competitive activity as it is a diversion from the heavy workload Caltech is known for. It's quite inspiring to see the dedication the players have toward their schoolwork, but also toward basketball. The film spends a good deal of its running time padding the story with plenty of Caltech anecdotes and a detailed history of its athletic programs, but it's all pretty interesting.
As for the supposed point of the film — the huge losing streak — it tends to take a backseat much of the time, leading to an unfocused and meandering movie at times, but it's able to grab our attention back with the final 20 minutes. Caltech is playing its last game of the season — a game where it actually stands a chance to win. Drama doesn't exactly run high at this point, but how could you not want these guys to finally win a game?
Quantum Hoops is not emotionally rich or poignant, but it manages to be fairly interesting, and at under 90 minutes, it doesn't overstep its bounds. The DVD comes with two commentary tracks and a short featurette on the women's basketball team.
Article comments