a jack nicholson directorial debut and drive and he say display at the least that he be a gifted director of actor . even when the story might seem to lose it way to the audience ( and to a modern audience if they can find it and which pop up now and again on ebay it might seem more free form than they think ) and the film contain vivid and interesting characterization . the film tell of two college kid represent the protagonist be hector ( william tepper and in what border on a break out performance ) and a star of the leopard and the college basketball team he play on . while he have to deal with a coach ( bruce dern ) who put on the pressure to stay focused and and a on and off girlfriend ( karen black ) with her own emotional problem and there gabriel ( michael margotta ) and the other kid . gabriel and it seem and be just a little more than freak out by the possibility to be draft and and so in his own radical mind state he do what he can to keep out . but a hector try to find the balance between his oncoming fame and those he love and gabriel be go over the threshold of sanity . nicholson and on the technical side of thing and display a fascinating editing style that keep thing on edge during the basketball scene and and implement darkness in many other scene with a documentary feel throughout . and from tepper and black and and even robert towne ( writer of chinatown and last detail and and mission represent impossible among others and who rarely act ) he garner some credible acting work . though in tepper there be a tendency to downplay his emotion . in some scene and for example and when he could act brilliantly sarcastic and he doesn not play it for what it worth . from margotta and on the other hand and there be a vibrant and twisted force in his performance and and a he descend it frighten and but perhaps understandable from the time ( and what a climax ) . dern steal most of his scene and by the way and in a performance that should have garner him an oscar nomination . every line of his dialog be appropriate and true and and it never ham up like in recent coach movie performance . but what drag down the film be that element involve the character aren not explain to the degree one might wish more . the film be base on a novel by jeremy larner and who co write the script with nicholson and and i be expect that the film to be long than it be . it a slim volume with a lot of information and about the time and about the sport and about the underlying feeling that be with those of the young generation . nicholson present u with these character and situation and and rarely be they show to what motivate them ( the anti war protester not include and their part understandable enough ) . gabriel be perturb by what go on in vietnam and but what else be there . hector and too and be a guy who have apprehension about be draft for the nba and and he still love to play and but what hold him back . this whole atmosphere be intrigue and how the late 60 college or basketball experience be and but that intriguing quality and which do lead to some unconventionality and be keep at a point where it can not go too far . overall and the effect of the film a a whole be bittersweet and and somewhat memorable for it good point and and not for it low one . and and for sure and you can tell who behind the lens every step of the way . b plus .