Hoop Dreams (1994)

Clocking in a nearly three hours, this documentary doesn't quit. I didn't take my eyes off the screen the entire time.

Hoop Dreams follows two inner city kids in Chicago over their high school career as they lead their basketball teams to championships and try to catch the eyes of university talent scouts so they can eventually make it into the NBA. The power of the film is the dynamic between each of the boys and their family, their coach, their academics, and their dream of pro basketball.

The film was snubbed by the Oscars, but praised by critics as the best film of 1994. It should have at least taken the Best Documentary category and a nod from Best Picture.

IMDB